association comment Leading by example


Garden Centre Association (GCA) chairman Will Armitage believes garden centres can benefit from an investment in green initiatives


The environment is something that has been reported on recently and I think as businesses we have a duty to try and minimise the impact we have. In many ways sustainability and gardening go hand in hand.


I feel it is important for garden centres to lead by example and investing in green initiatives can, in the long run, help us to cut down on daily running costs too. It is also a great way for us to demonstrate to customers the measures they could adopt on a smaller scale in their own gardens.


Water is something all of us use on a daily basis and, despite all of the rain we keep getting, we mustn’t forget that at the start of 2012 (which wasn’t that long ago) there was a hosepipe ban. I’m sure many of you have systems in place for collecting rainwater to water plants. I think this is a great example of something simple, which works really effectively and has the added benefit of helping us to reduce our water bills.


To help reduce energy costs you could consider installing solar panels. Although the initial cost of installing these will be high, over time, depending on the amount of panels you have, it may be possible for them to produce enough energy to cater for your daily electricity requirements.


A number of solar panel companies may even be happy to work out a deal in exchange for the publicity they will get from doing the installation, so it is worth asking about this too. Recycling is possibly one of the easiest ways we can be green and we can get our customers involved too. You could offer a service at the garden centre where people can recycle any unwanted plant pots and get rid of any garden chemicals they no longer use. Link up with The Conservation Foundation’s Tools Shed programme. It is a great way for customers to get rid of any old or unwanted tools. You could then give people who make a donation a voucher so they can put it towards buying new tools.


The old tools are sent to be repaired at a number of UK prisons where they are refurbished by prisoners, contributing to their training and rehabilitation. The revamped tools are then given to schools and community groups for use in their gardens. Set up an eco-friendly display, which includes products to encourage people to go green such as compost bins so people can recycle garden waste, organic plant foods and organic seeds.


Customers could also be encouraged to share their eco tips and a board could be set up where people can write or pin these for other visitors to see. • For further information about the GCA, please call 0118 930 8918. Alternatively, please visit www.gca.org.uk, log on to


www.facebook.com/GardenCentreAssociation or follow the organisation on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GC_Association


Gift oriented lines helping trend for wildlife products


The wildlife product category is benefiting from the growing importance of merchandising and giſting, say Garden Industry Manufacturers’ Association (GIMA)members


The popularity of wildlife products continues to thrive with largely positive sales reported across the board, and scores of new products released within the category at Glee 2015. Bird boxes, hedgehog homes and bee B&Bs are all more feature laden, more decorative and come with better packaging and displays than they have ever done before. Manufacturers of wildlife products such as birdhouses and feeders are pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved in terms of product designs and materials in order to continue to grow the market. Several members are doing just that by widening their appeal to bring in more trade from younger consumers and those living in urban areas. Wildlife World, which continues to work closely with fellow GIMA member RSPB on exclusive products, has launched a contemporary Urban Range with a simple idea that allows the box to be positioned as a square or diamond to instantly create a point of difference. So does the material used to form the outer shell –


GCU November 2015


Clayplas+ - a composite made of 70% clay, and 30% recycled materials.


At Fallen Fruits, wildlife and giftware go hand in hand, and even more so with its new Hobnail Glass bird baths and feeders, according to managing director Michael Hall. He said: “The wildlife trend has spread throughout the industry over the past season, from items adorned with wildlife and nature inspired prints, to physical homes for birds, bats and bees. Our new range of Hobnail Glass birdbaths and feeders offers something a little bit different, and more stylish, to the traditional stone birdbaths. In terms of giftware, we have just extended our Wildlife Collection with a range of umbrellas and tote bags that features animal images and nature-inspired prints, all of which are also selling extremely well, with consumers now looking for attractiveness as well as practicality.”


Deco-Pak has enjoyed a significant amount of consumer press exposure for its high end, collectable decorative birdhouses and feeders such as the traditional country pub birdbox


and blue police box feeder. This has encouraged the company to further improve its existing bestsellers with a complete packaging overhaul. Deco-Pak marketing manager Craig Hall commented: “The new packaging and display stands for our birdhouse and bird feeders not only make it easier for the retailer to merchandise, it further enhances the giftware potential – and most importantly matches consumers’ expectations.” GIMA director Vicky Nuttall is delighted to see the continued commitment to the category. She said: “The thought and creativity that I see going in to producing wildlife products is astounding. The only problem retailers will have presents itself in the form of a dilemma – whether to create more space in the wildlife section or in the giftware aisles!” • To keep up to date with GIMA news, visit the GIMA website, get in touch with the GIMA office on 01959 564947 or email info@gima.org.uk


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