VIEWPOINT

Media Matters! BOYD J DOUGLAS-DAVIES, HTA PRESIDENT

Throughout 2020 media has been front and centre for our industry. For some this has been growing media, others social media and for all the media. Let’s deal with the growing media piece first. Our customers are constantly evolving.. They need to feel confident that we, as an industry, are leading the way when it comes to growing media. We must work together to explain what we use, why we use it and what we do to safeguard their, and their children’s future on this planet. Nobody wants to be dictated to on n this issue by authorities, so it is for us to set the agenda and deliver on it. Young people are so well informed nowadays – when I was young a computer was for playing pacman – they have access to every type of news, including the fake! They will be our customers in the future but more importantly for now, they influence their parents and elders. Let’s at explain the challenges and inform on what we are doing to offer credible options. Social media has come to life for our customers this year. No longer can we say ‘our customers don’t use computers’. They have had to invest in the technology, learn how to use it and welcome it into their lives. If you haven’t, as a company, embraced social media you need to be doing so now. As an industry we have such a wonderful and engaging tale to tell. Let’s use social media to flood the country with grower profiles, garden inspiration and real practical advice. The 3 million new shoppers will be hungry for information this winter before they venture into the garden in the early spring – and I do predict an early season for us all. Let’s enthuse them so they visit centres excited and ready to shop.

22 December 2020

that t you want to share, don’t be afraid to t send press releases as far and wide as a you can, alternatively use one of the excellent agencies that specialise in our e industry. Horticulture is on a high, let’s i all a do our bit to keep it there in 2021! It has been a long, fraught, challenging year. I’m incredibly proud to have been y a part of this fabulous industry and to t play my part as HTA President. I hope you have the opportunity to take h a break over Christmas and wish you the t very best for the year ahead. > The Horticulture Trades Association is t UK industry’s leading membership the o organisation. It welcomes all sectors o horticulture – to join please contact of s services@hta.org.uk.

The media – love it or hate it (of course we all love GTN!) has a massive part to play for us all next year. Through my HTA and British Garden Centres roles I have had the privilege of talking to and appearing on numerous radio and TV programmes this year talking about our glorious industry. The media is hungry for the positive messages that we can deliver. In November I was able to speak live on 8 different BBC regional radio programmes in less than 90 minutes. The BBC has a wonderful system where you connect into their London office, stay on the line and all the regions dial in to speak to you at pre-set intervals. If you have a story,

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

19th March 2021

What are you planning for Garden Re-Leaf Day 2021? www.greenfingerscharity.org.uk