contents


Onwards and upwards


It is a busy time of year for garden centres up and down the country. With the hectic Christmas period all packed up for another year, it is back to business on the industry mainstays. Hopefully we will enjoy better weather in the early part of the year than we did in 2018, and the planning and organising that is being done now is not knocked sideways by any extreme fluctuations in the local climate.


With spring on the horizon, it is a time to look to the future. Sadly, on a personal note, that means a move away from the industry, as this will be my final issue at the helm of Garden Centre Update. My thanks go to everyone who has contributed to the magazine over the past few years, and the many friends I’ve made within the industry.


I also have the pleasure of introducing Kiran Grewal, who will step into the role following my departure. Some of you may be familiar with her from her work on one of our sister publications, DIY Week, but I’m sure many of you will get the opportunity to meet her over the coming weeks and months.


All that is left for me to say is that I wish you all the best for the future. I’m sure the energy and enthusiasm that I have witnessed first-hand will continue to drive garden centre retailing onwards and upwards.


CONTACTS Sales Manager:


Rebekah Coleman - Tel: 01622 699136 Email: rcoleman@datateam.co.uk


Editor: Kiran Grewal


Email: kgrewal@datateam.co.uk Art Editor:


Claire Noe - Tel: 01622 607963 Email: cnoe@datateam.co.uk


Publishing Director: Paul Ryder


Email: pryder@datateam.co.uk


Curwood CMS Limited Datateam, PO Box 35, Robertsbridge TN32 5WN Tel: 01580 883844 Email: datateam@c-cms.com


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10 Garden power 12 Homeware and giftware 14 Spring Fair review 16 Association comment: GIMA & HTA 17 Association comment: GCA & BHETA 18 Industry news


Produced and published by Datateam Business Media Ltd.,


15a London Road, Maidstone, Kent ME16 8LY


All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including recording, photocopying or any information storage or retrival system, without written permission from the Publisher.


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Gregor Muir, Editor gmuir@datateam.co.uk


@ GCUpdateUK The Big Interview Garden tools @ GCUMagazine 8


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GCU January/February 2019


www.gardencentreupdate.com | 3


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