Houseplant sales bloom in July

Houseplant sales were on the up at member garden centres across the country in July (2017) according to the results of our Barometer of Trade (BoT) report.

Compared to the same month last year (2016), sales were up 13.95%. Other good sellers during the month included clothing, up 14.4% and catering, up 9.8%.

It was great to see houseplant sales on the increase during July, however it couldn’t beat off the stiff competition from clothing sales, which have been the top seller for the third month in a row.

Seeds and bulbs sales were 7.86% up and food hall and farm shop sales were 0.17% up. Outdoor plants were down -0.22%. garden sundries were down -3.93% and furniture and barbecue sales were also down -3.2%.

Pets and aquatics sales were up 3.92% and hard landscaping was down -0.17%.

Philip Gass, Director at Creative Gardens, said: “July was a good month for us with strong sales increases across the board. The business as a whole saw sales grow 16.5% on July 2016 figures, this increase was boosted by recent improvement works to our Bushmills centre. Our other two locations, Donaghadee and Galgorm Castle, showed growth of around 6%.

“When compared to the same month last year the following departments saw excellent growth: barbecues up 79%, furniture up 117%, helped by increased floor space and better levels of stock, food, confectionary and catering performed well with growth of just under 10%.

“Plant departments did well despite the wet weather, with sales increases of 13% on outdoor plants and 17% on houseplant sales. Our transaction count was up 10.2% on the previous July and our average spend increased by 5.7%.”

Member garden centre sales showed an average overall increase for the month of 2% and a Year to Date growth of 4%.

Justin Williams, Managing Director at Fron Goch Garden Centre, said: “We had an excellent July, 40% up on a reasonable July last year (2016). Garden and furniture and clothing formed the backbone of the increase with a continued strong performance from plants. Plants have been well performing since last September.”

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.

Our Ruxley Rose finalists are announced

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.

Clothing remains a bestseller in June

Clothing remained a bestseller for a second month in our member garden centres across the country in June (2017) according to the results of our Barometer of Trade (BoT) report.

Sales compared to the same month last year (2016) were up 16.71%. Other good performers during the month were furniture and barbecues, up 12.07% and houseplants up 7.31%.

While clothing sales are not as high this month as they were for May, it was still the fastest growing category in our member garden centres for the month of June.

The Great British weather was as unpredictable as ever during June, with the north receiving rain and the south remaining relatively warm and dry. We even experienced some rather hot weather for a brief period. The ever changing weather can cause uncertainty when it comes to gardening, which is why it seems customers stuck to buying in non-traditional categories, such as clothing.

Sales in catering were up 4.01% and food hall and farm shop up 0.8%. Hard landscaping sales were down -1.6%, gifts were down -1.93% and pets and aquatics sales were up 3.24%.

Garden sundries were up 0.2%, seeds and bulbs were down -12.91% and outdoor plants were down -3.18%.

Claire Salt, Clothing and Gift Supervisor at Fairways Garden Centre, said: “For this season in particular we have focused on a more casual style of summer clothing and footwear in our clothing department. Our most popular lines without question have been the floaty Italian style of LV Clothing and the stylish yet reasonably priced shoes from our large offering from LJ&R Footwear.

“Both ranges have been hugely successful with our customers and many leave our garden centre either purchasing a summer top or a pair of glittery flip flops!”

Member garden centre sales showed an average overall decrease for the month of 4.64% but they are still showing average overall Year to Date growth of 6.4%.

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.

Our North Thames award winners are announced

Yesterday (Thursday, July 27) we unveiled our winners for the North Thames region during a presentation at Ayletts Nurseries in Hertfordshire.

Perrywood Garden Centre picked up the award for Garden Centre of the Year in the Destination Garden Centre (DGC) category while Sunshine Garden Centre picked up the accolade in the Garden Centre (GC) category.

Our North Thames regional awards made for a very enjoyable evening for all in attendance and it was great to see the garden centre teams be rewarded for all of the hard work they have put in this year.

Ayletts Nurseries was the perfect host for the evening and Inspector Gordon Emslie’s findings, which he presented on the night, were extremely interesting.

The ifse Award for Catering Excellence for Best Garden Centre Restaurant went to Poplars Garden Centre (DGC) and Thurrock Garden Centre (GC).

The Dick Allen Award for Most Improved Centre was awarded to Marlows Home & Garden Centre.

We will now have a break before the final regional awards evening for Scotland and Northern Ireland, which takes place on September 7 at Klondyke Mayfield.

The full results for the North Thames region GCA area awards are as follows for the GC and DGC categories:

Garden Centre of the Year: Sunshine Garden Centre (GC) and Perrywood Garden Centre (DGC)

Customer Service Award for Best Customer Service: Sunshine Garden Centre

Environment and Community Award for Best Environmental Practice: Squires Garden Centre – Twickenham joint winner with Squires Garden Centre – Windsor

The Barton Grange Trophy for Innovation and Creativity: Perrywood Garden Centre

The Dick Allen Award for Most Improved Centre: Marlows Home & Garden Centre

The ifse Award for Catering Excellence for Best Garden Centre Restaurant: Thurrock Garden Centre (GC) and Poplars Garden Centre (DGC)

The GIMA Award for Best Garden Products Retailer: Sunshine Garden Centre (GC) and Ayletts Nurseries (DGC)

Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer: Squires Garden Centre – Shepperton (GC) and Perrywood Garden Centre (DGC)

Best Outdoor Living Retailer: Squires Garden Centre – Shepperton (GC) and Altons Garden Centre (DGC)

Our South Thames area winners are revealed

The winners of our South Thames regional awards were revealed during a presentation evening yesterday (Wednesday, July 26, 2017) at Castle Gardens in Dorset.

The title of Garden Centre of the Year in the Destination Garden Centre (DGC) category was awarded to Haskins Garden Centre – Roundstone and the Garden Centre (GC) category award went to Squires Garden Centre – Hersham.

This was our fourth regional awards meeting of the month and it was a great success. I’d like to offer thanks to Castle Gardens for being brilliant hosts and congratulate all our very deserving award-winners, who were inspected by Michael Cole.

Other awards on the night included The Barton Grange Trophy for Innovation and Creativity, which was awarded to Haskins Garden Centre – Roundstone and the Dick Allen Award for Most Improved Centre, which went to Hillier Garden Centre – Braishfield.

We’re now looking forward to the penultimate regional awards night for the North Thames area tonight at Ayletts Nurseries in Hertfordshire. The final awards night will take place on September 7 at Klondyke Mayfield to announce the Scotland and Northern Ireland area award winners.

The full results for the South Thames region GCA area awards are as follows for the GC and DGC categories:

Garden Centre of the Year: Squires Garden Centre – Hersham (GC) and Haskins Garden Centre – Roundstone (DGC)

Customer Service Award for Best Customer Service: Haskins Garden Centre – Ferndown

Environment and Community Award for Best Environmental Practice: Stewarts Garden Centre – Christchurch

The Barton Grange Trophy for Innovation and Creativity: Haskins Garden Centre – Roundstone

The Dick Allen Award for Most Improved Centre: Hillier Garden Centre – Braishfield

The ifse Award for Catering Excellence for Best Garden Centre Restaurant: Squires Garden Centre – Hersham (GC) and Haskins Garden Centre – Southampton (DGC) joint winner with Chessington Garden Centre (DGC)

The GIMA Award for Best Garden Products Retailer: Squires Garden Centre – Hersham (GC) and Haskins Garden Centre – Roundstone (DGC)

Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer: Squires Garden Centre – Hersham (GC) and Ruxley Manor Garden Centre (DGC)

Best Outdoor Living Retailer: Squires Garden Centre – Long Ditton (GC) and Stewarts Garden Centre – Christchurch (DGC) joint winner with Haskins Garden Centre – Roundstone (DGC)