We
have today (August 11, 2017) announced the names of the finalist garden centres
in our Ruxley Rose competition.
The
20 centres all received top scores in the spring bedding and hardy nursery
stock categories from our spring inspections and have now been put through for
autumn judging.
Our
member garden centres received visits from our inspectors throughout the spring
and their findings have determined 10 finalists in the Garden Centre (GC)
category and 10 finalists in the Destination Garden Centre (DGC) category, who
will go through to the autumn competition.
Our
Ruxley Rose judge, Roger Crookes, will visit the centres again in September to
see how members are continuing to promote and sell plants during the autumn
selling season.
Roger
will be looking for excellent quality, range and presentation of plants. Layout
of the plant area is also considered, including overall impression, access and
use of demonstration areas.
Staff
at our member garden centres are also judged on their knowledge and customer
care, the promotions they run and special features, such as new varieties.
A winner from each category will be determined and
announced during our annual conference at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in
Stratford-upon-Avon from January 21 until 24.
The
finalists in the Garden Centre category are:
- Cowell’s Garden Centre in the North East
- Fairways Garden Centre – Ashbourne in the Midlands
- Fron Goch Garden Centre in the North West
- Garden Wise (Dumfries) Ltd in Scotland
- Mains of Drum Garden Centre Ltd in Scotland
- Meadow Croft Garden Centre in North Thames
- Pacific Nurseries in the Midlands
- Planters at Bretby Ltd in the Midlands
- Stratford Garden Centre in the Midlands
- Sunshine Garden Centre in North Thames
The
finalists in the Destination Garden Centre category are:
- Aylett Nurseries Ltd in North Thames
- Barton Grange Garden Centre in the North West
- Bents Garden & Home in the North West
- Bicester Avenue Garden Centre in North Thames
- Burston Rose and Garden Centre in North Thames
- Pennells Garden Centre – Lincoln in the Midlands
- Perrywood Garden Centre & Nurseries Ltd in North Thames
- Simpsons Garden Centre in Scotland
- Squires Garden Centre – Twickenham in North Thames
- Woodlands Nurseries in the Midlands.
This
prestigious competition aims to inspire our member garden centres to maintain
best practice at all times and have centres that are inviting and attractive to
customers. It is a competition that our members work hard towards throughout
the year.
Members
also benefit simply from having a visit from Roger to give them practical
advice on achieving best practice as well as showcasing their own innovative
sales initiatives.
Congratulations
to those garden centres and their teams who have made it through and good luck
and best wishes to them all for the next stage of the judging process.
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