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.”
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