industry news NEWS IN BRIEF
• Squire’s Garden Centres held a ‘Plantathon’ to help raise awareness of mental health issues on 10 October.
• The Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) Barometer of Trade report for August revealed that sales of houseplant jumped 20.69% compared with the same month last year, whilst outdoor plant sales were up 6.09%.
• MRG Capgemini’s eRetail Sales Index, reports that after online sales slumped to their lowest-ever July growth, retailers saw little reprieve in August with year- on-year growth of just 3%. Transactions in home and garden were reportedly down by 6.9%.
• Horticultural businesses are being urged to prepare now for changes to the plant passporting regulations which come into force on14 December 2019. In preparation, the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) have produced an animated infographic video and guidance sheet. For more,
www.hta.org.uk/plantpassporting.
International Garden Centre Association Congress visits Squire’s
Around 250 International Garden Centre Association (IGCA) delegates from 19 countries visited Squire’s Garden Centres in Hersham and Badshot Lea on September 4. IGCA delegates from as far afield as the US, Europe, South Africa, Australasia, China and Japan visited Squire’s in Hersham and Badshot Lea, to gain inspiration in the horticultural industry. Every year the IGCA Congress visits a
different country to see some of the best garden centres and recent destinations have included Canada and the Czech Republic. This year the event was held in the UK, and Squire’s was one of a handful of garden centres to be chosen to showcase its horticultural credentials. Sarah Squire, chairman of Squire’s Garden Centres, commented: “It was an absolute honour to be chosen to host the IGCA at two of our garden centres. At Squire’s Hersham we welcomed the delegates with a glass of champagne and canapés, then they browsed the garden centre whilst a band played. Then at Squire’s in Badshot Lea, as well as touring the centre we entertained delegates to dinner and evening entertainment with an ‘english country garden’ theme, that included ‘Quintessentially Wind’ quintet playing during the meal and ‘The Cheers’ party band who got everyone on their feet.
“We are a family owned business and it was lovely to have three generations of our family there to meet everyone – myself, my father Colin, and my son Ben, who with his friends provided the music at Hersham. Our plant areas and shops looked absolutely stunning and we had so many amazing comments from everyone who visited.”
The IGCA is a non-profit organisation committed to growing and improving the garden centre industry worldwide. They provide a platform where garden centres can connect and exchange ideas, information and resources with like-minded members anywhere in the world. Next year the IGCA congress will be held in South Africa.
Glee's New Product Showcase 2019 winners revealed Best Garden Landscaping
11 new garden products have been confirmed as the winners of the coveted Glee New Product Showcase 2019, at a special award presentation. Selected from hundreds of entries showcased at Glee (10–12 September, NEC Birmingham), the winning products were chosen by an expert panel of judges, representing independent and multiple retailers and international suppliers. The winners were:
Best Garden Plants, Seeds & Bulbs Winner: MNP Flowers – Granvia Gold Zerochrysum Best Growing Media
Winner: Environmental Factor – NamaKnight Nenatopes Bio-Logical Insect Control Winner: Primeur – Tierra Verde Planter Best Garden Decoration
Winner: Jardinopia – Cane Companions Best Garden Tools & Machinery Winner: iTip – iTip Rotating handles for Wheelbarrows
Winner: Patio Blackspot Removal Co Ltd – Stone King Restorer
Best Garden Leisure & Entertaining Winner: Mookie Toys – Muddy Madness Wooden Mud Kitchen
Best Wild Bird & Wildlife Products Winner: Jacobi Jayne – Easy Peasy Bird Food Best Garden Giftware, Home & Clothing Joint Winners: Luxa London – The Holly Brand Candlestick, and Smart Garden Products – The Faux Bouquets
Best Garden Retail & Industry Services Winner: The Christmas Cabin – Vacu Bio Net Christmas Tree Netting Best House Plant & Accesories Winner: Javado – Tradescantia Nanouk Best of British
Winner: iTip – iTip Rotating handles for Wheelbarrows
Best Eco Initiative Product Award Winner: Primeur – Tierra Verde Planter Best New Product at Glee 2019 Winner: MNP Flowers – Granvia Gold Zerochrysum
For more, visit our Glee review on page 6. GCU October/November 2019
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