A new buying group for garden centres is being launched
IBC, an established buying group for builders merchants, is looking to repeat the formula for garden centres with the IBC Garden Group. Read more
A new buying group for garden centres is being launched
IBC, an established buying group for builders merchants, is looking to repeat the formula for garden centres with the IBC Garden Group. Read more
July looks like being a month for garden furniture and hoses
Wiseweather believes July will be drier and warmer than average with a second hot spell possible in week three. Read more
Vote now to recognise Gardening’s best buyers
Believing that good buyers have not been given the recognition they deserve, Glee is asking you to nominate people or teams that might qualify as the country’s best buyers for awards being introduced at the show. Read more
GIMA Buying Group gets the go-ahead
The new GIMA Buying Group, mooted at their recent conference, is to go ahead with the aim of supplying a one-stop shop for members. Read more
New members swell GIMA membership by 25%
Companies that have joined GIMA this year are a mix of established names and newcomers to the retail garden sector in the UK. Read more
Long-range forecast looks good for May
After an unsettled start, the Wiseweather suggests there will be long settled periods during May with high pressure, much like April. However, that means frosts are possible, even late in the month. Read more
High pressure looks set to dominate the first 3 weeks of April
Wiseweather predicts April will be sunnier and drier than normal, with warm days and colder nights. However the SE may have more cloud at times. Read more
Bank bureaucracy thwarts garden centre deals
Although 2 banks have recently backed garden centre developments it seems that a number of deals are falling through because buyers cannot get bank funding because of their inexperienced advisers. Read more
New legislation affecting sale of garden chemicals
From 26th November most garden retailers will be required by law to have a trained and certificated member of staff available when they sell garden chemicals. The HTA and Crop Protection Association have a solution. Read more
Darren Mogg is to leave Wyevale
Darren Mogg is to leave Wyevale Garden Centres at the end of March having managed the development of the company websites for the last two years. Read more
What will the scribblers be viewing at Thursday’s Garden Press Event?
The country’s gardening press converge on the Barbican on Thursday to get fresh ideas to write about this spring. What will catch their interest at the Garden Press Event? Read more
Press deadline looms for Garden Re-Leaf
Garden centres and suppliers have only a few days to promote their activities for Garden Re-Leaf Day before the UK’s national press visit the Garden Press Event Read more
GCA reveals conference speakers
The GCA conference, in less than 2 weeks, will hear from the former top woman in the British army, the ex-head of Porsche GB and there's a report on the world economic outlook. The world record holder for reciting the value of pi will also take to the stage. Read more
Review of 2014 in the Garden Industry
2014 has been dominated by the repositioning of the major gardening goods distributors following the demise of Solus. The weather for once provided a good news story and towards the end of the year there was a flurry of activity from Wyevale as it picked up eight long established independent garden centres. See the full review – which is open to all… Read more
Willerby Landscapes receive the BALI Grand Award for a record fifth time
Willerby Landscapes took the Grand Award for a record fifth time today at the 38th BALI National Landscape Awards. For all the winners - See more... Read more
3 more garden centres join the GCA
Three garden centres have joined the Garden Centre Association, swelling the association membership to 180. Read more
QVC suppliers make record donation to Garden Re-Leaf Day
Suppliers, such as Plants2Gardens who backed QVC’s Garden Re-Leaf Day 2015 activities, have helped raise in excess of £50,000 for this year's Greenfingers campaign. Read more
GCA reveals this year's conference venue for their 50th anniversary
The GCA has announced the location of the body's grand golden jubilee year conference to be held January 24 until 27, 2016. Read more
GIMA’s £5000 Seed Corn Fund is open for entries
Small businesses, designers, students, inventors and start-ups are invited to bid for the second annual grant from the GIMA seed corn fund with the offer of help from last year’s winner. Read more
New look for AIPH and Grower of the Year Awards
Any grower can nominate themselves for the International Grower of the Year Awards as they get a new look along with rebranding for the AIPH. Read more
Closer links are vital says new GIMA president
Colin Wetherley Mein, new president of GIMA, hopes to add services such as a buying group and barometer of trade for GIMA members. He also wants to continue building links with the rest of the industry. Read more
Strong early sales of core gardening - a sign for optimism?
The GCA figures for February shows a good start for sales of seeds, bulbs and plants but the association cautions, “We have no idea what the year ahead is going to hold for us but it looks as if gardeners… are eager to get back into their gardens.” Read more
Online garden sales forecast to grow 30 per cent by 2019
Online sales of garden products will exceed £3 billion by 2019 according to MTW Research’s new 120-page report published this month, with sales of garden products online having risen by 45 per cent between 2009 and 2015. Read more
North / South split for the weather in March
Wiseweather suggests that there will be a North / South split in the weather for March. The South could experience some warm, sunny days, mid month. Read more
Two garden events to change formats
The HTA has announced a new out of London venue and shape for its strategic Garden Futures conference. There will also be changes for the next Totally Shows. Read more
Download a new toolkit for exporters
Gardenex gives three reasons why garden suppliers should export and the HTA has created an overseas market tool kit, download it now. Read more
February 2015 long range forecast
February looks set to be sunnier and slightly colder than average Although drier, snow showers will often feature in the forecast. Read more
Smaller suppliers can’t compete with extended payment terms says GIMA
The Government is proposing legislation that would force Britain’s biggest companies to reveal their payment terms and performance, quarterly. GIMA welcomes greater transparency saying the garden industry is particularly bad when it comes to paying bills. Read more
+36% by LOFA Members outperforms garden furniture market
LOFA research shows that garden furniture sales grew 18% this year, but online retailers take the biggest share, over double that of garden centres. Read more
New food allergen labelling requirements coming into force
Garden centre catering operations face new food labelling regulations which come into force on December 13. Read more