CLOTHING and food halls/farm shops were the big sellers during
July (2015) according to our Barometer of Trade (BoT) results.
An increase of 16.96% compared to last year (2014) was seen in
clothing while sales in food halls/farm shops rose 13.97%.
It’s great to see non-traditional categories such as clothing and
food halls/farm shops doing well during July. Joining the two categories in the
top spot was houseplants, which saw a rise of 13.93% compared to 2014.
Sales in outdoor plants up 9.09%, which is very positive
considering the ever changing British weather we had through the month.
Catering sales were up 10.38% and gifts up 11.14% so it was a good month for
most categories.
Sally Cornelissen, Director at Burleydam Garden Centre in Wirral,
which recently received the award for Best Garden Centre in the North West at
the GCA’s annual inspections, said: “This July has been exceptionally good. We
were concerned that the poorer weather compared with 2014 would be a challenge
but strong performances from hardy stock, garden sundries and furniture sales
coupled with the expected increase in catering turnover has delivered pleasing
results.
“There is a definite rise in consumer confidence as illustrated by
increased interest in high ticket items. We hope that this confidence will ride
out hints of a rise in inflation in the light of the increase in minimum wage
in October.”
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.
Lauren Cocks, Marketing Manager at Coletta & Tyson Nurseries
and Garden Centre in East Yorkshire, said: “We are seeing strong growth within our
houseplant department, we have always struggled with strong competition from
supermarket prices but it seems the tables are turning and customers are
turning to garden centres to add colour and texture to their homes as well as
their gardens.
“Catering is so important to our garden centre, people come just
to visit our café now and it has meant we are no longer a garden centre with a
café. To many we are a catering outlet in our own right. This means we have to
keep improving our offering and keep it interesting for new and old
customers alike.”
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