Comment: GCA Helping to GROW industry talent


It was very heartening to see the Garden Centre Association (GCA) Barometer of Trade (BoT) figures for March showing a very healthy +9% compared to the same month last year, saysPeter Burks, Chief Executive, GCA


W Long may this continue. The outdoor living


hile we must be mindful that March last year was not a particularly good sales month,


Easter definitely helped by being in March this year, and the effects of inflation, all mitigating factors against this, but in my mind up is up! The figures demonstrate, once again, that as soon as people can get into their gardens, this year over that Easter weekend, they started doing projects and that means spending money. Hard landscaping sales struggled all last year


but are currently the leading category for year- to-date sales. It was also good to see furniture and barbeques at last have some positive sales news too with more than half of the centres that reported figures showing an increase.


displays I’m seeing in garden centres this year are very strong, with some great visual merchandising and stunning back drops. Sell the sizzle, not the sausage, as I believe the saying goes! One of the great initiatives that the GCA


is involved in, in partnership with the GLEE organisation, is ‘The Talent Store’ programme, which has just launched. This is a project that is open to all of our members who can nominate someone from their team to take part. Candidates are selected from all the nominations and they attend a full day’s workshop hosted by Millbrook Garden Centre with presentations from leading industry experts. They then work on visual merchandising projects throughout the summer and the project culminates in their


displays being created at GLEE in September for all to see. Last year’s teams built two amazing sets full of good ideas that could be easily replicated in every garden centre. Within the GCA, we do like to ensure that our colleagues are amongst the most knowledgeable and well trained in the industry. Our annual inspection process sets out to test this when one of our team of four independent inspectors sets foot, unannounced, into each member centre every spring. The customer service experience features highly in the scoring. To this end, all centres have the option of joining our GROW eLearning platform where we currently have 86 unique training courses with six more just about to be released. Please email me peter@gca.org.uk or visit www.gca.org.uk for further information.


Experts reveal “must do” DIY jobs for April ADVERTORIAL


A


new nationwide study by home improvement specialists, BLACK+DECKER, has revealed


that over two fiſths (40%) of homeowners are doing DIY jobs at the wrong time of year and with just 5% of those surveyed carrying out DIY tasks in April – experts have revealed the jobs to be doing now. Nick Ee, product and training manager at


BLACK+DECKER comments: “There are several home improvement jobs you can focus on in April, tasks such as pressure washing, deep cleaning, tool maintenance and prepping the lawn now that weather is warmer. The timing of these home improvement jobs can significantly impact how easy it is to complete and how successful the final result is.” Home improvement jobs to tackle now;


Tool maintenance Now is the perfect time to start tool maintenance and is a crucial home improvement job to tackle in spring to ensure gardening and other DIY jobs are made as easy as possible without interruption from faulty equipment. Nick comments: ‘Spring is typically the time


most avid gardeners reach for their tools as garden maintenance becomes more frequent.


4 | www.gardencentreupdate.com


Ensuring tools are in good condition before getting stuck into the list of DIY chores is important and will help to avoid any accidents or injuries. As pruning and trimming back bushes will be at the top of your checklist, I would recommend sharpening the blades on pruners, loppers and shears using a sharpening grinder. When using these tools, I would always advise cleaning them after each use, debris can build up over time and rust metal which will decrease the lifespan of tools.’


Pressure wash decks, driveways and patios With warmer weather on the way, there’s no doubt Brits will be planning their first garden party or BBQ of the year, and this means outdoor spaces need a spring makeover. Nick says: ‘One way you can get your


garden space ready for the warmer weather is to pressure wash your patio or decking area. Cleaning these areas can enhance the appearance of your outdoor space and prevent the growth of moss, algae and other debris from getting worse. The first step in removing the build-up of debris is to sweep or brush away loose dirt and leaves from the area. This will make the cleaning process more effective as any stains often lie underneath this buildup.


The next step is to pretreat any stains, you can do this with a mixture of mild detergent and water. Apply the solution to the stains and let it sit for a while. You can then use a pressure washer to clean the entire surface starting from one end and working your way across, making sure to cover the whole area. I would recommend testing the pressure washer settings on a small area to ensure you’ve selected the right setting for the job and to avoid causing damage.”


 www.blackanddecker.co.uk/ GCU April 2024


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