Wet weather didn’t dampen outdoor plant sales

Garden centre customers didn’t let the wet weather in January (2014) put them off buying outdoor plants according to our Barometer of Trade (BoT) results.

Outdoor plant sales were up 41.29% for the month as compared to January 2013.

Our new GCA Chair plans to reinvigorate the regions

Our new Chairman pledged to rejuvenate our regional groups as he took on the chains of office at our annual conference last week (January 27, 2014).

Will Armitage, Managing Director of Armitage’s Home and Garden in West Yorkshire, says he wants to get our regions back to being fighting fit during his two-year tenure. 

He said: “The GCA should be proud of what it has to offer. It’s a pretty unique networking opportunity for like-minded people. Our conference has always been a great place to meet and this year was no exception.

“It’s great to share information with other like-minded garden centre owners and operators. The GCA’s strength lies in its membership and the opportunities members have to get together and discuss what they’re doing well, and to share their experiences.

GCA 2014 conference hits all the right notes

Our annual conference has this week (January 26 – 29, 2014) been declared a huge success.

We received excellent feedback from the delegates who attended the conference from Sunday, January 26 until Wednesday, January 29 at the Hilton Blackpool Hotel.

Our Chairman and Managing Director of Armitage’s Home and Garden in West Yorkshire, Will Armitage, said: “This year’s conference has been another resounding success and it is great to hear all of the brilliant feedback from those who went along.

“The event was not only inspiring, but it was also thought provoking and I really enjoyed listening to all of the guest speakers. They gave us all some great advice to take away. Of course it was a wonderful social occasion too with members able to share their experiences with other like-minded business people.”

Award winners announced

The winners of our annual conference awards were announced this week (January 26 – 29, 2014).

The award ceremonies took place at the conference at the Hilton Blackpool Hotel on Monday, January 27 and Tuesday, January 28 and winners were presented with their prizes.

Our Chief Executive, Iain Wylie, said: “Congratulations to everyone who picked up a prize during the conference, you are all very worthy winners and have worked extremely hard during the past year.”

Garden centre team wins Greenfingers Challenge Cup

Some of our members are celebrating today after being crowned the winners in our Beach, Bingo and Boogie event, which took place on Sunday, January 26 in aid of Greenfingers.

The seaside-themed event, which raised £9,600 for Greenfingers, saw the garden centre team, the Pansies, take the winners cup.

Will Armitage, Chairman of the GCA, explained: “Our fundraising events have become a bit of a tradition now to kick off the annual conference. We really look forward to the events every year as they’re great fun to take part in.

“This year we hosted the Beach, Bingo and Boogie, which included beach games such as volleyball and cricket, followed by traditional seaside fish and chips and an evening of bingo. We rounded things off with a bit of a boogie.”

GCA conference

Our Public Relations company Porcupine PR will be running the media centre from its office during our conference from Sunday, January 26 until Wednesday, January 29 and will have a member of staff at the conference on hand to assist you should you require anything media-related at the event including photography.

If there is anything you require, please call 01278 446801 and a member of the Porcupine PR team will be able to help you. If you’re calling on Sunday, January 26 or after 6pm on a week day please call 07725 577020.

Garden centres had sparkling results with Christmas sales

Christmas shoppers headed to our member garden centres rather than the high street for their festive decorations and gifts during November and December (2013) with sales in both categories up on the same months last year.

Our Barometer of Trade (BoT) figures revealed Christmas sales were up by 12.57% in November and 5.95% in December compared to the previous year.

Our Chairman, Peter Burks, explained: “Sales of gifts during November were up 8.14% compared to the previous year and December gift sales were up 5.58% on 2012.

“It’s encouraging to see more people preparing for Christmas by visiting garden centres in their areas instead of high streets to pick up essentials.”