Association Comment: GIMA Seizing the opportunities
GIMA members reveal their latest giſtware and garden tool launches set to inspire gardeners and drive impulse buys.
Continuing with garden décor, Ascalon
Design’s rusty plant stakes are already racing off the shelves this year, with their rustic style and focus on wildlife proving a hit with garden centre customers. These stakes are perfect for adding texture and points of interest to pared back winter gardens, becoming a beautiful accessory to flowering plants as spring begins in earnest. At Burgon & Ball, the company’s garden tool
A diverse and well-stocked giſt department can be a huge asset to any garden centre, with giſtware, homeware, and garden tools all able to help keep tills ringing during the colder months. There is also great sales potential during key giſting periods; with Mother’s Day, and Easter creating opportunities in the coming months alone.
Fortunately, garden centres in England remain part of a select group of retailers able to continue trading during the latest national lockdown, whilst consumers continue to look- out for something to brighten their day, or someone else’s. Here we look at the latest offering from GIMA members which will not only relieve lockdown fatigue, but will also drive impulse buys this spring. With the nation currently spending more time
at home, wildlife products, such as Deco-Pak’s range of birdhouses, nesters, feeders and insect hotels make an ideal gift. Divided into eight individual collections - Village, Classic, Hatchling, Mood, Nestling, Printed and Signature - there is a nestbox to suit every outdoor space. There are even design your own options, complete with paints and a brush, which are a perfect project to keep children entertained during home schooling. For something more unusual, Deco-Pak’s GIMA Award-winning ‘Quintessentially British’ range features unique designs, from a garden shed and wine bottle feeder, to the London Underground box, and iconic 10 Downing Street. Even those with little or no outdoor space can admire feathered friends, thanks to a collaboration between Primus and the RSPB. The brand-new range of adorable wooden bird sculptures, made from FSC-certified wood, are the perfect addition to any home or garden. The collection comprises 10 designs, including the nation’s favourite, Robin, as well as a Chaffinch, Wren and even a Puffin. With 10 percent from the sale of each bird donated to the RSPB, the adorable birds look set to become a collectable range that will fly off the shelves. In keeping with GIMA’s brand new Plastic Packaging Pledge, each bird is supplied in striking plastic-free packaging.
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offering is proving a hit with shoppers, as Managing Director, Rainer Schubert, explains: “We’re seeing significant growth in garden tools as gifts, as shoppers opt for practical presents to kit out loved ones new to gardening. The gift sets in our new RHS Gifts for Gardeners British Meadow collection are sure to hit the mark. Beautifully presented in plastic-free gift boxes, the trowel and fork, the pruner and holster, and the garden snips feature the British Meadow design of native wildflowers, reflecting the strong trend for more natural gardens. “Another area seeing strong growth is children’s gardening. It’s a category where growth has been steady for several years, and in 2020’s time at home, it really took off. Our National Trust ‘Get Me Gardening’ range of children’s garden tools and accessories offers unique marketing positioning; colourful and fun, it’s also high quality and made to last, with tools crafted in steel and FSC hardwood.” The strength of garden tools is echoed by
Darlac, following the launch of some bright new additions for increased sales in 2021. Four new products are added to the hand tool specialist’s ever-growing range: secateurs with a hard- wearing, tough, quality titanium blade; edging shears; a lightweight double-sided rake; and an outstanding addition to the beautifully crafted Bamboo Range – a hand rake. The unique and
attractive range has been designed, not only to look good, but also with strong green credentials, as bamboo is tough, renewable and does not need FSC accreditation, making it an ideal gift for eco-conscious gardeners. Growing and houseplant categories are also helping to drive giftware sales. GPlants reports that its BEES Seeds giftware - including red hot chilli kits and bonsai starter kits – continue to exceed sales expectations both online and instore, whilst its Grow Your Own Wildflower Shake ‘n’ Rake is helping to expand postal giftware lines. The company has also introduced branded wooden display options for maximum impact instore. LECHUZA’s collection of self-watering table-top
planters, in a range of stylish contemporary designs and colourways, make an attractive proposition in any home and gift department. Take your pick from the Cube Glossy - available in classic white, charcoal, and red gloss or limited-edition copper, titanium dust and smoky diamond finishes - or the ORCHIDEA, which has been especially designed to meet the demands of the favourite tropical plants. All of LECHUZA’s table pots benefit from a sub- irrigation system and water level indicator, which take the guesswork out of watering and help any plant given with the pot as a gift to thrive. Staying with watering, Hozelock has launched its new Micro Reel, featuring an innovative ‘Click & Go’ design to make watering small spaces easier than ever. The new Micro Reel offers the benefits of a larger reel but is incredibly light and can be neatly stored thanks to its compact size – making it the perfect gift for first-time homeowners and gardeners.
• For further information about GIMA, please call 01959 564947 or email
info@gima.org.uk
GCU February/March 2021
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