Gardeners across the country made use of the milder
weather during November (2015) and worked on improving their outdoor spaces according to our BoT results.
Sales in hard landscaping were up 7.86% but customers were also eating well with
Food Hall and Farm Shop sales up 20.07% up compared to the same month last year
(2014).
As a country we have had much milder weather than
we’re used to for November so it seems people made good use of it and continued
to use their outdoor spaces.
Furniture and barbecue sales were also positive
through the month at 13.24% up with a Year to Date (YTD) change of 9.38%. Other
good performers during the month were clothing at 15.14% with a YTD of 14.2%
and catering at 8.39% up with a YTD of 9.27%.
For the month of November the overall garden centre
performance was up by 3.93% with a Year to Date change of 6.22%.
Christmas sales rose steadily at 4.23% up with a YTD
of 7.33%, but they are expected to be much higher in December. Sales in gifts
were 0.67% up with a YTD of 3.04%.
As expected at this time of year, sales in houseplants
were just -0.76% up but with a YTD of 7.11% there is some potential for a
healthy increase in the busy December sales period. Outdoor plants were -5.85%
and seeds and bulbs -2.06%.
Richard Pennell, Managing Director of Pennells Garden
Centre in Lincoln, said: “Following recent development of the centre at Lincoln
we have seen strong growth in sales of outdoor plants from our new canopy area
and indoors from our new food hall. Our restaurant too has seen strong growth.
Customers are looking for a wide range of experiences when they visit a modern
garden centre.”
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.
Matthew Bent, Managing Director at Bents
Garden and Home, said: “The end of 2015 is proving a busy time for Bents with
sales in December already looking good and following what has been a strong
November across the industry. Our results support the GCA figures with our
clothing and Food Hall departments both significantly up on last year. Both
departments are now much bigger and offer a much wider variety of products
following our recent expansion and we are happy the results reflect the work
that has been put in.
“Catering is also up in line with the
industry figures, demonstrating that our more long term and established areas
of the business continue to perform very well.”
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