Blog
Brexit fails to dampen retail spending, finds Office for National Statistics
Sales for the four week period from 3 July to 30 July 2016 – the month following the EU referendum – show the quantity bought (volume) of retail sales is estimated to have increased by 5.9 per cent compared with July 2015. Source: Garden1
B&Q owner sales up three per cent
Quarter two sales rose by three per cent at Kingfisher, with seasonal up almost 10 per cent, and with “no clear evidence” that Brexit has hit sales. Source: Garden1
Radio presenter teams up with Wyevale Garden Centres
When Radio 2 presenter Jo Whiley has teamed up with experts from Wyevale Garden Centres offering tips to help gardeners recreate their own sounds of summer. Source: Garden1
Wilkinson Sword and WOLF-Garten to launch new tools at Glee
Wilkinson Sword will launch two new ranges at Glee (Birmingham NEC 12-14 September): the Carbon Steel Collection and a new range of axes. Source: Garden1
Updated list – Top 50 garden retail buyers
Horticulture Week’s Garden Retail Top Buyers list, now in its second year, is based on the Garden Retail Top 100, a feature that has run annually for seven years, identifying top-turnover garden centres by site in the UK. This year’s update was published in HW, 27 May. Source: Garden1
Exchange rate tops list of constructor concerns
Dutch glasshouse and garden centre constructors hope to remain competitive post-Brexit but are more worried about exchange rates than the referendum’s impact on garden retailers’ plans for expansion or redevelopment. Source: Garden1
Retailers report variable trading
High points interspersed with disappointing periods. Source: Garden1
Better value for British flowers following Brexit
The “silver lining” of Brexit means British flowers are becoming better value compared with overseas imports, which make up 97 per cent of the £2bn UK market – and a new app is aimed at helping UK growers show what they have available as efficiently as Dutch suppliers. Source: Garden1
Growers and retailers planning to raise plant prices
Brexit, currency exchange rate and higher raw material costs cited in survey by HW. Source: Garden1
Seed company hopes for potential growth in sales
Possible sales expansion with Homebase is being tempered by uncertainty over Brexit for seed company Mr Fothergill’s, according to joint managing director John Fothergill. Source: Garden1
Kings Seeds releases new grow your own catalogue
Kings said its 2017 catalogue is its best since the company founded in 1888. Source: Garden1
Mr Fothergill's launches Chelsea pensioner sweetpea
Chelsea Pensioners were on hand at Mr Fothergill’s Kentford, Suffolk, trial ground in mid August 2016 to name a blend of sweet peas in red shades aimed at raising funds for the Royal Hospital Chelsea. Source: Garden1
UK wheelbarrow maker to extend range
The Walsall Wheelbarrow Company the only remaining UK-based and UK-owned manufacturer of wheelbarrows, will be launching its newly extended Barrow-in-a-Box range at this year’s Glee (Birmingham NEC 12-14 September). Source: Garden1
Outlook for household finances recovers in August
Current finances remain under pressure in line with trend for year to date, while job insecurities have eased amid rising workplace activity levels, according to the new Markit Household Finance Index. Source: Garden1
Bayer targets non-plant feeders
Bayer Garden is seeking to change the habits of the 30 per cent of gardeners who do not feed their plants. Source: Garden1
Gardena launches secateurs
Gardena is launching a range of six new secateur models. Source: Garden1
Colin Squire awarded honorary degree
Squire’s Garden Centres chairman Colin Squire has been named Honorary Doctor of Art & Design by Kingston University. Source: Garden1
British Food Fortnight could increase sales by five per cent
The best of Yorkshire produce will take centre stage as a Bradford garden centre prepares to host a tasting event to round off the summer which last year helped boost food sales at Blickling Hall by 5%. Source: Garden1
Retired horticulture head returns to Writtle College
A former head of horticulture at Writtle College returned to see how his former workplace was faring as it prepares to re-launch as Writtle University College next week. Source: Garden1
T&M champions white marigold and wasabi rocket
A unique colour break in English pot Marigolds is being championed as Thompson & Morgan’s Flower of the Year for 2017. Source: Garden1