Peter Dawson looks forward to the Southern Growers Exhibition at its new location, Roundstone. He also reviews the latest HTA research, which suggests soft and top fruit suppliers are missing out. See more... Read more
After recent government announcements on R&D funding, Neil Bragg, chairman of the HDC, tells Peter Dawson, “I find the whole situation quite disturbing. Where do ornamentals now fit into the Agricultural Horticultural Development Board?” See more... Read more
Members of GIMA, the association for garden suppliers in the UK, have voted unanimously to give exclusive backing to Glee as the trade associations split over which show to back in 2010. See more... Read more
Kernock Park Plants are the latest nursery to join A.L.P. (The Association of Liner Producers). The Association already consists of 7 of the country's leading liner producers including Aline Fairweather, Fromefield Nursery, New Place Nursery, Seiont Nursery, The Northern Liner Company, West End Nursery and Wyeplants Ltd. Read more
According to the GCA, this is the second consecutive month that restaurant/café sales, with revenue up 14%, have outsold in value all other categories including outdoor plants at the UK’s leading garden centres. See more... Read more
Sefton Meadow and Frosts Woburn Sands garden centres have both been granted permissions to extend their retail area. See more... Read more
Container Centralen have put back the introduction of RFID tagging until November 2010. See more… Read more
For most of the UK, October should be warmer and drier than average with the potential of an Indian summer for a few days. The exception may be the north west. See more... Read more
The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has a new website with a modern fresh look, improved navigation and updated content providing members with access to a wealth of information about the initiatives, services and promotions available to them. See more... Read more
The question worrying exhibitors most at Glee 2009 was where to exhibit next year? They will have to make a selection from Glee, GAFA and the new Garden Expo in 2010. See more... Read more
What is the future for Glee, the traditional annual conclave for the garden industry? Malcolm Gough, CEO of EMAP Connect, says the industry wants one good show and it will be Glee. See more... Read more
The UK’s aquatics and water gardening trade has launched a new, stand-alone trade event at The Telford International Centre from 6th – 7th October 2010, in association with OATA and organised by Annie Dyke and her team at Impact Exhibitions. Read more
InsideOut offers deals and expertise to larger garden centres that either are or aim to be multi-channel retailers, selling kitchenware, toys, fashion and/or giftware. See more... Read more
The HTA’s annual salary survey for 2009, reveals that over 40% of businesses in the sector have decided to freeze current wage levels. The salary of Sales Managers showed a marked decrease, while salary paid to Nursery Managers increased. See more... Read more
Former Lebanese hostage, John McCarthy, leads a list of high-profile speakers at this year’s one-day HTA conference that will look at how the consumer and the marketplace is changing. However, there will be space for only 150 delegates. See more... Read more
Half the stand space is booked for next years inaugural HTA National Plant Show, which is being held at Stoneleigh on the 29th and 30th of June. So far, 51 British nurseries and importers have confirmed their space. To see who has booked, see more... Read more
The Retail world is changing. The new frugality won't go away when the economy comes back. Click and collect has seen dramatic take-up. We need to adapt. ...The consumer is looking for bite size indulgence... There is likely to be a brutal budget. Read the key points from the HTA conference. See more... Read more
The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has announced a number of key appointments following its AGM held on 21 October. Read more
Garden retailers are to blame for the fact that rose sales are not increasing as much as they should be. If retailers put the effort in and maintain their roses in peak condition it could transform the market. See more... Read more
The latest ‘Meet the Buyer’ event organised jointly by the Gardenex and PetQuip export federations will provide British companies with the opportunity of meeting with a leading garden retailer from Dubai, the largest DIY/building material retailer in Estonia and a French mail-order and internet sales company. Read more
Garden Expo 2010, a new addition to the garden business calendar, is scheduled to take place next year on 28 - 30 June at Stoneleigh Park in Coventry. With Glee and GAFA following in September, suppliers to the garden industry have a difficult choice: where and when to demonstrate their products. See more…. Read more
Totally Tools and Totally DIY, the post Christmas trade shows that have moved from Earls Court to join the Spring Fair at the NEC, have changed halls. See more... Read more
It was sad to see Glee Nursery a shadow of its former self this year. Stalwarts like Allensmore, David Austin Roses, John Woods Nurseries and The Anglia Group plus the Italian trio of Colvi Franci, Vannucci and Zelari were very much to the fore. But the problem the show organisers face is how to stop the decline. See more... Read more
‘The 2010 Battle of the Shows’ hots up with PATS issuing a list of companies, that it says will be exhibiting at its venues exclusively this season. See more... Read more
Gardenforum spent 3 days listening to the chat at Glee. Here is a flavour of what was being said. See more... Read more
Glee has slashed its rate card for exhibitors by 20% for 2010. Show director Dan Thurlow says EMAP has been listening and has introduced the new competitive pricing structure to ensure that Glee is a ‘show of scale’ in future years. See more... Read more
Wiseweather predicts fog and frosts by the end of September, especially in the south. See more... Read more
Traditionally September has been a busy month for plant buyers, first with Four Oaks and then a couple of weeks later Glee Nursery. But this year things appear to be different. See more... Read more
Glee 2010 will run from Monday 20th September until Wednesday the 22nd, ending the traditional Sunday opening for the country's leading garden trade show. See more... Read more
The sales growth made during the good spring weather by garden centres is being eroded. Only giftware and restaurants continued to improve. See more... Read more