Cover Photo: Scotts Miracle-Gro page 6
GARDEN • HOUSEWARES • HARDWARE • DIY • GIFTS Garden&Hardware
THE UK’S LEADING JOURNAL FOR GARDEN CENTRES ANDDIY STORES FEBRUARY/MARCH 2011 £4.95
news
GCA Conference
AREVIEW FROM POPLAR’S DAVID LITTLE
March 2011
Welcome to the February-March issue! The gardening season is just getting underway as the sun creeps back across the UK, lifting spirits and hopes for some green shoots of many kinds.
As the introduction to the Best of 2010
feature outlines, the figures for last year are a bit of a mixed bag (see page 17 for more), so the challenge for this season is to examine every potential avenue for growth. This was the overall theme for the Garden Centre Association annual conference, which took place in late January. David Little reports back from the event in this issue’s View from the Shop Floor (well conference floor in this case!) see pages 10-11 for his review and plans for the future.
EDITORIAL: Editor: Naomi Davis
naomi.davis@onecoms.co.uk WEB: Web Editor: Rebecca Hubbard
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onecoms.co.uk PRODUCTION: Graphic Designer: Emma Coppin
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donna@onecoms.co.uk Sales Team Leader: Vicky Ellis
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onecoms.co.uk ADMINISTRATION: Accounts: Carole Todd
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onecoms.co.uk Reception: Joanne Cluer
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On the topic of green shoots, this issue is the perfect opportunity to get inspired with our collection of plant and lawn products on pages 6 and 7, and of course our supplement, Retail Plants & Shrubs, which is packed with all things green! Once you have had your fill of ideas for seeds, plants, flowers and such, be sure to see page 24, where our Last Word, contributed by Jonathan Bunbury from Scotts Miracle-Gro, focuses on how retailers can improve merchandising, particularly in the garden care category. The recent Totally DIY, Secure and Tools show went down a storm, reporting visitor figures of more than 6,000. There was certainly plenty of food for thought, with new products, initiatives and technology in abundance. Keep an eye out
FROM THE EDITOR 4 The latest news and dates for your diary.
INDUSTRY NEWS 5
Achievements and announcements within the sector. SEEDS & PLANTS 6
Get inspired with our feature on this lucrative category.
16 READER PROFILE We spoke to Ian Richardson, managing director of Garsons.
17 BEST OF 2010 Success stories from the last year
Plants and Lawn Products
TO MAKEYOUR PROFITS BLOOM Best of 2010 THE TOP PRODUCTSAND BRANDS THE FUTURE IS CLEAR
for the next issue where we will take a look at what was on show in more depth. This time of year we are inundated with
figures benchmarking the condition of the retail market, some of which you will find noted throughout this issue. However it’s not just the figures that matter, it’s your experiences too; I would love to hear how you and your businesses have fared over the last few months – email me at
naomi.davis@onecoms.co.uk. For now, I wish you the best of luck in preparing for the season ahead of us!
Naomi Davis, Editor
9 GARDEN STRUCTURES From birdhouses to sheds!
10VIEW FROM THE SHOP FLOOR David Little offers his thoughts on the GCA conference.
12 PRODUCT INNOVATIONS
SHOWTIME 8
A selection of stories from Top Drawer, Spring Fair and Totally DIY, Secure & Tools.
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www.onecoms.co.uk Copyright 2011, all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any way without written permission from the publisher. All views and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher.
23WEBSITE SPOTLIGHT
24 LAST WORD Scott’s Jonathon Bunbury on why shoppers are confused!
25 RETAIL PLANTS & SHRUBS Our supplement for the horticulture industry.
Garden & Hardware News 3
RETAIL PLANTS & SHRUBS
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