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elcome to the August issue of Garden Centre Retail magazine, the only resource you need to keep up to date with all the latest goings-on in the industry. Over recent years, the garden centre sector has seen a raft of profound changes to the way it does business, something prompted mainly by greater consumer expectation in terms of choice. The internet – alongside the growing phenomena of garden centres as destinations – has meant that nowadays it’s not enough to expect your customers to just turn up, buy and go. One manifestation of this is the greater involvement of garden centres in the lives of local people, not just as a retail outlet, but almost as a stakeholder in the health of the community itself. This is something we celebrate at GCR – and that we look at in-depth in this issue, with the help of Kevin Waters, Sarah Squire and David Domoney (the latter of whom’s Cultivation Street project is making a real difference in brightening up communities, while getting the UK back to gardening). One site that takes full advantage of a connection with its surroundings is Longacres in Surrey, which prides itself on knowing its local customer base inside out. Longacres is the most successful garden centre in the UK in terms of turnover, and in this issue we interview chief executive Nigel Long on the benefits of piling it high, selling
it cheap – while all the time giving them exactly what they want. On the subject of selling, GCR was also pleased to hear of the government’s plans, announced in the summer budget, to relax Sunday trading laws for bigger retail premises. Whatever the (perfectly valid) moral and even religious issues around shopping and staffing on the traditional day of rest, there is no doubt that the change will provide a boon for business. Skip to page 14 for the reaction of retail and horticultural expert Jonathan Ward – and once you’ve finished reading, please do give us your reaction to this momentous piece of news. Enjoy the issue. Phil Mason Commissioning Editor, Garden Centre Retail
ADVERTISING Business Development Manager Jamie Wilkinson jamie.wilkinson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 588 Account Manager – Ellie Downes ellie.downes@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 587 Sales Executive – Amber Bernabe amber.bernabe@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 581 Accounts – Lisa Woollard accounts@eljays44.com. Tel: 01903 777 572 Horticulture Careers. Tel: 01903 777 580 PRODUCTION Design Alan Wares Production Editor – Susie Duff susie.duff@eljays44.com Subeditor – Toby Wilsdon toby.wilsdon@eljays44.com Printed by Pensord Press Ltd, Gwent, UK Published by ©Eljays44 Ltd MANAGEMENT Managing Director – Jim Wilkinson Director – Lisa Wilkinson Business Development Manager – Jamie Wilkinson
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EDITORIAL Director – Lisa Wilkinson lisa.wilkinson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 579 Commissioning Editor – Philip Mason philip.mason@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 575 Editorial Assistant – Mollie Bennett mollie.bennett@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 583
Garden Centre Retail is published 12 times per year by Eljays44 Ltd. 2015 subscription price is £95.00. Subscription records are maintained at Eljays44 Ltd, 3 Churchill Court, 112 The Street, Rustington, West Sussex BN16 3DA. Articles and information contained in this publication are the copyright of Eljays44 Ltd and may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publishers. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for loss of, or damage to, uncommissioned photographs or manuscripts.
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Whilst every effort has been made to maintain the integrity of our advertisers, we accept no responsibility for any problem, complaints, or subsequent litigation arising from readers’ responses to advertisements in the magazine. We also wish to emphasise that views expressed by editorial contributors are not necessarily those of the publishers. Reproduction of any part of this magazine is strictly forbidden.
Garden Centre Retail August 2015
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