Sales of houseplants were up just 1.92% while sales of
outdoor plants were down -17.47%. Clothing sales were up 9.95% and catering was
up 8.90%.
April was a very cold and wet month so it’s no
surprise that sales in traditional categories were down. The frost seemed to
linger a lot longer this year, which would have put a lot of people off
gardening.
Another factor for poor sales was that Easter was very
early this year, in March, compared to 2015, when it was in April.
Despite sales in traditional categories being down,
there was some positivity in clothing and catering. Food hall and farm shops
sales were also up 3.70% compared to the same month last year.
Seed and bulb sales were down -9.28%, garden sundries
were down -16.21% and furniture and barbecues sales were down -23.50%.
Steven Palmer, Financial Director at Squires Garden
Centres, which has centres across Surrey, Berkshire and Sussex, said: “Direct
comparisons are distorted due to Easter falling in April in 2015 but not in
2016. The unseasonably poor weather in the south meant reduced demand for
traditional seasonal gardening products, including furniture.
“However, demand for gifts remains robust and bird
care products benefitted from the poor weather.”
Sales in pets and aquatics departments were up 1.45%.
Gift sales were down -1.14% and hard landscaping down -12.68%.
Mark Winchester, Managing Director at Blackbrooks
Garden Centre in East Sussex, said: “April was unseasonably cold and while our
gifts, clothing and catering were up, our horticultural products were down. The
only real winner was our houseplant department, but this could have been in
part due to a redesign incorporating a walk through department on the way to
the checkouts, resulting in a 100% uplift in sales.”
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 BoT reports allow members to compare
their trading positions with other centres.
