GTN November 2020 - Garden Trade News UK

gtn NOVEMBER 2020

Adviice & infformattion for garden centre professionals

gardentradenews.co.uk

gtn NOVEMBER 2020

Advice & information for garden centre professionals

gardentradenews.co.uk

New Product Directory for 2021

PROUD AS PUNCH

Charles Stubbs opens British Garden Centre No 58 at Thatcham

GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards

ARE BACK

More perspective on New Gardeners

CHRISTMAS 2020

GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards are back!

They’re back, all be it in a “virtual” form. GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards are back for 2020 to celebrate all that’s great about garden centres at Christmas through the pages of GTN and the GTN Xtra e-mail newsletter.

It’s simple to take part, all you have to do is start taking photos of your displays and ideas now and send an e-mail to trevor@pottingshedpress. co.uk, for the full entry details of each category.

We’d also like centres to pledge a small donation to Greenfingers Charity to help create more gardens at Children’s Hospices during 2021, they have become even more vital for the hospices during the pandemic so the demand for new gardens is even higher than normal.

Here are the categories for GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards 2020 • The Greatest Christmas Houseplant Team • The Greatest Outdoor Plant and Christmas Tree Team • The Greatest Festive Food Hall Team • The Greatest Christmas Sizzle Team (for sales of BBQ’s, firepits, furniture etc) • The Greatest Christmas Pets Team

4 November 2020

• The Greatest Christmas Community or Charity Initiative • The Greatest Social Media Christmas Marketing Idea • The Greatest Garden Centre Christmas Video • The Greatest Winter Garden Care Sales Team • The Greatest Covid Safe Christmas Display Team • The Greatest Christmas Supplier – as voted for by garden centres • The Greatest Group Garden Centre Christmas Team • The Greatest Small Garden Centre Christmas Team • The Greatest Mid-Sized Garden Centre Christmas Team • The Greatest Large Garden Centre Christmas Team We all love to see other centres displays and

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ideas, especially at Christmas, and as Lockdown 2 and travel restrictions make that difficult what better way to provide a solution for everyone than inviting garden centres to submit their own photos and videos as part of GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards. We’ll be publishing photo’s and videos as they come in during December in GTN Xtra and GTN’s December issue, with some early entries on page 14 of this issue.

The closing date for entries will be Monday December 14th with the results announced in GTN Xtra in January 2021 and as part of GTN’s January issue which includes our first ever Christmas Products Directory.

Suppliers are also getting involved with stock for 2021 being offered as prizes, watch out for more details over the coming weeks. > So, what are you waiting for, get snapping and send an e-mail today to trevor@pottingshed press.co.uk to get your entry registered.

Lockdown 2 hits Christmas but gardening stays strong There we were riding high with sales rapidly catching up on last year and along came Lockdown 2. Thank goodness all that excellent lobbying work through April and May stood us in good stead to ensure garden centres were able to stay open in England and Scotland during this second lockdown or a move to level 4 in Scotland.

After an initial very quiet few days of lockdown trade has picked up, but it’s been patchy across the country with the odd report of queues forming at some centres and others being very quiet.

While many may have decided that buying for Christmas just now is not essential and therefore not trying to go to their local centre the continued increase popularity of gardening through October and November has seen some record sales performances and kept essential garden related shopping going through to December.

Garden centres in Wales have seen great business since they re-opened after their enforced Firewall closure so we’ll all need to be at ourCOVID-19 security and socially distancing best when the rush for Christmas trees and last minute decorations comes.

The GTN Bestsellers Volume sales index shows that total sales dipped by 5% during the first full week of lockdown to be level with last year. We’ll be watching the data carefully over the next few weeks as we move towards the usual Christmas peak.

Talking of Christmas, in a mad moment last week we decided to bring The Greatest Christmas Awards back.

Well it seems like the right thing to do to spread some seasonal joy, enable the sharing of ideas, and celebrate the excellent work of garden centre teams during this most difficult year.

As we can’t go out and visit all of your teams this year, we’re asking you to send us photos, videos and entry submissions, see opposite and on Page 14 and in GTN Xtra at www.gardentradenews.co.uk .

We will be running masses of coverage of all the entries on the pages of GTN and GTN Xtra with the winners being announced in print and on-line in January. We’ll have some prizes of stock for 2021 for the winners to announce too over the coming weeks.

So, get snapping – if you think it looks good take a photo and send it to us today! trevor@pottingshedpress.co.uk .

GTN COMMENT

EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING Garden Trade News Potting Shed Press Ltd Dairy Drove Thorney Peterborough PE6 0TX Tel 01733 775700 www.gardentradenews.co.uk THE GTN TEAM Editor Trevor Pfeiffer trevor@pottingshedpress.co.uk Associate Editor Mike Wyatt mike@pottingshedpress.co.uk Digital Editor Neil Pope neil@pottingshedpress.co.uk Advertising Sales Alan Burdon Alan@pottingshedpress.co.uk Subscriptions Karen Pfeiffer karen@pottingshedpress.co.uk Design & Production AT Graphics Ltd www.atgraphicsuk.com Kirsty Craner – Design Alun Jones – Production Manager Robert Tipping – Managing Director James Tipping – Technical Director Printing CG Print Ltd Do you qualify for a copy of GTN?

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GTN Bestsellers All Barcode Products Index Epos Data Sales Volume Week by Week August - December 2016-2020

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In this issue

G Plants Wildlife attracting seed bombs Front Cover GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards 2020 4 Thatcham Garden Centre in pictures 6 Planning for plant sales next spring 10 Catering Design Group success at Millets Farm 14 New Gardener Perspective – trends driving change 16 Illumination Street 2020 18 RHS Licensed Products for 2021 20 GTN’s New Product Directory for 2021 23 Garden Decoration 24 Garden Home, Giftware and Clothing 25

If you’d like to be added to the GTN distribution list, please send your details to Karen@pottingshedpress. co.uk to see if you qualify to be included. Alternatively, if you prefer your Garden Trade News digitally, sign up for GTN Xtra, our weekly e-mail newsetter at www.gardentradenews.co.uk And, if you want the fastest garden centre sales analysis, take out a subscription to GTN Bestsellers our printed weekly sales data newsletter. For just £145.00 per year you get Top 50 sales charts created from weekly garden centre epos data. Contact trevor@pottingshedpress.co.uk for more details and to subscribe.

Potting Shed Press Ltd

Garden Trade News is published by Potting Shed Press Ltd who also publish: GTN Bestsellers, GTN Xtra, Glee Daily News and the Glee Catalogue, and the Solex Sun. Potting Shed Press also supply Garden Radio to over 100 garden centres across the country.

Garden Growing Containers Garden Growing Materials Garden Landscaping Garden Leisure & Entertaining Pet Products Garden Plants, Seeds and Bulbs Garden Retail & Industry Services Garden Tools & Machinery Garden Wild Bird and Wildlife Products Clicks v Bricks HTA Column

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25 26 27 27 28 28 28 29 29 30 31

Director Trevor Pfeiffer SMALL PRINT: All material [copyright symbol] Potting Shed Press Ltd 2020. No part of this publication may e reproduced in any form whatsoever, either for sale or not, without the express permission of the publishers.

The information supplied in this publication is published in good faith and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. Potting Shed Press Ltd cannot accept responsibility for any error or misrepresentation. All liability for loss, disappointment, negligence or other damage caused by reliance on information contained in this publication or in the vent of any bankruptcy or liquidation or cassation of the trade of any company, individual or firm mentioned, is hereby excluded.

November 2020 5

GARDEN CENTRE PHOTO TOUR “Proud as punch.” The BGC team at the opening of Thatcham, left to right: Nemanja Tintor - General Manager, Lewis Fox - BGC South Regional Manager, Charles Stubbs - BGC Joint Managing Director

Plants are the stars at BGC Thatcham GTN takes you on a photo tour of BGC’s 58th centre at Thatcham in Berkshire At the end of October, Thatcham Garden Centre re-opened under the new ownership of British Garden Centres. The centre had been handed back to the landlords during the Wyevale Garden Centres sale of the century and closed in September 2019 as the owners looked for a new leaseholder.

British Garden Centres took on the site in September 2020 and in less than 8 weeks they completely refreshed the centre, enclosing a walkway at the Restaurant end to

6 November 2020

allow for extra covers, extending the covered sales area out into the planteria and hard surfacing the overflow car parking area which h was previously a field.

Here’s our photo tour highlights of the new centre from the opening day on 31st October 2020 where plants are clearly the stars of the show, even in the new restaurants! > You can see the full GTN photo tour, all 148 photos, on GTN Xtra at www.gardentradenews.co.uk

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GARDEN CENTRE PHOTO TOUR

An interesting and varied gift range encourages shoppers to linger longer

VIP visitors at Thatcham included local MP Laura Farris, pictured with BGC Communications Director Boyd Douglas-Davies

A huge range of jigsaws, toys & games are sure to be big sellers this winter

The gardening by adding walls and windows to an g g and Christmas sales area has been expanded p open sided canopy to make a bright inviting retail space...

of the main Bold graphics along the side car parks the building on the driveway to type of the ut abo bt dou leave you in no ting garden centre you are visi

... and a the installation of an “astroturf” carpet makes it feel really green and compfortable. mak

Left to right: The BGC Christmas themes are big and bold for 2020. Christmas at Thatcham starts with a welcome video and cleverly uses many old Wyevale shop fittings in new creative ways to inspire and drive customer purchases.

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November 2020 7

GARDEN CENTRE PHOTO TOUR The planteria at Thatcham was brimming with plants, all looking great enticing continued sales through to Christmas

Plants throughout the restaurant areas remind diners they are in a garden centre. ALL the plants are real and for sale. They are cared for by the restaurant team as any sales add to their performance figures!

You get g hit with a blaze of colour stepping pp g out into the pplanteria,, it jjust shouts: “Buy me!

A fully stocked furniture display adjacent to the restaurants is creating winter BBQ sales and a living advert for next summers outdoor leisure sales.

Above: Great use of an Ascalon arch structure to display winter hanging baskets and bedding plants.

COVID safety with greeter at the entrance and BGC branded hand wash dispensers.

8 November 2020

Plants are the stars right inside the entrance, patio roses to the left, cyclamen to the right…

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… and two stemmed orchids for only £7.99 straight ahead.

NEW GRASS SEED Formulations & packaging for the 2020/2021 season

High quality grass seed to suit every customer and every lawn For more information

visit: www.mr-fothergills-trade.com • email: sales@mr-fothergills.co.uk • call: 01638 751161

digital showroom tour also available

PLANNING FOR 2021

Planning for plant sales next spring

Colocasia 'Black Coral', Kernock Park Plants

When garden centres reopened in May plant sales took off as people sought sanctuary in their gardens over the spring and summer. This demand continued into autumn with garden and plant sales remaining strong into September. As we look ahead to spring 2021 how is the industry preparing? From the weather, competition from online sales, Brexit, and the ongoing COVID-19 situation to rising unemployment, low consumer confidence, and the potential return of a new crop of lockdown gardeners there have never been so many variables to contend with.

Strong Autumn plant sales

Figures from the HTA show that overall garden retail sales for September were 25% up on September 2019. Significantly, sales of hardy plants, trees, and shrubs were up 61% for September and 52% up for garden category sales.

Latest figures from the GCA Barometer of Trade for September show outdoor plant sales for October up 43%, houseplants up 48% and significantly hard landscaping up 72%. This last figure bodes well for spring 2021 plant sales as consumers look to plant up patios and decking for the season.

Increased plant sales continued into October with GTN’s best sellers figures showing sales up on last year by 30%. This indicates that either existing gardeners are buying significantly more plants or the ‘New Gardeners’ are keeping active regardless of the weather.

Campaigns including the HTA’s Million Planting Moments have played their plant in encouraging autumn planting. HTA President Boyd DouglasDavies comments, “After the incredible summer of garden activity we wanted to rejuvenate the traditionally busy planting time, that has slipped away in recent years, so Million Planting Moments was created. The brief.... to encourage the nation to keep planting at this time of the year. We are so pleased with the response and how the campaign caught the public’s imagination - even HRH The Prince Of Wales got involved and helped support the campaign; it helped the word travel far and wide.”

Opportunites for the garden industry

In its latest report, the HTA summarises the key market forces driving new consumer

10 November 2020

behaviours amidst the Coronavirus pandemic and the opportunities for garden businesses emerging as a result.

One of the key consumer needs during this difficult time is for a feeling of assurance and control. Consumer desire to be more prepared and self-sufficient in times of crisis drives several areas of opportunity for garden businesses from grow your own to the wellbeing benefits from gardening.

When it comes to grow your own provide consumers with ideas for projects, recipes and know-how. With the continuing War on Waste think about how you present your product range from water butts through to home composting bins. Take the opportunity to highlight the health and wellbeing benefits of gardening and use in-store displays and social media to create a relaxing environment in the garden.

HTA members can download the full report ‘Consumer Trends and the Opportunities for Garden Businesses Post-Covid’, HTA Market Update, October 2020 https://hta.org.uk/learn-develop/marketinformation/consumertrends.html

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A sign of things to come….. garden trends for 2021

As working from home has become the norm for so many, our garden needs are set to change.

Award-winning garden designer Andrew Duff, managing director of Inchbald School of Design comments, “For me, garden design has changed more in the last six months than it has in the last 60 years,” he reflects. “It’s no longer the space people come home to for a gin and tonic and to watch the sun go down. They want somewhere to have coffee in the morning, somewhere to have lunch, a green calm space just to be.”

Recent research from The Body Shop quantifies this revealing that 64% of the UK adult population spent more time in the garden during the spring lockdown. On average they spent 84 more minutes per month gardening during the period.

All this extra time in the garden will influence future trends and Andrew Duff highlights his thoughts on what these will be.

• Keen on green – a good green selection of plants with a balance of different leaf textures gives a feeling of freshness and growth.

PLANNING FOR 2021 Lobelia ‘Chocolate Truffle’, The Bransford Webbs Plant Company

Gomphrena ‘Truffula Pink’, Kernock Park Plants

Digitalis ‘Lucas White’, The Bransford Webbs Plant Company

• Lawn comeback – providing a usable space and now people have more time to maintain their lawn and are finding it therapeutic to mow. Subtle sculpture – people are seeking calm and sophistication, perhaps represented in a Zen-like water feature.

• Rich shades – people are after really subtle, deep colours that are quite jewel-like and gentle on the eye.

• More balcony foods - we are going to see balconies overloaded with tomatoes and runner beans, with nasturtiums running through them.

• Container changes - seasonality is really important, which is where growing vegetables in containers are going to take off, along with the rotation of vegetable crops (especially heritage vegetables).

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• Sustainable S materials - there will be a return tto terracotta and timber planters, rather than m mass-produced plastic tubs.

• Sustainable S landscaping - people are much m more aware of the sustainability of products a and their provenance. There’s a great drive to b buy British, to buy locally and supporting local b businesses.

W • Working for wildlife - people have become ssurprised at how much wildlife there is in their g garden. People are embracing an informal, sslightly overgrown look to encourage wildlife.

P • Pandemic Plants - since lockdown began o online garden centre, Gardening Express, has sseen record sales of four plants all known to h have medicinal properties. Sales of Echinacea, G Gingko, Sambucus and Green Tea plants h have increased by 2895%, 585%, 869% and 1689% respectively.

Growers assess the season and look ahead to 2021

In what has been a season unlike any other we find out how UK growers have faired. With challenges ahead including the as yet unknown impact of Brexit, the weather (which always adds an element of jeopardy to every season) as well as the continuing COVID situation we explore how growers are planning for next year. What is new – in terms of plants and their approach?

Adrian Marskell, Managing Director, The Bransford Webb Plant Company “What a year it’s been! After the trials of garden centre lockdowns trade has been excellent and

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PLANNING FOR 2021

Echinacea ‘Sun Magic Vintage Red’, The Bransford Webbs Plant Company has carried on into the autumn, the biggest problem has been stock availability due to potting shortfalls in the lockdown period. We have done particularly well with Orientalis Hellebores and trees this autumn but in truth, I think most things would have sold well.

Unfortunately, none of this will make up for the shortfalls in the spring when garden centres were forced to close.

“Like most nurseries, we furloughed a large number of our staff and did a damage limitation exercise on the stock we had. However, we kept our propagation department working, as they produce nearly 50% of our young plants and we concentrated on having a full offer for 2021. We were one of the first promotional nurseries to get their 2021 brochure out which contained 30 new promotions and more have been added since then.

“We are optimistic about next year, reserves have been excellent and we have a nursery filling

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up with stock for 2021. We have found retailers are keen to secure stock for next year as they believe there will be a stock shortage and as yet no-one is sure what problems the end of the transition period with BREXIT will bring. UK grown stock has always been a priority for us and we highlight this with a Union Jack on our labels.

Sustainability remains a high priority with all pots now kerbside recyclable, trials for peat-free mixes are taking place and recycling water and solar panels are making use of natures free gifts!”

Simon Catterall, National Sales and Marketing Manager, Garden Centre Plants “With the Barton Grange Garden Centre within the group, we work closely with them on some bespoke lines for 2021. The demand is such that the main challenge is going to be managing the expectations of our customer base and also the close monitoring of our reserve system to

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ensure plants reserved are made ava ailable fairly and as comprehensively amongst our customers who are committed to supply from us.

“Alongside the bespoke lines for our own garden centre extra stock will be available for our other customers. Some first timelines for us in 2021 include Alstromeria ‘Spitfire, Clematis ‘Olympia’, Clematis ‘The Duchess of Cornwall’, Heuchera ‘Frilly’, Dryopteris ‘Jurassic Gold’ and Lomandra ‘White Sands’.

“There are many challenges for the supply chain. Primarily the whole Brexit issue regarding rules and regulations to comply with the changes to the importation of EU produced plant material.

The vast majority of our plant material is sourced within the UK but there is still a sizeable amount of Italian and French finished plants which we bring in through the early spring. Supply of young plant material (plugs and liners) has been disrupted due to Covid this season and this will

PLANNING FOR 2021 with a lowering of appetite to re-stock, something that is understandable given the ever-changing COVID landscape. For Spring 2021, pre-season orders for summer flowering bulbs are buoyant and largely match the plans that customers made for Spring 2020, although some are budgeting for growth. However, pre-season orders for seed potatoes, onions and all Grow-Your-Own products are significantly higher than last year.

“We are delighted to have won a GLEE New Product Award for our Vegetable and Seed Growing Kit and that the judges could see the opportunities in a product such as this. There will be plenty of people looking to continue the trend to grow their own vegetables in 2021 and we need to show them that garden retailers can present them with easy solutions.

“The sister to the Vegetable & Seed Growing Kit is the Potato Growing Kit, also designed to be the perfect solution for those new gardeners who are a little unsure what seed potatoes to select and how to grow them. The Seed Potato Growing Kit contains three varieties of seed potato with a potato growing bag for each variety, perfect for the smaller garden, patio or even balcony.” have repercussions as we trade through 2021.

The biggest contributor to pushing UK produced plants are the Brexit uncertainties and the likely price rises on imported stock which will undoubtedly come with this.

“After trialling peat-free compost for many years and being generally disappointed with the results we have been very pleasantly rewarded for persistence with a very promising trial with new material in 2020, which we will be pursuing in 2021. We already use taupe pots and our new fully recyclable label is smaller than its forerunner saving plastic.

“Despite the see-saw nature of the 2020 season and its unpredictability we have nevertheless continued to progress with the development of the site erecting a further 5 polytunnels .”

Adam Taylor, Director, Taylors Bulbs “Autumn bulb sales have been very strong with tulips selling extremely well. September was particularly busy and we were overwhelmed with the demand for extra stock, but as time has progressed, our reducing availability has combined

Bruce Hartnett, Managing Director, Kernock Park Plants “As a young plant supplier, we have cleared a significant amount of our surplus largely because we maintained a positive stance from the outset. We continued our production plans for autumn and the 2021 season and have not experienced the mass shortages in perennials, alpines and other traditional summer and autumn purchases that we have heard about from other providers.

“Tactics for making our customers and retailers aware of what we’re doing have had to evolve with the absence of tradeshows. We increased the rollout of product videos on our YouTube channel and website. We worked hard during the spring and summer to try and film new products to give our customers, retail buyers and consumers an idea about the products that we offer. We’ll be keeping this up going forward to next season.

We have loads of new and exciting products for the season to come. We’ve tried to guide our customers to the general categories of

introduction. These include: • Fantastic new tropical style plants to satisfy the urban chic gardens, perhaps even some of those new gardeners that have been introduced to gardening in the past 6 months.

• Brilliantly colourful seasonal, patio basket and containers plants • “Mediterranean Marvels” - filling a need to have something different to offer in the summer months, especially in the “new normal” where perhaps there will be more repeat garden purchases into summer.

• We have some lovely succulents and fern varieties that are suited for outdoor situations for spring and summer, but also indoor environments. This is a response to the growing need for greening our surroundings both inside and out and are a great way to get the younger generations interested in gardening.

“We appreciate that environmental credentials are important for all gardeners, not just the newcomers and we at Kernock continue to work on sustainability in all aspects of the production system, reducing our energy inputs and making the energy that we do create more efficient. We continue to extend our portfolio of commercially available peat-free products, as we anticipate the complete move to peat-free production in the coming years.

“The early signs are that sales for 2021 are incredibly strong and we’re focussing to ensure the production is there to cover these sales.

It’s not completely clear yet how much of the increase we see, these are simply early orders and how much will materialise into real increases.

“Many growers and buyers have responded to some continued shortages and concerns that stock will be short by placing orders earlier. Whilst we have certainly not had the year we were hoping or expecting at the turn of the year, we are fortunate that the vast majority of our customers worked with us towards as positive an outcome as we could have imagined, or hoped for. This I believe has stood us in good stead going forward with regards to customer confidence in Kernock.

The uncertainties of Covid continue and we cannot predict exactly what the impacts will be, but we are certain that the reaction to lockdowns will be very different as the industry has witnessed the power of gardening amongst the gloom.

“Brexit brings another tranche of uncertainty when it comes to imports and exports. These are of course concerning and something we are working hard to counteract as far as possible when it comes to our European imports and exports to the EU including Ireland and Northern Ireland. Amongst this uncertainty growers and plant buyers have inevitably placed more emphasis on UK grown and we will try to capitalise on this going forward.”

Wrien byy Gi Ormrod

Many thanks to Kernock Park Pllants, The Bransford Webbs Plant Company and Taylors Bulbs for supplying images.

Taylors Bulbs Vegetable and Seed Growing Kit

November 2020 13

CHRISTMAS 2020

GTN PROMOTION

GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards – Early Bird entries Here’s some early entries for GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards 2020, we’ll be publishing as many entries as we can in the December issue so to see your centres Christmas in GTN, get snapping and enter the awards today by e-mailing trevor@ pottingshedpress.co.uk. Details are on page 4 of this issue.

A stunning transformation at Millets Farm Centre

Barton Grange: A Christmas to Remember

Above: Baytree’s Christmas 2020 walk through starts with a stunning lighting sales area.

Middle: Kevin Turley at Lakeside Plant Centre in Telford has pimped up his COVID safety visor for Christmas.

Below: The Old Railway Line’s Christmas Video, watch it at: www.youtube.com/ watch?v=OkvDKaK3rHE&t=8s

A £280K transformation at Millets Farm Centre in Abingdon, Oxfordshire by Catering Design Group (CDG) has resulted in a 22% increase in restaurant covers to date.

Millets Farm Centre attracts up to one million visitors each year.

CDG’s brief included a new dining room extension and the complete transformation of the existing servery area, covering everything from initial design consultancy through to full design, supply and fit-out, including bespoke servery counters,

furniture, lighting design, interior finishes and joinery.

The independent hospitality design firm was initially engaged on a design consultancy basis in 2018, having undertaken some interior design work five years previously. CDG was subsequently awarded a full contract to transform

The design at Millets Farm Centre incorporates different textures and patterns within the finishes for the counters, flooring and furniture all working well together to create an attractive and welcoming space.

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GTN PROMOTION

the servery and dining room, covering an area of circa 715 square metres.

Ben Carter, director of Millets Farm Centre, said: “We met other design firms but came back to CDG because of their professionalism, efficiency and their creative ideas. We were also aware of the work CDG had done in other farm centres and knew that their portfolio was impressive and in line with our expectations for Millets.”

Works started on site in November 2019 but Covid19 delayed Millets’ planned April 2020 reopening. Despite the additional challenge this brought, including a temporary period of site closure, CDG worked within the brief and budget throughout lockdown to hand the project over successfully at the end of June in time for the phased re-opening of the restaurant.

Ben Carter said: “The biggest challenge was coordinating the trades once we opened d the build back up during lockdown. It was tricky getting sub-contractors on site in a way that they could work in a coordinated way but not together. CDG’s project manager, Geoff Kibblewhite, proved invaluable. He wass extremely thorough, and we felt in safe hand ds as he managed all health & safety and Covid compliance issues seamlessly. We cannot sin ng his praises enough; he took a lot of stress off of us, which was ideal. We ended up appointiing CDG as the main contractors on site and thiss made all the difference to the safe and efficient management of the project.”

Steve Hutchings, director of CDG, said: “Ourr client had a clear vision of what was needed to o support their strategic growth plans. Millets is a family-run business, and the family is passionate about the centre, its heritage and its future development. We considered their vision and

ideas throughout the design process, listening and interpreting their ideas to realise their vision.”

The impact of the transformation on growth has already been seen, despite the challenges of COVID 19, with daily covers rising from 156 to 191, and potentially increasing to 260 in the future.

Ben Carter said: “The overall design is stunning, and we are delighted with it. Commercially, we have seen an 22% increase in covers in the restaurant. Feedback from visitors has been positive and our catering and front of house teams are happy so that’s hugely important.

“We think the layout is a masterpiece and we couldn’t be happier with the look and feel of it.” > Daventry-based Catering Design Group is one of UK’s leading restaurant and commercial kitchen design companies, offering a full design service to clients throughout the retail, leisure, hospitality and edu ucation se ectors. http:// ww ww.cateringdesign.co.uk Co ontact Stteve Hutchings on 07 7736 479 9342 or email steve.hu utchings@ cateringdesign.co.uk

“CDG’s strengths are, without doubt, their efficiency and ability to communicate. The design process took about a year to finalise and during that time they were always happy to pop in and sit with us to discuss any changes or ideas. The fact that we could always get hold of them was very reassuring.

They had great ideas, but they listened too. That was hugely important because we know the building and had a vision of how it could look and operate. We worked closely together with CDG to create something very special.”

Ben Carter, director of Millets Farm Centre.

Left:: “It was critical that the design would work operationally with the existing kitchhen and back-of-house areas and this involved detailed discussion and planning with Millets.” Steve Hutchings, director of CDG.

Right: Millets wanted a contemporary farmhouse feel so this is reflected in the design and in the selection of materials throughout such as the statement corrugated fascia to the feature central island as a nod to traditional farm buildings. This was powder-coated in blue to reflect Millets’ strong brand identity and this blue is also picked up in other design elements throughout the servery and dining areas.

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November 2020 15

NEW GARDENERS RESEARCH

A Perfect Storm Hits the Garden

Following on from last issues compilation of New G Gardener Research we invited Phil Pond of Scarlet Opus, w provide future lifestyle, consumer & design trend who in n intelligence for garden sector manufacturers & retailers, to give a wider perspective on what has changed during 2 2020 and the previous five years and the implications for garden retailing over the coming years.

Th year some things have changed forever.

This Let’s focus on positive change to fall-out of Le 2020’s 20 events. Change that should excite, challenge ch and boost the Garden Industry Trade and an everyone in it.

•S Since 2015 or so, some people had already sstarted to consider ‘life’. Our appetite to u understand climate change and our impact on tthe natural world has been growing; steadily and gradually. Questions that have been asked by a growing number of consumers are: Do we need all the stuff we have? Do we need to buy more stuff?

• In 2017, the register of applicants for allotments across England, had 91,000 names on it; the longest list it had been. Almost 6,000 applicants were aged under 35. The desire to know where our food came from and how it was grown forced a surge in interest for the Grow Your Own movement.

• IIn 2019, the idea that we should all be

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eating less meat was beginning to become mainstream in terms of awareness of the issue. The year also saw much more product innovation making it possible for vegetables to be grown in kitchens, on balconies & up walls by gardeners of all ability levels.

• 2020 saw us all confined to our homes for an extended period. Working from home, going to school at home, celebrating birthdays and anniversaries at home.

• Unexpectedly, the weather was dry and hot for many weeks. Holidays abroad were changed, cancelled and shelved.

• People’s homes & gardens became schools, holiday resorts, restaurants, pubs, bars, gyms and more. Almost everyone enjoyed rediscovering what a home could be.

• The environment, sustainability & climate change agenda has been fast-forwarded 5 years or more.

• The end of fast-fashion has been brought

NEW GARDENERS RESEARCH

forward in time; slow-fashion had been emerging very gradually in any case. But leaders in the fashion industry have now pressed the ‘pause’ button until SS2022. GUCCI have announced a reduction to 2 seasonal catwalk shows each year and that these will be trans-seasonal designs. (Alessandron, Michele – Creative Director at Gucci).

Collectively these elements have produced a Perfect Storm for change. In post pandemic times, many more consumers will have a more principled approach to their purchasing activities and decisions.

Recent commentary regarding a ‘new normal’ has been constant, loud and everywhere. But Post-pandemic life is confused if thought of as normal ... new or otherwise. The ‘lost year of 2020’ will be followed by a year of treading water in 2021. And in 2022 there will be a realisation that a total ‘reset’ has occurred in consumer behaviour. The pre-pandemic model is not a relevant or stable basis on which to rebuild ... A life ... A business ... A community ... nothing.

During the Lockdown Gardening proved to be a popular element of home-schooling, as a way of teaching children (no matter their age) about the natural world, food sources, horticulture and cooking & baking. Some of these children are now gardeners forever, some will use their new knowledge to renew their local environment and others will return to it later in life. They will all however, understand, value and preserve, the importance of ‘being able to.’

Gardening has come to another large group of people for a different reason; those people who now cook from scratch at home. There are now many more people learning to cook, becoming better cooks and more than you’d think have become skilled home-chefs. All of which is good

me bakers news for the Garden Industry. These hom and chefs want to use produce they’ve grown. The ‘Grow Your Own’ movement has new members and taken several steps forward. These homechefs also want to be able to use their garden as an outdoor dining-room … all year round.

For a very large group of people, the increased time spent at home, opened their eyes to the therapeutic values of cooking, baking, gardening and growing plants & vegetables. Simply sitting in their outdoor spaces has shown people the benefit gardens provide in terms of physical & mental wellbeing.

The 5th Room (garden) is now central when considering not simply furniture, but all products including cooking and dining outside.

Many more consumers now consider the garden as an outdoor ‘room’; requiring it to have the same level of comfort & convenience any other room in the home.

The trend for ‘Grow Your Own’ produce will strengthen and broaden (enormously) in appeal.

2020 has heightened the trend for families & individuals (across all ages) to grow their own produce. (This initiated from the empty supermarket shelves, chillers & freezer cabinets earlier in the year). This grow your own trend will not disappear once the virus has. The benefits and rewards of it have been felt too strongly during the pandemic.

The interest and enthusiasm for outdoor kitchens will grow, especially as the UK climate changes toward longer, hotter summers. (All respected ‘long-term weather forecasters’ now predict this). The desire to be able to ‘liveoutside’ just as much in the winter will also become stronger amongst UK consumers; just as populations do in other 4-season places (eg Melbourne). An opportunity for furniture

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manufacturers to innovate all-weather items and for outdoor heater manufacturers.

As life settles during 2021 many people will become stretched financially, overseas holidays will be a luxury that many (perhaps most) will not be able to afford as well as eating out, or even ‘popping to the pub’. Outdoor lounging, al fresco dining, exotic escapism, adventure and calming connection to nature; previously all satisfied during ‘holidays & weekend trips’ will have to be achieved in our homes, our ‘outdoor room’ … the garden.

Post 2020 people may well be forced to live more modestly, but they are likely to want to live more fully in terms of experiences ... and many (if not most) of these experiences will be lived in their homes & gardens; or those of their friends & family This is both the challenge and the opportunity facing the entire supply chain to the world of the home and garden. Seeing this year as a one-off ‘boom’ is to misunderstand the fundamental shift in consumerism from the frivolous, to the family & home. And that means that the industry will not innovate as is needed, it won’t ‘gear up’ for omnichannel shopping (an activity that is seamless between on & offline). It won’t create the Garden Centres of tomorrow (so desperately needed) that will inspire, educate, support, engage and facilitate experiences, adventures and memories. And then, it would only have itself to blame … http://www.scarletopus.com/blog > Phil Pond. Scarlet Opus: Future Lifestyle, Consumer & Design Trend Intelligence future proofing business for Garden sector manufacturers & retailers. e-mail phil@acarletop pus.com

November 2020 17

CHRISTMAS 2020

Illumination Street lights up

Christmas 2020 British Garden Centres take exclusive sponsorship of the National Christmas Campaign Illumination Street.

Now in its second year, Illumination Street is 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 7th to 13th December 2020.

Launched by Broadcaster David Domoney, Illumination Street enjoys hundreds of entries from all over the nation, in all shapes and sizes, some for fun and others for charity. In total, Illumination Street entrants have raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity.

1st November 2020 saw the launch of Illumination Street to the public to start entering their displays. The publicity surrounding

18 November 2020

the campaign includes Illumination Street TV, national newspaper coverage, 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, said: “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

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CHRISTMAS 2020

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.”

Boyd Douglas-Davies, Director British Garden Centres group, said “We are incredibly excited to support Illumination Street. It is such a positive campaign to be part of, especially after the year we have all endured and thanks to a growing movement of families who have been cheering their communities with spectacular Christmas lights and front gardens. These bold and heartfelt displays of creativity lift our spirits and brings joy to our neighbourhoods”.

Despite all the uncertainties of 2020, there’s one thing we can count on and that is, Christmas is coming. We have seen the country turn to their gardens for respite and solace this summer during lockdown, so why not continue that into the winter? We want to encourage the public to turn their gardens into a festive fountain of colour and light.

Illumination Street winners can win a share of £5,000 worth of British Garden Centre groups gift vouchers thanks to the generosity of its sponsor. These prizes will not only help to spread the festive cheer but will put some money back into the garden centre community and encourage shoppers to visit their local garden centre this Christmas.

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November 2020 19

RHS LICENSING

RHS and Scholastic to launch new activity books for children First title in entertaining, informative, and beautiful range to launch in February

The Royal Horticultural Society has announced the first titles in a new range of entertaining, informative and beautifully illustrated activity books for children in partnership with RHS Licensee Scholastic, the world’s largest publisher and distributor of children’s books.

Aimed at ages 6-10 years, the first titles launch in February 2021. My Dinosaur Garden and My Unicorn Garden will inspire children to explore gardens and the outdoors with crafts, activities, gardening tips and nature facts. In March, the Outdoor Adventure Handbook will look at discovering plants, wildlife and getting closer to nature with activities for all weathers.

In May, to complement the new range, My Unicorn Garden Cards and Notelets will be

launched. This is a creative make-and-do d sett with stickers that children can use to create unique messages to share with friends and family. Further books will follow in autumn 2021 and beyond.

The books will be available for sale at all good garden centres. Their publication will be marked with a collaborative marketing campaign to reach the extensive family and school audiences of both Scholastic and the RHS. Cathy Snow, Licensing Manager, RHS, says: “One of our most important missions as Britain’s leading gardening charity is to encourage children to develop an interest in gardens and gardening. This is underlined by our development of a licensing programme for

ch hildren’’s prod ductts – and d wh ho bettter to hellp us communicate our message than one of the most admired names in children’s publishing? These activity books, which both inform and entertain, are a marvellous introduction to the wonders of wildlife and the joys of gardening.”

Elizabeth Scoggins, Publisher – Non-fiction, Licensing and Brands for Scholastic UK, adds: “It is a privilege to be working with the RHS, the UK’s most-loved gardening charity. 2020 has made everyone really appreciate opportunities to be outdoors and to explore nature on our doorsteps. We look forward to publishing books that inspire children and families to discover the wonders of plants, wildlife and the outdoors using the expertise and passion of the RHS.”

Our range organic based products endorsed by the RHS Re c o ve r is als y t he id o e al pre se e d e r!

Ra out y k ing o is no ur moss wat hin of t h e pa g s t!

Au t u mn re c Wint over y, er de fe n and S prin ce g healt h.

Con bac t tains er eats ia which the wit h t hatch in t h lawn e .

Proud to have our organic based products reviewed and endorsed by the Royal Horticultural Society.

To find out more and purchase our full range of products visit www.djturfcare.co.uk Brought to you by

The Orchard • Chiddingfold Road • Dunsfold • Godalming • Surrey GU8 4PB. Tel: 01483 200976 • Email: sales@djturfcare.co.uk • www.djturfcare.co.uk

20 November 2020

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RHS LICENSING

TheonlygardeningglovesendorsedbytheRHS Jayco, a family-owned company celebrating its 49th anniversary, is the proud owner of the Gold Leaf Gardening Glove range - widely recognised as the world’s finest gardening gloves.

Launched at Glee 2003, the company’s unique Gold Leaf range continues to reign as market leader in the premium quality category of the gardening glove sector both in UK and export markets around the globe.

The feedback that the Hampshire-based business attracts from purchasers of its products is remarkable, with the upmarket range recently attracting a social media following of serious gardening enthusiasts and professional gardeners alike who clearly appreciate and understand the uniqueness and superiority of its luxurious products.

It is therefore not surprising that Gold Leaf’s attendance at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show was its most successful in its 16-year history, and it is clear that the extraordinary levels of brand loyalty and referral based sales continue to strengthen year on year and attract loyal legion of customers from around the globe.

In 2006, the ultimate recognition of the Gold Leaf brand as the finest available, came with the announcement of an endorsement from The Royal Horticultural Society, a true mark of gardening excellence – the first brand ever to receive this exclusive honour. To mark this achievement all of the company’s product lines carry the RHS logo

on the packaging and gloves themselves, uniquely setting them apart from all other glove manufacturers, especially those who have attempted to capitalise on Gold Leaf’s success by producing similar looking designs using inferior quality materials.

Kelly and Peter Cooney from Gold Leaf are committed to upholding the company mission statement: ‘There is NO substitute for quality’. With this mindset clearly visible throughout the business, from the unprecedented quality of its superior products, the extremely high level of brand loyalty that they maintain, to the exceptional customer service that the company provides – the passion for their brand is undeniable.

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Continuing its work with the RHS, Glee 2017 saw the launch of the company’s new product range ‘The RHS Collection’ – a small beautiful range of deerskin leather gardening gloves for ladies. The family firm was thrilled to be awarded the accolade of ‘Best New Product’ in the Gift, Home and Clothing category, as voted for by respected power buyers within the industry.

The three stunning designs of ‘The RHS Collection’ take their names from World famous RHS shows, and were inspired by beautiful, historic botanical artwork from the RHS Lindley Library. The three floral images used have been carefully chosen for the sentiments that they convey from Victorian ‘Floriography’ or flower meanings – Remembrance (Poppy), Friendship (Yellow Rose), Hope & Wisdom (Iris).

Kelly feels strongly that “ladies will particularly respond to this distinctive approach” and “we are delighted that The RHS Collection is really proving suitable for any gift purchase for any lady, be that a birthday, retirement, anniversary, Christmas, Mother’s Day…this list is endless!”

The message is clear...if you want to offer your customers the best, there is NO alternative!

November 2020 21

RHS LICENSING

RHS branding provides peace of mind DJ Turfcare credits RHS endorsed range with driving brand loyalty Since receiving RHS endorsement for its organic-based lawn care products in 2018, DJ Turfcare has enjoyed continued success as the company believes the endorsement provides consumers with unrivalled peace of mind at the point of purchase; peace of mind which encourages brand loyalty and repeat custom once they also see the incredible results which can be achieved by using DJ Turfcare products.

DJ Turfcare’s 2021 RHS-endorsed offering DJ Turfcare’s flagship product – and the one that continues to top the bestsellers list - is MO Bacter, an organic-based, slow release fertiliser for lawns, which destroys moss as a secondary action. It is easily spread, contains no chemicals, is pet and child-friendly, and completely harmless to garden plants. Praised by customers for its ability to completely transform tired, dry and brown lawns, MO Bacter has legions of dedicated customers, all

22 November 2020

returning year after year to give their lawns a much-needed post-winter boost.

The second product in the portfolio is Recovery. Recovery contains the unique ingredient, Humifirst, which creates biological activity and acts as a plant growth stimulant making it perfect to use before laying turf, seeding, after drought or as an autumn lawn feed. Like MO Bacter, Recovery has a proven track record for delivering expert quality results and is often recommended and used by professional groundsman as well as consumers who want to create a pristine lawn without the professional price tag.

Bio-Lime continues to bolster DJ Turfcare’s RHS endorsed offering. Created to combat acidic and sour conditions that can be an ideal environment for moss to thrive, BioLime essentially ‘sweetens’ the soil to raise its pH and optimises magnesium to create a green healthy sward and maintain a strong colour throughout the winter months. Bio-

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Lime also utilises the same bacteria found in MO Bacter, to devour thatch. Benefitting from almost year-round application usage, Bio-Lime is praised for its chemical-free formulation and easy to spread application.

Finally, it has just been confirmed that the all-new Autumn Lawn Treatment from DJ Turfcare has also been awarded RHS endorsement. The unique organic-based fertiliser, specifically designed for use between August and November to destroy moss, helps to prepare grass plants for winter sustaining them against the ravages of inclement weather, whilst also stimulating strong roots and providing 100 days of treatment for greener, thicker, more diseaseresistant lawns. > DJ Turfcare’s RHS endorsed product offering can be purchased from www. djturfcare.co.uk, as well as from a wealth of UK garden centres.

GUIDE TO NEW PRODUCTS FOR GARDEN CENTRES

gtn gardentradenews.co.uk

NEW PRODUCT DIRECTORY FOR

2021

NEW PRODUCT DIRECTORY FOR 2021

Find your winning New Products for 2021

In last months GTN we featured the winning products in the Glee New product Awards, but as we couldn’t all meet at the NEC in September we couldn’t put on a display of all the entries for you to peruse through to find your particular winners for 2021.

So, here we have a directory of all the products entered into the Glee New Product Awards this year. Unfortunately there’s not enough space to include pictures of the products but we still hope you find it useful and use the listings to get in touch with the companies for more information.

We so look forward to next years Glee New Product Awards, hopefully back at the NEC with a record breaking entry and display!

Castille Fountain

by Henri Studio

Southern UK Dylan Dolman bordersw.sw@gmail.com M: 07855 747537

Laguna Wall Fountain by Henri Studio Henri Studio / Stonecasters RRP £850 With a Modern Modular 3-window design and a super wide copper spill, the Laguna Fountain exudes a California vibe. The window panes are backlit and the spill is up lit.

Apollo Solar Spotlights (Set Of 2) The Solar Centre RRP £49.99 Stainless Steel white or warm white selectable decorative spotlights. 50 Lumens each light make this a 100 Lumen combo of lights powerful enough to light most garden features Peppa Pig & Friends Metal Garden Ornaments Primus RRP £17.99 - £24.99 Primus are delighted to introduce these amazing, fully licenced Peppa Pig, George Pig, Gerald Giraffe, Suzy Sheep and Rebecca Rabbit garden ornaments. A guaranteed hit with kids, parents and grandparents.

Prehistoric Garden Metal Dinosaur Ornaments Primus RRP £44.99 Highly detailed, the 2021 launch collection includes a Tyrannosaurus Rex, Triceratops, Stegosaurus and Styracosaurus. Dinosaur lovers will love them. The Prehistoric Garden collection is designed and distributed solely by Primus.

The Moon Dance Fountain’s new-to-the-world design brings a spouting crescent moon intersected by a wide-spilling and floating cloud basin. A wonderful piece of flowing artwork for any garden landscape. 38”H x 39”W x 17”D

Avon up & Down Wall Light The Solar Centre RRP £24.99 This stylish cube shaped up/down solar powered wall light provides hassle-free lighting to entrances, walls, fences and outbuildings. Lights top and bottom with built in solar panel.

Falmouth Festoon Lights The Solar Centre RRP £49.99 The Falmouth USB Solar Festoon Lights use replaceable G40 LED bulbs which last for 10 years or more. 25 bulbs, 30cm apart along an 8m string with 2 brightness modes.

RRP £650 Southern UK Dylan Dolman bordersw.sw@gmail.com M: 07855 747537

Fargro Rainbow Sticks Fargro Ltd £26.40 to £60 per 1k units Rainbow Sticks are a new decorative garden product designed and created to add fun and interest to plants. 10% of sales are donated to the NHS Charities Together.

Tranquil Harmonies Wind Chimes Primus RRP £29.99 - £89.99 Tranquil Harmonies is the newest sound for Wind Chimes in 2021. Musically tuned with a unique tone developed by Primus there’s nowhere else you can find these amazing Wind Chimes.

Outdoor Fountain Kaemingk RRP £259.99 A modern but contemporary fountain with faucet and a real stone look & feel finish. An innovative, automatic shut-off pump prevents break-downs by low water levels.

Cascading Pools Fountain

by Henri Studio

Solar Micro Led Lantern Kaemingk RRP£34.99 This Solar Micro Led Lantern gives a truly atmospheric and luxurious light effect. The perfect light for your garden. Available in black and white, square and round, and 3 sizes.

The Cascading Pools Fountain is a stunner, showing off its four large pools of water as a modern, one-piece work of art. This fountain has it all….great structure, great sound and great water action. 40”H x 36”W x 46”D

Peter Rabbit Garden Ornaments Treadstone Products RRP £17.99 - £19.99 A new range of garden ornaments based on the delightful Beatrix Potter characters. With stunning detail, these hand painted figures are sure to become a favourite with Peter Rabbit fans.

RRP £1200

24 November 2020

Shimmering Urn Fountain by Henri StudioHenri Studio / Stonecasters RRP £600 The Shimmering Urn Fountain’s water flow over concentric lines creates a visually pulsing picture. With its own self-contained bowl, there is no need for an underground basin.

Chiron 7 Colour Spotlight The Solar Centre RRP £29.99 Multi colour selectable spotlight with adjustable brightness. This spotlight can be lit in any one of 7 colours. The colour be chosen but so can the brightness.

Moon Dance Fountain

by Henri Studio

Northern UK Tony Hobbs border.stonewareth@gmail.com M: 07778 643826

Moon Dance Fountain by Henri Studio Henri Studio / Stonecasters RRP £650 A spouting crescent moon, intersected by a horizontal cloud basin which cascades over copper into the pool below. A completely unique and world’s first water feature.

Astron Solar Motion Light The Solar Centre RRP £39.99 Multi Directional 750 lumen Motion activated Solar Security Light. Solid cast aluminium body with anthracite finish Integral solar panel for quick and simple install.

RRP £550

Northern UK Tony Hobbs border.stonewareth@gmail.com M: 07778 643826

Cascading Pools Fountain by Henri Studio Henri Studio / Stonecasters RRP £1200 The Cascading Pools Fountain is a stunner, showing off four large pools of water as a modern work of art. This fountain has great structure, great sound and great action.

Gardena ClickUp! System Husqvarna UK LTD RRP £14.99 - £44.99 A year-round quality, interchangeable (eco) system and garden decoration range including a SkyBowl planter, Rain Gauge, Insect Hotel, Bird Feeder and Torch Fireplace.

If you’re looking for big sound in a small space, the Castille Fountain is your answer. Nine crowning spills of water create a dramatic chorus of rushing water, all in a very compact size. 32”H x 30”DIAM

Northern UK Tony Hobbs border.stonewareth@gmail.com M: 07778 643826

Garden Decoration

Southern UK Dylan Dolman bordersw.sw@gmail.com M: 07855 747537

Moai Decorative Ornaments Premier Decorations RRP£24.99 - £99.99 The much-loved Moai makes a bold statement within our 2021 season. These striking sculptural pieces in a textured charcoal-grey tone are fantastic for creating a statement with the garden scene.

Lagoon Fire and Water Feature Woodlodge Products RRP £129.99 Slate fire and water feature, pumps and cables included. Handfinished with natural slate pieces, our best-selling Lagoon feature has been adapted to include both water and fire elements.

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NEW PRODUCT DIRECTORY FOR 2021

Zen Gate Fountain

by Henri Studio

Burgon & Ball National Trust Kids’ Trowel and Fork Burgon & Ball/Corona Tools RRP £9.99 Designed with the National Trust for ages 6-10, the ‘Get Me Gardening’ range is ideal for the growth in kids’ gardening seen in 2020. Bright cheerful colours and high-quality materials.

The Zen Gate Fountain shows strength and lightness of being with its balance of roughhewn beams and flow-through airiness. The copper spill and plunging water add to its dramatic presence. 48”H x 24”W x 24”D

Burgon & Ball RHS British Meadow Pruner & Holster Burgon & Ball/Corona Tools RRP £19.99 An RHS-endorsed pocket pruner with specially coloured handles, and a matching neoprene holster featuring the new British Meadow design. Presented in a beautifully printed, plasticfree gift box.

RRP £600 Northern UK Tony Hobbs border.stonewareth@gmail.com M: 07778 643826

Southern UK Dylan Dolman bordersw.sw@gmail.com M: 07855 747537

Burgon & Ball National Trust Kids’ Watering Can Burgon & Ball/Corona Tools RRP £14.99 Child’s watering can in painted galvanized steel with 1L capacity. Designed for ages 6-10, with its adorable garden creatures and bright cheerful colours, this is a fun gift.

Burgon & Ball Dotty Mini Vase Set Burgon & Ball/Corona Tools RRP £19.99 This set of three mini vases is perfect for displaying one or two stems of fresh or dried flowers.

The unusual texture and hand-dipped glazes add extra interest.

Burgon & Ball Bombini Trio of Hanging Pots Burgon & Ball/Corona Tools RRP £22.99 Set of three small hanging plant pots, shaped like tiny beehives (Bombini is a type of bee).

Waxed cotton hanging cords offer a vegan-friendly way for hanging plants and succulents.

Laguna Fountain

by Henri Studio Our Laguna Wall Fountain offers dramatic lighting and water flow. With its wide copper spill and its 3 backlit panels of light, the Laguna Fountain will create both drama and elegance in your outdoor space. 33”H x 30”W x 22”D

Family of Indoor Pot Covers Woodlodge Products RRP £12.99 A range of quirky face indoor pot covers. This range of quirky pot covers allows people to express their personality and explore the creative side of gardening indoors.

RRP £850

Vegebag Vegepod RRP £49.99 Vegebag is an all in one fully contained growing bag. New and improved, Vegebag’s signature mesh provides amazing growth rates as well as protecting against wildlife, pests, bugs and weather.

Northern UK Tony Hobbs border.stonewareth@gmail.com M: 07778 643826

Garden Growing Containers Southern UK Dylan Dolman bordersw.sw@gmail.com M: 07855 747537

878/10 Lagom Scheurich Gmbh & Co KG RRP £3.99 Lagom is a playful match of original charm and realistic finish merging into a variety of interior styles and visually suiting many different green plants. Every pot is unique.

295 Barceo 30cm Scheurich Gmbh & Co KG RRP £24.99 Inspired by nature, the sophisticated surface structure resembles tree bark and creates an authentic feature between flowering and green plants. With Garduro finish and recyclable plastic has a 10-year guarantee.

Peppa Pig metal garden sculptures Peppa Pig is an all time favourite and now, you can stock the full range of five hand crafted garden ornaments complete with striking merchandiser to showcase Peppa and her friends. A double award winner at this year’s Glee Gathering winning both Best of British and Best Garden Decoration categories, this range is sure to be a big hit for 2021 and beyond.

828 Fashionista 14cm Scheurich Gmbh & Co KG RRP £8.49 The new series Fashionista, features a simple, cylindrical shape, which provides space for the beautiful zigzag design. From the catwalk to the window sill – Fashionista attracts the eye.

995 Stone Look 15cm Scheurich Gmbh & Co KG RRP £11.99 Scheurich brings a cosy cottage feeling into living spaces with its latest cover pot series Stone Look. Chalk, Rock & Slate high-quality stone effect designs meet the desire for naturalness.

744 Linara 16cm Scheurich Gmbh & Co KG RRP £9.49 These cover pots with softly rounded shape impress with their natural surface, which is brought to life with small, circulating grooves. It gives them a hand-made pottery look and feel.

RRP £24.99 for Peppa Pig, Gerald Giraffe, Rebecca Rabbit and Suzy Sheep and £17.99 for George.

Launch date: January 2021 www.primus.co.uk sales@primus.co.uk

‘Flow’ eco pots Fargro Ltd RRP Various under £10 The innovative ‘Flow’ range of pots are eco decorative plant pots made from a mixture of plastics collected from and around rivers and ocean-bound waterways and post-consumer plastic.

Pineapple Wind Chime Woodlodge Products RRP £22.99 Pineapple Wind Chime with bell and hanging monstera leaves. Hand-finished, tropical and trendy, this garden ornament is a contemporary take on traditional wind chimes, evoking feelings of calm and relaxation.

Glazed Terracotta Planters Kaemingk RRP up to £109.99 Glazed Terracotta available in 3 different shaped sets in multiple colours; off-white, blue and green and orange. A beautiful finish, a shape and colour available for everyone, indoors and outdoors.

Naylor Lime Tree Super Sun Yorkshire Flowerpots RRP £45.00 A new addition to the Naylor Lime Tree wall decoration range. The highly decorative handpainted Super Sun is available in mixed colours. Sold in box quantities of 5.

Zest 4 Leisure - 3 Tier Stackable Raised Bed Zest 4 Leisure RRP £79.99 The 3 Tier Stackable Raised Bed with galvanised steel hinges can be laid out as separate beds or stacked for deeper tiered planting for flowering plants or fruit and veg.

Garden Home, Giftware and Clothing

Zest 4 Leisure - Ladder Planter Zest 4 Leisure RRP £79.99 With 4 deep troughs made from FSC timber, this addition to the GYO range is designed to be angled against a wall for herbs, plants or for flowers to grow.

H20 Collection Tilnar Art RRP £22.99 Copper Water Bottles are not only sustainably sourced, but are recyclable and plastic free, coming in a beautiful recycled paper gift box. Hand Finished & Fair Trade with Health Benefits.

Feeder Friends Plant Drip Feeders Jardinopia Ltd RRP £9.99 Range of 10 designs in antique bronze finish all come with a spare drip feeder bottle in their own gift package. They are designed to cover unsightly plastic feeder bottles.

Creations by Korbond Craft Storage Korbond RRP £10 - £30 A collection of design led stylish craft storage, accessories gifts for every occasion, bringing fashion to your passion. Including holdalls, storage totes, sewing baskets, knitting bags and wraps. vFrame vFrame RRP £299.99 A vFrame provides a simple and powerful way to incorporate high quality motion video in a multi aperture picture frame, entirely wireless. It makes a video a frameable medium.

Make Your Own Wax Wraps Kit Goodtobee Ltd RRP £19.50 Each kit makes 3 medium size GoodToBee wax wraps. Includes three squares of our organic cotton, three blocks of our wax mix, two sheets of unbleached parchment paper and instructions.

Hedgehog Door Knocker Dreamair Ltd RRP £39.99 Our really cute hedgehog door knocker is a substantial one-piece door knocker hand crafted to a very high standard. The hedgehog door knocker comes boxed with fittings and instructions.

Spot-On Antiviral and Antibac Surface Cleaner Sipcam Home and Garden RRP £5.99 An antiviral and antibacterial sanitiser that cleans and disinfects an array of surfaces around the home, including kitchen areas and door handles. Natural formula kills up to 99.99% of bacteria.

Teapot Wall Planter Woodlodge Products RRP £14.99 Teapot wall plant with bee motif. The perfect pairing for herbal planting, our frost proof teapot wall planters suit cottage gardens and feature a cute bee motif.

Heritage Crackle Pots Woodlodge Products RRP £9.99 - £34.99 Frost proof crackled glaze pots from Heritage Garden Pottery These frost proof planters display a unique heat-distressed glaze with a crackled yet smooth finish, from Heritage Garden Pottery.

Bumbee Pots Woodlodge Products RRP £8.99 - £27.99 Frost proof glazed pots with intricate hand-painted bee pattern. Frost proof pottery with a hand-finished bee stencilled pattern, inspired by the need to create important foraging environments for bumblebees.

Maple Raised Garden Beds Keter RRP £59.99 - £179.99 Maple Raised Garden Beds are manufactured in our innovative Evotech composite material to ensure the look and feel of wood, but without the hassle of fading and regular treatment.

Naylor Clough Mill Large Trumpet Pot Yorkshire Flowerpots RRP £57.50 Naylor Clough Mill frostproof Large Trumpet Pot comes in 4 colours: Leaf, Mist, Sky and Latte, part of standard mixed pallet. There are 20 sets of mixed colours per pallet.

Naylor Clough Mill Medium Trumpet Pot Yorkshire Flowerpots RRP £33.00 Naylor Clough Mill frostproof Medium Trumpet Pot comes in 4 colours: Leaf, Mist, Sky and Latte, part of standard mixed pallet. There are 20 sets of mixed colours per pallet.

Naylor Clough Mill Small Trumpet Pot Yorkshire Flowerpots RRP £21.00 Naylor Clough Mill frostproof Small Trumpet Pot comes in 4 colours: Leaf, Mist, Sky and Latte, part of standard mixed pallet. There are 20 sets of mixed colours per pallet.

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November 2020 25

NEW PRODUCT DIRECTORY FOR 2021 W0208 Bio-Based Growing Tray (6 x 12cm Pots) Garland Products Ltd RRP £5.50 This is the first carry tray and pot on the market to be made from 100% plant-based material.

100% plastic free. 100% Industrially compostable, in accordance with EN 13432.

Coco & Coir – Coco Grow+

BloominAmazing Rich Planting Stuff West Country Soil Improvement Ltd RRP £5.99 In line with the credentials for BloominAmazing, our new Rich Planting Stuff, made from the production of biogas, is packaged in a new and unique biodegradeable and recyclable film (Cycle+)

Coco Grow+ - based on natural coir with added perlite - is the perfect peat-free compost for seed sowing and taking cuttings. It creates the ideal rooting and growing conditions for all seedlings and young plants. Available in 2 sizes: 5KG (75L) and 1KG (15L). Convenient and lightweight it is packed in easy to carry ecofriendly packaging.

Lava-Lite+ Lava-Lite RRP £4.99 LAVA-LITE+ holds moisture, offers thermal protection and is 100% natural, non-toxic and environmentally safe. Bright white colour to create a beautiful backdrop to flowers in borders and pots.

Southern Trident Ltd RRP: £14.99 / £6.99 Launched: 14/09/2020 Video link: https://youtu.be/m5IphncVo9A

Garden Growing Materials

No-Gnats Lava-Lite RRP £6.99 This product inhibits the gnats ability to lay eggs in the soil or for hatched larvae to escape.

Also controls fungus, whilst adding decoration to the plants aesthetics.

Cactus-Gro+ Lava-Lite RRP £5.99 This specialist grow media offers cacti and succulents the perfect growing environment. It provides plants with well-drained soil and water management, encouraging strong healthy root systems. It is Ph Neutral.

Orchid-Gro+ Lava-Lite RRP £5.99 Our orchid special care product offers an ideal environment for an orchid to thrive.

Aerating the roots whilst providing moisture control, enhancing drainage and the slow release of natural nutrients.

Hydro-Gro+ Lava-Lite RRP £6.99 Soilless growing media for hydroponics, aquaponics and cutting propagation. Provides a perfect growing base encouraging root growth, plant development and the benefits of reducing soil borne disease whilst encouraging bacteria Zaper Slug Fence The Environmental Factor Inc RRP £44.99 Perimeter Electric Slug Fence to prevent slugs, snails, caterpillars from entering vegetable and flower beds. Deters them so they are still available for food for birds and other predators.

Vitax Organic Tomato Food Vitax Ltd RRP £5.99 A super-concentrated feed, full of organic goodness to help produce bumper crops of the juiciest, tastiest tomatoes. It is child, pet and bee-friendly. Suitable for vegan gardening and OF&G approved.

Vitax Organic All Purpose Plant Food Vitax Ltd RRP £5.99 A concentrated, non-toxic organic feed made from 100% natural ingredients which still packs a punch. It is child, pet, wildlife and bee friendly, it is also suitable for vegan gardening.

Richmoor Organic Garden Compost The Greener Gardening Company RRP £3.99 Richmoor composts lead the way in volume-driven, multibuy offerings, all displaying a ‘4 for £12’ flash on the packaging. Perennial benefit with 5p donated from every bag of Garden Soil.

Happy Compost range expansion The Greener Gardening Company RRP £4.99 - £9.99 100% peat-free growing media that offers top performance. New additions include Farmyard Manure, Enriched Top Soil, Lawn Soil, Mini Chip Bark, Composted Bark, Medium Chip Bark & Chunky Chip Bark.

Coco & Coir - Coco Dots Southern Trident Limited RRP £6.99 Coco Dots are 100% natural peat free coco coir propagation discs. The perfect choice for sowing seeds and transplanting seedlings. 30 & 40mm diameter coir Dots are easy to use.

Coco & Coir Pre-Merchandised Pallet Display Southern Trident Limited RRP £12.99-£14.99 The Coco & Coir Pre-Merchandised Pallet Display is delivered pre-assembled, simply attach the header. Available in all 4 of the Coco & Coir 5kg variants, delivered on a standard pallet.

Bio Gold Vigor Hygeia Chemicals Ltd RRP £11.99 Hygeia BioGold Vigor is a new liquid tomato, vegetable and plant food harnessing the science in the next generation of Alltech Crop Science’s 100% natural, proprietary, fermented nutrient blend.

Bug and Mildew Control Refill Sipcam Home and Garden RRP £3.99 Ecofective’s new 200ml Bug & Mildew Control Refill reduces plastic waste by re-using the 1L RTU bottle. Protects flowers, fruit and veg from whitefly, aphid, powdery mildew and more.

Ecofective Plant Disease Defence Sipcam Home and Garden RRP £5.99 Ecofective’s new 1L Plant Disease Defence is used within agriculture and works by tricking the plant into an immune response to common diseases including rust, powdery mildew and black spot.

Nature Safe Live Soil Probiotic Hygeia Chemicals Ltd RRP £6.99 This is effectively a ‘Yakult’ for your garden. It provides the best bacteria for your soil allowing for faster germination, healthier plants and complements all other fertilizer applications. 100% organic.

Melcourt SylvaGrow® John Innes Range Melcourt Industries Ltd RRP £4.99 SylvaGrow® John Innes peat-free range consists of John Innes Seed, & No1, No2, & No3 Compost and has both JIMA approval, RHS endorsement, and is suitable for use by vegans.

Miracle-Gro Performance Organics Range Evergreen Garden Care RRP £6.99 New Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics™ is a new range of 100% organic growing products which performs as good as conventional feeding products and is fully certified by Organic Farmers and Growers.

Miracle-Gro & Levington Peat Free Range Evergreen Garden Care RRP from £5.99 Evergreen Garden Care (www.lovethegarden.com) can now announce the biggest peat-free range. Across the Miracle-Gro and Levington brands, 13 new SKUs are now available in variants suitable for all growing needs.

26 November 2020

Coco & Coir – Coco Boost Coco Boost – based on natural coir with added nutrients – is the perfect peat-free potting compost. Creating the ideal rooting and growing conditions for all plants growing in pots and containers. The 5KG compressed coir brick is a handy, convenient size expanding to 75-litres of compost. Packed in easy to carry eco-friendly packaging. Also available in 1KG blocks.

Southern Trident Ltd RRP: £14.99 / £6.99 Launched: 14/09/2020 Video link: https://youtu.be/TWLo4T3Uhjs

Coco & Coir – Coco Dots Coco Dots – based on natural coir – have been specifically designed to be the easy way to sow seeds and strike plant cuttings. The 30 and 40mm diameter peat-free coir pellets are convenient and easy to use. They ensure reliable, fast germination and improved root growth. Available to the consumer in ecofriendly packaging containing 50 Dots.

Southern Trident Ltd RRP: £8.99 / £6.99 Launched: 14/09/2020 Video link: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=fvC5piDPMko&feature=youtu.be

THE PATIO BLACK SPOT REMOVAL COMPANY STONEKING Monumental Stone Restorer, will instantly remove “black Spots”, green algae and other organic growth from garden ornaments whether natural or artificial stone.

STONEKING comes ready mixed, in handy spray form. Simply apply, leave for between 60 and 90 minutes, rinse with hot water, and admire!

STONEKING gently detaches the organic growth, without damaging the surface, completely restoring the original colour. www.patioblackspotremoval.com

Railroad Tie & Carolina Border The popularity of the colour grey shows no sign of abating in 2021. Recognising this, Primeur has updated its bestselling product ranges to ensure that grey options are made available. The bestselling Railroad Tie, which provides a rustic touch to paths, will now be available in a grey colourway, as will the new Carolina Border collection. This new border style is the perfect example of understated elegance, with a curved top and sleek geometric lines.

Primeur RRP £16.99 Launched: September 2020 www.primeur.co.uk / sales@primeur.ltd.uk

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

NEW PRODUCT DIRECTORY FOR 2021 Miracle-Gro Thick’R Lawn 80m2 Evergreen Garden Care RRP £12.99 Designed and proven at Evergreen Levington Research Station to make lawns 50% thicker after just one use, in just one month. First results can be seen in just seven days.

Miracle-Gro Natural 4n1 Lawncare 85m2 Evergreen Garden Care RRP £16.99 New Miracle-Gro® Evergreen Natural 4in1 is a 100% natural version of Miracle-Gro® Evergreen Complete 4in1, the No 1 Lawn Care brand in the UK market. Available in 100% recyclable packaging.

Grow Your Business with EcoGro SuperSoil

EcoGro SuperSoil EcoGro RRP £5.99 EcoGro SuperSoil is an enhanced natural topsoil, perfectly blended to deliver incredible results in the garden. Made by combining finest natural loam with 100% vegan approved plant derived organic matter.

Stocking EcoGro in your Garden Centre makes sound financial sense:

Back to Nature Peat Reduced, All-Purpose Compost Evergreen Horticulture RRP £5.49 An entirely natural and versatile peat-reduced all-purpose compost suitable for a wide range of gardening activities. This product offers a perfectly sustainable and eco-friendly alternative for the environmentally-conscious gardener.

• • •

Garden Landscaping Onduline Easyline Onduline Building Products Ltd RRP From £5.29 Compact lightweight, corrugated roof sheets for smaller DIY projects. Made from the same eco-friendly material as Onduline Classic it’s the ideal system for roofing a playhouse, garden shed or outbuilding.

• • • • •

Railroad Stepping Stone – Grey Primeur Ltd RRP £9.99 Recycled Rubber Stepping Stone in Grey. Eco-friendly, light weight, weather resistant, crack, rot and mould proof. Grey is proving to be the best selling colour across our ranges.

Oslo Panel Jagram S.A. RRP From £54.59 to £83.99 The Oslo panel is a unique element of wooden garden architecture that combines the modern, elegant design associated with Scandinavian style and traditional sturdiness. Five sizes with a ten-year guarantee.

Zest 4 Leisure - Cherry Blossom Arch Zest 4 Leisure RRP £179.99 Inspired by Japanese architecture, expertly crafted to bring an “on trend” oriental aspect to gardens. Using DFMA principles, the FSC certified timber arch incorporates square trellis for climbing plants.

ArmaGado Dome Shelter ArmaGado Lifestyle Ltd Starting from £15,000.00 This wooden, handmade shelter has been designed to be practical, versatile and give you different touch and feel. Its beams and star-like joints make it a unique piece of art.

Fairy on Swing including Tree Enigma Home and Garden RRP £249.99 An outstanding garden ornament made from crushed marble mixed with a high-quality resin, making the statue sturdy and manageable. This hand finished ornament is suitable for indoors and outdoors.

Sales Confidence Greater Margins It’s What Customers Are Asking For Attractive Packaging Happy Customers Reliable Supply Exclusivity Organic & Peat Free

Seller Grow Your Business Become a

EcoGro is a 100% natural & peat free topsoil, enhanced with sustainably produced natural organic goodness. SuperSoil will help attract high-value customers to your garden centre, and help position you differently from your competition.

Become a seller and grow your business today, visit us at:

www.ecogro.uk.com | simon@ecogro.uk.com

Temple Dog Small Pair Red/Gold Enigma Home and Garden RRP £109.99 An outstanding garden ornament made from crushed marble mixed with a high-quality resin, making the statue sturdy and manageable. This hand finished ornament is suitable for indoors and outdoors.

Sitting Hare Pewter Enigma Home and Garden RRP £79.99 An outstanding garden ornament made from crushed marble mixed with a high-quality resin, making the statue sturdy and manageable. This hand finished ornament is suitable for indoors and outdoors.

www.ekju.com

Standing Stag Enigma Home and Garden RRP £99.99 An outstanding garden ornament made from crushed marble mixed with a high-quality resin, making the statue sturdy and manageable. This hand finished ornament is suitable for indoors and outdoors.

Standing Dragon On Rock Enigma Home and Garden RRP £99.99 An outstanding garden ornament made from crushed marble mixed with a high-quality resin, making the statue sturdy and manageable. This hand finished ornament is suitable for indoors and outdoors.

Garden Leisure & Entertaining Solo Stove Bonfire Specflue Ltd RRP £315.00 The Solo Stove Bonfire is unlike any fire pit you’ve ever seen. Patented technology has been perfected into a portable fire pit to take on trips or enjoy at home.

Vulcanus Pro 910 Specflue Ltd RRP £1,863.90 Inspired by heat and beauty, Vulcanus flame grills allow an exceptional cooking experience over the hottest flames, whilst providing the most elegant and beautiful alternative to the conventional garden barbecue.

Traeger Grills Ranger Traeger Grills Europe RRP £549.00 Enjoy wood-fired flavour on-the-go. The Traeger Ranger portable pellet grill allows you to bring your wood-fired flavour wherever you are. Featuring Traeger’s Digital Arc controller with added Keep Warm Mode.

Pellet Sensor Traeger Grills Europe RRP £79.99 Never run out of pellets again. Our Traeger Pellet Sensor integrates with D2 WiFIRE®-enabled grills to let you monitor pellet levels from anywhere using the Traeger App. Ironwood 650 Pellet Grill Traeger Grills Europe RRP £1499 The brand new Ironwood 650 was created to elevate your craft and impress family and friends. Enjoy improved searing and easier low-&-slow cooking with the new D2® Direct Drive drivetrain.

Timberline Series 850 Pellet Grill Traeger Grills Europe RRP £1999 The premier outdoor cooking solution, Traeger’s Timberline WiFi pellet grill pushes the limits of what’s possible in grilling technology. Join the hall of flame when you fire up the Timberline.

NOW SUPPLYING UK GARDEN CENTRES! Featuring quality garden furniture and grow your own designs with durable timber from FSC well managed forests, the EKJU range is now available for UK garden centres to order. Speak to us today regarding our pre season offer and guarantee stock for the 2021 Spring season.

To find out more please visit - www.ekju.com/uk-sales-team Or Email Austris - Austris@ekju.lv

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

November 2020 27

NEW PRODUCT DIRECTORY FOR 2021 Garden Furniture Kaemingk RRP £869.99 Lounge set Melbourne aluminium outdoor with adjustable feet. This powder coated aluminium set is packed in one box which makes it E-commerce proof. The tabletop is 5mm printed safety glass.

Mangave Mad about Mangave® Lavender lady JAVADO RRP from £16.99 These rare hybrids combine the best of the growth rate and interesting patterns of Manfreda, and the habit and refinement of Agave. The ‘Lavander Lady’® has stunning smokey purple colouration.

Green Mountain Grills Prime Plus Primo Grills UK Ltd RRP from £1290 Green Mountain Grills Prime Plus Daniel Boone pellet BBQ smoker comes with Collapsible Front Shelf, Heavy Duty Cooking Grates, Interior Grill Light, Rotisserie Attachment.

Little Gardeners Caterpillar Greenhouse Kit Mr Fothergills Seeds RRP £11.00 Each kit comprises a re-usable caterpillar shaped propagator tray and lid with basil, pepper (sweet) and tomato seeds. A handy leaflet gives clear instructions, growing tips and a pizza recipe.

Zest 4 Leisure - St. Ives Painted Arbour Zest 4 Leisure RRP £399.99 The St.Ives Painted Arbour brings a flavour of the seaside to the garden. Launched in response to demand for hand painted FSC garden leisure furniture in cream and pale green.

Johnsons Microgreens Range Mr Fothergills Seeds RRP £2.20 - £11.99 Virtually ‘instant’ vegetables that can be grown indoors. Some are ready to pick in as little as two weeks. The Microgreens Growing Kit includes a high quality re-useable growing tray.

Zest 4 Leisure - Burghley Arbour Zest 4 Leisure RRP £399.99 The new Burghley Arbour, with extra deep canopy, has an ergonomic and comfortable seat position to give more undercover shelter than other Arbours in the Zest 4 Leisure range.

Country Value Seed Range Mr Fothergills Seeds RRP £0.99 - £1.99 Best selling varieties packaged to offer customers great value for money. The range has been updated with a brand-new packet design and improved POS for the 2021 season.

Zest 4 Leisure - Chepstow Arbour Zest 4 Leisure RRP £249.99 The Chepstow Arbour provides an airy shelter to sit and let the sun stream in. On a sunny day beautiful, patterned shadows make it a focal point in any garden.

RHS Oh Sow Simple Seed Shakers Mr Fothergills Seeds RRP £5.99 RHS seed offering with new flower seed mixes aimed at novice gardeners. Mixes include Flowers for Wildlife Cool Mix, Flowers for Bees, Flowers for Insects and Flowers for Birds.

Zest 4 Leisure - Amelia Sun lounger Zest 4 Leisure RRP £249.99 The new Amelia Sun lounger, made from FSC timber, is designed for comfort whilst sunbathing and has 5 adjustable back rest positions and incorporates a handy shelf, for drinks.

Masterbuilt Gravity Series 560 Kamado Joe RRP £699 With the Gravity Series™ 560 Digital Charcoal Grill+Smoker, you can smoke, grill, sear, bake, roast and so much more. The world’s first gravity fed digitally controlled charcoal grill and smoker.

Campingaz® 4 Series Onyx S Campingaz RRP £599.99 4 burner gas barbecue with fresh styling, innovative technologies & unique features.

Featuring InstaClean® Aqua Pro, allowing the dishwasher to help with clean-up. Waterfilled, slide-out grease drawers retain cooking residue.

Charlotte Rectangle Table Bench & Chair Set Zest 4 Leisure RRP £499.99 Dark brown in colour, the Charlotte range of dining & seating garden furniture is new to Zest & is in response to customer demand. Competitively priced and easy to build.

Hampton Trellis Shelter Zest 4 Leisure RRP £349.99 New for 2021, the Hampton Trellis Shelter is made from FSC pressure treated timber, with diamond trellis panels for an open & airy feel with a solid roof.

Hotmax Hotmax RRP £5.95 HOTMAX is a sustainable and highly efficient, high heat, clean burning British fuel log made from 100% natural, recycled wood dust. Packaged in 10kg eco-friendly paper sacks and available UK-wide.

Garden Set Light EKJU RRP £390 The ‘Garden Set Light’ offers a new value furniture set comprising of a table and 2 benches which seats 4 people. This set offers a compact solution to alfresco entertaining.

Mr Fothergill’s Lawn Seed Range Mr Fothergills Seeds RRP £3.25 - £20.25 Mr Fothergill’s lawn seed range has a high-quality blend of grass seed for every lawn application. Our new packaging clearly shows your customer’s which one is best for their needs.

Echeveria pulvinata Devotion (‘BCEC-12.001’) JAVADO RRP £8.99 Echeveria Devotion has warm burgundy red with green leaves that feel velvety soft.

This succulent steals the show outdoors and indoors. Devotion has a gorgeous round shape and stays compact.

Hydrangea paniculata Little Spooky (‘GRHP08’PBR) JAVADO RRP £8.99 Little Spooky has full, round flower panicles with white flowers. Little Spooky becomes 50cm high and 30cm wide, is hardy to -30 °C and can be pruned in the spring.

Vegetable & Seed Growing Kit Taylors Bulbs RRP £9.99 The ideal vegetable starter kit for gardeners. Containing seed potatoes, onion sets, garlic and seeds for lettuce, courgettes and tomatoes, complete with full cultural instructions and labels.

Viburnum odoratissimum Coppertop (‘Brant01’) JAVADO RRP £12.99 Coppertop has shiny green leaves and bronze new shoots. In the spring has white, fragrant flowers, can grow in full sun and in partial shade, is heat and drought resistant.

Rhododendron Encore® JAVADO RRP £8.99 The Encore® Azaleas bloom in spring and autumn. They offer ample choice in beautiful colours and demand little maintenance. Exuberant flowering in the spring, rebloom in the autumn.

Pet Products

Azalea MagiSnow Winter Beauty® JAVADO RRP £14.99 Magisnow: Flowering is Magical, like snow appearing on a little Xmas tree. The flower buds are green-white balls becoming single white spider flowers for 4 weeks. Ideal indoors during winter.

Banana Facial & Natural Tear Stain Treatment HOWND RRP £12.00 A magical 2-in-1 spa face scrub and pH balanced stain treatment that quickly and gently removes dirt and discolorations. It is Vegan Society and Cruelty Free International certified.

Coniogramme emeiensis ‘Golden Zebra’ JAVADO RRP £8.99 A striking fern with variegated pinnate fronds in contrasting light and dark green.

Native to the tropical regions of Southeast Asia. Rarely seen. Can withstand temperatures of -12 degrees.

Skouts Honor Litter Box Deodorizer 1035ml Vital Pet Group RRP £12.99 Plant derived deodoriser, immediately breaks down and destroys odor-causing molecules on contact. For use on litter, litter boxes, cat beds and any other area where offensive feline odors exist.

Argyranthemum Grandaisy Yellow Sunshine MNP Flowers RRP £3.49 A stunning upright Marguerite, fast growing, early flowering, masses of large pale butter yellow flowers with a dark centre up to 4cm across smother this plant all season long.

Skouts Honor Stain & Odour Remover 1035ml Vital Pet Group RRP £12.99 Plant derived cleaning solutions, works fast to remove stains and odors including urine, feces, blood, mud, grease, even wine! Safe for use on rugs, carpets, upholstery, clothing and other surfaces.

Scaevola Surdiva Blanket White MNP Flowers RRP £3.49 A beautiful fast growing Scaevola, early to flower producing masses of pure white fan shaped flowers with a yellow centre. Bred to smother the branches really unique in Scaevola.

Skouts Honor Probiotic Itch Relief 236ml Vital Pet Group RRP £11.99 Stop or prevent the itch! Offers comfort and long-lasting relief for pets who suffer from chronic skin irritations. May be used as needed or as a daily preventative spray.

Yarrah Organic Cat Grain Free Chunks Fish With Spirulina 100g Vital Pet Group RRP £1.09 Yarrah has been producing organic dog and cat food since 1992. Only the most digestible sources of protein have been carefully selected so your cat gets exactly what it needs.

Yarrah Organic Cat Adult Dry Grain Free Chicken & Fish 800g Vital Pet Group RRP £7.49 Tasty, grain-free kibble with organic chicken, MSC fish, peas and nettle for all cats.

The pure, organic ingredients mean there is less chance of allergies and skin and fur problems.

Garden Plants, Seeds and Bulbs Mangave Mad about Mangave® ‘Mission to Mars’PBR JAVADO RRP from £16.99 Mangave Mission to Mars has an intense red coloration from the leaves. 2¾” wide, thick leaves heavily speckled with burgundy red to give a stunning indoor or summer patio plant.

Mangave Mad about Mangave® Pineapple Express JAVADO RRP from £16.99 The refined, spiky habit of this Mangave will remind you of the top of a pineapple. 1” wide, dark green leaves are long and slender, with pronounced burgundy spotting.

28 November 2020

Surfinia Trailing Light Yellow MNP Flowers RRP £1.49 This new addition has pale yellow flowers with a deep yellow centre, making a striking combination. Early flowering, it stays compact before spreading & trailing in classic Surfinia style.

Surfinia Trailing Violet MNP Flowers RRP £1.49 Another new addition into the Surfinia range. Classic Violet coloured flowers on a compact, robust, early to flower plant. Compact in the pot then spreading and trailing.

Surfinia White Morn MNP Flowers RRP £1.49 Stunning pure white flowers with pale green veins smother this plant. Early to flower, mound forming habit, that then spreads over the container. Perfect for pots, containers & baskets.

Garden Retail & Industry Services Flexible Walkway Fordingbridge Plc Dependent on size A temporary covered walkway for allowing customers to wait to enter stores in comfort, protected from the weather. With no groundworks or foundations, they can be quickly deployed nationwide.

FUSE Mobile Loyalty App Swan Retail Ltd FUSE (fully integrated customer engagement app) opens a new channel for retailers to engage with customers, build brand, inspire loyalty and drive sales. It’s quick and easy to set up.

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

NEW PRODUCT DIRECTORY FOR 2021 Garden Tools & Machinery VA Professional Anvil Secateurs Sorbus International Ltd RRP £42.06 The VA range is a professional set of Anvil Secateurs. Unique curved Anvil allows for added power and control on all types of stem. Includes new double action locking system.

Dead Head Snipz Creative Products Ltd RRP £2.99 Regular dead heading with these promotes longer flowering, improved appearance and healthier plants. Ideal for pinching back annuals and cutting herbs. Spring action handles for simple dead heading and pinching.

Aqua Lance Creative Products Ltd RRP £14.99 Telescopic watering lance with flow control and 8 spray patterns. Ideal for all watering tasks, car washing, windows and conservatories, showering pets and more.

Beatrix Potter Pot Buddies Jardinopia Ltd RRP £10.99 Globally licensed Beatrix Potter Pot Buddy pot hangers. A range of 12 designs manufactured using unique formula of crushed stone and resin. Can be used indoors or outside all year.

Handmade by Fair Trade Workers in Bangladesh, using natural sea grass and recycled saris, the sari patterns make every nester uniquely different.

They have a sturdy inner frame for support, metal hooks at the rear and a long supporting loop at the top. This makes it easier to site the nester in hedges and foliage for harsh weather protection Wildlife World Ltd RRP £12.99 Launch date: available Now www.wildlifeworld.co.uk hello@wildlifeworld.co.uk

Gardena Leaf and Grass Collector Husqvarna UK Ltd RRP £132.99 Perfect for large gardens, the new GARDENA Leaf and Grass Collector removes leaves on the lawn, pathways or driveway quickly and easily. It’s not motorised, so quiet and environmentally friendly.

The Hedgehog Barn Wildlife World RRP £49.99 The hedgehog Barn is a new addition to the wildlife world range it really is the ‘des-res’ for hedgehogs. All hedgehog houses need a tunnel to deter predators, ours extends.

Gardena Garden Rollup Hosebox 20m Husqvarna UK Ltd RRP £159.99 The new rollup garden hose box, with metal spike for flexible placement anywhere in the garden, and 360° swivelling to reach every corner of the garden. Great for rental properties!

Artisan Wild Bird Nesters Wildlife World RRP £12-14.99 Beautiful Artisan nesters, handwoven and handstitched onto a metal frame providing small backyard birds with essential protection against the weather in winter, and nesting in spring. Fair Trade products.

ClipGlove Pruner Glove Treadstone Products RRP £19.99 Our new “Pruner” glove is a premium leather gauntlet glove with reinforced palms and fingertips with our signature carabiner clip. Full usage instructions and a stunning display stand is available.

Fruit Collector Harvesting Net FC328 Fruit Collector RRP £57.99 The easiest way to harvest. The Original Fruit Collector catches windfalls softly and makes harvesting easier. Less bruises, less spoilage, more good fruits! It works even when you’re not there!

Garden Wild Bird and Wildlife Products Solar Insect Houses Kaemingk RRP £17.49 Invite your little friends into the garden with this solar lit insect house. A step up from the regular insect houses by including 5 lights and a 2V Solar panel.

Acorn Bird Feeders Fallen Fruits Ltd RRP £7.99 A trio of attractive silo style bird feeders based on our bestselling Acorn Range.

Available in three styles, one for bird seed, one for nuts and one for suet balls.

Simon King Cabin Nester Wildlife World RRP £12-14.99 Designed by Simon King, the Cabin features an open entrance door and a secluded nesting space behind the side wall. Made from sustainable brushwood, a quirky design for Christmas gifting.

Perched Bird Feeder Stake Woodlodge Products RRP £12.99 Practical and contemporary perched bird feeder on a stake. Encouraging smaller wild birds into your garden, this practical bird feeder stake adds a contemporary feel to your beds and borders.

Henry Bell Open Nest Box Henry Bell & Co RRP £5.99 Simple, no-nonsense design. FSC timber with bevelled edge finish. Silver fittings with drainage holes. Top opening for cleaning and easy to hang. Recommended usage instructions included on recyclable paper wrap.

Henry Bell Heavy Duty Seed Feeder Henry Bell & Co RRP £9.99 Strong & rugged aluminium Seed Feeder finished in striking black. Four ports with bird friendly perches. Easy opening lid for cleaning and refilling. All-in-one base offering generous perch space.

The Fiji bar has a very modern and‘in style’look due to the aluminium frame with vertical strips.This large contemporary style open bar has a soft fully certified teak top. Handy aluminium shelves are built in to neatly store your drinks and glasses.

Seen here with Nuna ALLWEATHER bar stools.

This beautiful BAR retails at

£1799

and launches in the UK in January 2021.

Norfollk Leisure Lifestylle Ltd, Setchey, Kings Lynn, Norfollk PE33 0AX Tellephone: +44 (0) 1553 811717 Fax: +44 (0) 1553 811818 Emaill: salles@norfollklleisure..co..uk www..norfollklleisure..com

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

November 2020 29

ON-LINE GARDEN RETAILING

Clicks v Bricks

The increased popularity of gardening in pandemic lockdown year has sharpened the garden centre industry’s focus on an issue that has been bubbling under for a decade – how to compete with online traders. GTN’s Mike Wyatt investigates.

For some businesses, the solution has been: “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em”. But for the majority, it’s more nuanced. One of the unique strengths of garden centre retailing is that no other channel can create the experience based on its plant-orientated offer. Despite the sheer convenience of online ordering, it’s no substitute for the touchy-feely spectacle available at a well-run garden centre.

This spring, though, when lockdown halted the industry in its tracks, many garden centres found that the best route to survival was to re-engage with online ordering, local deliveries and click and collect as a serious element of their operation. It was more expensive to run, more complex logistically and more labour-intensive – but at least it kept the tills ringing.

As summer wore on, it became obvious that gardening was playing a massive role in helping the population to cope with life under covid-19 restrictions and 3m new gardening consumers have now joined the market for garden products.

But this ‘windfall’ has raised important questions: • Will these ‘new’ gardeners carry on doing it?

• Where will they do their shopping in future?

Derek Bunker, proprietor of Alton Garden Centre in Essex is among those warning against complacency. He does not expect all those new gardeners to make a bee-line for the garden centre.

“Garden centres are getting excited at the moment because more people are buying online and they think it’s going to be wonderful,” he told us. “We have experienced that in a small way but, like others, we were swamped during lockdown.”

But now, he believes, many of these new recruits are what he calls “garden occupiers” as distinct from active gardeners and now they are choosing to shop around online in pursuit of convenience and lower prices.

This, he says, is where the challenge lies, for garden centres and their suppliers.

He says some suppliers are dealing directly with online retailers like Amazon, whose discounted prices make it increasingly difficult for garden centres to compete.

Opportunistic re-sellers who offer little or no

30 November 2020

customer service are potentially tarnishing brand reputations when things go wrong.

This, he suggests, is an issue the industry needs to address. “Some suppliers think this is all great. But in my view, they have got to stop supplying people who are not true retailers.” He says suppliers need to be more careful who they supply, checking trade accounts for customer service, showroom availability and the like.

Bunker monitors online pricing in an attempt to keep Alton competitive and cites two recent examples: 1. A branded lawn aerator offered at £44.99 but available on Amazon at £39.99.

Alton matched the price but charged £4.95 plus VAT for delivery. Amazon offered free delivery. If Bunker had done that, it would have shredded his margin.

2. A buxus feed typically retailing at £5.99 was being offered online at 65p plus £4.99 delivery. To check it out, Bunker tried to

“Some suppliers think this is all great. But in my view, they have got to stop supplying people who are not true retailers.” order 10 bags (£6.50 plus delivery) but was told he could only order one at a time plus the same delivery charge for each bag. This, he maintains, is a classic example how a brand can be de-valued.

This ‘bricks v clicks’ conflict is nothing new. Now, however, as more and more stockists turn to online for revenue growth, suppliers are coming under fire over their distribution strategies.

Up to now, few suppliers have put their heads above the parapet on this issue. Vicky Nuttall, director of the Garden Industry Manufacturers Association, says; “we do have a number of members who sell online as well as to retail channels. Of course, retail pricing is not down to suppliers. Most responsible companies will be very careful who they are selling to, because they want

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

to protect their brand. But it is not an issue that has ever cropped up. Our focus is to support our members efforts through the retail channel.”

Meanwhile, the new owner of liquidated online re-seller The Internet Gardener (TIG) has set out his own view on how the garden centres and online channels can co-exist.

Elliott Davidson, 25, who runs an established garden machinery busines in Derby and bought the TIG’s intellectual property after it went bust last year, is currently hatching plans for its relaunch.

“I don’t think companies going online fully is the best business model because, as you say, quite a lot consumers prefer to visit and look at products in store, whether it’s to check the scale and sizing or to then go online to get it cheaper,” he told us. “If an online retailer cannot give consumers the opportunity to see the actual product for themselves, consumers are more likely to look elsewhere.

“There needs to be an evolution of the business model. Garden centres tend to have loyal customers, which needs to be translated online. In the UK we cannot fix prices but, when we are working with our suppliers, we as an e-commerce company don’t want our prices to be the lowest - that is just a lose-lose situation!

Nick Davies, MD of garden equipment supplier Gardman Crest, believes this year’s trends towards online trading by garden centres was driven purely by the necessities of the pandemic emergency and will be short-lived. “When consumers start to return fully to shopping in garden centres, I would expect garden centres to be less interested in online trading.”

He takes a cautious approach to online traders. “Our strategy is to deal with reputable companies who do a quality job with good customer service and we aim to ensure that any wholesalers we deal with are also trading with reputable re-sellers to create a strong platform for our products,” he added.

He also felt that product shortages during the spring and summer meant that many online prices had actually held up – even on Amazon.

VIEWPOINT

Plants are Essential – it is official!

BOYD J DOUGLAS-DAVIES, HTA PRESIDENT Declaration by the UK government on October 31st that Garden Centres are essential came as no surprise to those of us in the industry. For decades growers, retailers and trade organisations have been working hard to establish this train of thought. Many years ago, Will Tooby of Bransford Webbs coined:– “Breathe with Ease, Plant some Trees!”; Chris Roberts and Martin Stewart urged us to – “Think Pink” and more recently The HTA “Plant Healthy” and “A Million Planting Moments”…. Each of these campaigns has played a part in building the awareness over the years that plants, trees, flowers, gardens all provide so much more than a pretty view.

There has been some debate over the last few months about the ‘new to gardening’ that have discovered the joy of plants during lockdown 1, nearly 3 million people. “Are they really there?”, “Will they still be there in 2 years time? etc etc. Without doubt they do exist and they will exist in the future if we take steps now to engage and retain them.

Growers and retailers need to work together to ensure labelling and signage is clear and appealing. Use common names but don’t be afraid to retain the Latin alongside as many of these new garden lovers will want to learn more and more about their new hobby.

Offer the best… nobody wants to buy poor quality, whatever the product. Hard earned cash won’t be wasted twice on inferior plants. Ensure that first class plants are sourced and presented in enticing ways. Be proud of your growers and shout about them. The best Farm Shops don’t pretend to grow everything themselves; they celebrate the talent that

has grown their produce. It is rare to see a grower’s face beaming down from a sign above the pack bedding – let’s make British growers famous!

Thinking ahead to Spring 2021… Start planning on how to attract customers to your centres and work with your customers to draw a crowd to them.

We all put much effort in to launching Christmas and many of you now use Garden Re-Leaf Day to launch the garden season (March 19th in 2021). What will you be doing next year? A New Plant Show weekend with razzmatazz? Open Air demonstrations and workshops? Plant-A-

Pot weekend where you invite customers to come in and plant up new containers under your watchful and knowledgeable eye? Lockdown2 brings the closure of Santa experiences, so for the first time in years your marketing brain has time this side of Christmas to think of next year; don’t waste this opportunity and I believe the ‘new’ gardeners will be with us for years to come. > The Horticulture Trades Association is the UK industry’s leading membership organisation. It welcomes all sectors of horticulture – to join please contact services@hta.org.uk.

19th March 2021

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