Garden Centre Retail October November 2020

Garden Centre Retail ISSUE 52

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PEOPLE • PRODUCTS • PROFIT

October/November 2020

Poinsettias

AN INTERVIEW WITH

JO KEEN

TOP TIPS FOR SELLING THIS SEASONAL STAR

GRIMSBY GARDEN CENTRE

FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD

THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS CAN SANTA’S GROTTO STILL GO AHEAD?

22 Cover.indd 1

COUNTERACTING COVID ADAPTING CAFÉS AND RESTAURANTS

30

FOOD AND DRINK GIFTS

TEMPTING TREATS TO LINE THE SHELVES

45 08/10/2020 16:16

magrini high chairs The Magrini Breeze commercial high chair stacks up to 8 high for easy storage and comes in a choice of colours that will not fade or peel.

The strong, sturdy design allows your smallest customers to feel safe and the chair pushes up to the table to create a relaxed family mealtime.

The Breeze high chair is manufactured in the U.K.

by Magrini.

tried & trusted by young professionals safe - strong - stacks Tel:t:01543 sales@magrini.co.uk• • w: www.magrini.co.uk 01543375311 375311 • •Email: e: sales@magrini.co.uk www.magrini.co.uk

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07/10/2020 11:57

W el com e

WELCOME TO...

Garden Centre Retail U

ndeniably, it has been one of the most challenging years for garden centres, but it has also been one of the most progressive. Stores might have been forced to close in peak season, but a number of garden centres explored alternative routes to market, ramping up their online offering and home delivery service.

When garden centres were able to open in mid-May, a number of new measures to ensure customer and staff safety were quickly and efficiently implemented.

With each new announcement from the government comes an admirable response from the industry, whether this is introducing QR codes for customers to access menus in their cafes and restaurants or adapting to table-only service with updated Epos systems.

The year’s not over yet, of course – there is still the challenge of Christmas to contend with and how garden centres can offer a memorable, socially distanced e perience. e’re also now firmly in autumn – how will Halloween differ in 2020? (And will we see outlandishly inappropriate COVID-19 costumes hit the market?) This isn’t even taking into account the changes Brexit could bring over the coming months.

However, if the proactivity so far is anything to go by, garden centres will continue to rise to these challenges, with many being exemplars to the rest of the retail sector.

CONTACT Eljays44 Ltd 3 Churchill Court, 112 The Street, Rustington, West Sussex BN16 3DA EDITORIAL Head of content – Nina Mason nina.mason@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 570 Deputy head of content – Rachael Forsyth rachael.forsyth@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 570 Subeditor – Katrina Roy katrina.roy@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 570 Subeditor – Sam Seaton sam.seaton@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 570 ADVERTISING Head of sales – Jessica McCabe jessica.mccabe@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 587

Nina Mason Head of content, Garden Centre Retail nina.mason@eljays44.com

With each new announcement from the government comes an admirable response from the industry

Sales manager – Tina Savelle tina.savelle@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 584 Horticulture Careers – Ben Cumberland Tel: 01903 777 570 ben.cumberland@eljays44.com PRODUCTION Design – Kara Thomas Printed by Pensord Press Ltd, Gwent, UK Published by ©Eljays44 Ltd 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 – Jessica McCabe jessica.mccabe@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 587

Nina and the GCR team

Cover image: Bjarni B. Jacobsen Fotografi/ Stars for Europe

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Garden Centre Retail is available FREE on your mobile device.

Simply go to the App Store, search for ‘Garden Centre Retail’ and download the app!

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Garden Centre Retail is published bimonthly by Eljays44 Ltd. The 2020 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.

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 2020

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08/10/2020 14:52

What is Strulch Strulch © is a light and easy to use garden mulch made from wheat straw for organic gardening. A patented process is used to ‘preserve’ the straw so that it lasts for up to two years and gives an earthy brown colour.

Strulch has a neutral pH and can be used throughout the garden on borders, raised beds, around cultivated fruit and on vegetable plots.

• Spend less time weeding Strulch reduces weed growth by up to 95% • Save water Strulch helps retain moisture around plants • Improve your soil Strulch enriches soil and its structure • Use all around the garden Strulch is suitable around flowers, shrubs, fruit and vegetables • Save time and money Strulch, the straw garden mulch, lasts up to two years, spreading the cost, saving water and fertiliser, making your plants grow healthier and stronger and giving you more time to relax.

• Slug and Snail deterrent The physical properties of Strulch together with the embedded minerals deters slugs and snails

Want to stock Strulch - The Straw Mulch with Slug and Snail Deterrent?

Visit our website to see how we advertise our stockists. Our extensive advertising campaign generates ‘hits’ on our site.

Each bag covers 3 x 1sqm. Minimum order 1 pallet x 48 bags delivered within 3 working days. Discounts for multiple pallets.

Call for a quotation: 01943 863610

www.strulch.co.uk 01943 863610 info@strulch.co.uk

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07/10/2020 27/08/2019 12:00 12:33

Contents

Garden Centre Retail ISSUE 52

•

PEOPLE • PRODUCTS • PROFIT

October/November 2020

Poinsettias

AN INTERVIEW WITH

JO KEEN

TOP TIPS FOR SELLING THIS SEASONAL STAR

CO NTE NT S BUSINESS

NEWS

06 NEWS

A round-up of the latest news from the sector

10 REVIEW: VIRTUAL GLEE

Find out how this year’s Glee event made the leap to a digital offering

©Jeff Moore

22

13 INTERVIEW

41 WILDLIFE CARE

Six hot picks for animal lovers

Garden Connect founder Edwin Meijer on the power of search engine traffic

Contents-6.indd 5

08/10/2020 16:16

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2020

Catching the wave of interest in naturalistic planting at home

Exploring whether Santa’s Grotto can make its way to garden centres this year

www.gardencentreretail.com

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Cover.indd 1

CARE PRODUCTS

BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Exploring COVID-19 friendly approaches to catering and the impact of Eat Out to Help Out

TEMPTING TREATS TO LINE THE SHELVES

40 SELLING WILDLIFE

22 THE NIGHTMARE

45

FOOD AND DRINK GIFTS

The industry construction experts on adapting to lockdown life

Making Christmas exciting and ethical with Animal Aid and Real Reindeer Ltd

30 CATERING FOCUS

30

39 FORDINGBRIDGE

20 REINDEER WELFARE

Malcolm Scott Consultants on the value of a great food service

ADAPTING CAFÉS AND RESTAURANTS

The latest products to ramp up for the holidays with GIMA members

17 PPE

28 FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD

COUNTERACTING COVID

22

37 GIMA

OKI Europe Ltd’s Javier Lopez on the importance of in-house promotional materials

Temporary structure experts Worldwide Structures on how they can help businesses in 2020

CAN SANTA’S GROTTO STILL GO AHEAD?

Selling beautiful poinsettias with trends and tips from Stars for Europe

16 SHOWING THE RIGHT SIGNS

26 WORLDWIDE STRUCTURES

THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS

35 PLANT FOCUS

NAViGO’s Jo Keen on redeveloping Grimsby Garden Centre in the age of COVID-19

24 GARDEN CONNECT

FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD

PRODUCTS

Why investing in PPE can build trust and value in your business

26

GRIMSBY GARDEN CENTRE

42 BUSINESS PROFILE

UK Greetings Homegrown

44 SELLING FOOD/FOOD GIFTS Bramble Foods on ambient food

45 FOOD & DRINK GIFTS

The latest picks for the holidays

46 BUSINESS PROFILE

Abbey Business Interiors

48 ANATOMY OF A PRODUCT Dura Deck Tile Resist

49 SEEDS

Seven choices for green thumbs

50 GARDEN CARE

Tools, composts and weedkillers galore

Garden Centre Retail October/November 2020

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08/10/2020 16:22

N ew s

Transformation of Hillier Garden Centre Marlow is now complete

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major transformation project at Hillier Garden Centre Marlow that began just before the spring has now been completed. ignificant improvements to the centre include a 10,000sqm covered outdoor plant area, completely refurbished restaurant and total refit of the indoor shop area.

The developments have all been designed to make the experience more enjoyable for visitors. From the moment of arrival, a new canopy makes a clear entrance point into the centre. The canopy has been created using glulam (glued laminated timber), a natural alternative to steel or concrete.

Underneath the 10,000sqm canopy and throughout the plant area, visitors will find it easier to locate the right plants for the right area of their garden thanks to new

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tables and clear signs.

Inside the centre, the shop has undergone a total refit.

Hillier has also brought in new ranges, including new garden items, food ranges and giftware.

The Mulberry & Thyme Restaurant at the centre has also experienced a full refurbishment. A private function room has been created that, in time, will be able to hold events and

workshops. Together, the restaurants and function room can accommodate up to 57 covers, with social distancing measures in place. hillier.co.uk

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S

quire’s Garden Centre on Heathlands Road in Wokingham has expanded its current food selection by opening a new food hall. Space recently vacated by a clothing brand has allowed the centre to look at the range and offer a new array of products, many of which are sourced locally from suppliers across Berkshire, Surrey and Hampshire.

The garden centre site has a rich food heritage as it was once part of Heathlands Farm, a large growing operation that supplied fruit to retailers, as well as having a popular farm shop on the garden centre site.

Sarah Squire, chairman of Squire’s Garden Centres comments: “Supporting local

growers is something we are committed to in our plant ranges, so taking this approach with our food offer is something that comes naturally to us and is core to our philosophy. I hope that customers old and new will come to discover our food hall you’ll find it inside the garden centre.” squiresgardencentres.co.uk

Dobbies reopens soft plays with safety measures in place

F

ollowing updated guidance from the UK Government that soft plays may reopen in England, Dobbies Garden Centre reopened 31 soft plays across the estate throughout September.

The safety of team members and customers remains the number one priority, says the chain, and a number of social distancing measures have been put in place. Dobbies’ soft plays are cleaned and sanitised before opening, mid-way through the day and after closing, to make play time safe. Atalian Servest have been employed to apply Zoono antibacterial cleaning product fortnightly.

There will be reduced capacity in all soft plays, with customers requested to book in advance to manage numbers. This will also enable team members to collect data for NHS Test and

Trace. There are extra hand cleaning stations, and adults will be required to wear face coverings until seated at a table within the soft play. Face coverings are not required for children under 11.

©Walnut Wasp

NEWS CENTRE

New food hall opens at Squire’s in Wokingham

Graeme Jenkins, CEO of Dobbies, says: “We have successfully reopened garden centres and restaurants across the UK, and are well-placed to welcome customers into our soft plays. Thank you to all team members who have worked hard to ensure our soft plays are ready and we look forward to welcoming visitors for a fun and safe day out.” dobbies.com

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08/10/2020 14:36

N ew s

Palmers Garden Centre scoops family business award

LOFA and GCA team up to ensure safety regulations are met

T

E

nderby-based Palmers Garden Centres picked up two top prizes at the Family Business Awards, hosted by Family Business United.

It was announced as winner of the Midlands & Central Family Business of the Year in the People’s Choice Awards, voted on by the public, as well as winners of the National People’s Choice Champions 2020 award.

Caroline Palmer, managing director of Palmers Garden Centres, says: “We’re absolutely delighted to have won these awards. We take the meaning of the word ‘family’ very broadly at Palmers Garden Centres and include not only members of the founding family but also all our staff, suppliers and customers.

We’re immensely proud to be a fourth-generation family business and are looking forward to working together to ensure that our business is here for a very long time.

“To win any award is very special but to win two People’s Choice awards which are voted for by the public is incredibly special and I’d like to thank everyone who took the time and trouble to vote for us.”

A spokesperson from Family Business United says: “2020 has been a tricky year but the show must go on! Huge congratulations to Palmers Garden Centres. To have won not one but two awards at their first attempt is ust ama ing and demonstrates the high esteem in which they’re held!” palmersgardencentre.co.uk

he Leisure & Outdoor Furniture Association (LOFA) and the Garden Centre Association (GCA) have launched an online training course to promote the LOFA Assured message.

The LOFA Assured initiative is targeted at its members which manufacture furniture.

These members are sub ected to an educational audit scheme and all their cushions are tested by FIRA to make sure that the cushions are compliant with current Government Fire Safety Regulations. The audit requires the members to have full traceability on all cushions that they supply into the marketplace.

LOFA approached the GCA to find a way to work together to ensure GCA members across the UK perform due diligence in their purchasing processes and are stocking

safe and compliant furniture.

It also wanted to inform garden centre staff, who will be selling the furniture in store, why it is important that all outdoor furniture cushions meet these standards.

GCA Garden Retail Online Workshops (GROW) bring comprehensive training to garden centre teams. The initiative has been developed to improve the knowledge of individuals and the service levels to valued garden centre customers. lofa.co.uk gca.org.uk

Johnsons Garden Centre sales division celebrates record-breaking year

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ommercial nursery Johnsons of Whixley has announced a record-breaking year within its garden centre sales division.

When garden centres were forced to shut during lockdown, leading to postponed and cancelled orders, the division relied heavily on online plant retailers. It went on to surpass its original budget figure to achieve a record breaking year.

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To avoid waste stock, the company donated hundreds of plants to local villages. It also created ‘Garden Rescue Packs’ which were sold by online

plant supplier Hedges Direct.

More than 300 of these were shipped from April to May. Once garden centres were able to reopen, Johnsons experienced unprecedented demand for its plants; more than 700,000 have made it down its plant preparation line since April.

Retail sales manager, Mark Reynard, says: “A notable year in my 40-year career at Johnsons. It’s astonishing to have come out of the ‘other

end’ in what we initially thought was going to be the most challenging year the division had ever faced.

We are so grateful for all our staff’s hard work and all of the orders and support from our customers new and old.

“We know there are lots of challenges ahead for all of us in the coming months but hope the public’s newfound love of gardening continues into next year.” nurserymen.co.uk

Garden Centre Retail October/November 2020

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08/10/2020 14:38

N ew s

Illumination Street 2020 launches

B

ritish Garden Centres group takes exclusive sponsorship of the National Christmas Campaign Illumination Street.

Now in its second year, it’s a campaign that motivates the nation to brighten up their front gardens with the spirit of Christmas. The campaign is designed to enhance and celebrate the magic of Christmas with lights, plants and community spirit which will coincide with National Illumination Street Week from 7 to 13 December 2020.

Launched by broadcaster David Domoney and backed by The Sunday Mirror, Illumination Street enjoys hundreds of entries from all over the nation, some for fun and others for charity. In total, Illumination Street entrants have raised more than £170,000 for charity and the prize money assisted them in reaching their targets.

From 1 November 2020, Illumination Street will launch

to the public to start entering their displays. The publicity surrounding the campaign includes Illumination Street TV, national newspaper coverage, TV news coverage, online blogs, advice and a full package of social media platforms to encourage the nation outdoors and to engage with their community.

David Domoney, the campaign’s founder, says: “It’s a perfect campaign to recognise and celebrate the great spirit we experience during the Christmas period.

I remember as a child, neighbours would leave their curtains open to show the lights on the Christmas tree to passers-by and as kids it was magical to see. Today, with the advance in technology in outdoor Christmas lights they can make a spectacular display; lifting our hearts and giving warmth to the community and neighbours.

“We want to encourage and inspire the nation to brighten up their front gardens and streets this Christmas. Garden centres are the best port of call for someone to get started with the best advice on home and garden Christmas displays.”

Bounce-back plans launched for consumer and retail industry

E

xports Minister Graham Stuart MP has announced a series of new measures to support businesses in the consumer and retail industry to export overseas as part of efforts to help the sector recover from coronavirus.

The new measures will offer immediate support to businesses by ensuring specialists provide advice on online retail and international marketplaces.

Additionally, the launch of a new Consumer and Retail Export Academy will provide businesses with the critical knowledge, skills and networks needed to increase exports. The plan will also outline long-term support for the sector as new export opportunities arise from trade deals being negotiated with the US, Japan, New Zealand and Australia.

E-commerce will be at the heart of the plans, with measures tailored to help

consumer and retail businesses develop international, multi-channel, e-commerce strategies fit for the changed retail environment.

The value of retail sales made online has risen by more than 300% in the last 10 years. This trend is expected to continue as a result of coronavirus, with many UK businesses already experiencing increased sales online.

The retail industry is a key pillar of the UK economy, contributing £104bn of GVA to the UK economy in 2019, with the value of retail sales reaching £395bn in 2019, a 3.8% increase from 2018. www.gov.uk

Garden centre accused of encouraging pandemic hoarding

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n online garden centre selling packs of toilet rolls at £1 has been accused of encouraging pandemic hoarding.

Bonnetts Garden Village in Brentwood announced its new product line online last week, but many customers took to social media with concerns. One customer said: “Advertising in that

8

manner is a strong reason NOT to shop there.

Irresponsible.”

Another said: “Ridiculous advert at the present moment.”

The firm replied e have not had essentials like this before, so we are informing of our new essential items like this to support customers that are uncomfortable visiting

Garden Centre Retail October/November 2020

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larger supermarkets. Also, this ensures jobs are protected in case another lockdown comes,

we will then be able to remain open.

“It would be irresponsible of us not to adjust and react to the current situation for the sake of our staff and customers. I’m really sorry you feel this way about it.”

The garden centre trades online as: gardeningexpress.co.uk

www.gardencentreretail.com

08/10/2020 14:45

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07/10/2020 14:53

N ew s V i rtual Gl ee 2 0 2 0

GLEE 2020

VIRTUALLY A SUCCESS? or the first time in its histor , Glee was held irt all this ear o, how did the trade show manage to transform itself into an online e ent, and was it a s ccess ere, lee pro ides arden entre etail maga ine with a ro nd p of lee athering

O

n 15 and 16 September, Glee went digital with the launch of its very first virtual forum.

Created in response to visitor and exhibitor demand, Glee Gathering was designed to bring our industry together, even when we were physically apart.

With community ever at the heart of what we do, Glee Gathering provided a hub for the industry, bringing together the key elements of what makes Glee one of the UK’s most important retail trade shows.

The virtual forum brought registrants key industry insights, essential networking opportunities and a first hand look at the latest products, trends and collections.

Networking is one of the most important elements of

10

Glee, so Glee Gathering’s virtual meeting’s system proved key for buyers and brands alike. roviding instant access to contacts involved in Glee Gathering, the platform allowed attendees to connect with one another and chat online, as well as providing an instant discovery platform allowing buyers and suppliers to arrange and participate in one to one video meetings directly on the platform for the duration of the event.

Hosting an exclusive content programme, Glee Gathering provided access to of the minute industry intel, trend insights, peer to peer panel sessions, and more. mong

Garden Centre Retail October/November 2020

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the speaker line up were elen addington from erennial, Lynsey Swales from Social B, and a host of other experts from across the horticultural and retail industries.

Glee Gathering also hosted an impressive array of brands from across the garden care, landscaping, hospitality, plants, outdoor entertainment and home sectors. edicated Virtual Showrooms provided buyers with an easy and accessible way to discover new brands and see what their current partners have to offer.

The lee athering roduct Showcase sessions gave brands even more opportunity to communicate with prospective customers, taking buyers through their latest collections.

The roduct howcase offered exhibitors the chance to submit a five minute video to be

shown to buyers during a sector specific time slot.

Sector categories include: garden centres; outdoor entertainment and decoration; landscaping; home and gift and pets.

Last but not least, we couldn’t forget the exciting ew roduct wards. The itch t’ sessions offered brands the opportunity to pitch their latest product to a panel of expert judges, whilst visitors were able to watch the pitches live and vote for their favourites.

Many of the Glee Gathering content sessions and product showcases are available on demand and can be accessed via the lee website. ◗ www.gleebirmingham.com/ glee/glee-gathering

www.gardencentreretail.com

08/10/2020 10:27

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2020

BUSINESS 13

INTERVIEW Jo Keen of Grimsby Garden Centre

16

SHOWING THE RIGHT SIGNS Javier Lopez of OKI Europe Ltd

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PPE Exploring the range of benefits that come with investing in PPE

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REINDEER WELFARE Ensuring your Christmas offering is ethical

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SANTA’S GROTTO Will Santa be visiting garden centres this Christmas?

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GARDEN CONNECT How to benefit from local search traffic

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COPING WITH CHANGE Worldwide Structures on evolving in 2020

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FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD The evergreen importance of catering

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CATERING FOCUS: COVID-19 COVID-friendly approaches to catering

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08/10/2020 15:29

Advertorial

NEW for 2020/2021 CATERPILLAR FUN

for Little Gardeners

It’s easy for children to start plants off in their very own fun caterpillar greenhouse. With a RRP of £11.00, this new addition to the popular Little Gardeners range from Johnsons includes everything needed for children to learn how to sow seeds and look after them as they grow, following simple steps.

3x SEED SACHETS

7x COMPOST PELLETS

7x WOODEN PLANT LABELS

INSTRUCTION LEAFLET

BASI L

PEPPER (SWEET)

TOMATO ions, top g instructa recipe Growin my pizz & a yum

tips

Each windowsill friendly kit comprises of a re-usable caterpillar shaped propagator tray and lid along with basil, pepper (sweet) and tomato seeds. It also contains a handy leaflet with clear instructions, growing tips and a pizza recipe, plus mess-free expandable compost pellets and wooden labels on which children can write the variety they are growing. Available in outers of just four or on the stand as part of the Little Gardeners collection.

NEW LOOKFOR JOHNSONS MICROGREENS Johnsons has redesigned its popular Microgreens seed range for the 2021 season. With new look packets and point of sale, the collection of eight varieties and two high quality growing kits provide all year round greens, from a windowsill.

Johnsons Extends Organic Offering

The refreshed packets introduce colour bands for easy identification of each variety and the display stands include new price coded header cards. The packaging design has also been updated for the Microgreens growing kit and seed sprouter.

Microgreens are virtually ‘instant’ vegetables that can be grown indoors.

Easy and quick to grow, some varieties can be ready to pick in as little as two weeks, with the vitamin-rich leaves providing a fresh intensity to meals.

The seed range includes beetroot, fenugreek and radish for leaf and have RRPs starting from £2.20. The Microgreens Growing Kit (RRP £4.99) is a high quality reusable growing tray which includes three packets of seeds. Once the ‘micro leaves’ are ready, Johnsons compact Micro Snips (RRP £3.99), with spring action handles, are an easy way to harvest your crops. The Microgreens Kitchen Seed Sprouter has an RRP £11.99 and is a convenient and economical way to produce continuous crops of fresh seed sprouts such as alfalfa and mung beans, as well as the baby leaves of microgreens.

Organic growing continues to be an increasingly popular trend and more recently gardeners have been looking to include growing their flowers from organic seed.

In response to this, Johnsons have added 15 new organic flower seeds to the existing range of 38 organic vegetables. Produced without the use of pesticides or other chemicals, these beautiful flowers are a great introduction for gardeners interested in organic home-gardening. Many varieties will also help attract bees and other pollinators to the garden.

For more details visit www.mr-fothergills-trade.com or contact your local sales representative.

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07/10/2020 12:03

I nterv i ew B usi ness

AN INTERVIEW WITH

JO KEEN

GRIMSBY GARDEN CENTRE

I

Despite the unexpected obstacle of COVID-19, Grimsby Garden Centre is ploughing ahead with its fi e ear rede elopment plan NAViGO’s Jo Keen tells us more abo t the pro ect, as well as how the garden centre helps those dealing with mental health conditions

t’s well publicised that gardening can benefit a person’s mental health. hilst every garden centre would be keen to promote this, one in orth ast incolnshire has fully embodied it. ince it was taken over by social enterprise i five years ago, rimsby arden entre has sought to provide training and employment opportunities to those locally with ill mental health.

The garden centre is not the first business i has dabbled in. The mental health services provider has been

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a social enterprise since 1 pril 011, after changes were made to the which meant it could either be a commissioner or a provider of a service, rather than both. e were awarded the mental health contract, to provide adult mental health services to the residents within orth ast incolnshire, e plains o een, head of employment and commercial services at i . e know, though, that as an organisation, people benefit from the additional support we’re able to provide as a social enterprise as well as the core 

Garden Centre Retail October/November 2020

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08/10/2020 11:10

B usi ness I nterv i ew services we’re commissioned to deliver.

This additional support really makes a difference and is equally beneficial because it stops people from having to access secondary services.”

Part of this is providing a place to work and providing training opportunities, and NAViGO has used businesses such as cafes and cleaning contracts to do this, but Jo says it was looking to take its additional support to the next level. “Considering a variety of business options, NAViGO were drawn by the opportunities the garden centre presented and purchased the retail outlet in October 2015.”

Jo herself scoped the area, coming across Grimsby Garden Centre, which instantly drew her attention, and NAViGO purchased the company. “Gardening’s really good for positive mental health.

There’s a lot of stigma around mental health and the garden centre has helped us to broach that within North East Lincolnshire. We’ve embedded NAViGO’s ethos and positive messaging

There’s a lot of stigma around mental health and the garden centre has helped us to broach that within North East Lincolnshire

Tukes support: Gary and Tina

Alex at the Tukes Horticulture course

14

around mental health into our branding and advertising, so that people are aware of the link and we bring more awareness of mental health and how it can affect anybody.”

Grimsby Garden Centre has evolved from owner to owner, starting out as a nursery before becoming Alfords Garden Centre and then having a café added on later. Under the business, it continues to be all three, but the community focus of the store store is evident, with profit reinvested back in local healthcare services. “Before we bought it, it was owned by a husband and wife, so it was a family business. We’ve still tried to approach it as a family business; we know our customers on first name terms, we have regular customers who we have good relationships with. A lot of what we’ve done is try to turn the garden centre into a community hub.

“We kept all of the existing staff; we had no experience of running a garden centre, but the knowledge of the existing staff was invaluable.” or the first couple of years, i made few changes to the garden centre, other than introducing its service users with the help of the staff members it retained. Employees worked with those with mental health issues, to help them learn the ropes of running a garden centre and operating a nursery, which staff welcomed. This forms part of its training programme Tukes, which was established 17 years ago and named after William Tuke, who pioneered the humane treatment of those with ill mental health and who founded treatment centre The Retreat in York. Jo joined NAViGO in 2003 as deputy manager for the project, helping to get it established.

Five years into the purchase, though, there are big plans to transform the site of Grimsby Garden Centre. Its development through the years has left the design of the site somewhat quirky and randomly placed. “We know that the site has massive potential, but it needs a bit of reconfiguration. ur land’s quite vast, but the garden centre itself is quite small – we have to clear everything out to set up for Christmas, which is a nightmare, overhauling a retail area in a short space of time and ensuring stock is safe and watertight.”

The five year plan to redevelop the site will create more space for stock by extending the shopping area and the café.

A green barn is being constructed, too – a solar powered building, with composting toilets, wool insulation and rainwater harvesting, as Jo says lowering the garden

Garden Centre Retail October/November 2020

Interview-3.indd 14

Jo with colleagues

A lot of what we’ve done is try to turn the garden centre into a community hub centre’s carbon footprint is an important part of the redevelopment. This will be a dedicated Christmas space during the festive season, and for the rest of the year will be used for other seasonal events and farmers markets – with the potential for weddings, says Jo. Nodding to Grimsby’s roots as Britain’s busiest working port, with adjacent town Immingham, an entrance will be created out of shipping containers. These will provide opportunities for independent retailers. The garden centre already has three concessions on site – one of which is an independent mother of the bride boutique – which were there when Navigo purchased the store. However, Jo says the centre has worked more with local, artisan producers over the last five years to offer them the opportunity to sell their goods.

“We’re not like a lot of other garden centres; we are independent, so we can decide what products we want to bring in and how we wish to display our products.

A chain doesn’t have that luxury. I really like that we get to be a bit different and the stock from these small, independent companies sells really well.”

The shipping containers will form a bespoke entrance in what is the existing car park, with parking moving to the side of the building in order for the frontage of the garden centre to be more visible from the road and to double the size of the car park.

Plans for the new entrance www.gardencentreretail.com

08/10/2020 11:24

I nterv i ew B usi ness The first phase of the pro ect, which started at the end of eptember, is the caf . af lue has become a well known breakfast and lunch spot in rimsby, known for its carveries, fish and chips, and a generous ull nglish reakfast. re , the caf was overwhelmed on a regular basis, says o, and they were struggling to cope with the demand, which is the reason it was chosen as the first to be e panded. e know the demand is still there. e’re hoping that the caf will be completed by ebruary ne t year. e don’t know what the world is going to be like by then, but e tending the caf puts us in a position to e pand our seating capacity in line with restrictions, so we will be able to accommodate more customers than we can currently. fter closing at the start of lockdown, af lue reopened on uly and took advantage of the government’s at ut to elp ut cheme in ugust, which o says was an absolutely fantastic scheme that offered really good support for a lot of small businesses . t gave customers up to 10 off their bill e cluding alcohol from onday to ednesday at participating restaurants, bars and cafes, with these businesses then reimbursed by the government. e were ust as busy as on the Thursday, riday or the weekend. e had to alter certain things, though, such as the carvery we can’t have a long queue of people at a carvery unit, so we’re having to take up people table by table and serve them, as opposed to them serving themselves. ut the quality of the food and the service hasn’t been compromised.

The garden centre also closed at the start of lockdown and remained closed to the public until garden centres were allowed by the government to reopen on 1 ay. owever, the staff were only

Social distancing at the garden centre

Queue management

away for one day as rimsby arden entre e plored alternatives to keep it operational. e quickly changed our business model to become a delivery service. e ooded social media and couldn’t believe the volume of calls we were out doing up to 0 deliveries a day. e’re really lucky that we were in a position to adapt our business model and the staff were phenomenal. e had to furlough a few staff members, mainly from the caf , but we redeployed as many as possible to other areas within avigo to support frontline services. e’d always concentrated on a face to face model before, so haven’t as yet invested heavily in our online presence. e t year, we’re planning to relook at our website and e commerce system to be

Café Blue customer

www.gardencentreretail.com

Interview-3.indd 15

able to meet a greater demand online. e’re also considering what a virtual hristmas may look like, as well as a face to face hristmas e perience, so if we end up having to go into lockdown again during the winter months, the height of the winter u season, then we will still be able to facilitate visits to anta, albeit virtually.

PPE in use

We’re really lucky that we were in a position to adapt our business model and the staff were phenomenal o says the delivery service has created a new wave of customers too, though it has as with most other garden centres across the been a challenging year. efore , its turnover was growing year on year, with 1. m last year as its highest yet. ut with big plans for e pansion already in action and an innovative team which has already proven it can overcome adversity, there’s not a hint of doom and gloom when talking to o. rimsby arden entre is continuing to benefit the local area, through offering a delivery service throughout lockdown, enabling children to visit anta this hristmas, and its ongoing opportunities for those will ill mental health. There’s little doubt that the garden centre has become the community hub it set out to be. ◗

Garden Centre Retail October/November 2020

15

08/10/2020 11:26

B usi ness Prom oti onal M ateri al s

SHOWING THE

RIGHT SIGNS

A

Javier Lopez of OKI Europe Ltd explains how to keep garden centres in full bloom post-lockdown through in-house promotional materials

s a nation of green fingered gardeners, a significant portion of the population were planning their trips to garden centres during the spring to enhance their treasured outside spaces. owever, as the 1 pandemic reached shores in arch, restrictions meant that garden centres were forced to take the unprecedented move of closing stores until further notice. s restrictions were eased, garden centres were able to reopen their doors to the public in ay but, like with many customer facing businesses, they have had a responsibility to ensure the right 1 safety measures are in place to help those who visit their stores. ith garden centres reporting a strong level of growth in une 0 0 in comparison to the previous year an increase of % , many premises are looking to utilise the correct promotional materials to help maintain the strong recovery that the market has achieved so far.

A responsibility to communicate effectively in-store ith lockdown measures being slowly eased at the time of writing , retailers of all kinds have had to ensure their stores are 1 secure to re open, whether that is through social distancing signage, signage to indicate visitor number limits, or reminders for customers to wear a facemask. ith this in mind, in store signage means more than ust communicating product offers and promotions. t is

16

now a useful tool to re ect official 1 guidance and the continued encouragement for safer shopping. ye grabbing oor stickers within the store can clearly convey the distance required for shoppers to safely stand from each other, whilst window stickers can be used to help centres share temporary changes to opening times. utdoor

By attaining the ability to print in-house, garden centres can quickly and easily replace outdated signage to meet the current government guidelines signage can inform customers of any queuing policies during peak times and hanging banners can direct visitors on the safest route once they enter the premises. hile these particular types of signage will allow garden centres to provide the best in customer e perience during the new normal, they also need to be mindful of changing government guidelines and regulations as the wider situation changes.

This could ultimately lead to signage needing to be changed or altered at short notice, especially in regard to social distancing measures. e access l ty a d e l ty of in-house printed signage y attaining the ability to print in house, garden centres can quickly and easily replace outdated signage to meet the current government guidelines. n top of maintaining oor and window stickers, banners and posters related to the pandemic, these retailers also have a unique requirement for waterproof and small format labels for use with plant pots and other garden items. nvestment in an in house compact printer allows garden centres to not only

Garden Centre Retail October/November 2020

Responding to covid 19.indd 16

print unique labels, but also allows them to avoid cost and time pressures associated with third party supplied promotions.

This gives them the power to keep their customers fully informed of the latest store guidelines as quickly and easily as possible, all while still producing signage in high definition colour and maintaining an optimum level of professional quality.

ltimately, garden centres are looking to continue to thrive following a difficult period of largely reduced business in 0 0, and the use of an in house printer allows for the creation of a variety of different printed media in varying shapes and si es, along with the ability to communicate relevant products and promotions to their customers. rucially, this will demonstrate to shoppers the necessary health and safety guidelines that are in place to ensure they feel safe to visit. ◗ ABOUT Javier Lopez is general manager Vertical Solutions for OKI Europe Ltd. His primary role is to drive the acquisition of international top-tier clients in vertical sectors such as retail, healthcare, government, banking and education. He is responsible for identifying strategic opportunities and delivering compelling propositions tailored to these sectors in 30 countries o e fi e egions ac oss . www.oki.com/uk

www.gardencentreretail.com

08/10/2020 09:06

PPE T ,

PPE B usi ness

PROTECTIVE

T

he two main pillars of customer loyalty are trust and confidence.

This is even more important as businesses navigate consumer anxiety and uncertainty created by 1 . ow, personal safety is top of mind for consumers. hoppers want the assurance that businesses prioritise their wellbeing. s they step foot in a store, they are seeking evidence that safety protocols have been put in place to safeguard them as they shop. longside measures such as screens, oor markings and hand sanitisers, staff wearing face coverings and gloves help make customers feel more at ease, build trust and increase consumer confidence, which in turn encourages more footfall and repeat visits.

Express yourself recent ou ov poll showed that by the end of ugust % of people in the were wearing masks in public places. ace coverings are already a part of our daily lives and will be for the foreseeable future, and we are quickly growing accustomed to this new normal’. n fact, many of us are splashing out on fun, colourful or designer

masks to express our individuality; businesses should look to do the same. y embracing high quality, brand building into their workwear, businesses not only safeguard their customers but also create positive business value.

Staff safety and comfort Employees at the coalface who spend every day interacting with customers want to feel protected, safe and comfortable

www.gardencentreretail.com

Feature PPE.indd 17

PPE needn’t be viewed as a hindrance or afterthought, says Ann Dowdeswell, sales and marketing director of Jermyn Street Design – leading provider of custom uniforms and workwear. Smart investment in personal protective equipment (PPE) and personal protective uniforms (PPU) help build trust, brand and business value.

Center Parcs uniform

too. earer wellbeing has never been more critical. ntiviral and anti microbial fabric aprons or smocks and trousers can provide additional protection. uniform that is designed and manufactured to the highest safety standards, fits well and looks good will give your staff confidence. mproved wearability offers clear benefits where staff feel more valued, and more assured in approaching customers and helping to give advice and answer questions. e s e does ot fi t all eyond , social distancing has created new practical considerations – such as when it comes to ordering staff uniforms, as employees can no longer easily try on clothes for fit and si ing. ere, like in so many areas, a digital solution can provide a safe and efficient process while minimising cost and wastage. t , we have introduced a si ing app, where staff can accurately measure themselves and order from our online portal. They can then opt to receive their workwear, in compostable packaging, at home or at their place of work, eliminating unnecessary handling.

Brand-building PPU or garden centre businesses that have expanded their business models to

include home delivery services, it is an opportunity to build your brand through . mployees responsible for distribution and delivery across multiple locations are mobile brand representatives. trong uniform design with clearly identifiable personal protective elements, give potential customers immediate visual cutthrough, signalling a professional business with responsible and reliable operational processes. uilding in sustainably dyed fabrics and organic materials will demonstrate your brand’s commitment to protecting the environment.

s we head into autumn, more garden business will move indoors. nvestment in and should be an essential consideration in your budgeting process.

Putting customer and employee interests first will not only benefit their health, but also the long term health of your business. ◗ ABOUT Jermyn Street Design fashions custom uniforms and workwear for leading brands in diverse industries all over the world. lot es fo eal eo le at wo k. lot es fit for purpose, with functionality, durability and sustainability built into every detail of their design and fabrication. Clothes that are brand building, not just branded.

Because no-one is uniform. www.jsd.co.uk

Garden Centre Retail October/November 2020

17

07/10/2020 16:33

Dizmezs launch new winterfuel Garden Centre brand

Winterfuel experts Dizmezs Ltd are launching READYBLAZE, a new Firewood brand for the UK Garden Centre market. The brand marries top performance with environmental friendliness. Every piece of timber in their Firewood products is kiln dried to under 20% moisture content level, leading to cleaner, hotter burning and less harmful emissions.

Dizmezs 110,000 acre production site in Latvia

With 25 years’ experience of manufacturing and distributing winterfuels throughout Europe, the READYBLAZE brand represents the new age of Firewood products by offering safer and more efficient Firewood solutions from a carbon neutral source with high capacity in order to supply the UK market.

The new range consists of kiln dried Birch hardwood split logs, ideal for use on stoves, open fires and chimineas. In addition to Birch logs there are more premium options such as Ash, which burn hotter and longer than Birch logs. Food Grade Logs and Kindling are available for wood fired cooking. Also available in the range are Round Heat Logs and accessories for the fire such as Wood Wool Firestarters and standard Kindling.

READYBLAZE Sustainability pledge READYBLAZE is committed to sustainable sourcing and is a member of the PEFC Sustainable Forest Management scheme. For every 1 tree cut down from a sustainable forest, 8 additional trees are planted in its place.

READYBLAZE is also a member of the Woodsure ‘Ready to Burn’ initiative to reduce harmful air pollution. All timber is kiln dried to less than 20% moisture levels ensuring cleaner emissions and a higher temperature than timber above 20% moisture levels.

Furthermore, all of the READYBLAZE range packaging is supplied in recyclable polythene bags or recyclable cardboard boxes.

‘Ready to Burn’ and Ready to supply The UK government guidance now states that consumers should use ‘Ready to Burn’ accredited fuels in order to reduce harmful emissions that you may experience from timber that is above 20% moisture levels.

READYBLAZE is a fully accredited ‘Ready to Burn’ fuel so is fully set up for years of future trading and won’t be affected by the expected law changes in selling non accredited Firewood.

If you would like further details about READYBLAZE, please contact Neil Sims on 07368 617124 or email neil.sims@dizmezs.lv. The READYBLAZE website is now live, where you can browse the range – www.readyblaze.co.uk.

Garden Centre Retail Double Page Spread - Oct 20 issue.indd 1 Advert template.indd 83

14/10/2020 14:31

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14/10/2020 14:31

Angela Nelson of Real Reindeer Ltd

B usi ness R ei ndeer W el f are

REINDEER WELFARE

R

eindeer have always been synonymous with Christmas.

Their bells mark the arrival of Father Christmas, and his obligatory glass of milk and sweet treat is often left alongside carrots. Their appearance at garden centres has been common for years, but should garden centres be hosting real reindeer at all?

Garden centres have evolved over the years, becoming so much more than a plant nursery. Emphasis leans towards entertainment, as happy children make for happy adults, which in turn is likely to increase visit time and inevitably their spend whilst out. This is never truer than at Christmas.

Angela Nelson from Real Reindeer Ltd says: “Families seek out experiences for their children and reindeer at Christmas is a magical part of the build up to ‘the day’. ustomers will specifically come to visit the reindeer.”

Though they may form a magical part of a family’s Christmas, what about the reindeer’s welfare? Though a 40% decline in population over the past 21 to 27 years has meant reindeer are now on The IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species, and

20

a voluntary import ban is in place, Animal Aid fear that if the trend for using reindeer in displays continues, they will once again end up being taken from their homelands.

At Animal Aid, raising awareness of the many issues with reindeer displays and banning reindeer importation is a priority.

It has contacted 150 garden centres,

Reindeer are very di ficult to eep healthy and should only e provided y e perts ho understand their needs shopping centres, local authorities and other establishments, which had planned to host events involving reindeer or other animals. Of these, around 36 reindeer appearances were cancelled.

“Reindeer are often subjected to an extensive travel regime throughout the festive period, and behind the scenes they are unable to roam. This is a very different existence than their natural habitat, places with a very different climate,” explains

Garden Centre Retail October/November 2020

Reindeer welfare.indd 20

They may bring in the crowds, but is using real reindeer in displays cruel?

We speak to Animal Aid and Real Reindeer Ltd to find o t more Tor Bailey, campaign manager. Indeed, some reindeer migrate up to 3,000 miles a year in the wild, journeying these vast distances in the Arctic tundra. “These festive events also attract crowds of noisy, excitable people which can cause great distress to these sensitive animals,” Tor continues.

The combination of an unusual climate and potentially stressful situations can lead to the reindeer becoming unwell. “‘Reindeer have adapted to live in the Arctic. They are not well able to cope with the stress of captivity, and most of the diseases we see here in reindeer are stress-related,” explains Dr John Fletcher, founder of the Veterinary Reindeer Society.

Unfortunately, many of the illnesses seen are also down to their mistreatment. From 2014 to 2017, 54 reindeer carcasses were submitted to the Animal Plant Health Agency for post-mortem diagnostic investigation.

The findings also revealed that reindeer continue to perish from often preventable issues including parasitic, gastric and digestive issues, malnutrition, wasting and nervous conditions.

www.gardencentreretail.com

08/10/2020 09:24

R ei ndeer W el f are B usi ness

WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN FEATURING REAL REINDEER

Real Reindeer Ltd

This is an issue eal eindeer td sees There are many hobby reindeer keepers, and though they don’t charge much, the reindeer are often in poor condition, with a very uncertain future outside of hristmas.

eindeer are very difficult to keep healthy and should only be provided by e perts who understand their needs to ensure a positive e perience for visitors and owners of the garden centre.

They are not well able to cope with the stress of captivity, and most of the diseases we see here in reindeer are stress-related espite this, eal eindeer td do believe it’s possible for garden centres to feature happy and healthy reindeer. They urge garden centres to spend the e tra money on reputable companies, stressing that healthy and happy reindeer should be rela ed with bright eyes, a glossy coat, trimmed feet with no backbone sticking out.

The owners of the reindeer should be willing to welcome you to their farm to meet the reindeer, e plains ngela, Reindeer fur loss

www.gardencentreretail.com

Reindeer welfare.indd 21

Reindeer at Stratford Shopping Centre

o, if garden centres are considering featuring real reindeer, it’s important to take the time to choose the right company and not skimp on this. There are alternatives to real reindeer though which might still bring in customers, without potentially compromising reindeer’s welfare. nimatronics is an animal friendly alternative, while still bringing festive cheer amac Trading td’s animatronic reindeer even talk and sing. osting a grotto can still be fun and engaging for kids, and you could even encourage them to make decorations. ce rinks are

FOR RESIDENTIAL STAYS • If the reindeer are part of a collection of other animals onsite, there should be no cross contamination between the animal species.

• If the reindeer are going to be present for the whole season, an adequate paddock needs to be provided with shelter, space and at least 5ft-high fencing.

• Local livestock/farm veterinarians need to be advised on protocols if the reindeer are sick, as they are still considered quite unusual and not all vets know how to deal with them and what medicines they tolerate.

• Training for staff who will be looking after them with a 24hr contact number provided by the supplier of the reindeer.

• Once the reindeer are on site, they should not be moved between areas as they may become unsettled.

• Defra licences and Animal Welfare Licence requirements need to be met.

FOR SHORT-TERM STAYS (FOUR HOURS) • Flexibility of where the reindeer can be situated, indoors or outside.

• Greater interaction between the specialist reindeer handlers and the public/visitors so they can provide information and stories to younger children.

• Reindeer should be displayed with their handlers on lead ropes at all times.

• Hand sanitising/washing facilities provided and clearly sign posted. fairly e pensive, but they are proven to be incredibly popular, bringing in notably high footfall. There are even specialist events companies that can offer everything from life si ed snow globes to walkabout performers. hether you agree about banning real reindeer from displays or not, it can be agreed that the proper care needs to be given, and in actuality there are many alternatives that could bring even more festive cheer. ◗

Garden Centre Retail October/November 2020

21

08/10/2020 09:22

B usi ness S anta’ s Grotto

THE

NIGHTMARE BEFORE Christmas

The new red velvet ma

sks

COVID-19 has stolen the summer and now has its sights set on Christmas.

Is there a way to save the festive season, though, and still hold Christmas grottos?

We discovered it might not be time to hang up our Santa hats just yet

E

ven Santa is having to socially distance this year. The star of the festive season is being stood down in garden centres across the UK as concerns around COVID-19 linger. Take Pugh. The Welsh garden centre said it would be “irresponsible” to run its ‘Santa experience’ this Christmas.

Hayes Garden World has also given Kris Kringle the boot, claiming it would be “impossible to maintain social distancing in such a confined space . thers, such as Perrywood in Colchester, simply don’t have space for the grotto, saying the usual spot is being used to expand other departments, such as its cafe, to adhere to social distancing.

So, is it still possible to hold a Santa’s grotto during a pandemic? How can you make it COVID-safe? And what are the other options when it comes to offering a festive experience?

James Lovell, director of the Ministry of Fun Santa School, is convinced retailers can still hold a grotto this Christmas. His

22

ts of Santa School took to the stree mask s Trainees at the Minis try of Fun ic opinion of the new festive face central London to gauge publ

training academy for wannabee St Nicks has been running for the last 25 years. It was founded after James’ experience as an elf for a large department store left him eager to provide those children queuing for hours to see Santa with a more memorable experience than he thought they were getting, and it has now become the leading provider of Santas in the country.

“Usually, at this time of year, our bookings are mostly confirmed for the season,” says James. “But there is a certain amount of caution and confusion

Garden Centre Retail October/November 2020

Santas Grotto.indd 22

“[Garden centres] don’t need to cancel Santa’s grottos and there’s still time to un-cancel them” out there, which has prompted people to not say ‘yes’ yet. Compared to a theatre, though, a Christmas grotto is actually a very simple thing to adapt for social distancing. The problem with a theatre is that you’re sitting amongst strangers.

www.gardencentreretail.com

08/10/2020 10:43

S anta’ s Grotto B usi ness

The Ministry of Fun Santa School

The last, and most difficult, aspect to tackle was how Santa could hand over a gift whilst maintaining social distance – throwing the present being out of the question, of course. James came up with the idea of safely pre-loading a present

www.gardencentreretail.com

Santas Grotto.indd 23

onto a small sleigh, which the child can then pull towards themselves at the end of the visit to receive their gift. “It’s really important to remember that a child meeting Father Christmas is a big deal, we can’t have Christmas without him, so we have got to try to make it work otherwise

“It’s really important to remember that a child meeting Father Christmas is a big deal, we can’t have Christmas without him” that’s a massive hole in our lives, no matter what age we are,” says James.

“I’m personally of the belief – not just based on theory but on Santa School and the role playing we’ve carried out – that we can run a Christmas grotto as normal, with just a few tweaks. “[Garden centres] don’t need to cancel Santa’s grottos and there’s still time to uncancel them. Unfortunately, the messages are mixed and confusing as to what is safe and what isn’t, but a Christmas grotto can still be opened in a way that children will enjoy without any risks to anyone but still loads of magic.”

Frosts seems to agree. The chain will be hosting its grotto from the end of November at three of its four stores, with measures in place to ensure customer and colleague safety, including staggering arrival times. To draw in visitors, the retailer is offering personalised gifts and an exclusive teddy bear, and a ‘My First Christmas’ stocking for babies under 12 months.

Garden centre giant Dobbies has also announced its Christmas events, and confirmed anta will be coming to town – well, all 68 of Dobbies’ stores, to be precise, with each of the grottos being held in open spaces. CEO Graeme Jenkins says: “Our Christmas events programme has something for all ages as we have

Santa school photographs ©Jeff Moore

When someone goes into a Christmas grotto, they’re normally in their social bubble. It’s important to remember that when you go and see Santa, you normally go with your family or your close friend.”

With the government’s ‘rule of six’ and ‘social bubbles’ fairly easy to abide by, then, there were three main aspects which James says he still had to address: Santa’s face mask, an attractive yet socially distanced grotto, and how children could safely be given their presents.

The anta chool first tried festive visors before making a swift switch to masks after the visors fogged up when placed over the beard. “Rather than hiding the fact that Santa was wearing a mask, we decided to actually make a feature of it, so we made these rather splendid red velvet masks with white fur around the edge.

They’re made out of the same fabric as his costume. Children are used to seeing people wearing masks, so if Santa is wearing a rather snazzy red velvet mask, this is making something fun that could otherwise be problematic.”

For the layout, James says the chair on which the children sit and Santa’s armchair can simply be moved further apart, with perhaps a well-placed pile of presents in between or some decorations to make the two-metre gap less obvious.

focused on bringing communities back together over the festive period. We will be following government guidelines to ensure our events are safe and enjoyable for both customers and team members.”

Still not convinced? A grotto isn’t the only way to put on a festive shopping experience. The Gardens Group will be decking the halls with its annual Christmas display, with a range of measures in place.

It is encouraging customers to visit at quieter times, too, by extending the times its breakfast and afternoon tea menus are available, and marquees will provide additional space for its restaurants.

Perrywood might have cancelled its grotto, but the store will also be offering a festive afternoon tea in its restaurant, along with themed product displays which include The Wizard of Oz and Hansel and Gretel.

Whilst Brigg Garden Centre is unsure whether its grotto will go ahead this year, its Christmas shop – which spans two oors opened at the end of eptember and reported long, socially distanced queues for its winter wonderland of gifts and decorations.

And Meadow Croft Garden Centre in Essex is holding its German market for the sixth year in a row, with more than 30 stalls for customers to browse, including those offering gluhwein, bratwurst and mouthwatering waf es.

Garden centres might be forced to change their Christmas offerings this year, but many are still eager to bring festive cheer to their stores to ensure it remains the most wonderful time of the year. ◗

Garden Centre Retail October/November 2020

23

08/10/2020 10:43

B usi ness S E O

THE 4 STEPS

FROM SEARCH QUERY TO PURCHASE Edwin Meijer, founder of Garden Connect and working together with more than 300 independent garden centres, explains how to benefit from local search traffic

D

id you know that more than 46% of the search queries on Google include the name of a place or a term like “near me”? That’s nearly half of the millions of search queries in your area. But how do you get those searching on Google to visit your garden centre?

Search intent model Every purchase follows a number of steps, or ‘the customer journey’. With every step, different keywords are used. At Garden Connect, we’ve created a search intent model to clarify this.

The model includes four types of keywords which re ect the intent of the customer. We’ve included a sample search query with every step: • Informational How to prune a hydrangea?

• Navigational Best pruning shears • Product-related and transactional Gardena Bypass Pruning Shears The last step is the most important one: the purchase-intent search query: • Online purchase Gardena Bypass Pruning Shears online • Offline purchase Gardena Birmingham As you can see, customers start with a question and are just looking for information.

Step by step, their intent shifts from informative to the intention to buy new pruning shears to prune their hydrangea.

24

Why local matters The beauty of the model Garden Connect developed is that it makes it very easy to identify customers who have the intention to buy locally. And that matters a lot since that’s a great way to attract customers to your garden centre. Consider the options you have to attract customers to your garden centre, for example: • On social media, you’re in touch with people who already know your brand. f ine advertising means you’re putting yourself in front of people you hope are in the market to buy something.

• Your email newsletter goes to customers who already know you and like your brand.

• If you target Google users looking for a place to buy products, you’re helping them by giving them answers.

By targeting Google users who are looking for a place to buy something, you’ll see an increase in footfall as soon as you hit the top of Google.

Where to start?

Now you know why you should get people from Google to your garden centre, but where do you start? The most important thing is to review your website content: • Do you have unique content on your website?

• Do you give people reasons to visit your garden centre? (And no, a text like “we have great offers” isn’t a reason to visit you since every centre has great offers!)

• Do you have content focused on getting people to your garden centre?

• Do you have professional photos of your departments and product lines on your website?

Garden Centre Retail October/November 2020

Garden Connect.indd 24

By targeting Google users who are looking for a place to buy something, you’ll see an increase in footfall as soon as you hit the top of Google t’s easier to focus on very specific keywords (like “buy pruning shear Birmingham”) and work your way up to more generic keywords. It’s very hard to rank with “how to prune a hydrangea” and chances are few people from Dorset will drive to Birmingham to buy some basic Gardena shears.

In other words: focus on keywords people use to buy pruning shears in Birmingham if that’s what you’re selling!

Feel free to contact Edwin via edwin@gardenconnect.com, call +44 203 475 5541 or go to www.gardenconnect.com ◗

www.gardencentreretail.com

07/10/2020 16:38

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07/10/2020 16:21

A dv ertori al

COPING WITH

CHANGE

Worldwide Structures Ltd explains how it has adapted its offering as a result of the pandemic

H

ave you been exploring the idea of a temporary extension to your existing premises? Do you require a robust, quick, weatherproof additional temporary or semi-permanent structure with the look and feel of a permanent building? If so, then look no further than Worldwide Structures Ltd. Who would have thought that this year’s hot topics would be lockdown and social distancing? Similar to the rest of the world, Worldwide Structures Ltd has adapted to the current climate and the demands the pandemic now poses. It has announced that it can offer its unique temporary or semi-permanent structures to a vast array of businesses which are looking to grow their existing premises, without the added expense of a permanent extension. This gives businesses the e ibility to increase the capacity of their premises for a selected period of time to comply with social distancing guidelines in that particular sector.

Worldwide Structures Ltd has adapted to the current climate and the demands the pandemic now poses As a long-established temporary and semipermanent structure supplier, Worldwide tructures td beneďŹ ts from its own patented aluminium building system, capable of designing and delivering temporary buildings, spaces and venues that meet your exact requirements. Its unique space building system, which is manufactured in-house at its Wiltshire facilities, can withstand strong

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Garden Centre Retail October/November 2020

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winds and high snow loads. The company also aims to be as environmentally friendly as possible, with more than 98% of its components being re-used or recycled.

Its temporary buildings have their own integral all-terrain platform, unlike some other temporary structures, meaning there is no need for an additional sub oor structure to level the site. The buildings can be built in unusual and tight spaces and on almost any terrain including undulating ground without the need for expensive groundworks. They can be installed and dismantled in just a couple of days and the buildings can be single or multi-storey, offering you a totally versatile space.

The layout of the structure can be altered to suit the differing seasonal demands.

Coming in kit format, the building can be: installed in restricted or difficult to access areas; built around existing permanent features; and, subject to layout, can be attached to current permanent buildings such as doors or openings – or alternatively as a standalone structure.

What is more, Worldwide Structures Ltd can provide you with the full turnkey solution or alternatively work with your preferred fit out contractors to deliver to you a temporary structure in a matter of days. lus, there’s the beauty of no fi ed term contract, and due to COVID-19, if your venue is subject to a local lockdown and your premises are closed, Worldwide Structures would not charge the normal monthly rent, but charge a 25% retainer fee for the duration of the lockdown during 2020.

Worldwide Structures Ltd is highly professional with vast experience gained

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from working in many different sectors all over the world, such as schools, retail outlets, coffee shops, golf courses, garden centres, racecourses and visitor attractions. For example, and quite recently, Worldwide Structures Ltd designed, supplied and delivered a fully functioning temporary clubhouse to a golf course during the renovation of its existing building. Its team of skilled designers allowed this 15 x 17.5m single-storey structure to be used in many different ways; besides the clubhouse, the building

During these unprecedented times, it is vitally important that we work together to come up with a workable and sustainable solution was capable of housing administration offices, toilets, changing rooms, a pro shop and catering facilities.

Stuart Sowerby, general manager at Worldwide Structures Ltd, explained: “Temporary structures are incredibly versatile, allowing them to be used in a large variety of ways, including business extensions, private events, product launches, welfare lounges and shelters at retail outlets.

“Our patented building system lends itself to a number of uses and our vast

experience of different sectors means that we are best placed to advise companies on just what can be achieved. Our team is here to help and walk organisations through their requirements. During these unprecedented times, it is vitally important that we work together to come up with a workable and sustainable solution for all businesses – and if any sector can do that, it’s the events industry.”◗

ABOUT Worldwide Structures is a Wiltshirebased company which engineers, manufactures and installs highly innovative, temporary buildings designed to meet the needs of prestigious brands and the leading design, exhibition and production agencies. If you would like to find out more or discuss your ideas in greater detail, please do not hesitate to contact Worldwide Structures Ltd. Tel 01672 565060 Email stuart@w-sl.com www.worldwide-structures.com

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08/10/2020 08:53

B usi ness F ood S al es

FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD

Malcolm Scott Consultants explores why garden centres needs a strong food proposition – especially in light of the recent country-wide lockdown

T

he year 2020 – a year of change, re ection and challenge. arden centres have faced a year unlike any other, where changing trading habits and customers’ new e pectations including their reasons to visit garden centres for wants rather than needs’ created unfamiliar obstacles to overcome. ith the government shutting garden centres in arch alongside all other non essential retailers, we saw the emergence of food halls and farm shops as one of the main propositions for many garden centres through the spring.

This emergence isn’t a new one garden centres have been developing their food offer for a number of years now. owever, as 0 0 progressed, it became apparent that those businesses offering essential goods, especially those with a strong

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food offer, had an edge over their competitors during lockdown.

The industry is all too aware that customer buying habits have changed. hat hasn’t changed is that customers still

It became apparent that businesses offering essential goods, especially those with a strong food offer, had an edge over their competitors during lockdown want great food that is traceable, alongside additional products that can support the weekly shop such as household goods , with the convenience e perienced at the supermarket, all within a safe environment. arden centres and farm shops are often able to offer this full proposition to their customers and, therefore, have a location many others can’t provide.

The growth of the food proposition across garden centres over the past five years has been steady but also significant. owever, 0 0 has seen a real hunger e cuse the pun for a food department to create itself

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as a destination in its own right. longside increased online sales, click and collect and home delivery services, food is something many garden centres continue to develop further to encourage both e isting and new customers to their centres. growing demographic through 0 0 seen throughout garden centres and farm shops has increased e posure to the sector, and a garden centre has to ask itself if now is the time to make a bigger step into this market. t alcolm cott onsultants specialising in business development and town planning across the garden centre and farm shop industries clarification was made that changes to town planning in ngland have been approved by arliament as of 1 eptember 0 0. There is no more se lass 1 into which fell garden centres, farm shops and the ma ority of retail outlets. n its place is now the all embracing lass , which includes retail shops, coffee shops and restaurants.

This means that operators can change from one of the above uses to another use without planning consent, unless the relevant council has an order in place preventing such a change. hile there are e ceptions to some of these uses, it is necessary to check before making any changes, and a council can still seek restrictions on what a centre or shop offers through its planning conditions. This is good news for garden centres and farm shops, providing them with greater freedom to alter a product and service mi without the need for planning consent. ◗

www.gardencentreretail.com

08/10/2020 16:26

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02/10/2020 16:14:04

07/10/2020 14:32

Business Catering Focus

COUNTERACTING

COVID A

fter being forced to close for three months, cafés and restaurants were finally able to reopen on 4 July, nearly two months after garden centres could welcome visitors through their doors.

So, business as normal, right? Far from it. A plethora of new measures needed to be introduced in order to operate, from ensuring social distance could be maintained to increasing cleaning and sanitation. Many banned cash payments, too.

“Restoring the confidence of returning customers during these difficult times, and to reassure them that they will be safe during their visit, has meant demonstrating best practice in health and safety, putting hygiene and cleaning firmly at the top of the agenda,” says Lee Richards, sales director of Tri-Star Packaging, which supplies PPE and janitorial solutions on top of a range of food packaging.

On top of this, the government’s Track and Trace initiative was introduced, meaning all cafés and restaurants were obliged to record the contact details of their customers and employees to halt the

30

spread of coronavirus, should one person at the venue report symptoms.

More recently, cafés and restaurants are banned from offering counter service.

This rule was brought in towards the end of September, along with face masks becoming mandatory for hospitality staff, as coronavirus cases began to rise in the UK. “Every business has seen a change in their restaurant proposition over the past few months due to COVID-19,” says Andrew Burton, associate at Malcolm Scott Consultants. “Many garden centres’ cafés were based around an ‘arrive, queue, order, collect drinks, go to table for food to be delivered’ process; however, the government guidelines for table-only service created the need to review how each business operated and changed its proposition.”

So, how are garden centres responding to the new rules? “The balance between maintaining a COVID-safe environment and creating a warm, welcoming ambience to our restaurants has been a major focus,” says a spokesperson from British Garden Centres, which owns 57 centres across the

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Cafes and restaurants have faced a raft of challenges since being able to reopen, but did the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme offer some respite?

UK. “Menus and table decorations, cutlery and tableware as well as condiments have all had to be removed. We have also implemented clear one-way routes through the restaurants as well as hand sanitising stations.

“If there is one place I would encourage researching and investing right now, it would be in upgrading your restaurant Epos systems or ordering technology” ANDREW BURTON, ASSOCIATE AT MALCOLM SCOTT CONSULTANTS

“But creating this clinical environment has not meant we can’t add back a horticultural feel with the generous use of houseplants, for example. Instead of plastic tape and barriers, generously planted troughs and judiciously placed

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09/10/2020 09:36

Catering Focus Business specimen plants make very effective walkway guides. Several centres have expanded their outdoor and covered seating areas and we’ve noticed that lots of customers prefer to sit outside if possible.”

One of the biggest areas to tackle, though, was queue management, particularly when the government introduced the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme for the month of August, which gave customers 50% off their bill up to the value of £10 on Mondays to Wednesdays.

“If there is one place I would encourage researching and investing right now, it would be in upgrading your restaurant Epos systems or ordering technology,” says Andrew Burton.

“We had seen movement to table ordering over the last couple of years, but COVID-19 has focused this development even more and meant we have seen QR codes linked to menu ordering increase in use significantly since May. “Queuing is something many customers don’t want to do, because of safety and service, so ordering from the table is essential. Garden centres sell a lot of cakes, so how to display these, tempting customers, still needs to be considered, but it looks as if the days of multiple tills on your counter are coming to an end.

The ‘app orders’ and ‘order and pay at table’ can all be integrated through many Epos systems.”

Andrew also says there have been changes to town planning in England as of 1 September. The new Class E allows establishments such as shops, cafés and restaurants to be repurposed without planning consent. A building can change from one use to another to allow more flexibility. “There are exceptions to some

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of these uses, so it is necessary to check before making any changes, and a council can still seek restrictions on what a centre or shop offers through its planning conditions.

“From a garden centre’s point of view, the good news is that it provides greater freedom to alter a product and service mix without the need for planning consent.

Some garden centres have used the retail areas to increase seating for their catering offer; however, others have turned their cafés into retail also. What a business does depends on their strengths, facilities and capability, but this planning permission potentially gives many the opportunity to adapt their proposition.”

“From a financial aspect, the EOTHO scheme has certainly helped us drive almost 50% more transactions during the period” JULIAN WINFIELD, CHIEF EXECUTIVE AT HASKINS GARDEN CENTRE

To reassure customers of a safe environment in their cafés and restaurants, garden centres are having to take to social media, says Andrew. British Garden Centres’ spokesperson says: “Each centre has deployed their Facebook pages and we have also supported them centrally to make sure all our customers have been kept informed at every stage.

“Our online customer surveys have indicated an overwhelmingly positive response to the measures we’ve

introduced, so we are confident we are getting it right.”

British Garden Centres is one of many businesses to take part in the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme, with restaurants and cafés able to be reimbursed by the government for the discounts provided to customers. However, the Horticultural Trades Association expressed some concern for SMEs. Policy manager Sally Cullimore said: “…the discount adds another administrative burden at a time when many new systems have already been introduced, such as test and trace.

“We are also disappointed that VAT is to be paid on the gross bill, meaning that while consumers get a 50% discount, catering businesses can only claim back 47.5%.”

Despite concerns and initial scepticism, more than 100 million meals were claimed by the end of the scheme. By midnight on 31 August, 130,000 claims had been submitted to the government, totalling £522m. The scheme grew in popularity throughout the month of August, too.

In the first week, only 10.5 million meals were claimed. This soared to 64 million meals by the end of the third week.

“The scheme has encourage customers to return to eating out, and this in turn has enabled each restaurant at Haskins to showcase the COVID secure measures that are in place,” says Julian Winfield, chief executive at Haskins Garden Centre.

“From a financial aspect, the EOTHO scheme has certainly helped us drive almost 50% more transactions during the period (Monday to Wednesday), with us still maintaining a reasonable trade during the remainder of the week.”

It was certainly a helping hand at a time when catering businesses were struggling; but even without this, garden centres have shown resilience throughout the pandemic, quickly adapting their cafés and restaurants to suit new measures.

The industry has shown itself to be an impressive and popular one that will continue to overcome the obstacles thrown at it by COVID-19. ◗

Garden Centre Retail October/November 2020

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09/10/2020 09:38

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07/10/2020 12:39

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2020

PRODUCTS 35

PLANT FOCUS ’A Very Poinsettia Christmas’ with Stars for Europe

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GIMA Top sellers that will keep going strong into the new year

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FORDINGBRIDGE Solutions for expanding garden centres

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HOW TO SELL WILDLIFE CARE PRODUCTS with Mark Pitman

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WILDLIFE CARE Latest products for budding nature lovers

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BUSINESS PROFILE UK Greetings Homegrown

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HOW TO SELL FOOD & FOOD GIFTS by Bramble Foods

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FOOD & DRINK GIFTS Top picks for edible gifts

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ANATOMY OF A PRODUCT Dura Deck Tile Resist

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SEEDS A range of popular and upcoming seed products

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08/10/2020 16:02

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07/10/2020 12:50

Poi nsetti as Pl ant F ocus

A VERY Stars for Europe shares its top tips to boost poinsettia sales, as well as exploring the Christmasworld 2020 trends and how its expansive poinsettia offering complements each one

CHRISTMAS A

fter the turbulence of 2020, there is no question that the UK consumer will be looking to this Christmas as an opportunity to regroup, relax and forget about the outside world. This means potentially big business for garden retailers.

Garden retail not only opened earlier than traditional high street stores following the loosening of lockdown restrictions, but they have since provided a sanctuary for consumers who have embraced this different style of shopping. Garden retailers therefore have a significant opportunity to offer a one-stop-shop for all things Christmas, with poinsettia sitting at the heart of this.

However, the success of poinsettia sales lies solely with how retailers’ merchandise and drive customers to make a purchase. Here, the Stars for Europe experts share their top tips to success poinsettia retail.

Create displays that stand out A dedicated poinsettia display is the ideal way of demonstrating the breadth and

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variety on offer. Why not also let your merchandising teams go wild and create stunning presentations that showcase ways to incorporate poinsettia into inspirational designs which suit different interior trends?

From a mock-up of the Christmas dinner table, to wreaths, handmade advent calendars, hanging décor and elegant touches that adorn Christmas trees and around the home, the options are endless.

Co-locate poinsettias around the store Why not add poinsettia to your decoration displays, your café tables or even on the tills to entice last minute purchases?

International Poinsettia Day Drawing attention to this annual day of celebration on December 12 is a great way of driving impulse sales. Make sure you optimise your customer communication channels to drive interest ahead of the day and consider special offers and promotional deals to increase the average basket spend in the lead up to, and during the day. 

Garden Centre Retail October/November 2020

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08/10/2020 16:31

Pl ant F ocus Poi nsetti as Workshops Stars for Europe has created a portfolio of inspiration, with poinsettias at the heart of all these projects. Whether it is creating a one-off advent calendar, envy-inducing table centres or incorporating new colours into your festive scheme, the ideas are endless. Retailers are invited to utilise this content, either as the basis for an instore (or virtual) workshop, or as valuable content for social media.

Update the gifting potential Season after season, poinsettias have proven their worth as a great gift product.

Adding a wrapping service so that poinsettia can be packaged and wrapped makes it even easier for customers to ‘grab and go’. Poinsettia bouquets, made from cut blooms, not only make for a great impulse purchase but also help to demonstrate the breadth of colours on offer. Display the poinsettia plants in complementary planters to enable customers to ‘buy the look’ and increase the average spend once again.

Aftercare Ensure that staff within the indoor plant area are well versed in poinsettia aftercare advice, but support with additional storage at the point of purchase.

A simple sign boasting ‘Five Steps to Thriving Poinsettias’ will catch the eye and illustrate the ease of care. ◗

Christmasworld trends for 2020 This year’s poinsettia offering will see blush pinks, rich creams, pale greens, crisp whites, salmon pinks and the classic bright pillarbox red. This rainbow of colourways and options makes poinsettias perfect for 2020’s biggest Christmas decorating themes.

GREEN RITUAL Inspired by natural vegetation Green Ritual will see nature enter the home, displaying the calm colours of natural vegetation. Shades of green, soft plum, calm taupe and the pure coral of autumn’s vegetation pop against deeper tones of moss, stone, water and cranberry.

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SILKEN PARTY Inspired by the most innovative fashion creations Silken Party balances the delicate pastel colour range of soft creamy shades and sorbet tones with warm and delicate shades. This elegant style includes metallic shimmers, silky sheens and velvety matte textures.

Garden Centre Retail October/November 2020

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HAPPY GET TOGETHER Inspired by the new urban way of life, with a focus on recycling This trend promotes a re-use and recycle ethos, featuring ‘second life’ products. The warm colour palette is dominated by vibrant lemon and hot ochres as well as the more muted tones of rich blues and bottle green.

www.gardencentreretail.com

08/10/2020 10:08

W i nter S al es GI M A

W

ith increasing demand for face coverings and associated products due to the COVID-19 pandemic, supplier RSW International is highlighting its new range of PPE and healthcare products. It includes hand sanitiser, countertop automatic sanitiser dispensers, medical grade face coverings, children’s and adults’ plain and funky designs, washable face masks, and casual headwear with integrated face visors. Lee Kennerley, head of garden & leisure at RSW, said: “We developed a competitively priced range of PPE and healthcare products for the retail and commercial sectors and have seen unprecedented demand within the garden and leisure industry for this type of product.”

RAMP UP WINTER SALES

Pent-up demand for garden products post-lockdown ignited a buoyant summer and autumn season for garden retailers, but with winter around the corner, GIMA members are throwing the spotlight on innovation and top-sellers that promise to keep tills ringing in the run-up to Christmas.

offer exceptional, rapid performance.”

Hygeia has also diversified its portfolio with the addition of HyClean – a rapid action, anti-virus cleaner and disinfectant for use on non-porous surfaces and fabric in homes and gardens, launched in response to the pandemic.

Tom Stolworthy, Hygeia’s UK country manager, said: “With HyClean, we are Vegebag offering garden retailers the opportunity to add an additional product line to their The pandemic has generated huge Hygeia order. In doing so, retailers can demand for grow-your-own products. offer customers a product that provides Vegepod’s Neil Urry said: “Retailers total peace of mind when tackling can capitalise on the GYO category New PPE healthcare products COVID-19 with Vegepod and Vegebag. Vegepod’s from RSW International around homes range of products enable gardeners of and gardens. It’s all abilities to grow veg at home a great add-on Sipcam Home & Garden, the company all year-round. Our newest line that will drive behind the ‘ecofective’ range, has unveiled product, the Vegebag, impulse sales SPOT-ON – a new cleaning and weed is a fully contained grow bag when positioned control brand for 2021. The company suitable for winter vegetable at the tills.” says the pandemic has resulted in the growing at an attractive price Winter helps market for hygiene and point. Point-of-sale set up, garden retailers sanitisation products demonstrations and staff tap into demand growing exponentially, training are all included with for domestic fuel. resulting in the any Vegepod product.”

A spokesman launch of SPOT-ON Bulb suppliers are gearingfor supplier Natural Antiviral and up to meet strong demand.

Dizmezs said: Antibacterial Surface Ian Clark, business “READYBLAZE Cleaner, which kills up to manager at Taylors Bulbs, Readyblaze Kiln Dried Birch Logs is a new 99.99% of bacteria and explained: “Our bestselling Ready to Burn from Dizmezs winterfuel brand helps in the fight against items are amaryllis boxed gift for the UK garden centre market which coronavirus. Nigel packs which include bulb, pot and peatmarries superior performance with Thompson, head of free compost. Taylors offers 23 varieties in environmentally friendly features. sales at Sipcam Home this format, from the traditional favourites Every piece of timber in READYBLAZE & Garden, said: “SPOTRed Velvet and Christmas Star to unusual  firewood products is kiln dried to under ON is a fresh, cuttingTaylors Bulbs Premium Amaryllis Collection 20% moisture content level, leading to edge brand offering cleaner, hotter burning and less harmful potential to drive footfall emissions.” The range includes kiln dried and generate sales. hardwood birch and ash logs for use on Products get the job Spot On Antiviral stoves and open fires. The company says done with minimal and Antibac Surface that all products conform to government effort, are economical Cleaner 750ml from Sipcam Home & Garden regulations on firewood moisture levels. to purchase and

www.gardencentreretail.com

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Garden Centre Retail October/November 2020

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07/10/2020 17:00

GI M A W i nter S al es doubleowered varieties such as lfresco and ady ane. an said amaryllis appeals to consumers seeking to add winter colour, or as hristmas Fallen Fruits bird feeder stocking fillers. irdcare is a buoyant winter category and allen ruits is in ecting style into its latest products. peaking about its ashionable eeders and remium ird ood, a Fallen Fruits spokeswoman said ade from mild steel, our range of stylish bird feeders are the perfect fit in contemporary gardens. n bold anthracite and white colourways, they are available in wall mounted, hanging or free standing designs. air them with our new range of premium bird Fallen Fruits Parasol food. allen ruits also predicts out of season demand for its parasols and parasol stands. The spokeswoman e plained ith more people wanting to spend time together in open spaces instead of indoors during the pandemic , garden parasols and stands will offer shelter throughout autumn and

Burgon & Ball Corona FlexDial Branch and Stem Pruner

winter. ur tropical inspired parasols are available in kiwi, watermelon, orange and bamboo leaf designs. urgon all is promoting its orona tools this autumn. Rainer Schubert, managing director at Burgon & Ball, said year after launching in the , the orona range of garden tools available through urgon all is now a popular choice for horticulture professionals as well as keen gardeners. orona’s e tensive ranges are engineered for lasting performance, reliability and durability a combination of innovative design and merican engineering.

38

GIMA.indd 38

Clear N Collect in use

The lawncare category is set to be e tended later into the season, thanks to innovation by Turfcare. iano utumn awn Treatment is a new organic based fertiliser that can be used from ugust to ovember, delivering a thicker, stronger, greener and disease resistant sward while killing moss and weeds. Owner of DJ Turfcare, David Jenkins, said ew utumn awn Treatment will help retailers to capitalise on opportunities for growth and drive sales among shoppers who will no longer tolerate the use of traditional synthetic chemicals on lawns. etailers looking for an autumn sales essential can consider Clear ‘N’ Collect, a multipurpose garden rake that picks up leaves and garden waste. The company’s Sally Coneron e plained y husband invented the lear ’ ollect. e launched a couple of months ago, are now stocked in over garden centres and are being supplied by ecco and ta . right clearly e plains what this innovative product does. head of the season of muddy lawns, rimeur is e panding its ecycled ubber tepping tone Primeur new Railroad Tie collection, made recycled rubber stepping from former tyres. stone in grey

Garden Centre Retail October/November 2020

ts bestselling stepping stone, ailroad Tie 0cm will be available in on trend grey for 0 1. Primeur’s Jenny Douthwaite said rey is the must have colour in homes and gardens. reviously, ailroad Tie was only available in arth, so adding a grey option will help gardeners to get the look’ while doing their bit to help divert materials from landfill. ith consumers’ appetite growing for planting cheerful winter containers, oodlodge is e panding its eritage arden line up. dditions include dwardian la ed im ots with brightly decorated rims, ibbed alfour quares made from cement, dwardian rushed ots in shades of grey and green, and classic style watering cans. Michael Wooldridge, managing director at Woodlodge, said The e pansion of eritage arden for 0 1 demonstrates our commitment to developing unique lines that complement the e emplary designs that set this premium range head and shoulders above the competition. or further information about , please call 01 or email 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.

The range of services and support provided for members is extensive, offering something for all members, regardless of size or heritage.

Woodlodge new Edwardian Glazed Rim Pots

www.gardencentreretail.com

07/10/2020 17:08

W

ith the industry seeing the end of a turbulent year and centres gearing up for Christmas, many garden centres are looking to the future to gauge how to expand their offering.

While many businesses sadly suffered irreparable losses during lockdown, it has been widely reported that the industry benefitted from a modest boost in seasonal sales, once restrictions were eventually lifted and shoppers could return to stores.

Garden centres are now not only looking to provide the right retail environment for their established customer base, but also for the new wave of home gardeners who reconnected with their gardens during lockdown. Centres are expanding cafes and outdoor dining space, weatherprotecting plant areas and adding leisure facilities to ensure they continue to draw this diverse mix of clientele.

The diversity of the industry should be applauded in general, and especially in the face of this pandemic “We have worked with garden centre retailers for many decades, but this year has been like no other,” explains Stephen Toone, managing director of Fordingbridge, the industry construction specialists. “Many clients we have dealt with for a number of years suffered heavy losses, and while retailers are once again finding their feet, we are helping to ensure that they are prepared for the future too. Many retailers, both old and new to our business, have been contacting us looking for assistance with their plans, some working with industry consultants and looking to increase their plant range, diversify with increased food

and beverage offerings or even play areas.

All of these rely on a common factor – having a structure fit for the task.

With humble beginnings in the manufacture of commercial polytunnels over 55 years ago, the business quickly

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Fordingbridge.indd 39

O utdoor S tructures Products

BUILDING SUCCESS

evolved and now stands as the industry leader in high quality external canopies and covered walkways. This is furthered by the firms’ ability in the design and build arena, where lowenergy, prefabricated buildings provide welcoming and efficient retail environments for business owners looking to expand, improve or refresh Fordingbridge delves into how their offering. garden centres are adapting to ’m delighted to say that we a changing industry since lockdown have had a number of enquiries from centre owners that have and how it has been helping with this enjoyed successes this year and are looking to either expand or improve their garden centres,” says Stephen. “It shows the determination of proprietors who adapted or evolved to ensure they survived the pandemic.

A number of centres are looking to enhance their outside space with our steel or timber canopies in their plant areas; we are installing covered walkways to provide assistance with queuing and the customer journey in general, and are in discussion with a number of centres on We have even had an instance of our zoo new build projects.” and polytunnel experts converting a long But the interest does not stop there. redundant polytunnel into a butter y house.

Well known for plant area canopies and The tenacity of the garden centre industry their garden centre construction services, is remarkable, and we are very fortunate to it is now also ordingbridge’s other have built many relationships in the sector areas of expertise which are drawing with both chains and independents alike.” the attention of garden centre retailers. ith more than five decades of “We are incredibly lucky in that, within experience in the industry, the West Sussex our team, we have experts in a variety of based firm is optimistic with what the fields, allowing us to pool resources to future holds for garden centre retailers. provide the best service for our clients.

“The diversity of the industry should be “We are assisting in covering areas applauded in general, and especially in adjacent to parks and wet-play areas, to the face of this pandemic,” Toone closes. provide additional food and beverage “Whether it be concession-based chains revenue through parents having the option or smaller plant centres, each has adapted to relax with a coffee and something to and shown that they can continue to thrive. eat. Our canopy conversion team allows If we are fortunate to join them on their us to adapt existing Fordingbridge steel journey, we welcome the opportunity to canopies into fully insulated buildings. work with them.” ◗

INTO GARDEN CENTRES

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07/10/2020 17:21

Products Garden Care

HOW TO SELL

WILDLIFE CARE PRODUCTS

Wildlife World’s new showroom

Naturalistic gardens are in, and more consumers are looking towards items which increase biodiversity in their outdoor space. To make sure your products catch their eye, Mark Pitman, general manager of Wildlife World, tells us how best to display products for wildlife care What are the options for a garden centre when it comes to showcasing wildlife care products?

Wildlife product sales are up 40% on average in the current marketplace. It’s a growing market; garden centres need to consider the ethical, practical and sustainability issues when stocking a range of wildlife habitats and products. You need to stock a broad range, but there are some clear winners in any range of wildlife products, that offer volume sales and good margins. The public want a product that not only works, but has longevity in the garden, and that they understand how it works. We can help with key products, ranging, bespoke displays, artwork, graphics, and video content to showcase the range (including our popular ‘how to’ and ‘product in use’ range of videos).

What are the key things a garden centre should consider when deciding how to display them?

You need to have some form of educational element to the displays; to describe the products, what they do, what wildlife they are for, and how they work. Video is great for this, and we can provide a huge range of educational and informational content. The consumer needs to be able to physically pick up the products, and interact with them for the same reasons, but more importantly to get a feel for the quality of the product – so display them out of the boxes where possible.

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What works best for garden centres with limited space for displaying wildlife care products?

Pick those key sellers that are proven winners across the range. We can guide with this as we understand what works in a large or small space. The display has to have presence and impact for the consumer to understand the concepts of wildlife gardening, so quality and

Crittacabin: A multi-species habitat for oll ato s e efic al sects m mammals a d hedgehogs, designed to support the teaching of minibeasts on the Key Stage 1 curriculum

impacting graphics is great for conveying this message. If space is really limited, don’t be tempted to squeeze products into the wildlife and birdcare areas and lose its impact. In many cases, our products sell equally well, or better, in the giftware areas, particularly with the recent changes to our packaging (that make them more impulse led).

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How can a garden centre inspire customers to buy more products in this category?

There’s nothing better than a product on display that is doing what it is supposed to do, so if a garden centre has a wildlife area, put some of the products in it, so that bees can actually colonise the bee hotels for instance; there’s no risk as pollinating bees such as mason bees are non-stinging.

We have larger educational ‘bug hotels’ that are excellent display items, and these look fantastic in a display garden. Build the products into the plant displays – so bee hotels in with the pollinating plants or ower bulbs displays, butter y homes and feeders with buddleja, frog and toad homes in the aquatic plant and product display section – and tell the story with the products!

Invite local wildlife and conservation groups into the store to talk about their work – they will often sell your products for you. Hedgehog rescue charities are brilliant as they need help and our support, and the public need to interact and know what to do if they find a sick or in ured hedgehog.

What are the pitfalls of displaying wildlife care products?

Displaying products too low, not having enough educational content, not hitting key seasons for the products – some are as seasonal as plants, so need thought and planning for the displays – and not being bold enough with the displays; it’s all about telling the story, and exciting the consumer.

www.gardencentreretail.com

07/10/2020 17:37

W i l dl i f e Care Latest Products

WILDLIFE CARE Wild Bird Food Chirpy Bird Foods

Chirpy Bird Foods has launched its range of wild bird food in 100% recyclable packaging, the first of its kind in the UK. The company takes great pride in the quality of its wild bird food and is prioritising the wellbeing of the planet with this latest product. Bird feeders and houses are also available.

Launch date Available now RRP From £2.99 www.chirpybirdfoods.com Peckish Natural Balance Coconut Feeder 4 Pack Westland Naturally good inside and out, Westland’s Natural Balance Coconut Feeders have a new improved formulation to attract even more birds to the garden. The new packaging is 100% recyclable and is made from FSC® sourced cardboard.

Launch date September 2020 RRP £5.99 www.gardenhealth.com/peckish Extra Select Wild Bird 5L Buckets Su-Bridge Pet Supplies Extra Select Wild Bird buckets are a complete range of bird feed consisting of 12 different variations.

Featuring seed mixes such as No Grow No Mess, Spring & Summer and Premium Mix alongside the always popular un ower earts and eanuts, there is something for every bird enthusiast. The buckets are resealable and reusable. Save 20% when you order a mixed pallet (192 quantity).

Launch date Available now RRP From £4.99 www.su-bridge.co.uk

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The Hedgehog Barn (HH13) Wildlife World Ltd This is a beautiful and stylishly designed wooden hedgehog house in naturally durable FSC timber. Unique design features an innovative extending porch which helps prevent access by predators and makes it easier to clean and store. For thorough cleaning or inspection, there is an opening hatch on the rear of the house. The extending porch makes the unit more compact, reducing its carbon footprint and the cost of shipping.

Launch date September 2020 RRP £64.99 www.wildlifeworld.co.uk

Brambles Hedgehog Food Brambles Pet and Wildlife Ltd Brambles Pet and Wildlife is a family business specialising in wildlife foods with a scientific approach to nutrition. Brambles Hedgehog Food is specially formulated to give the right balance of nutrients, vitamins and minerals for wild hedgehogs, and is also suitable for badgers and fo es. ontains no artificial avours, colours or added sugar. ighly recommended and used by wildlife hospitals all over the UK. Available in Crunchy 2kg/900g bags and Meaty 400g tins.

Launch date Available now RRP From £1.29 www.bramblespaw.co.uk

National Trust Garden Wildlife range CJ Wildlife CJ Wildlife has joined forces with Europe’s largest conservation charity, the National Trust, to produce a licensed collection of premium quality, sustainable wildlife care products.

Amongst the 90 items in the new range are bird foods, feeders, nest boxes and insect houses. Every purchase from the National Trust Garden Wildlife Range contributes to the National Trust’s conservation projects that directly benefit wildlife.

Launch date Available now RRP From £2.49 www.cjwildlifetrade.co.uk

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08/10/2020 09:54

Com p any Prof i l e U K Greeti ng s

UK GREETINGS

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Garden Centre Retail speaks to UK Greetings’ business development manager, Robert Marsden, to find out how the company is making a difference to the sector

Can you give us a brief outline of the brand?

UK Greetings is a wellestablished direct to retail publisher with a large and varied product portfolio. This covers all everyday card sending situations, a full seasonal card offer across both Christmas and spring seasons, supported

by Christmas packaged goods – which also includes charity cards. In addition, we also have both everyday and seasonal gift packaging ranges.

What makes the company different to your competitors?

The UK Greetings range is made up from seven different brands, each with their own unique look, editorial style and target consumer.

This allows us to create displays tailored to a customer’s particular consumer base and mission statement, ensuring their individuality. We also carry a number of licensed ranges and are especially proud of our range of RHS licensed cards and gift wrap.

Rolling design refresh and ongoing analysis of a display’s performance ensure that the optimum sales return is seen from each fi ture.

What support are you offering garden centres?

The UK Greetings Homegrown concept was launched last year to focus on the garden centre retail sector and its customer base – not just with product, but to include eye-catching

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HOMEGROWN Polhill Garden Centre, Badgers Mount, Kent

retail displays, point of sale and support services. panding our product portfolio, creating an even wider offering to suit this particular demographic, this month we are launching nine new ranges, including the stunning RHS Vivid range. This is in addition to refreshing most of our core open ranges with 140 new designs, all to ship in late December ready for the New Year.

We offer a comprehensive display planning service and can include both UKG product and designs from other publishers to build a range to meet individual customers’ requirements. To support displays, a full merchandising service is provided at no cost to the retailer.

Working with our vendors, we have developed two brand new fi ture ranges with the garden centre sector in mind – delivering striking displays that create a wonderful environment to shop and draw in customers, and also showcase the product which can encourage browsing and that additional purchase.

We can provide a full department planning

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service, from concept and CAD drawings through to installation and a lucrative retail investment scheme. We also provide a comprehensive range of everyday and seasonal point of sale, highlighting product groups and ensuring it is easy for the consumer to find the titles they are looking for.

Why should a garden centre work with your brand?

UK Greetings are passionate about product, service and sustainability! We are committed to doing our bit to help secure the future of our planet for the generations to come. We are focused on reducing waste, reusing and recycling as much as possible.

UK Greetings has introduced a number of initiatives as part of its strategy to be responsible – small changes make a big difference!

Homegrown is able to offer solutions for all your greeting card needs. Minimum order value is just £50, and we have an online webstore for retailers who like to place their own orders at a time to suit them.

What’s the next step for the brand?

Roll-out has now started of the Homegrown brokered line.

Working with a wide variety of publishers, with more still joining us, we are able to offer even more diversity on a retailers’ display. The key element with a brokered display is that the whole display is serviced and managed by UK Greetings, with products from all publishers being delivered together from our warehouse. This means just one delivery, one despatch note and one invoice, minimising accounts management.

Who are the key contacts at the company?

• Robert Marsden, business development manager – South Tel: 07779 348196 Email: robert.marsden @ukgreetings.co.uk • Matt James, business development manager – North Tel: 07432 621082 Email: matthew.james @ukgreetings.co.uk CONTACT

Denby Pottery Village, Ripley, Derbyshire

Whether a retailer is looking to select a small number of designs by line, all the way through to full category management, UK Greetings

UK Greetings Mill Street East, Dewsbury WF12 9AW Tel: 01924 465200 Email: salesandservice@ ukgreetings.co.uk Web: www.ukgreetings.co.uk

www.gardencentreretail.com

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08/10/2020 11:38

Products F ood Gi f ts

HOW TO SELL

FOOD & FOOD GIFTS

B

Bramble Foods explains why garden centres should look to stock food and food gifts, and how they can make the most of this

ramble Foods of Market Harborough believes that ambient food products are a low-risk option for garden centres that want to sell food and food gifts. Not having a fridge or freezer, and instead having a healthy shelf life, keeps costs low and minimises waste – and ambient food products don’t need watering!

Since many items can be held in stock by the distributor, garden centres can benefit from a reliable supply. Add to this a small product footprint, decent margin and a quick turnover, it’s no wonder many garden centres dedicate shelf space to food and food gifts.

In recent times, many shoppers have started buying food from garden centres, rather than run the gauntlet and hustle of the supermarkets. Customers feel safer and less pressured in the calm and pleasant environment a garden centre provides.

High quality and beautifully packaged food products are another draw for the discerning garden centre shopper.

Therefore, it makes sense for garden centres to see increasing their stock of food and food gifts as a step in the right direction.

Depending on shelf space and customer base, garden centres can decide to go for a broad range of products or a more focused, smaller offering; both look impressive on the shelves. One way to add impact is to go down the own-label route. Bramble Foods also offers an own-label service, free of charge. wn label is a significant chunk of our business. Most of our product packaging has been carefully designed

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to accommodate the label. Our in-house art department does an excellent job.

Our customers are very pleased with the service and their own-label products sell through extremely well,” says Bramble’s sales director, Ken Osborne.

Of course, there are many ways to maximise sales of food. Bramble can supply point of sale display materials, for example. Having taste samples at the point of sale always works well and is a great way to show off the quality of the products on the shelves. Using blocked displays of new lines and promotions is very eye-catching and, of course, placing

High quality and beautifully packaged food products are another draw for the discerning garden centre shopper

faster selling impulse buys by the tills is a tried and tested strategy.

And then there’s Christmas! Garden centres are the perfect setting for themed displays and nothing ticks more boxes, or is more beneficial to the bottom line, than beautifully co-ordinated Christmas display of food and food gifts. It’s pure theatre – bigger lines, colour schemes and strongly themed displays keep customers returning year after year.

Garden centres shouldn’t be competing with the majors on like-for-like products, so stocking high quality food products that you wouldn’t see on supermarket shelves is a must. This is where

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gifting comes into its own. Tony Foster, managing director of Bramble Foods, says: “We do very well with our gifting lines.

Apart from being great gifts, they make our customers’ shelves look so impressive.

“We carry a range of beautifully designed gift packs, from preserves and chutneys to premium quality, hand-broken fudge and artistically designed tins of shortbread. One of our bestsellers is one you might want to keep for yourself – an outstanding lemon drizzle cake with a hand-designed label.”

Tony adds: “If you asked me if there was a downside to stocking food in a garden centre; to be honest, I can’t think of anything in particular. If you know your customers and you buy good quality products, you can’t go far wrong.”

www.gardencentreretail.com

07/10/2020 16:48

F ood & D ri nk Gi f ts Latest Products

FOOD & DRINK GIFTS Large Signature Gift Hamper Bramble Foods

Every year, Bramble Foods offers a comprehensive range of Christmas hampers and gift baskets. This year’s predicted bestseller is the Large Signature Gift Hamper. It features a dark lacquered woven wicker basket filled with perennial favourites. Each basket is shrink-wrapped and individually boxed. Simply stack up the boxes and have a couple of baskets out on display. It goes without saying that you won’t see this product in any majors. It is tailor made for the independent sector.

Launch date Available now RRP POA www.bramblefoods.com

The Stokes Advent Calendar Stokes Sauces A generous gift, perfect for foodies to celebrate the lead up to Christmas!

A mix of 24 luxurious ketchups, sauces, traditional condiments, relishes and chutneys, and preserves behind each window, along with a recipe booklet full of quirky ideas for each ar. The calendar itself is based on a stable, as much as to re ect The Old Stables in Rendlesham, Suffolk, where Stokes Sauces is based.

Launch date End of October 2020 RRP £35 www.stokessauces.co.uk Jenny Wren Three-Tier Dark Selection Gift Boxes Jenny Wren The brand new, British-made, Jenny Wren Chocolate three-tier dark selection box is now a fully vegan certified chocolate selection. sing specially selected chocolates that are all naturally vegan, this great tasting selection box makes no compromises on quality or taste to make sure there is something everyone can enjoy. Naturally gluten free, naturally vegan, palm oil free and made with Fair Trade cocoa, this unique box is the perfect gift for all dark chocolate lovers.

Launch date Available now RRP £8.49 www.jennywrenchocolate.co.uk

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Everyday Gifting Range English Tea Shop A Sri Lankan tea story infused with British traditions.

From the rich and robust to the delicate and fragrant, every cup of English Tea Shop tea celebrates its vibrant community and heartfelt commitment to sustainability. An enriching selection of organic teas bursting with natural goodness, specially blended for a superior taste experience. A special selection of assortments boasting deliciously blended avours, from the traditional to the e otic.

Launch date Available now www.etsteas.co.uk

RRP From £9

Dean’s ‘Villager Jim’ All Butter Shortbread Dean’s Shortbread Aberdeenshire shortbread manufacturer Dean’s has launched a new range of tins for Christmas 2020, featuring images from Peak District photographer Villager Jim. Each sliding-lid tin contains Dean’s light and crumbly all butter shortbread squares.

Aimed at the gift market, the tins will appeal to countryside enthusiasts and pet lovers alike. Villager Jim’s most iconic shot, ‘After the Walk’, portrays black lab Dilly resting on an armchair, and is sure to be a firm favourite.

Launch date Available now RRP £6.95/180g tin www.deans.co.uk Secret Garden Christmas Gin The Old Curiosity Distillery The Old Curiosity Distillery’s Christmas gin is distilled with ginger, cinnamon and cardamom which gives the undeniably familiar smell of Christmas and provides a festive spicy avour. The drink is infused with mallow petals to provide a distinctive festive colour which transforms to a vibrant pink when mixed with tonic water; the perfect showstopper for any Christmas party.

Launch date Available now RRP £35.95 www.theoldcuriosity.co.uk

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08/10/2020 08:23

Com p any Prof i l e A b b ey B usi ness I nteri ors

ABBEY BUSINESS INTERIORS

Garden Centre Retail talks to Abbey Business Interiors, which discusses and explains the hospitality support on offer, providing a multitude of choices for forward-thinking garden centres What makes the company different to your competitors?

We work with the hospitality industry’s most successful restaurant and bar operators, creating inspiring restaurant interiors designed to be impressive in style and efficient to operate. hat makes us unique is that our restaurant team have direct restaurant operational knowledge and understand how to make the best use of space by creating zones that clients will be inspired to use at any time of the trading day.

We can achieve this by using attractively designed screens to divide up large spaces into multifunctional areas to power your food and beverage operation and maximise

cover capacity without appearing too full or pushing clients too close together.

Of course, we supply furniture both directly imported

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from Europe and made in the UK, but we also make the fi tures and fittings, such as meet and greet stations, dumbwaiters, till counters and bars that are needed to operate an efficient restaurant.

Can you give us a brief outline of the brand?

Established in 1989, Abbey has been supplying the restaurant industry for over 0 years with quality restaurant furnishings. We supply everything needed to furnish hospitality interiors including upholstered bench seating, vinyl plank ooring, bespoke contract curtains and all types of window dressing.

What support are you offering garden centres?

We offer a free restaurant planning service so that we can create a restaurant tailored specifically to your garden centre’s clients and make the best use of space, and maximise cover capacity.

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Our bespoke screens are an exceptional asset as they will create different style zones giving your customer many reasons to engage with the space at any time of the day through breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea.

Why should a garden centre work with your brand?

We have worked with many of the UK’s major garden centres, so we have extensive knowledge of how the spaces need to operate in conjunction with the client demographic. pecifically, we have e tensive knowledge of the specialist finishes that are required to make a more organic and original look.

What’s the next step for the brand?

These are exciting times with so much change with huge market shifts. We see a very positive future for garden centres with their large open spaces, both in retail and within the restaurants. Trade seems to be shifting now more from the high street to this relaxed open style of shopping and dining.

We have developed some very exciting concepts to make garden centre dining more appealing, such as outdoor pop up restaurants which can be used independently as a stand-

alone trading zone, or bolted onto the side of an existing restaurant area as a piazza, to maintain a good cover capacity with attractive social distancing.

When things eventually return to normal, these same zones will simply act as an attractive outdoor restaurant extension for coffee and ice cream sales.

We also now produce beautifully made fi tures and fittings such as till stations, bar counters and merchandising units so we are now using our specific and unique stylised skills in the retail areas to add original style.

For further information, please contact sales at Abbey Business Interiors on 01242 263 444.

INFO

Abbey Business Interiors abbeybusinessinteriors.co.uk

www.gardencentreretail.com

08/10/2020 12:19

Conduct your restaurant so that everyone will want to play in it again.

Inspire customers back without losing atmosphere or capacity.

Screen solutions to operate your seating safely without compromising your interior design in a great range of designs. Mobile order collection screens for ‘no contact’ table service.

We can also help adapt your restaurant with our free layout planning service.

Call 01242 263444 for details we’re here to get you trading again!

CREATING PEOPLE INSPIRED SPACES www.abbeybusinessinteriors.co.uk

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08/10/2020 01/10/2020 11:57 16:41

Products D ura Com p osi tes

DURA DECK TILE RESIST If you’re looking for a cost-effective, contemporary way to spruce up a small outdoor space, Dura Deck® Tile Resist is the perfect solution. Turn any outdoor space into a decking area in minutes.

Each box contains six interlocking composite decking tiles, covering 1.101m2. Made from high-performance composite timber, the tiles interlock quickly and easily without the need for screws, nails or bonds and will never need costly and time consuming painting, staining or oiling.

An adaptable choice The tiles can be added on top of any e isting firm at surface such as a patio, with no ma or preparation required. t 00mm, they are double the width of any other tiles on the market and give the appearance of traditional decking rather than a square chequerboard effect. ptional corner and edge ramps can be added to create an outer row, providing a smooth, safe, angled transition between the tile and ad acent surface. ith a thickness of mm, ura eck ® Tile esist is also perfect for overlaying onto e isting areas where traditional decking won’t fit due to the door threshold.

Product ura eck® Tile Resist Manufacturer ura omposites Launch date ay 0 0 RRP . e c. T

Convenient and accessible omeowners can save up to 0% on the cost of installing traditional decking, as there’s no need for e pensive substructures, or to employ a professional installer. n fact, ura eck ® Tile esist is designed as a product for those who don’t have the skills or confidence to install traditional decking and the associated substructure frame themselves.

The tiles have an integrated base with drainage holes and don’t need to be installed on top of oists or bearers. The conveniently packaged 1 kg boxes can be lifted by a single person.

Tel 01 0 Email info duracomposites.com Web www.duracomposites.com tiles

The results speak for themselves ura eck ® Tile esist has been e tensively tested for its resistance to slipping, even in wet conditions, and has what is known in the landscaping industry as low slip potential . nlike traditional timber decking, this means that our composite decking tiles have in built anti slip features such as an armoured and te tured surface, making them safe for use in all outdoor environments. ue to their unique composition, they do not absorb any significant water, so you can be confident they’ll be safe to walk on in all weathers. The tiles are also wind uplift tested, meaning they shouldn’t dislodge in gusty winds.

Built for the future ade from recycled materials which never need painting or treating, the composite decking tiles are e tremely durable and have low water absorption, which minimises the risk of rot or water damage. clever 0 outer armour is used to protect the core of the composite timber decking tile planks from the elements, making ura eck ® Tile esist more resistant to fading than other traditional decking materials, such as stained timber.

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08/10/2020 15:23

S eeds Latest Products

SEEDS

Brexit Veg Growing Survival Kit Franchi Seeds 1783

A survival kit containing varieties to grow and harvest every single month of the year to ensure continued food supplies. These varieties can also be grown in containers and either stored or preserved over the winter months for your store cupboard. Makes the ideal gift and, following last season’s seed shortages, will give customers a structured sowing and harvesting regime. Thousands sold, a best seller.

Pollinator Beebom Seedbom Kabloom Contains a positively buzzing mix of wild ower seeds that will grow into bright and beautiful nectar rich owers loved by bumblebees and honeybees. 100% compostable, biobased Guerrilla Gardening renades are filled with an e plosive mi of organic peat free compost and wild ower seeds. hake it, soak it, throw it and grow it to create a mini wild ower patch. 100% biodegradable starch based bio shell. rganic peat free compost. ative wild ower seeds. Plastic free. Vegan. FSC, glue free, vegetable ink printed recyclable packaging. Created in the UK. Launch date Available now www.kabloom.co.uk

Country Value Seeds Range Mr Fothergill’s Seeds Ltd

Launch date Available now RRP £21.99 for 12 packets www.seedsofitaly.com

Unique pom pom gold yellow blooms each with a dark eye. Sure to create an eye-catching border display.

Height: 30 to 40cm (12 to 16in).

One hundred seeds in each packet.

Country Value is the compact, budget focused seed range from Mr Fothergill’s Seeds. It compromises 153 varieties of the best known ower and vegetable seed varieties across two stands (with a single stand option available). The range has been given a new look for the 2020/2021 season, along with the addition of four new collection packs.

Launch date Available now RRP £1.65 per packet www.kingsseedsdirect.com

Launch date September 2020 RRP From £0.99 to £1.99 www.mr-fothergills-trade.co.uk

Calendula Bulls Eye Kings Seeds

Mini-Meadow Bamboo Pots Seedball

A-Z Range Suttons

n all in one wild ower growing kit simply add water. It consists of: • A set of three biodegradable and compostable bamboo pots and saucers • Peat-free coir discs 1 wild ower seed balls • Full instructions on how to use the kit.

The sets are available in three varieties: ee i , utter y i and arden eadow.

Suttons embraces the ‘grow your own’ revolution with fun and easy to grow vegetables new for 2021.

Well-known and unique varieties bring a twist of colour and avour, plus fruits to forage from home. The focus on owers brings a perennial selection that packs a punch for high impact. All within the A-Z range, alongside the James Wong and ‘Grow Salad this summer’ collections and the GIMA award runner-up ‘Predators and Pollinators’ stand.

Launch date Available now RRP £20 www.seedball.co.uk

Launch date October 2020 RRP from £1.99 www.suttonsretail.co.uk

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RRP £3.95

Bee Friends® Seed Bombs G Plants Ltd The latest in easyguerilla gardening, simply scatter and water! No need to bury and rake, just watch the bombs explode with a natural ower display throughout the summer. Bee Friends® Seed Bombs are part of G Plants’ Eco Gardening range. All packaging is 100% recyclable and all seed mixtures contain RHS Plants For Pollinator varieties to entice precious butter ies and bees into the garden.

Made by G Plants in the UK. Launch date September 2020, for sales from January 2021 RRP From £6.99 www.gplants.com

Garden Centre Retail October/November 2020

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08/10/2020 08:41

Latest Products Garden Care Hygeia Nature Safe Probiotic Hygeia

GARDEN CARE W1754 Heavy Duty Lawn Spike Aerator Garland Products/Worth Gardening Simply push along and the offset spikes will cut a slot into the lawn surface for maximum aeration. Made from plastic-coated, heavy -duty steel with a one piece handle for easy use. Based on professional aerators used by groundkeepers around the world.

Launch date Available now RRP £45.99 www.garlandproducts.com

Bloomin Amazing Rich Planting Stuff West Country Soil Improvement Limited Bloomin AmazingTM Rich Planting Stuff will appeal to new gardeners. A convenient 50L size is light and easy to manage and contains enough Bloomin Amazing to plant up and mulch the average trolley full of plants. Merchandised adjacent to specimen plants, it’s a compelling add-on sale and has the added benefit of being packed in a new, unique and completely biodegradable bag.

Launch date October 2020 RRP £5.99 www.bloominamazing.com

Mineralised Straw Mulch for Organic Gardening Strulch Strulch is a long-lasting mulch which stops weeds germinating, retains moisture in the soil, and deters slugs and snails. It has a neutral pH so can be used anywhere in the garden, and now is the ideal time to mulch when tidying for winter. The Mineralised Straw Mulch for Organic Gardening is available in bulk 12, 25 or 48 x 150L bags and in 100L bags from our stockists.

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Nature Safe Probiotic is the perfect way to supercharge organic plant growth. The billions of ‘good’ bacteria boost seed germination, creating stronger roots and excelling plant growth. This one simple product has the ability to appeal to a broad spectrum of consumers, including those that are new to gardening and may be unsure of the term ‘fertiliser’ or worry about the use of chemicals.

Launch date Available now RRP TBC www.hygeia.ie www.mygardenexpert.com

Evergreen Garden Care Miracle-Gro® Evergreen Natural 4in1 New Miracle-Gro® Evergreen Natural 4in1 is a 100% natural version of Miracle-Gro® Evergreen Complete 4in1.

With the demand for more sustainable gardening solutions increasing, the innovative launch is natural, pesticidefree, and available in 100% plant based recyclable packaging. The formula doesn’t compromise on quality, delivering with first visible results in seven days and taking only four weeks for lawns to become thicker and greener. The unique combination of 100% plant based nutrients of Miracle-Gro® Natural 4in1 will prevent the growth of new weeds and help fight moss.

Launch date December 2020 RRP £16.99 (85m2), £29.99 (175m2), £39.99 (260m2) www.evergreentrade.co.uk

SPOT-ON cleaning and weed control range Sipcam Home & Garden Sipcam expects SPOT-ON to help retailers to ignite sales via innovation, with the economical, performance-led portfolio delivering clear messages to consumers that products in the line-up will get the job done.

The SPOT-ON range will include Natural Antiviral and Antibacterial Surface Cleaner, Weed Killer and Black Spot Remover and Patio Restorer.

Launch date Available now www.strulch.co.uk

Launch date Available now RRP TBC www.sipcamhg.co.uk

Garden Centre Retail October/November 2020

www.gardencentreretail.com

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INDEPENDENT IMPARTIAL INVALUABLE

Due to serious interest in many of the properties we currently have for sale, we are actively looking for more garden centres, plant centres, retail nurseries and wholesale nurseries or other horticultural properties to meet current demand.

At Bird Foods we take pride in the quality of the wild bird food we produce and never sacrifice quality over substance.

We also care about the well-being of our planet, which is why we have launched our range of wild bird food in 100% recyclable cardboard packaging

T Of It’s tHe fIrstHe uK! iN d kIn

In Addition On behalf of Retained Clients we are seeking a Garden Centre in Central Scotland up to £1.5 million.

If you are considering a sale or would like to discuss this further in strictest confidence please contact Simon Quinton Smith 07785 732460 simon@quintons.co.uk

www.chirpybirdfoods.com

contact 01732 743 434 james.f@chirpybirdfoods.com

New and second hand aluminium benching: Fixed, Semi rolling, mobile and sales benches.

VALEKA BV • Heliniumweg 14 • 3133 AX Vlaardingen, The Netherlands Tel: +31-10 599 74 02 • info@valeka.nl • www.valeka.nl

FOLLOW US! Garden Centre Retail

@gardencentre.retail

@gardenretailuk

WWW.GARDENCENTRERETAIL.COM

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HEALTH IS SUPPORTED BY TAILORED NUTRITION

Take advantage today and grow your sales At Royal Canin, we have been committed to providing cats and dogs with tailor-made nutrition for over 50 years.

With approximately 40% of households owning a cat and/or dog and pet food offering you the opportunity to drive repeat visits and a lifetime value from your customers, this represents a huge potential.

Garden Centres are a great opportunity to provide pets with quality nutrition and provide your customers with another reason to visit.

We are offering unique ranges and merchandising solutions for Garden Centres to make implementation easy and provide you with a great additional sales opportunity.

If you are interested in becoming a Royal Canin stockist or would like more information please contact us on 0330 678 1520

EXCLUSIVELY FOR GARDEN CENTRES ŠRoyal Canin SAS 2020. All rights reserved.

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