Mark says cheese for Swiss experience

The Garden Centre Association (GCA) Trust has announced this month (March, 2016) its first successful candidate to join the Study Tour Group at the International Garden Centre Association (IGCA) Congress.

Mark Scott from Gordale Garden Centre has won the Dick Allen Award funding for a UK garden centre employee to attend the event in Switzerland in August 2016.

Sue Allen, Trust Chairman said: “The Study Tour is aimed at younger family members of family-run garden centres and the staff of centres from 19 countries.

“During the six-day annual Congress, the delegates work together analysing the retailers they visit and discussing a huge range of issues common to all of them, from improving profit, reducing staff turnover, dealing with stress to any other points anyone wishes to raise. Valuable contacts and firm friendships are made.

“Seven excellent applications were considered by the Trustees, who found it very hard to select only one lucky recipient for the award.

“Interestingly, all of those applicants work for garden centres that already understand and appreciate the value of the IGCA Congress. It is hoped that in future years far more centres will support this initiative and realise the benefits for their staff and themselves.

“Mark is absolutely delighted with the opportunity to attend and we’re all really looking forward to hearing about the event when he returns.”

The object of the Trust is to advance among the general public and, in particular among horticultural students, education in horticulture, and particularly garden centres, by the provision and administration of scholarships and bursaries, including prizes to foster such education.

In his application, Mark said: “I am hungry for more. More ideas, more inspiration, more opportunities to expand my knowledge, to indulge my passion for garden centre retailing and to strive towards excellence.”

The Trust aims to assist horticultural students to study, research into and gain experience of horticulture and landscaping.

Sue added: “We have every confidence that Mark’s trip will provide the inspiration and greater knowledge he is looking for, in fact all of that and more.”

Sales of houseplants grow in February

Houseplants were the best performing traditional category during February (2016) according to our BoT report. Sales were 29.83% up compared to the same month last year (2015).

Other good performers were furniture and barbecues up 29.22% and the best performing non-traditional category, clothing, was up 57.94%.

After a couple of months of good performances in clothing and gifts, it’s great to see the houseplants category now having its moment. When the winter weather is properly set in it is always nice to be able to bring some much needed colour into the home and one of the best ways to do this is with houseplants, particularly cyclamen and orchids. February was a particularly popular time for houseplants due to Valentine’s Day.

Other good performers during the month were outdoor plants with sales up 12.1%, garden sundries up 12.8% and hard landscaping up 10.12%.

Sales in pets and aquatics were 16.55% up, gifts up 25.34% and food hall and farm shop sales up 26.92%.

Sales in catering were also impressive at 17.9% up but seeds and bulbs sales were just 3.76% up, however this is expected to pick up in the following months when more people get out into their gardens.

For the month of February the overall garden centre performance and Year to Date change was 20.92%.

Jean Nixon, Managing Director at Thetford Garden Centre, said: “At Thetford Garden Centre we have always been strong and committed to retailing houseplants. They are now positioned right at the front of the garden centre and are going from strength to strength.

“We also sense that after several years of lacklustre performance in many garden centres, houseplants are starting to gain some real momentum, winning sales back from the supermarkets.”

Our BoT results are the only official trading figures to be released.

The 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.

Ben Thompson, Director at Garsons Garden Centre, Esher, which has recently opened a new restaurant, said: “Garsons Esher catering traded 115% up year-on-year for the month of February, 2016.

“Our new restaurant facility and menu offer has proved a hit with customers, and has led to overall garden centre visitor numbers and spend increases. Our spring menu is being launched very soon, and the outdoor dining terrace will also open, providing further capacity.”