NURSERY PROFILE
WellandVale strides into olympic year!
It’s all change atWelland Vale Nurseries as they prepare for 2012
2012 represents a fresh new challenge forWellandVale Nurserieswith both retirements, changes and promotionswithin the company.
O
ne of the founder members of the teamhas decided to hang up his
secateurs andwe can express only sincere thanks and our gratitude toMr Ken Ellard. Sales Manager LaurenceMiddleton succeeds Ken in a newly created position of Operations Director. Changes and developments to growing practices are also in hand, coupled by a closer relationshipwith young plant raisers/liner producers. This is in order to achievemaintain and enhance the exacting standards expected by their retail customers, and to continue Welland Vales’ high standards when it comes to producing and raising top quality plants. As consumer demand for top quality garden plants is set to increase, specialist propagation of unique, interesting, popular and signature crops such as Hardy Fuchsia / Diosma, Hebe (to name but a few) will continue on site, with a newmore manageable propagation facility being built on site. The
renewal/replacement and enhancement of existing growing facilities is being undertaken during the first weeks of 2012. Their greenfield site in Rutland has provided the trade with high qualitymaterial for over 40 years.
ORNAMENTALS FOR THE OUTDOOR ROOM TheWelland Vale Cash&Carry division ‘Plants Direct’ has shown another year of positive growth – driven purely byword ofmouth fromhappy customers receiving excellent personal service from the Plants Direct team. The growth stems froma thriving residential and private landscape sector. This indicates that consumers are spendingmore time andmoney in and around their homes. As credit-crunched and credit savvy families turn back to the basics, gardening has become a growth industry and fashionable once again. The trend towards finding a hobby, domestic vacations and ‘staycations’ has encouraged an increasing interest in spendingmore time in the garden. As people are reluctant to curtail their social lives, entertaining at home is the obvious option. Those cutting back have switched to cooking more at home instead of eating out. This shift has highlighted
barbecuing at home, benefiting fromits popularity as away to get togetherwith friends and family in the garden. Although people are spending time andmoney in the garden, value and customer service are ever important. People are beingmore selective about where they spend theirmoney. The rise in popularity for growing your own has yielded increases in soft fruit and fruit tree sales. Also, a greater awareness of how ornamental trees can fit into the garden, and the diversity available for all aspects, has led to increased sales of both native and non native tree species,with many sales being driven by personal service and time being takenwith the customer to determine their requirements.
NEWTREE SUPPORT AREA Due to increasing demand, Plants Direct have opened a newtree support area! This doubles the capacity of trees held, and houses a huge selection of Fruit and Ornamental trees fromhalf to full standard sizes – native and non-native. Another particular trend noted over the past few years has been towards alternative hedging varieties, such as Escallonia, Photinia and Grisellinia. However, the best sellers still include Laurels in all sizes, Green and Gold leylandii, Goldcrest, seasonal bare-root Transplants, andmore prickly plants such asmixes ofMahonia, Berberis and Pyracantha.
ANTICIPATED SURGE IN ON-LINE ORDERING PLANTS Operations Director Laurence Middleton anticipates a surge in on-line plant sales. The creation of their plants directwebsite www.wellandvalenurseriesplantsd
irect.co.uk provides an opportunity to enhance on-line sales, especially hedging plants. Similarly thewholesale division of Welland Vale have re-launched theirwholesalewebsite to encourage Garden Centre customers to look on-line for availability and stock photos. Clientswho register and order fromthewebsitewill receive preferential discounts off any orders received for the spring of 2012.
Seewww.wellandvale.co.uk for further details!
RAISING NURSERY PROFILE Welland Valewill continue to enhance their profile on the Trade Showcircuit in 2012 commencing with the British Plant Buying Fair onMarch 1st. Thiswill showcase crops ready for the springmarket and is then followed by the HTA National Plant Showin late June where autumn sales are very much to the fore. These targeted events have enabledWelland Vale tomeet plant buyers and influence the future direction of
the Nursery’s business.
Formore information telephone 01572 822729 or email
sales@wellandvale.co.uk
38 | Retail Plants & Shrubs |
DIYRetailer.co.uk
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