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july News brief...


IMPROVEMENTS TO


PATS 2012 PATS, the Pets & Aquatics Trade Show has announced improvements for the 2012 shows. PATS Sandown Park will feature two entrances, with a guided flow from the car parks into the Surrey Hall and the new-to- PATS Esher Hall. PATS Harrogate will also have a new entrance and will encompass Halls M, C and B, with Hall M being naturally linked with Halls C and B.


GARDEN CENTRE OPENS OLIVE TREE


SECTION Northamptonshire-based garden centre, Harlestone Heath Garden Centre has created a specialist olive- tree section to cater to customer requests for the plant. Manager, Huw Williams commented: “We have always had a good number of requests for olive trees at the garden centre, but recently this has increased by 45 per cent, so we’ve opened a whole section dedicated to them.” Huw added that the changing climate in the UK is inspiring increased interest in the plant.


BANK HOLIDAY SUCCESS FOR THE


INDUSTRY On the whole, the weather held out over the April and May bank holidays, offering the right balance of sun and warm temperatures that meant that DIY stores and garden centres up and down the country saw an influx of shoppers. The Horticultural Trades Association reported that the early May Day bank holiday was “phenomenal” and that many of its members enjoyed fantastic sales, which were up on last year.


Focus DIY in administration Troubled times for the DIY and gardening chain.


After more than 20 years in the industry, Focus DIY became the latest name in UK retail to crumble under the pressure of poor consumer spending, and entered administration on May 5.


U


p to 3,000 jobs are going to be lost after the business and its


appointed administrators,


Ernst & Young, failed to find a buyer. Once it was clear a deal was off the table joint administrators from the accountancy firm charged retail consultants Gordon Brothers with the task of advising on the sale of stock. Of the 178 stores, 123 will close, whilst the other 55 have been bought by rivals including B&Q, Wickes and B&M Bargains. Kingfisher,


which owns B&Q bought 31 stores in a deal worth £23m. A number of manufacturers and consumers have been left out of pocket. Luxury shower supplier, Methven has successfully secured a payout of £329,675 plus VAT from the defunct retailer, although the total amount it lost as a result of the collapse is closer to £2m. As the administrator has eight


Movers and shakers


Forest Garden recently donated a selection of decorative garden timber products for use by Diarmuid Gavin in a series of special gardenmakeovers for popular TV programme, ThisMorning. The makeovers took place across the UK, including the Llwenhendy


Children’s Centre in Llanelli,Wales; the Southwold Residential Home in Manchester, and the Triwergi School in Redruth, Cornwall. Garden designer, Caroline Butler


won the prestigious Chris BeardshawMentoring Scholarship (CMBS), announced at this year’s Malvern Spring Gardening Show. The awardwas sponsored by Bradstone and inwinning Caroline has secured a 12-month experiential garden design


mentorship inwhich shewillwork alongside Chris (both pictured). Award-winning Rose grower,


David Austin Roses officially opened a newRose Centre in Brentford. David JC Austin,managing director of David Austin Roses launched the specialist Rose Centre at Syon Park Garden Centre,which is part of the Garden Centre Group, onMay 4. Family-run Newcastle garden


centre, Cowell’s has recruited eight new members of staff to its


4 Garden & Hardware News


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