Garden Centre Retail October/November 2018 by Eljays44

Garden Centre Retail ISSUE 39

•

PEOPLE • PRODUCTS • PROFIT

October/November 2 018

THE INTERVIEW

YOUR

RUSHLANDS PLANT CENTRE

THE WONDERS OF

GLEE ROUNDUP

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SHOW

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OFFICE PLANT OF THE YEAR CONTENDERS

THREE FINALISTS

PET PRODUCTS THE LATEST BRANDS TO BROWSE

10/10/2018 14:19

MOULTON MILL CARBON STEEL GARDEN TOOLS Ergonomically shaped Y handle

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Moulton Mill carbon steel tools are coated, and heat treated to create a strong and adaptable range of tools. Our garden tools are quality assured and finished in our recognised premium Moulton Mill heritage look and feel. To find out more contact your Gardman agent or call sales on +44 (0)1406 372 237

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Welcome

WELCOME TO...

Garden Centre Retail W

elcome to the winter issue of Garden Centre Retail. We’re now out of event season, the peak being Glee at the NEC on 10–12 September. This year was a positive installation of the show – the buzz around the venue was fantastic and the exhibitors went all out on their stands. Although the 2018 show was positive for the industry and for Garden Centre Retail, we’re keen to see how the shift from Monday-Wednesday to Tuesday-Thursday will work in 2019. It seems like the right thing to do – garden centres are at their busiest on Monday mornings, with meetings, restocking etc. We will continue to support the show going forward and look forward to working with the team for 2019. In the meantime, check out our roundup of images on page 12. For the rest of the issue, we have an interview with Adrian Hillman at Rushfields Plant Centre in Steyning. The business has been on the same site for over 30 years but has adapted and moved with the times fantastically. Read all about it on page 16. As well as this, we have a look at festive Christmas menu for a garden centre, we investigate the worth of a temporary structure to expand floor space in your centre and an extra special feature on the trend of gardening with wildlife in mind. We’ve included information on the three shortlisted plants for office plant of the year 2018, and product details of the pets, candles and garden ornament sectors. Have a great month, see you in November for our second edition of the Independent Business Supplement.

CONTACT Eljays44 Ltd 3 Churchill Court, 112 The Street, Rustington, West Sussex BN16 3DA EDITORIAL Managing Editor – Joe Wilkinson joe.wilkinson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 577 Subeditor – Kia Wilson kia.wilson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 597 ADVERTISING Sales Manager – Tina Savelle tina.savelle@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 582 Horticulture Careers – Liam Colclough Tel: 01903 777 584 liam.colclough@eljays44.com PRODUCTION Design – Kara Thomas, Kirsty Turek Printed by Pensord Press Ltd, Gwent, UK Published by ©Eljays44 Ltd

Joe Wilkinson Managing Editor, Garden Centre Retail joe.wilkinson@eljays44.com

We will continue to support the show going forward

MANAGEMENT Managing Director – Jim Wilkinson Director – Lisa Wilkinson Business Development Manager – Jamie Wilkinson MARKETING AND CIRCUL ATION Client relations – Amber Bernabe amber.bernabe@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 581 Subscription enquiries – Chris Anderson chris.anderson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 588

Garden Centre Retail is published bimonthly by Eljays44 Ltd. The 2018 subscription price is £95. 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, non-commissioned photographs or manuscripts.

Joe and the GCR team

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@GardenRetailUK Garden Centre Retail Garden Centre Retail www.gardencentreretail.com

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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 October/November 2018

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Contents

CO NTE NT S NEWS

BUSINESS

06 NEWS

A roundup of the latest news from the sector

09 ASSOCIATION NEWS

Updates from the HTA and GCA

12 GLEE OUT & ABOUT

Highlights of this year’s show

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2018

PRODUCTS

16 THE INTERVIEW

36 PLANT FOCUS

21 SERENE STAFFING

40 GIMA MEMBERS’ GLEE NEWS

22 TEMPORARY STRUCTURES

42 PETS

25 CATERING FOCUS

44 CANDLES

29 WILDLIFE GARDENING

47 GARDEN ORNAMENTS

Adrian Hillman, Rushﬁelds Plant Centre Top tips for managing your team Expanding your retail space quickly Festive fare for a Christmas menu The growing trend for conservation

Ofﬁce plants of the year Product launches at this year’s event A look at the latest products Bright ideas for gifts Cute and quirky outdoor ideas

49 ANATOMY OF A PRODUCT Evergreen Garden Care

50 TRADING WITH

Pelsis

36 29 12

www.gardencentreretail.com

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Garden Centre Retail October/November 2018

10/10/2018 13:23

News

NEWS CENTRE Garden King purchases their site from neighbours Buildbase

arden King has completed the purchase of their site in Newhall, Swadlincote. The site was rented from neighbouring Buildbase since trading started in 2000. Now that the purchase of the site is complete, the company has gained extra space to increase the popular caravan storage facility. They’ve also gained extra car parking, two more units

on the site and the woods that border the site too. Garden King has had a fantastic year of trading, with four consecutive record sales months (May to August). The company has seen a sales growth of 19% for the year so far. The company looks forward to finally being able to develop the site further to enhance the customer environment. They’re pleased to have secured their future at the site. www.gardenking.co.uk

Studley Green Garden Centre acquired by Capital Gardens

tudley Green Garden Centre has become the latest acquisition for Capital Gardens. The company has expanded their portfolio to four garden centres. The group also owns Alexandra Palace, Neals Nursery and Woods of Berkhamsted. Plans will include a formula of expert customer service, quality plants and wider product offering. Footfall driving events and strong ties with the local community will also be in view. New Centre Manager Phil Munn will oversee the change. All existing staff will stay on with the company. They’re looking forward to working with Capital Gardens to improve the centre. Phil Munn says: “Studley

Green is a fantastic intimate garden centre. I’m looking forward to working with Capital Gardens and my new team to revitalise its offering.” Colin Campbell-Preston, managing director at Capital Gardens, comments: “We’re excited to have acquired Studley Green. “We’re looking forward to implementing our unique business blueprint based on a strong plant offering. We will be putting our signature Capital Garden stamp onto the centre to establish it as a leading centre locally. “We want to keep Studley Green at the heart of the community and look forward to what the future has to hold!” www.capitalgardens.co.uk

Flopro in £2m largest consumer giveaway

he new Flopro Classic hose reel hit the market at GLEE 2018 with 30,000 units to be given away. Flopro have arranged the deal with a national newspaper whose readers collect vouchers. They will then need to visit their nearest participating centre to receive a brand-new hose reel for free.

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Garden Centre Retail October/November 2018

The promotion launched at the GLEE show in readiness for its press launch on Easter Saturday 2019. The hose manufacturer will receive extensive editorial coverage in the national press across the UK and southern Ireland, creating the biggest trade and consumer promotion in the industry.

Participating garden centres will receive around 100 Classic hose reels free of charge. The deal – a £2m investment by Flopro – will move the brand to ‘must stock’ for all garden centres and encourage visitors to view and buy accessories, creating incremental sales and profit for the retailer. www.flopro-uk.com

www.gardencentreretail.com

10/10/2018 10:35

News

Winter Wonderland and garden centre forced to close

raffic chaos caused by a Winter Wonderland in an Essex Garden Centre means the garden centre has to stop trading. St John’s Plant Centre in Clacton won a High Court battle to stay open last year. But Tendring District Council says it still doesn’t have the correct planning permission and that the roads and access routes are unable to cope with the traffic. The council claims that the nursery only has permission to operate as a wholesale outlet. It now has six weeks to wrap up unauthorised trade.

Fred Nicholls, cabinet member for corporate enforcement at Tendring District Council says: “We understand that the Winter Wonderland attraction is popular. We do not want to spoil people’s fun, but it is not fair on other businesses which work hard to follow planning law. “The access road is not suitable for such large numbers of vehicles, nor is the junction with St John’s Road able to cope. Last year we saw long queues, which also cause a blight for nearby residents.” www.stjohnsgardencentre.co.uk

Dobbies to open soft play centre in Southport

obbies Garden Centre in Southport has opened a soft play centre aimed at children up to 10 years old and including a special toddler zone for those aged under four. Zoe Stanmore, community champion at Dobbies Southport, says: “Making our customers happy is our priority at Dobbies. We’re delighted to have the new soft play for families to enjoy. “The kids can play while parents, grandparents and carers can take a well-earned break with a snack or a hot drink. They will still be able to watch how much fun their little ones are having.” Each session costs £3.50 per child for 90 minutes, or £3 per child per 90 minutes for Dobbies Rewards members. 50p from each visit will be donated to charity. www.dobbies.com

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Hillier welcomes two members to its board of directors

illier Nurseries has announced the appointment of two new members to its board of directors. George and Martin Hillier will both be joining the board on Thursday 6 September. George will continue to manage the property portfolio as director of property. Martin will take on the role of a non-executive director. Chairman of Hillier, Robert Hillier, comments: “We’re delighted to welcome George and Martin to the board. “We’re proud to be a family business that looks to the future. It’s wonderful to have the fifth generation of the Hillier family involved at board level. “They will continue to build on the fantastic achievements of the last 154 years. And to drive this forward in the coming years.” www.hillier.co.uk

Blue Diamond Cardiff hit by fire five years after burning to the ground

garden centre in Cardiff has caught fire, two years after re-opening following a devastating blaze. A fire destroyed Blue Diamond Garden centre on Newport Road, St Mellons in 2013. Firefighters were able to contain the flames to stop them spreading, but huge amounts of stock succumbed to the flames. In the early hours on Sunday August 26, staff at the garden centre found out a fire had broken out. All franchise tenants at the centre will

remain closed until further notice. Staff at the centre are having to work their contracted hours in other garden centres to earn their pay. None of the franchises were available to comment. A spokesperson for Blue Diamond group, says: “We are aware of a small bin fire on the outside of the premises. The cause of which is unknown. “A small amount of damage had occurred to the side of the building. www.bluediamond.gg

Garden Centre Retail October/November 2018 7

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HTA News

HTA NEWS

Catch up on what’s happening this month with news from the Horticultural Trades Association

Board appointments ratiﬁed at HTA AGM

he HTA AGM took place at Glee on 11 September and saw the strengthening of the Board with several key appointments being made: • Boyd Douglas-Davies from Hillview Garden Centres as vice-president • Matthew Bent from Bents Garden & Home as a director • Richard Pyrah from Kelkay as (GIMA president) as director • Brian Fraser from Oakover Nurseries as director Commenting on the appointments HTA president Adam Taylor says: “We welcome these new appointments. They help to build a board for the future ensuring that all sectors of the members are well represented. “As a membership association it is vital that we hear members’ voices. I would encourage everyone to talk with members of the board, HTA Council or Senior Leadership team to get your points across.”

Members from across the sector attending the meeting received the ﬁnance reports and annual review. They also re-appointed BDO as auditors. Dougal Philip provided an update on activity, including a case study.

A small increase to subscriptions was passed in light of the difﬁcult start to 2018 and Brexit uncertainty. The minutes of the AGM will be available for members to view on the HTA website in due course.

Save the date for National Children’s Gardening Week

ational Children’s Gardening Week (NCGW) is to promote gardening to the general public and to encourage garden centres across the UK to hold events throughout the week of Saturday 25 May–Sunday 2 June 2019. The HTA uses the National Garden Gift Voucher (NGGV) scheme to promote and operate the week. This year around 300 garden centres took part. The aim of NCGW is to get as many schools, children and their families involved in gardening and having fun. 2018 was the ﬁrst year that the HTA took the project on and it turned out to be very successful. The campaign put gardening

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HTA News.indd 9

project ideas in front of half a million consumers through the website, social media and in store. Once again Chris Collins will be our celebrity ambassador for 2019. We’re delighted he’ll be involved in designing more fun and educational garden projects for kids to enjoy. NCGW, like the NGGV scheme, supports the Greenfingers Charity. Greenfingers builds magical gardens for children in hospices and their families to relax and benefit from. An information pack with more details about NCGW 2019 and how to get involved will be delivered to HTA members later this year. ◗

Garden Centre Retail October/November 2018

10/10/2018 09:51

News GCA

GCA NEWS

A roundup of the latest industry news and views from the Garden Centre Association this month

GCA Scotland and Northern Ireland regional winners revealed

embers of The Garden Centre Association in Scotland and Northern Ireland are celebrating after picking up awards during a presentation evening on 29 August at Simpsons Garden Centre. In Scotland The Mains of Drum Garden Centre was awarded Garden Centre of the Year in the Garden Centre (GC) category and Simpsons Garden Centre in the Destination Garden Centre (DGC) category. In Northern Ireland the award for Garden Centre of the Year (GC) went to Creative Gardens Donaghadee.

Iain Wylie, chief executive of the GCA, says: “Our ﬁnal regional awards presentation evening was a huge success and it was wonderful to hear from Inspector Alyson Haywood, who presented her ﬁndings from her inspections, which took place earlier in the year. “It was great to see all of our members taking in the feedback from Alyson and we hope to see it all put into practice in the very near future. “In Scotland, Caulders Garden Centre, Kirkintilloch picked up The Dick Allen Award for Most Improved Centre and

Scotland

Northern Ireland

• Garden Centre of the Year: The Mains of Drum Garden Centre (GC) and Simpsons Garden Centre (DGC) • Best Customer Service: The Mains of Drum Garden Centre • Environment and Community Award: Garden Wise – Dumfries • The Barton Grange Trophy for Innovation and Creativity: Simpsons Garden Centre • The Dick Allen Award for Most Improved Centre: Caulders Garden Centre, Kirkintilloch • The IFSE Award for Catering Excellence for Best Garden Centre Restaurant: Klondyke Mayﬁeld Garden Centre (GC) and Simpsons Garden Centre (DGC) • The GIMA Award for Best Garden Products Retailer: The Mains of Drum Garden Centre (GC) and Simpsons Garden Centre (DGC) • Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer: The Mains of Drum Garden Centre (GC) and Simpsons Garden Centre (DGC) • Best Outdoor Living Retailer: Gouldings Garden Centre (GC) and Simpsons Garden Centre (DGC)

• Garden Centre of the Year: Creative Gardens Donaghadee (GC) • Best Customer Service: Joint winners: Creative Gardens Bushmills (GC) and Creative Gardens Donaghadee (GC) • Environment and Community Award: Creative Gardens – Galgorm Castle • The Barton Grange Trophy for Innovation and Creativity: Creative Gardens Donaghadee • The Dick Allen Award for Most Improved Centre: Creative Gardens Bushmills • The IFSE Award for Catering Excellence for Best Garden Centre Restaurant: Creative Gardens Donaghadee (GC) • The GIMA Award for Best Garden Products Retailer: Creative Gardens Donaghadee • Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer: Creative Gardens Donaghadee (GC) • Best Outdoor Living Retailer: Creative Gardens Bushmills (GC) ◗

Garden Centre Retail October/November 2018

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Creative Gardens, Bushmills received the same award in Northern Ireland.” The national winners of Garden Centre of the Year and Destination Garden Centre of the Year are announced at the GCA annual conference taking place in January next year. The conference will be held 20–23 January 2019 at Luton Hoo. Members will be able to book their places soon and the GCA will be announcing speakers in the near future. The full results for Scotland and Northern Ireland GCA area awards are as follows for the GC and DGC categories:

www.gardencentreretail.com

10/10/2018 09:48

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OUT & ABOUT AT

GLEE 2018 New trends and familiar faces were stars at this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s successful show at NEC Birmingham UK

Catching up at the show

Garden Centre Retail October/November 2018

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Knit Cozies from Keter

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Glee News

Retro style ceramic pots from Scheurich

Charlie Dimmock on stage

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Lee and Dale from Garden 7 on the Retail Lab

Birch-effect ceramic pots from Scheurich

Innovative Grow Care range for Vegtrug

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Bord Na Monaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Growise Academy

Visitors discuss new product ideas

Garden Centre Retail October/November 2018

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GREENHOUSES WALL GARDENS COLD FRAMES ACCESSORIES

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OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2018

BUSINESS 16

THE INTERVIEW Adrian Hillman of RushямБelds Plant Centre

SERENE STAFFING Top tips on building a happy team

TEMPORARY STRUCTURES Expanding your retail space quickly

CATERING FOCUS Four festive treats for your Christmas menu

WILDLIFE GARDENING The growing trend for conservation

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10/10/2018 09:06

Business Interview

ADRIAN HILLMAN OF RUSHFIELDS PL ANT CENTRE

GCR visits the heart of the Sussex countryside to visit Adrian Hillman of Rushfields Plant Centre to speak about growing a business from a plant retailer to a fully-stocked garden centre over the past 30 years What’s your background in the industry? I haven’t got a retail or horticultural background. I came into the business because my wife and her brother started a business. I was a warehouse manager before I came here more than 30 years ago. I used to work four and a half days a week in a warehouse, then weekends here when we first started. I’m not a great lover of plants. I know what I like. Is the guy that owns Marks and Spencer passionate about socks? We have people here, Kathryn, my wife and her brother Colin are both horticulturally trained. Kathryn did her training through Worthing Council and Colin did his at Stanmer Park with Brighton Council. They came together as soon as they finished their City and Guilds. My sister-in-law was working at Legal and General, she joined the business full time shortly after I did. There you are, two horticulturists, and two cheap labourers! You were involved from the start of the business? Colin and Kathryn bought the 6 acres of land we have in 1983. The only thing on the land, in the far corner of the field, was an old cow hovel that we’ve since converted and use as a holiday letting. Prior to that they were in a rented site over near Steyning. They couldn’t do what they wanted with the land. They used it as a base, grew some bedding plants, and did a lot of garden design and landscaping. This site came on the market and they felt the time was right to move. By 1987, we’d had one glasshouse built, the rest of it was still polythene. We decided to have

the growing greenhouse extended. It was an awful, wet winter in ‘86 into the spring of ‘87. When it was built, what they left behind was a quagmire. It started to dry out, and we needed a lot of concreting done, a lot of pathways built, and a load of benches put in.

When you stand still, you start going backwards I packed up in the factory in ‘87. My parents thought I was mad, I’d been married three years and had a new mortgage to take care of. We were confident that the business could pay us a wage through the spring, but we didn’t really know what the winter would hold. I came in permanently in 1987, did the concreting and then in the winter, we had the hurricane and lost a quarter of the glass in that. We quickly learnt how to handle big sheets of glass because we were able to get the spares but not the labour. We reroofed and rebuilt the glasshouse ourselves which is the spookiest thing I’ve ever been involved with. There were three bays of roofing we had to put it, and some side bits. At that time, we had a little courtyard area where this building is, and we had a wooden shed where our one and only till was. All the plants were laid out on the floor or on benches that were made of pallets with wood across the top or something like that. We then built an L-shape extension. We built that ourselves

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because we thought if we could reroof a greenhouse, we can build one from scratch, which we did. When the land was purchased, the initial plan was to grow loads of shrubs and perennials and sell wholesale to landscapers. It was only when we did a survey and monitored the amount of traffic that was using the road we’re on, we realised what an opportunity we had. This retail area we have now went up in 1999. We had a little cafe in the old part of the greenhouse that had 20 seats and a woodburning stove. We didn’t want that, but our customers wanted somewhere to have a cup of tea. When we had the new area built, we had the kitchen purpose built as part of a cafe. There was a little bit of a covered canopy area outside the cafe, and over the years we’ve extended it bit by bit. In 2010, we built a farm shop which was a single wooden outbuilding. Then we put a lean-to on the side of that to allow for Christmas. That became permanent and now we’re just finishing a third building for that area too. You’re still growing the business then? Yes, when you stand still, you start going backwards. The minute you think we’re where we need to be, you lose something. We grow less plants now. We used to grow probably 5,000 shrubs, perennials and all the bedding. We still do the bedding, but we don’t grow any shrubs any more. It’s difficult to be a grower/retailer. The money is there, the margins are good on your home-made stuff. We grow about 2,500 roses a year that we get in as root stock in November. The margins on that are good. But you must 

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Interview Business

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Business Interview

weigh that up with the wastage and that’s why we stopped growing so many shrubs. I wouldn’t grow plants, I would retail everything. What’s this year been like for you? This year we’re having the worst year we’ve had for six or seven years because of the two weather scenarios. We had wet and miserable for three months. We then had a fantastic May, but from the second week of June, the temperature went up and our customers were choosing the beach over the garden centre for their day out!

We’re going to spend more money on in store advertising and POS around the centre You introduced gifts and cards to a garden centre quite early on didn’t you. Were you ahead of the times? Some of the time; we struggled in the early days because we wanted to do things but didn’t have the space to do it justice. We would do it, it wouldn’t work and then assume it wasn’t for us. I look at a shelf space, or a bench space and I think about what’s going to earn me the most money. A few years ago, we had (retail consultant) Eve Tigwell in to train some staff. We had a portacabin out the back and hosted an event with her for us and a few other garden centres. We were sat there on the first morning of a two-day event. She wanted to find out why we were all in the industry. All the other garden centre owners stated that they loved plants etc. I said it’s all for the money. She looked at

me funny. But why does anybody work? It’s a business that’s providing me with a more comfortable old age than I would have had if I stayed working in the factory! When I first came into the industry, there was a real pre-season. I came from a warehouse where you had an idea of what a pallet cost to be on a shelf. I came here and for the first few years, from the second week of January onwards, we would have pallets of Tomorite arriving that you couldn’t sell until April or May. Why did we do this? We don’t pay for it until May, but we’re not selling it until then. We’re paying for the manufacturers warehousing space! We’re buying stock in January without knowing if we could sell it in May. I went to a talk with a GCA inspector. He’s ex B&Q so he was of the ‘just in time’ mould. It came in overnight and went on the shelf asap. He stood up and said, since I’ve been in this industry, the one thing I can’t get my head around is pre-season. He said why did we let the manufacturers dictate to us what we had and when we had it? Hallelujah. Suddenly people were seeing the point. Now we do very little of this. We do listings, but we will say to our compost supplier this is what we’re going to have, we will order enough to get us going in the spring. The rest of it, we will do when we need it. It’s the same with a lot of the other products. What about plant reserves? It’s difficult for plant companies because it’s something that grows. If something is made from plastic, you are using a machine, so you can switch it on, and turn it up. You can’t speed up the growing. Once you’ve committed to growing a certain amount of plants, you can’t switch a switch and get another 20 of them. It is more difficult. The lady that does our plant buying makes a reserve list, but it’s always on the proviso that if we have a really bad time, we don’t want them all. That’s just something that the wholesale plant growers must factor in. It must be a nightmare. What are your biggest challenges? Staffing without a shadow of a doubt. That’s before Brexit too. We pay a little bit more than the living wage. In the whole centre, we have a vacancy for an assistant manager which has only just come up. We want one full-time garden centre worker, one full-time in the cafe and we’re still looking for one full-time in the farm shop. We have people come to work in the cafe, and then don’t turn up to a trial shift.

Garden Centre Retail October/November 2018

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I don’t blame someone for going elsewhere if the money is better, but we advertise with all the details including location, but we have people call up, asking where we are and asking about bus routes etc. At least go on the website and see where we are before sending an application form. Our other challenges for us as an independent is keeping pace with the bigger groups. We always look at what they do, and think we could do it, but we just don’t have the space. People see us as a garden centre, and a lot of our customers see us as no different to a great big Wyevale or a Haskins. Because they’ve seen a range of products in a big garden centre, they expect to see it with us. What does the future hold for Rushfields? We’ve got the new farm shop opening at the end of October. We’ve got a loyalty card that we’ve just changed. We had one, but when we changed the till system, it wouldn’t take the new cards. We went on an RBIS visit to Ireland, and one of the guys there was doing a thing that their privilege card was just on certain products. We tried that, but our customers hated it and it caused real problems on the till. We’ve gone back to a points system now, so we’ll see how that goes. The future is to make that better. We’re also going to spend more money on instore advertising and POS around the centre. If you come back in five years, I’ll tell you whether our plans have worked! w

www.gardencentreretail.com

10/10/2018 09:36

Lawns need love and

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Staff Business

Discover your employees’ individual learning styles (auditory, visual, or handson) and ensure the mentor employs the applicable style and encourages a climate conducive to learning. 5. Create synergy through review The solidarity of the team sets the tone and synergy of the business. Schedule meetings with new team members on the day they are employed and then seven days, 30 days, and 60 days in advance; this provides a timeline for touching base and discussing ways forward. The employee should however feel that team members will provide ongoing help when needed.

SERENE STAFFING

Doctor Nicola Davies speaks to Mandy Townsend, owner of Three Fountains garden centre, about her ﬁve tips for building a serene team

swan gliding serenely on a lake is, in fact, paddling relentlessly under water. Similarly there are no secrets to serene staffing – just good management skills. The majority of Mandy’s staff have been with the business since it started in 1998. 1. Find a team player Hiring a person who fits with the company culture is a priority. “I set down everything I expect from staff to ensure a good fit,” says Mandy. The person’s role and responsibilities are clearly defined, and this is communicated to current staff to avoid ‘infringements.’ 2. Make hiring a group decision Choose likely candidates at the first interview, then invite senior staff members to a second interview to help finalise the appointment. This ensures current staff investment in the chosen candidate. 3. Take your time when hiring Hire a casual worker while you screen

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candidates, and don’t rush the process. Provide a practical component during the interview to test your candidates. For example: • Walk past a display that has been purposefully disarranged and ask how it could be improved; • Deliberately ‘forget’ the name of a plant to see if they can supply it; • Take a walk through the garden centre and introduce the interviewee to staff and assess their reaction when a friend, posing as a customer, asks the interviewee for assistance – a team player will ensure a smooth handover to a regular staff member. 4. Provide support, support, and more support A mentorship program supports the 70:20:10 learning theory, which holds that 70% of learning comes from handson experiences with a mentor, 20% from interactions with team members, and 10% from book learning.

When things go wrong When Mandy’s son decided to join her team, the situation headed towards an ‘either he goes, or I go’ scenario. She wisely handed over the landscaping side of the business to her son and gave him carte blanche to hire staff, grow the business, and run it his way. The venture proved very successful. However, every situation requires a solution beﬁtting the circumstance. Sometimes a new employee disrupts a serene team to such an extent that it may be time to say goodbye if all else has failed, with contracts containing a stipulated probationary period covering this eventuality. Team-building and learning is ongoing Making everyone feel important builds a serene team; for example, should a new selection of roses arrive, consider arranging an event with the grower, who can answer questions, giving everyone a chance to interact and learn.

Sometimes a new employee disrupts a serene team to such an extent that it may be time to say goodbye One-on-one guidance from a mentor helps new staff to get up to speed quickly through praise and feedback. A suggestion will be more readily accepted when accompanied by approval. “Never start with criticism,” advises Mandy. Like plants, creating a serene team requires constant nurturing, ﬁnding symbiosis, and providing a gentle rain of praise to reap the rewards. ◗

Garden Centre Retail October/November 2018

10/10/2018 10:27

Business Temporary Structures

PREPARE FOR

THE UNEXPECTED Garden centres need to capitalise on peak seasons and continue running when the unpredictable strikes; Tony Farley, sales director at Spaciotempo UK, explains how temporary structures can save the day When the warm weather hits, people are keen to enjoy the great outdoors and garden centres are a perfect example of how rising temperatures can have a positive impact on trade. For the UK’s largest group in the sector – Wyevale Garden Centres – the early May bank holiday delivered their highest ever trading weekend – up 61% on the same weekend in 2017. But are garden centres maximising their potential trading opportunities, particularly when the British weather can be so unpredictable? If a long hot spring and summer is predicted, how can they increase their trading space and capitalise on increased footfall? FLEXIBILITY MATCHING UNPREDICTABILITY We all know British weather is a ﬁckle thing. For garden centres, this uncertainty makes expanding and growing particularly perilous and harder to justify. For independent and smaller chains, investing capital into bricks and mortar can prove too risky – temporary structures, however, provide the perfect solution.

Most reputable suppliers, including Spaciotempo, can offer contracts for as little as three months through to indefinite hire contracts and even outright purchase. Such flexibility is why temporary buildings have proved so popular with garden centres. If the weather is good, then great; if not, you can cut your losses and remove the building. Furthermore, temporary buildings are strong and built to last but they can also be modular and easily extended or removed to suit the high and low seasons. If you are considering expanding your garden retail centre, look for providers like Spaciotempo which can supply the whole package. The company takes care of design and engineering, site surveys, planning permissions and final accessories including doors, windows, heating, flooring and any other requirements you may need. A common assumption is that it takes a long time to construct a building, however some Spaciotempo buildings have been erected in as little as five days. A QUICK TURNAROUND – STRIKES GARDEN CENTRE Another area where temporary buildings come to the fore is when disaster strikes Flash flooding and fires have forced businesses to shut immediately and with a potentially devastating impact on sales.If the companies are to survive, it is vital they act quickly to get back up and running. When Strikes Garden Centre in Stokesley, North Yorkshire, was hit by a blaze in April this year, they were back in business less than four months after the blaze. It took around six weeks for Spaciotempo to install a temporary 2,025m2 facility on an adjoining field. The temporary garden centre will be used for 12–18 months while a new permanent structure is built. It features all of the original facilities – a kitchen, cafe, retail area and toilets.

Garden Centre Retail October/November 2018

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Crucially, even though the project was installed on ground without any previous foundations or groundwork, the structure is safe and secure. It boasts a temporary floor which can cope with significant footfall as well as the equipment and goods in the retail area and cafe. To ensure the building meets health and safety legislation, a ground scan and uplift test were conducted and appropriate fixings were used. The temporary centre was finished to a high standard, despite the time constraints. It is fully insulated with a thermo roof, thermo gables and sandwich panel walling. The building also comes with climate control, including heating and air conditioning, and a full electrical package with fire and intruder alarms. ◗ ABOUT With offices and vast stock holdings in the UK, France and Spain, plus over 45 years’ experience, Spaciotempo is the leading expert in the design, manufacture, hire and sale of temporary buildings for the industrial, distribution, retail and sports sectors with an annual turnover of £12m. For more information, please call 01889 732 982 or visit www.spaciotempo.co.uk

www.gardencentreretail.com

10/10/2018 10:12

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08/10/2018 12:03

Catering Focus Business

CHRISTMAS MENU FOR GARDEN CENTRES Garden Centre Retail has put together four festive recipe ideas to offer on your Christmas menu for 2018 Turkey, cranberry and cream cheese sandwich

Turkey and cranberry is a classic combination that everyone expects at Christmas, and it’s one you simply can’t avoid on your Christmas menu. Adding the extra of cream cheese modernises the dish and adds something that your customers may not have seen before. Use the cream cheese sparingly though – spread just a thin layer on both slices of thick white or sour dough bread. Add a couple of slices of turkey, dollop on plenty of cranberry sauce, and top with a selection of lettuce leaves. Serve with a handful of chips, a dressed side salad or just as it is.

Vegan vegetable spiral tart

This is a vibrant and tasty vegan-friendly meal. You will need a sheet (or make your own) of vegan puff pastry, an aubergine, courgette, onion, pumpkin and sweet potato. Slice the vegetables as thinly as possible, sprinkle with salt and set aside for around 20 minutes. Meanwhile, roll out the pastry case to line a 20cm tin and prebake. Let the pastry cool before layering the vegetables on top in a circular pattern. Serve warm with a side salad, or a serving of new potatoes. 

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Garden Centre Retail October/November 2018

10/10/2018 10:54

Business Catering Focus

Sweet potato bubble and squeak

This bubble and squeak dish provides a hearty lunch on a cold winter’s day. Alternatively, serve with grilled bacon and poached eggs for a satisfying brunch. Put the potatoes in a large pan of salted water, bring to the boil and simmer for 10–15 minutes until tender. Mash together roughly or put through a potato ricer. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a pan and gently fry the leeks. Add the garlic and fry, then tip into the pan with the potatoes. Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil. Add the cabbage and cook until tender, then drain well. Add the cabbage to the potato mixture and mix together well with the nutmeg, sage and egg. Divide the mixture into eight balls then ﬂatten into patties. Chill for 30 minutes. Heat the oil in a large pan over a medium heat. Fry the patties for 3–5 minutes per side until golden brown and piping hot.

Yorkshire pudding wraps

This is comfort food at its finest and makes good use of leftover roast beef, gravy, veggies, mustard and horseradish. Whisk the flour, eggs and milk together with a pinch of salt until smooth. Cover and rest for 30 minutes (or chill in the fridge overnight). Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7 and put a large pan of salted water on to boil. Heat the oil in a roasting tin (40cm x 30cm approx) in the oven for 10 minutes. Once hot, pour in the batter and cook for 25 minutes, or until puffed and golden. Meanwhile, tip the peas and kale into the boiling water and cook until tender. When the pudding comes out of the oven, remove from the tin, flatten with the back of a large metal spoon and halve lengthways. Spread 1 tbsp horseradish over each half, followed by the mustard, beef slices, peas, kale and gravy. Wrap up and serve. ◗

Garden Centre Retail October/November 2018

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www.gardencentreretail.com

10/10/2018 10:55

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08/10/2018 14:10 13:56 08/10/2018

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08/10/2018 12:05

Wildlife Gardening GCR Special

GARDENING FOR THE BENEFIT OF

Making gardens and open spaces a haven for wildlife is a movement gaining momentum – the industry is responding with promoting plants and products that reﬂect this growing trend

elevision documentaries, such as the BBC’s Blue Planet 2 that aired last year highlighted the plight facing many of our animal species. As a result there is a real drive towards sustainability and conserving species for the sake of the planet – and a change in mentality. For example, consumers are more aware of single-use plastics and the negative effects this is having on the ecosystem. Another thing that seems to be gaining in popularity is the movement towards making gardens and open spaces havens for bees, birds, butterﬂies and other creatures. At the recent Glee trade show, there were many companies, such as Wildlife World and Deco-Pak, displaying their latest product ranges in bird houses, hedgehog huts and butterﬂy abodes. It appears our industry is noticing a trend, and one that we may see stick around for a while. The RHS has even rebranded their initiative promoting plants that are good for wildlife. What used to be called Perfect for 

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Garden Centre Retail October/November 2018

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GCR Special Wildlife Gardening

Pollinators is now Plants for Pollinators. The RHS website contains pages of information about this subject, from the best plants to creating bee and butterfly homes. Gardening with wildlife in mind is a fantastic motivator to get children into the hobby too. But promoting animalfriendly products around the store, we may see younger people pick up the gardening bug, securing the future of the garden centre industry for years to come. Garden Design Michael John McGarr, garden designer and director at Warnes McGarr & Co, said: “We are definitely seeing a trend in clients asking us to design garden and landscaping elements around the nature and wildlife in their garden. “Us Brits have always loved our garden birds and most people enjoy feeding them, but we are increasingly seeing clients specifying wildlife ponds, hedgehog houses and even areas that provide shelter for frogs, as well as bat houses too.

People are a lot more aware of the threat to Britain’s wildlife and are wanting to do what they can to protect it “As ecologists, we always consider insects and pollinators in our planting schemes, but it is always heart-warming when we work alongside a client who is just as passionate about these elements, in terms of plants, flowers and habitats, as we are. “Garden centres and our other suppliers are generally very good at providing wide ranges of food and shelter/habitat ideas for birds and hedgehogs, as well as selling plants that attract and encourage bees. However, we would love to see more products and ideas for providing shelter and food for a much larger range of garden creatures, pond life creatures, frogs and bats too.

Made by The Bear and The Wolf in Dorset, the Bug Wall at Sculpture by the Lakes is designed for solitary bees, bugs and insects – all useful to the gardens

Garden Centre Retail October/November 2018

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“As designers and landscapers, we must think of wildlife passing through gardens, so for example, we would cut holes in fencing so that hedgehogs can travel through people’s gardens. It would be amazing to see garden centres and other fencing retailers supply fence panels with pre-cut hedgehog/wildlife passes, or at least advise on how to create them yourself.” Parks and recreation Sculpture by the Lakes has been described as one of the most beautiful and unique sculpture parks in the UK. Set in 26 acres of beautiful Dorset countryside, near Dorchester, it features gardens bursting with colour, pristine lakes, a meandering river, woodland and wild areas all interspersed with monumental sculptures by one of Britain’s leading contemporary sculptors, Simon Gudgeon. Simon’s wife Monique is the Head Gardener at the park and together they own Sculpture by the Lakes. They’ve added log piles to attract invertebrates, reptiles and amphibians. There is a butterfly walk planted up with nature-friendly plants such as buddleia, lavender, honeysuckle and lilac trees. There’s also a bug wall with nest sites for solitary bees, two restored wildlife ponds teeming with insects, hedgehog homes and bird and bat boxes. Garden retail Andrew Harriss, a senior buyer at Haskins Garden Centres, based on the south coast, is seeing more of this trend in store. “We have just reviewed the wild bird care and wildlife department with a view to a relaunch in October” he explains. “We’re looking to better educate our customers about the features and benefits around these types of product. “The range of wildlife feeds is increasing. We do already have a large range of accessories which we are thinning slightly to try and not confuse customers with such a broad offering. “We have always been strong in offering a comprehensive range of wild bird care and wildlife products for many years. Where we are looking at extra space is in the plant department by better theming of plants to encourage wildlife. Consumer interest has been good in this area for many years, we certainly do see a peak in interest when there is a high level of media coverage and related TV programmes are on. 

www.gardencentreretail.com

10/10/2018 10:47

Wildlife Gardening GCR Special

Firebird by Simon Gudgeon at Sculpture by the Lakes in Dorset with new silver birch in the background

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10/10/2018 10:43

GCR Special Wildlife Gardening

Wildﬂ ower Meadow Areas at Sculpture by the Lakes, Dorset

As people’s connection with nature becomes stronger, the more garden centres will thrive “There is more growth in this category and garden centres are excellently poised to take advantage of this opportunity with our breadth of range and the opportunity to educate our staff to engage with customers.” Tong Garden Centre Tong Garden Centre in Bradford is also seeing an increase. “We have noticed an increase in sales on wildlife products over the last 12 months and we are deﬁnitely adding to our existing range with new lines over the coming season,” explains commercial director Sharon McNair.

“People are a lot more aware of the threat to Britain’s wildlife and are wanting to do what they can to protect it. Products relating to bees and hedgehogs are particularly popular. “Also, wildlife gardening is something schools are getting involved in and it’s also something families can do with their children. “As awareness increases I do think wildlife gardening will become more popular. At Tong, we merchandise plants for wildlife and we feel conﬁdent that wildlife gardening will always be important but it’s about educating the customer. As programmes like Springwatch and Autumnwatch and initiatives such as the RSPB garden bird count gain in popularity, the market will follow suit.” Choice marketing Michelle De Lavis Trafford has reported

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that the member centres of Choice are buying more products that beneﬁt wildlife. The share of revenue this category generates has increased within those centres. Michelle explains: “TV wildlife programmes, such as Autumnwatch, have added a lot of interest from consumers. “Suppliers are offering centres more choice, so packaging and offers are improving resulting in increased stock and consumer purchases. More space is being given to non-bird care products within garden centres. “Wildlife World is a good supplier with a huge range of products covering all aspects of wildlife, they are very active in this product category.” For now, though, it’s worth thinking about the space dedicated to this sector. As people’s connection with nature becomes stronger, and their concern for wildlife preservation grows, the more garden centres will thrive. ◗

www.gardencentreretail.com

10/10/2018 10:46

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08/10/2018 12:06

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2018

PRODUCTS 36

PLANT FOCUS Three nominees for Ofﬁce Plant of the Year

GIMA Products launched at this year’s successful GLEE event

PETS The pick of the latest products

LATEST PRODUCTS Candles and garden ornament ideas

ANATOMY OF A PRODUCT Evergreen Garden Care

TRADING WITH Pelsis; Andrew Joy talks about the brand

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10/10/2018 09:19

Plant Focus Indoor Plants

Office plants OF THE YEAR Plants@Work, a member body association holds a National Ofﬁce Plant of the Year initiative every year. For 2018, there were three nominations; Garden Centre Retail takes a look at the proﬁles of each nominee

Maranta tricolour, aka the prayer plant

Its leaves fold together at night, like hands closed in prayer

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The prayer plant, Maranta leuconeura ‘Fascinator Tricolour’, is a fascinating house plant because its leaves fold together at night, like hands closed in prayer. In the morning they unfold and sometimes make a rustling sound. The oval leaves have a striking feathered pattern with red veins, often red underneath and both light and dark green, hence the name ‘Tricolour’. These prayer plants rarely flower indoors, but the plant is grown for its foliage colour. The leaves are especially colourful in their first spring flush. Growth slows down over winter when the plant appreciates a rest period. Originating from Brazil, this plant likes a warm, humid environment and because of its shallow roots, it doesn’t need a lot of space. They prefer medium light levels, but not direct sunlight, and the compost should be kept moist in spring and summer. Over the winter, the soil should be kept slightly drier. The soil should be well aerated. For this to be achieved, it’s best to re-pot the plant each spring, but the soil should not be packed tightly in the pot. The Maranta Tricolour grows to around 30cm in height. The leaves can be wiped clean with a soft damp cloth to remove any dust build up.

www.gardencentreretail.com

10/10/2018 10:17

Indoor Plants Plant Focus

Pilea peperomoides, aka the money or missionary plant An office favourite at GCR HQ, the money plant is almost leading the revolution of houseplants amongst the millennial generation. These plants are extremely Instagrammable, a search for the Pileapeperomioides hashtag produces almost 78,000 results. This Pilea originates from China, but was originally brought to the Western world by a visiting Norwegian

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missionary – hence one of its names. Pileas enjoy moderate to bright, indirect light, but will also tolerate partial shade. It’s best to avoid direct sunlight. In terms of temperature, this plant handles average to warm temperatures of 16–24°C, although they can cope with temperatures as low as 10°C. Pilea peperomioides produce best results in high humidity.

Using a pebble tray, topped up with water, can improve moisture levels in the air for the plant to thrive. These plants need watering when the soil has begun to dry out. Helpfully, they begin to droop when water is required. It’s important not to let the plant sit in water. Your customers can expect a high growth rate from this plant as it will reach around 30cm in height. 

This plant is almost leading the revolution of houseplants amongst the millennial generation

Garden Centre Retail October/November 2018 37

10/10/2018 10:18

Plant Focus Indoor Plants

Winner: Monstera deliciosa, aka the Swiss cheese plant This year’s winner of the Ofﬁce Plant of the Year award is the Monstera deliciosa. Like the Pilea, this plant is a big hit on Instagram with more than 125k results on the monsteradeliciosa hashtag. The Monstera deliciosa is a popular, easy-to-maintain houseplant. Its nickname comes from the plant’s leaves, which contain perfect holes and slits, just like Swiss cheese. It is, in fact, a creeping vine, which grows up and around tree trunks in the wild. This is a tall, leafy plant, which in the right conditions can grow up to 8ft (2.5m). The most striking parts are the plant’s leaves, which are dark green, glossy and can

grow rather large as the plant matures. The leaves start as a sort of heart shape but develop the splits and holes as the plant matures. It is thought these holes allow sunlight to trickle through to the lower leaves of the plant,

and to the forest ﬂoor in its natural habitat. Originally from Mexico, the Monstera deliciosa is found mainly in the warm and damp climate of the rainforests, hence its liking for humid places within the home.

At around three years of age, the Monstera deliciosa can ﬂower, producing a white bud similar to a lily, which then goes on to become a fruit. However, ﬂowering isn’t particularly common in the home-grown plants. ◗

This is a lofty, leafy plant, which in the right conditions, can grow up to 8ft (2.5m)

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www.gardencentreretail.com

10/10/2018 10:18

Canopies, walkways & statement buildings to transform your retail space With over 50 years experience, Fordingbridge are passionate about helping garden centres transform their retail offerings to increase commercial potential and enhance the customer journey.

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GIMA MEMBERS’ GLEE NEWS POINTS TO A PROFITABLE 2019 New product launches, exciting merchandising solutions and the latest innovations created a buzz at this year’s thriving showcase, while the GIMA team was busy at the ever-popular Buyer Connect event, linking suppliers directly with buyers Burgon and Ball launched six new pot designs and tools specifically designed for indoor plants. Parent company Venanpri showcased its American Corona brand in the UK with a range of saws, axes, cutting and digging tools. Capi announced an expansion of its range, with the Dutch pot and planter manufacturer launching a brand-new Rain Barrel and several new contemporary pot ranges, inspired by natural materials such as clay, stone and rattan. Dalefoot Composts added a new sustainable product to its range – a freedraining, peat-free bulb compost made from sustainable bracken that provides a steady stream of nutrients for two years. Deco-Pak’s sustainability efforts were a big focus for the company at Glee, with new glow-in-the-dark LumiPave and SolarPave products being made from 85% recycled concrete, the bulk of which is sourced within the local area. DLF/Johnsons Lawn Seed surprised its customers with an expansion into lawncare with the launch of its new Mycorrhizal/ Seaweed/Azospirillum Super Smart Lawn Feed, the company also showcased a major product improvement for bestsellers Luxury Lawn and Shady Place. South West sales agent Tony Vicks’ handed over the reins to Spencer Goodall following his retirement, whilst further details were confirmed regarding the acquisition of Southern Hemisphere lawn

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seed supplier by its counterpart and Johnsons’ parent company, DLF. Evergreen (formerly Scotts Miracle Gro) issued a statement reassuring customers that its glyphosate based weedkillers are entirely safe for consumer use, but that they will be launching a glyphosatefree version of RoundUp® later in the year. Evergreen is still using the Scotts Miracle Gro brand for its Liquid Plant Food, which from 2019 will contain a bio stimulant called Humifirst. Evergreen’s lawn care ranges will now also feature the Scotts Miracle Gro brand, with the range of lawn feed and seed mixtures benefitting from the combined branding. Fiskars launched several of its new ergonomic and easy-to-use Xact™ range of tools, forks, rakes, nursery tools and weed puller, as well as showcasing its ambassador shelf concept. UK Sales Director Mark Follett said: “The displays are supported by secondary placements focusing on seasonal demands so [consumers] can easily identify the right tool for the task in hand.” Flymo launched a host of new products including the Hover Vac 250 and Turbo Lite 250, specifically designed for small gardens. A new power multi-tool, the C-Link system, was also launched which features three interchangeable heads. Hozelock updated Glee visitors on its Plant A Pot campaign, including plans to expand it with fully merchandised in-store POS arches, FSDUs and even

Garden Centre Retail October/November 2018

restaurant POS, to raise further awareness. Neudorff announced the introduction of a new brand family, with Pyrol Bug & Larvae Killer now known as BugFree and Fast Acting Weedkiller, as well as Fast Acting & Long Lasting Weedkiller now being known as WeedFree. Its GIMA Sword of Excellence winning Nematode range will now be known as VineWeevilFree, LawnGrubFree and LeatherJacketFree. Wildlife World is celebrating its 20th year in business with a host of new product designs to encourage hedgehogs, birds and bees into the garden. Woodlodge lived up to its GIMA 2018 Supplier of the Year status, more than doubling its sales from last year’s Glee. New POS engagement boards proved very popular with garden centre customers looking to stimulate the container gardening category, thanks to the boards’ informative and jargon-free approach. w For further information please contact GIMA on (01959) 564947 or info@gima.org.uk ABOUT

The Garden Industry Manufacturer’s Association (GIMA) is a membership organisation of around 150 members representing the majority share of suppliers and manufacturers operating within the UK gardening industry. Formed in 1999, its goal is to promote the commercial, trading and industrial interests of UK and EU based companies supplying the UK garden industry.

www.gardencentreretail.com

10/10/2018 09:46

BIG pest problems BIG opportunity Boost sales values with our new, big ticket range of Ultra Power insect and rodent control products. LIKE THE PROFESSIONALS USE Ultra Power delivers DIY pest control solutions like the professionals use: best-in-class solutions designed and built for ultra-fast control of target pests in homes and commercial premises alike. ZERO IN ULTRA POWER: Effective control of flying and crawling insects for the home and commercial environments, with precision applicators and pest-specific formulations.

THE BIG CHEESE ULTRA POWER: Effective control of rodent pests in any situation. Four easy-to-shop categories: Catch & Kill; Bait & Kill; Catch Alive; Repel.

Contact your local sales representative or call STV on 01953 881580 for more information. info@stvpestcontrol.com | www.stvpestcontrol.com

INDEPENDENT IMPARTIAL INVALUABLE

SURREY NURSERY / GARDEN CENTRE OPPORTUNITY FREEHOLD FOR SALE Unique Opportunity Site of Circa 1.7 Acres Planning Consent for Garden Centre Use 44,000 sq.ft. of Potential Retail Space Highly Populated & Afï¬&#x201A;uent Area

REF: 0279

quintonedwards.co.uk sales@quintons.co.uk

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Products Pets

PETS Self-locking coop door kit ChickenGuard • Innovative self-locking mechanism and wings • Helps prevent predators’ claws from lifting the chicken coop door • Tough and durable 100% recycled runners • Adds an extra layer of security to any chicken coop • Aluminium door

Thermal self-heating pet bedding Pets Love Scruffs® •S elf-heating pet bedding • Produced with a foam layer • Backed with reflective foil • One-piece design • Machine washable

RRP £35 exc VAT www.chickenguard.com

RRP £34.99–£39.99 www.petslovescruffs.com

Smart Choice fetch and treat ball game RSW International Limited • Simulates a dog’s retrieval instinct • Inspires natural fun and exercise • An excellent dog training aid • Encourages interaction between pet and owner • Suitable for dogs of all ages and breeds RRP £20–24.99 www.rswint.co.uk

Crufts Dirty Paws door mat PMS International Group PLC

Honeyfield’s heavy duty feeder tray Marriages Specialist Foods • Fits the heavy duty range of feeders as a tray • When using as a tray can use the water bowl as a treat feeder – hanging or ground • Can be used as a ground feeder, with water bowl included, comes with the stand • Can be used as a hanging feeder, comes with a chain to hang • Drainage holes so food won’t sit in water RRP £5.49 www.honeyfieldswildbird.co.uk

• Lasts for years • Super absorbent • Traps dirt and water • Ideal for pets and kids • 45.5cm x 70cm RRP £9.99 www.pmsinternational.com

Garden Centre Retail October/November 2018