Industry News
Garden Re-Leaf Day 2021 raises
over £75,000! Despite being apart, this year’s Garden Re- Leaf Day saw the charity’s supporters come together like never before as it has been confirmed that the 2021 event has now raised in excess of £75,000!
From acts of endurance including mammoth walking, cycling, running and even skipping challenges, to virtual quizzes, head shaving, product donations, free design consultancy and mowing contests, this year’s event was full of incredible FUNdraising efforts from across the garden retail sector. Suppliers and retailers pulled together teams, that despite the challenges faced by the pandemic, managed to clock up thousands of miles, millions of steps, shaved heads, endless memories and a lifetime of smiles for this much-loved annual fundraising event, which also celebrated its 10th anniversary in March. Special thanks goes to so many of this year’s
Garden Re-Leaf Day supporters, including AMES, Ann-Marie Powell, Boyd Douglas-Davies and the teams at British Garden Centres, Capi Europe, Deco-Pak, Evergreen Garden Care, Garden Trade News, Gardenforum, GIMA, Glee, Growing Solutions, Hayloft Plants, Hornby Whitefoot PR, Hozelock, HTA, Kew Green Hotels, Klondyke, Millbrook Garden Centres, P de Jager, Perrywood Garden Centre, Plants 2 Gardens, Poplars Garden Centre, Primeur, Primrose Hill Nurseries, QVC, Richard Jacksons Garden, Scotscape, Sims Garden Machinery, Stihl, The Garden Design Consultancy, the Greenfingers team, and Thompson and Morgan. Boyd Douglas-Davies, founder of Garden Re-
Leaf Day said: “When the idea for Garden Re-Leaf Day formed 10 years ago, I had no idea that the event would become a much-loved event on the industry’s calendar. To date the effort of all those that have supported Garden Re-Leaf Day over the years has helped to raise in excess of £775,000 which is a such a fantastic number. From myself, the Greenfingers Charity team and all those children, families and carers that have benefited from a Greenfingers garden, thank you. We are so grateful for your ongoing support and enthusiasm to support the Greenfingers Charity’s flagship fundraiser.”
• To find out more about the wonderful work the Greenfingers Charity undertakes by following on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/Greenfingerscharity, @GreenfingersCha on Twitter and @Greenfingerscharity on Instagram and LinkedIn.
4 |
www.gardencentreupdate.com
Homebase partners with Next to launch garden centres
Homebase is set to bring the best of its gardening products to a selection of Next stores, as part of a trial across the country between the two British brands. Six Homebase garden centres will open in Next stores in Shoreham, Ipswich, Warrington, Camberley, Bristol and Sheffield. Damian McGloughlin, CEO Homebase, said: “We're delighted to be joining forces with Next and bringing our garden products and expertise to its stores. It's all part of our wider commitment to make shopping with us easier and provide even more inspiration and expert advice. We're a great nation of gardeners, with more and more people enjoying the benefits of gardening and being outside. The launch of these new garden centres means we're able to offer more gardeners, both experienced and those just starting out, Homebase products in more locations across the country.” In a show of its belief in the British high street's
future, Homebase is also set to open more of its small-format stores. A dual-branded Kitchens by Homebase and Bathstore, DECORATE by
Homebase, and its first small-format Homebase store with all the everyday essentials will open right on the high street in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey. The openings will bring the total number of Homebase's small-format stores to six across Guildford, Cheadle and Sutton.
Homebase has over 40 years of gardening expertise, with more than 300 trained specialists in stores up and down the country. Dedicated to supporting nurseries and growers, Homebase buys the best quality plants direct from the growers, with deliveries to store every week for the freshest plants possible and guaranteed for five years.
GCA virtual area meetings hailed a success
various topics, such as current trading conditions and predictions for 2021, issues surrounding supply, including the challenges due to the container shortages and Brexit, as well as phytosanitary legislation. The environment and sustainability matters, were covered too, including the peat debate.”
The first regional meetings of 2021 for Garden Centre Association (GCA) members were held online and were hailed a great success by attendees recently. Garden centre staff from South Thames, Midlands and Wales & West, North Thames, North West and North East areas got together virtually to discuss and air their views with their peers.
Iain Wylie, Chief Executive of the GCA, said: “Although slightly different from our usual style of area meetings, we, like many others, are using technology to ensure members have some face-to-face contact, even if it is via a computer screen. “After what has been a tremendously difficult year, it gave owners and management teams from our member centres the opportunity to meet and discuss
The meetings had very similar agendas, but the Area Chairmen were able to facilitate the sessions and tailor the conversations to the topics most important to their respective regions. They held true to the essence of a good area meeting, the opportunity to share business concerns, successes and best practice with likeminded individuals. Wylie added: “The feedback from members couldn’t have been more positive. It is more than apparent that meetings in person are missed but in the current situation these type of meetings are the next best thing and no doubt in the future will have apart to play alongside and supplementing the traditional meetings. “We pride ourselves on our area meetings and many of our members say they are one of the biggest benefits of membership. They are a fantastic motivational and management tool and, in more difficult times, reassuring, as members facing the same challenges are able to share their problems and to look forward to the future with more optimism.”
GCU May 2021
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20
