Our members saw sales in core gardening categories increase during
February (2015) according to our Barometer of Trade (BoT) results.
Sales
of outdoor plants increased 9.42% compared with the same month in 2014,
sundries increased 10.27%, but it was seeds and bulbs that saw the biggest rise
at 14.33% up.
Iain
Wylie, our Chief Executive, explained: “It looks as
if garden centre customers spent the majority of February preparing for the new
season with purchases of new plants, sundries and seeds and bulbs.
“At the moment we have no idea what the year ahead is going to
hold for us but it looks as if gardeners have high hopes for good weather and
are eager to get back into their gardens and get growing again. It’s great to
see sales of core gardening categories on the rise consistently since the
beginning of the year and I only hope this continues.”
Sales
in pets and aquatics departments also did well at 10.69% up and houseplants at
7.55% up. Catering departments saw an increase of 5.99% compared with 2014.
Katie Eckley, Shop Manager at The Old Railway Line Garden Centre
in Wales, said: “February was a great month for us, overall we were up more
than 30% on last year and all categories are performing well.
“The weather has been kind to us so far this year and our
customers are definitely getting stuck into their gardens nice and early. Sales
of plants were up 38%, all categories really performed well, especially hardy
shrubs which were up 70% on last year.
“Seeds and bulbs were up more than 30% and the biggest growth here
was from packets of seeds. Garden sundries were also up more than 25%, compost
was the most improved category in this department. It’s been a great start,
fingers crossed for the rest of the season.”
Our BoT reports are compiled using actual sales figures and
provide an up-to-date trading position statement. They are made available
mid-month following the end of the prior month after all member garden centres
have submitted their results.
The reports allow our members to compare their trading positions
with other centres.
Mike
Burks, Managing Director of the Gardens Group, which has garden centres in
Sherborne, Yeovil and Poundbury in Dorset, said: “February was a month which
was very encouraging as sales of compost, seeds, bulbs and seed potatoes were
strong, as were hardy plants. This strength in core gardening bodes well for
the spring, subject to the weather of course.”
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