site visit A family affair
With record turnover for the last financial year, and an impressive new catalogue for 2020, the future looks bright for Johnsons of Whixley, one of the UK’s largest commercial nurseries. Alex Fordham reports
“ I
t’s been our best year yet,” explains a proud Eleanor Richardson, marketing and sales co-ordinator, at Johnsons of Whixley. “Our turnover was 14.3 million for the financial year just gone.” As a third generation family member involved
within the business, Richardson was keen to explain to Garden Centre Update how the company, which will be celebrating its centenary year in 2021, still has its family ethos right at the heart of its business model. With record turnover achieved, it appears to be paying dividends. Richardson takes up the narrative: “Originally founded in 1921, Johnsons has been run by three generations of the Richardson family since 1964,” she explains. “Originally Mr Johnson owned the business, where there were around 12 employees in the 1960s. Subsequently, John Richardson (my grandfather), took over the business and shaped it to what it is today. We now employ 110 full time staff, and 11 members of the family now have an active role in the business. “John, who has just turned 82, is still involved
in the business, except on Fridays! We’re all close and work well together – my father has had to plead with him to wind down a bit though.
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www.gardencentreupdate.com “It’s very much his baby; he is chairman, but
doesn’t have a leading role now. When a new starter joins he makes sure he introduces himself and welcomes them to Johnsons. It’s this personal approach that we’re trying to maintain.”
Focus on independents
For Paul Lamb, garden centre sales assistant manager, it’s the company’s dedication to service, that has ensured the company has achieved a record year. “We are one of the longest-established and largest commercial nursery businesses in Europe, growing and supplying millions of plants, shrubs and trees to the UK trade for almost 100 years,” he explains. “Our business is split into wholesale commercial supply, garden centre sales and wholesale trade sales.
“Across our whole portfolio though, we attribute our growth to service and quality. It’s that personal touch we look to maintain.” In terms of its retail business, Lamb shares
with GCU that the company’s turnover was two and a half million, a record for the company. Interestingly, three years ago Johnsons decided to move away its retail operations from the large multiples, to instead
GCU October/November 2019
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