PEOPLE
5 MINUTES WITH JONATHAN STOBART
Career Moves
Managing Director, Smart Garden Products
How would you sum up what’s happened to Smart Garden in the past couple of years? Our business has doubled in size over the past two years, through a combination of adding new product categories, achieving enlarged listings with existing customers and attracting new customers. At the same time, we have modified and improved our structure and process almost beyond recognition, along with adding key new personnel, so as a result we are a much more efficient and effective business.
impressing with great products and service year on year.
How does the company manage to come up with so many ‘Eureka’ moments? We are very focussed on product innovation, which has always been a core strength of this business whether as Smart Solar or Smart Garden. We also have a wealth of experience across many core product groups. For example, I have been in the solar business for over 20 years and many of my colleagues have substantive experience in the various other product categories in which we’re active. This, along with a proactive approach to monitoring market trends in both the gardening and other product sectors, and of course a heavy dose of inspiration, has to-date enabled us to generate a steady flow of exciting new product ideas…or indeed, ‘Eureka’ moments!
What’s the secret of your success? That’s classified..!
How will your new Peterborough centre help to service the trade? It will be a great help by not only having a state-of-the-art warehousing facility but also having all of our stock housed in one location. With new showrooms also available in the Spring at Peterborough, this will also give more choice and convenience to our customers in the North and Midlands.
What’s the ultimate goal for the company? When Paris Natar bought Smart Solar we created a five-year business plan, which we in fact achieved in four years. We’re now in the process of planning our next five-year cycle but our ultimate goal is to reach £100m in annual sales. Watch this space! To find out more about Smart Garden’s market leading product offering visit www.sgpuk.com
How far do you plan ahead for new launches? We’re mainly working on products for launch nine to 12 months ahead. We generate a significant number of product ideas, many of which don’t make the final cut, or can be revisited for consideration a year later. In addition to our core ranges, we also develop a considerable quantity of custom products for specific customers. It must be pleasing to keep winning industry awards for product innovation and customer service? It’s very flattering and rewarding, in equal measure. To be recognised by one’s customers for essentially doing a really good job is a great feeling, and is a result of a tremendous team effort and hard work. At the same time, we are our own biggest critic and we aim to keep on improving and
10 November 2017
Jonathan with Sales Director Paul Knott receiving GTN’s Greatest Garden Products Supplier Award.
www.gardentradenews.co.uk
Caroline Holford has joined Smart Garden Products as Trade Marketing Manager. Caroline brings a wealth of trade marketing experience, having spent several years working with Dexam, Canon, HoMedics and Bic, among others. On joining a new industry, Caroline says: “I am looking forward to transferring my extensive marketing experience in housewares, licensing and FMCG to the gardening sector.”
Steve Guy has rejoined Kingfisher as head of sales for outdoor categories, having worked at the company’s subsidiary B&Q from 1999 to 2013, where he rose from assistant buyer to category trading manager. He left B&Q to join Dobbies as head of buying for horticulture and garden, becoming a director in 2015, before leaving earlier this year when Nicholas Marshall took over as CEO.
Chairman Edward Way has retired from Fordingbridge plc. In asking Edward what’s the biggest change he’s seen during his 40-plus years career, he said: “It is one in which we would design a structure for a customer, build it and get paid all on a handshake rather than an interminable contract!”