Online gardening sales were down -22% prior Coronavirus. Now IMRG expects online sales to grow, especially for  products that can help self-isolated customers such as home and garden categories. Read more

Paul Basham writes to explain how the Government scheme will help businesses borrow from banks.  Growers will qualify.  There is also sector specific assistance for retail, hospitality and leisure. Read more

GIMA’s forthcoming Day Conference - open to both members and non-members - will be a must-attend for any supplier wanting to hear from two of the UK’s leading garden centres. Read more

The Government re-introduced the Environment Bill to Parliament yesterday. It follows the loss of the original Bill because of the general election in December. Read more

LOFA are starting this new decade as they mean to go on, with a new look and new branding, making their resolution to be bolder and brighter for 2020. Read more

GIMA’s Knowledge Exchange programme will kickstart 2020 with the return of the popular ‘Developing Selling Skills’ session.  Perfect for the entire sales team, this workshop will include fun, interactive content that will arm delegates with everything they need to carve out a successful future within sales. Read more

BHETA is to provide officially sanctioned Challenge 25 artwork for suppliers, retailers and delivery companies involved in the supply of age-restricted bladed items such as kitchen knives and DIY and garden tools. Read more

Bookings have doubled for next week’s Cultivating Retail conference with its core theme of Sustainability.   New HTA chairman James Barnes says it will also be a great networking event.  Read more

A chance of a lifetime for a travel scholarship awaits a student who is passionate about tree production, as part of the David Colegrave Foundation Scholarship Season. Read more

Monkton Elm’s Mike Lind gets ready to hand over the chairmanship of the GCA and warns that the proposed increase in minimum wage could be a significant threat for the garden centre sector. Read more

GIMA’s Knowledge Exchange Workshop autumn schedule is hotting up with the return of the Negotiation Skills and Sales Development Planning sessions. Plus, last chance to book! Read more

History and Heraldry, Allensmore and Woodlodge were the Suppliers of the Year in their categories for the Choice Marketing Group of independent garden centres. Read more

With 2020 being declared as the International Year of Plant Health it is no surprise that this is one of the key topics on the agenda at Contact Conference 2020, which takes place on Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 January 2020. Read more

This autumn, GIMA’s Knowledge Exchange programme will be bolstered with two new one-day workshops, this time focusing on optimising key social media channels such as LinkedIn and Instagram to grow your business, as well as looking at ways to advance existing Microsoft PowerPoint skills. Read more

The HTA Market Update analyses the retail sales of plants, garden care products, pots and garden leisure. It also evaluates greenhouses and sheds and looks at garden services. Read more

Advice on Government loan guarantees and Business Rates Relief for garden companies. Garden centres turn to social media. Read more

In light of the current Coronavirus situation GIMA has decided to postpone the AGM & Day Conference that was due to take place this Thursday 19^th March.   There is a plan to reschedule the event for later in the year Read more

This spring the Horticultural Trades Association is launching the HUB, its new E-learning app. Read more

The launch of the Young People in Horticulture Association has caught the imagination of the industry. New members are joining by the day and it has received ‘wonderful offers of help from all corners of the industry’. Read more

With just one week left to apply for a horticultural scholarship, the David Colegrave Foundation (DCF) is urging students to take advantage of available funding. Read more

Now more than ever, we need to be at the top of our game for: Plant health and biosecurity, sustainability, quality standards, maximising the grower/retailer relationship, trends, best practice and technology. Read more

Here is a summary of the news stories published on Gardenforum during 2019:  Wyevale disintegration and the expansion of other groups, the environment, supplier consolidation and people in the news.  This review is open to all. Read more

Gardenex and PetQuip are holding the latest in their successful ‘Meet the Buyers’ events at their offices in Brasted, Kent, at the end of this month. Read more

Support for people in horticulture who are feeling the festive strain is available from Perennial this Christmas. Help with Christmas food and presents for children who would otherwise go without can be requested online. No-one should feel alone or unsupported at Christmas. Be a festive friend this year by telling colleagues and clients about Perennial.  Read more

Growers are concerned that proposals around future foreign labour requirements will hinder the future expansion of the ornamental horticulture sector. Read more

An expanding membership has prompted the GCA to start the search for an additional inspector to join the current team of 3. Read more

Garden centres should focus on Facebook first…  The HTA marketing conference delivered advice and some great links to free resources. Read more

In the last ten years, the David Colegrave Foundation has awarded almost £100,000 through scholarships, trip bursaries and other educational initiatives. Read more

Dejex Supplies of Donington, Lincolnshire, are announcing that they are seeking Nursery and Retail partners to work with them on proof of concept trials of their TagTray system. Read more

The HTA has appointed botanist and broadcaster Pippa Greenwood as HTA Horticulture Manager to support grower members of the association. Read more