Ruxley Rose garden centre finalists announced

We have announced today (August 15, 2016) the names of the finalist garden centres in our Ruxley Rose competition.

The garden centres with the top scores in the spring bedding and hardy nursery stock categories from our spring inspections have now been put through for autumn judging.

Our four inspectors visited our member garden centres throughout the spring and the plant scores from their inspections determined the 20 finalists to go through to the autumn competition. Now the Ruxley Rose judge, Roger Crookes will visit these centres again in September. Plants are the key differential category for garden centres in spring, he will be keen to see how garden centres are pushing sales.

Nationally the top 10 centres in both the Garden Centre (GC) and Destination Garden Centre (DGC) categories will be revisited in September and Roger will look at how our members are continuing to promote and sell plants during the autumn selling season.

The finalists in the Garden Centre category are:

• Cowell’s Garden Centre in the North East
• Creative Gardens Donaghadee in Northern Ireland
• Fairways Garden Centre – Ashbourne in the Midlands
• Garden Wise (Dumfries) Ltd in Scotland
• Planters at Bretby Ltd in the Midlands
• Squires Garden Centre – Cobham in South Thames
• Squires Garden Centre – Milford in South Thames
• Sunshine Garden Centre in North Thames
• Thompson’s Plant & Garden Centre – Newchurch in South Thames
• Thompson’s Plant & Garden Centre – Welling in South Thames.

The finalists in the Destination Garden Centre category are:

• Barton Grange Garden Centre in the North West
• Bents Garden & Home in the North West
• Burston Rose and Garden Centre in North Thames
• Coolings Nurseries in South Thames
• Haskins Garden Centre – Southampton in South Thames
• Newbridge Nurseries in South Thames
• Perrywood Garden Centre & Nurseries Ltd in North Thames
• Simpsons Garden Centre in Scotland
• Squires Garden Centre – Twickenham in North Thames
• Stewarts Christchurch in South Thames.

Congratulations to those garden centres and their teams and good luck and best wishes to them all for the next stage of the judging process.

The two winners (GC and DGC) will be announced and presented with their trophies at our annual conference which is being held in St. Andrews, from January 22 until 25, 2017.

We’ve announced our area award winners

We have recently revealed our area award winners during presentations held at member garden centres.

Awards were presented to garden centres in the North Thames, North West, South Thames, Wales & West, Midlands and North East regions with the winners in Scotland and Northern Ireland to be announced on August 31.

During each presentation evening inspectors for each area announced their findings after carrying out their inspections earlier in the year, highlighting best practice and new ideas as well as revealing the area winners in the two categories: Destination Garden Centre (DGC) and Garden Centre (GC).

We would like to say a huge congratulations to all of the winners and a big ‘thank you’ to The Old Railway Line Garden Centre, Tong Garden Centre, RHS Wisley, Thurrock Garden Centre and Pennells Garden Centre – Lincoln for playing hosts for the various events.

The results from the inspections form the basis for many of the national GCA awards, which will be presented at next year’s conference, which is in St. Andrews from January 22 until 25.

The final area awards evening for Scotland and Northern Ireland will take place on Wednesday, August 31 at Creative Gardens Galgorm Castle.

The full list of winners in the area awards are:

North Thames:

• Garden Centre of the Year – Burston Garden Centre (DGC) and Sunshine Garden Centre (GC)
• Best Creativity and Innovation – Burston Garden Centre (DGC) and Squires Garden Centre – Twickenham (GC)
• Most Improved Centre – Frosts at Millets Farm
• Best Customer Service – Aylett Nurseries
• Best Garden Products Retailer – Burston Garden Centre (DGC) and Squires Garden Centre – Shepperton (GC)
• Best Garden Centre Restaurant – Poplars Garden Centre (DGC), Frosts at Woburn Sands (DGC), Frosts at Willington (DGC), Thurrock Garden Centre (GC), Squires Garden Centre – Shepperton (GC)
• Best Outdoor Living Retailer – Van Hage Garden Company – Great Amwell (DGC) and Sunshine Garden Centre (GC)
• Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer – Burford Garden Company (DGC) and Squires Garden Centre – Shepperton (GC)
• Best Environmental Practice – Burston Garden Centre.

North West:

• Garden Centre of the Year – Bents Garden and Home (DGC) and Fron Goch Garden Centre (GC)
• Best Creativity and Innovation – Bents Garden and Home
• Most Improved Centre – Gordale Garden Centre
• Best Customer Service – Barton Grange Garden Centre
• Best Garden Products Retailer – Barton Grange Garden Centre (DGC) and Klondyke Daleside Garden Centre (GC)
• Best Garden Centre Restaurant – Bents Garden and Home (DGC) and Fron Goch Garden Centre (GC)
• Best Outdoor Living Retailer – Bents Garden and Home (DGC) and Fron Goch Garden Centre (GC)
• Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer – Barton Grange Garden Centre (DGC) and Fairways Garden Centre Macclesfield (GC) and Burleydam Garden Centre (GC)
• Best Environmental Practice – Gordale Garden Centre.

South Thames:

• Garden Centre of the Year – Stewarts Christchurch (DGC) and Squires Garden Centre – Milford (GC)
• Best Creativity and Innovation – Haskins Garden Centre – Southampton
• Most Improved Centre – The Wisley Plant Centre
• Best Customer Service – Stewarts Christchurch
• Best Garden Products Retailer – Haskins Roundstone Garden Centre (DGC) and Squires Garden Centre – Milford (GC)
• Best Garden Centre Restaurant – Haskins Garden Centre – Ferndown (DGC) and Knights Plant and Life – Godstone (GC)
• Best Outdoor Living Retailer – Stewarts Christchurch (DGC) and Squires Garden Centre – Milford (GC)
• Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer – Haskins Roundstone Garden Centre (DGC), Squires Garden Centre – Badshot Lea (DGC), Squires Garden Centre – Milford (GC) and Blackbrooks Garden Centre (GC)
• Best Environmental Practice – The Wisley Plant Centre.

Wales & West:

• Garden Centre of the Year – Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre (DGC) and The Old Railway Line Nursery and Garden Centre (GC)
• Best Creativity and Innovation – Whitehall Garden Centre – Lacock
• Most Improved Centre – Hillier Garden Centre – Bath
• Best Customer Service – The Old Railway Line Nursery and Garden Centre
• Best Garden Products Retailer – Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre (DGC) and The Old Railway Line Nursery and Garden Centre (GC)
• Best Garden Centre Restaurant – Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre (DGC) and RHS Rosemoor Plant Centre and Shop (GC)
• Best Outdoor Living Retailer – Bernaville Nurseries (DGC) and Hillier Garden Centre – Bath (GC)
• Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer – Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre (DGC) and Hillier Garden Centre – Bath
• Best Environmental Practice – Whitehall Garden Centre – Lacock.

Midlands:

• Garden Centre of the Year – Pennells Garden Centre – Lincoln (DGC) and Fairways Garden Centre – Ashbourne (GC)
• Best Creativity and Innovation – Planters Garden Centre – Tamworth
• Most Improved Centre – Langlands Garden Centre – Loxley
• Best Customer Service – Fairways Garden Centre – Ashbourne
• Best Garden Products Retailer – Van Hage – Peterborough (DGC) and Fairways Garden Centre – Ashbourne (GC)
• Best Garden Centre Restaurant – Planters Garden Centre – Tamworth (DGC) and Blue Diamond Chatsworth Garden Centre (GC)
• Best Outdoor Living Retailer – Brigg Garden Centre (DGC) and Fairways Garden Centre – Ashbourne (GC)
• Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer – Blue Diamond Evesham Garden Centre (DGC) and Fairways Garden Centre – Ashbourne (GC)
• Best Environmental Practice – Planters at Bretby.

North East:

• Garden Centre of the Year – Langlands Garden Centre – Shiptonthorpe (DGC) and Cowell’s Garden Centre (GC)
• Best Creativity and Innovation – Cowell’s Garden Centre
• Most Improved Centre – Klondyke Stokesley Garden Centre
• Best Customer Service – Cowell’s Garden Centre
• Best Garden Products Retailer – Langlands Garden Centre – Shiptonthorpe (DGC) and Cowell’s Garden Centre
• Best Garden Centre Restaurant – Langlands Garden Centre – Shiptonthorpe (DGC) and Klondyke Stokesley Garden Centre (GC)
• Best Outdoor Living Retailer – Langlands Garden Centre – Shiptonthorpe (DGC) and Klondyke Beverley Garden Centre (GC)
• Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer – Langlands Garden Centre – Shiptonthorpe (DGC) and Klondyke Northallerton Garden Centre (GC)
• Best Environmental Practice – Cowell’s Garden Centre and Langlands Garden Centre – Shiptonthorpe.

Non-traditional categories shine despite weather in June

Sales in non-traditional categories at garden centres across the country were up during June (2016) but due to wet weather traditional categories were down according to our Barometer of Trade (BoT) report.

Outdoor plant sales were down -4.70% and sales of houseplants were down -1.33% while clothing was up 18.01% and catering was up 10.65%.

June’s BoT figures are a bit of a contrast to what we saw in May. Due to the May Bank Holidays we saw super sales in more traditional categories but June was a bit of a washout with lots of wet weather, leading to sales being down in the traditional categories.

Garden Sundries were down -4.11% and furniture and barbecue sales were at -8.13% while seed and bulb sales were up slightly at 0.07%. Sales in pets and aquatics departments were down -1.37%.

At times like this, when we can’t rely on the Great British weather, we can rely on the fact that many garden centre’s are now destinations with restaurants, cafes and even farm shops and people don’t visit them just for the plants anymore. This is proved in the rise in sales in non-traditional categories. Food hall and farm shop sales were up 4.32% and gifts were up 0.31%.

Sales showed a Year to Date increase of 3.85% and June’s overall monthly sales, compared to the same month last year were -1.47% down.

The BoT reports allow members to compare their trading positions with other centres.

Justin Williams, Managing Director at Fron Goch Garden Centre in Wales, which saw good sales in its restaurant in June, said: “June, in which many core gardening lines struggled against last year’s figures, saw the restaurant hold its monthly average increase on last year of 20%. Last summer, in the restaurant, we invested in a re-fit and increased the number of covers to 200, which has delivered 20% growth since September 1, 2015.”

The GCA represents nearly 200 garden centres nationwide.

Tammy Woodhouse, Manging Director at Millbrook Garden Centres in Kent and East Sussex, which had good plant sales during June, said: “I would put our good plant sales in June largely down to our Rose Festival, which we have been running for three years. We find it a really good way to shift the focus from bedding and give customers a good reason to visit.

“We work with the growers and they select the best looking roses in flower to send us and we create lovely displays. We hold a preview evening for our best customers, with rose specialists on hand, customers can shop with a glass of fizz and chocolate dipped strawberries and mini rose scones. Not only do we see an increase in our rose sales but it also grows our overall plant sales.”

Rising Stars participants reach crucial stage in programme

Participants in this year’s Rising Stars 2016 programme sponsored by Westland Horticulture took part in masterclasses recently (July, 2016) at Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre in Somerset and Bents Garden and Home in Cheshire.

During both days they gave PowerPoint presentations to each other showing the results of their recent merchandising projects.

Ian Boardman, Director of IBBIS (UK) Limited, who facilitated the two-day-long events, said: “Some impressive results were demonstrated with sales and profits up 116% in one case and 150% in another on the products they focused on. The highest sales growth – using the principles covered in a previous workshop – was a fantastic 900% uplift in sales of hanging basket cones. For many of them it was the first time they had presented to a group and they all did very well.

“The workshop at Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre coincided with a fantastic fundraising day the garden centre was hosting for Barnardo’s. So while building displays to showcase what they had learnt, delegates were boogying to a live jazz band and shimmying on their way to find props for displays. The centre was buzzing with customers too – who kept buying from their displays as they built them!

“All of this was going on under the watchful eye of a previous Rising Stars’ winner – Will Michieli. Will won in 2013 and is a team member at Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre.”

While at Bents in Cheshire, the Rising Star’s visit coincided with the launch of its summer sale – with customers flocking in to pick up bargains.

Now that the Rising Stars have completed their spring projects and attended two workshops, a shortlist of the best 10 candidates will be selected for further challenges, leading up to the top five presenting at the GCA Conference in St Andrews in January.

Keith Nicholson, Marketing Director for Westland Horticulture, said: “This is the time of year when the competition really starts. The Rising Stars programme is a pleasure to sponsor as the standard is always high and this year is no exception. We will watch and wait to see who steps up in the final stages and is ultimately crowned Rising Star of the Year!”

Candidates’ work has been assessed throughout the year to review the various elements on which the finalists have received training. The best performers will be invited to the 2017 GCA conference where they will showcase some of their work to the audience and talk about the difference it has made. A final winner will then be voted for by conference attendees.

Our Rising Stars programme has been a huge success during the past seven years and once again we’re delighted with the standard of participants who all seem highly motivated.

Alyson, Andy and Ian step down as GCA inspectors

Our inspectors Alyson Haywood, Andy Campbell and Ian Boardman are standing down from their roles at the organisation this year (2016).

Alyson is taking on an operational post with Van Hage, Andy wishes to spend less time away from home and more time with his family and Ian is going forward to work on other projects.

Our Chief Executive, Iain Wylie said: “We’re really sorry to see these three widely respected industry experts go, but completely understand their individual decisions to step down at this stage and wish them all the very best with their new ventures.

“They have all been a pleasure to work with and an integral part of the organisation. They will be missed and I’d like to thank them for all their hard work and commitment.”

Industry stalwart and GCA inspector Roger Crookes will continue in his role with us.

Iain added: “We’ve begun the task to look for replacements and we’re very happy to speak to people interested in the posts from all areas of the industry. Anyone keen to find out more about the role should contact me via email or phone at the GCA before we start the recruitment process in earnest so we can ensure they get full details sent out to them.

“We view this very much as an opportunity to re-fresh our team of GCA inspectors and we’re seeing this as a positive situation moving forward, although of course we’re very sad to see Alyson, Andy and Ian go.”

Prior to joining our team of inspectors, Alyson was a General Operations Manager at Wyevale Garden Centres and was responsible for six Regional Managers. Her other roles have included: General Manager at Woodlands Nurseries, General Manager at Bridgemere Garden World and Head of Nurseries and Regional Manager with The Garden Centre Group.

Julian Winfield, our Chairman, said: “The GCA appreciates the effort and contributions over the years from the Alyson, Andy and Ian, and the inspection process has undoubtedly improved standards with our members.”

Andy has been a vital part of the GCA inspection team for the past 12 years.

He said: “I would like to think that I have served the GCA members well during this time, supporting the members in improving retail disciplines and customer service standards as they develop their businesses.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in this role and learnt a lot at the same time. I would like to thank the GCA for enabling me to participate in what I believe is a very powerful business improvement tool and wish them well for the future.

“My reasons for leaving are entirely personal. With a young teenage family, I wish to spend more time at home during these important years, recognising that before I know it they will be making their own way in life. This is not retirement, simply a re-balancing of home and work life.”

Ian has extensive horticultural and retail experience having worked in the garden centre industry for the past 40 years. Prior to becoming one of our inspectors, he was employed for three years as plant area manager and for 10 years as a general manager responsible for a team of more than 100. Ian has also worked in France for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Ian said: “There can’t be many more industries where members are so open about sharing information to help each other improve. It’s been a privilege to work for GCA for some 17 years – helping develop the inspection process and developing member businesses. It’s hard work and very intense for three-four months each spring. I’ve worked with a great team of inspectors – and a great team at GCA. So huge thanks to all involved. I look forward to hearing how the new inspection team develops the process even further and wish them every success.”

For further information about the role of inspector with us, please call 0118 930 8918. Alternatively, please visit www.gca.org.uk, log on to www.facebook.com/pages/Garden-Centre-Association or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GC_Association.

May Bank Holidays boost garden centre sales

Sales in traditional and non-traditional categories were up during May thanks to the Bank Holidays according to our Barometer of Trade results.

Furniture and barbecue sales were up 35.21% while more traditional outdoor plant sales were up 20.42%.

After a very wet and cold April, May was very much an improvement weather wise and the two Bank Holiday Weekends certainly led to a boost in sales.

For many a traditional Bank Holiday activity is to pop to the local garden centre and it looks like lots of people did this as both traditional and non-traditional categories did well during the month.

Houseplant sales were up 5.56%, clothing sales were up 19.45%, catering was up 7.62% and food hall and farm shop sales were up 11.34%. The only sales that were down were gifts at -0.92%.”

Seed and bulb sales were up 16.52%, garden sundries were up 18.11 %, pets and aquatics up 2.86% and hard landscaping was up 15.97%.

Sales showed a Year to Date increase of 7.5% and May’s overall increase was 17.2%.

Mike Burks, Managing Director of The Gardens Group, which has centres in Sherborne and Poundbury in Dorset and in Yeovil, Somerset, said: “It was a very strong start to May albeit comparing to two rather ordinary months in 2014 and 2015.

“The second weekend was very busy and perhaps even record breaking certainly against recent years. The mix of product such as plants, compost and pots by the trolley full felt like the old days.”

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.

Julian Winfield, Chairman of the Garden Centre Association and Chief Executive of Haskins Garden Centres, said: “Like all garden centres we have been ready for some warm weather since the beginning of March and it was a relief when the sun came out. 

“The good thing about great weather in May is that everything performs well and it did!”

The BoT reports allow members to compare their trading positions with other centres.

Andrew Pitman, Store Manager at Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre in Taunton, Somerset, which is a member of the Garden Centre Association, said: “We had a good first May Bank Holiday and it was helped by the fact we had great weather and some glorious sunshine. It’s always reassuring to see positive Bank Holiday sales when the weather is on our side. Traditional gardening sales were on the up.

“Even with the many other attractions we have on site such as our restaurant and our Craft and Pet centres, trade is, and always will be, measured by the weather.”