GTN May-June 2026 - Summer Showroom Special - Garden Trade News UK

Phew, what a scorcher!

After thecoolest April and starttoMay in living memoryweget alateMay heatwave!And what’smorewehad warm (some say very warm)dry weather for the Bank Holiday.BBQ’s, garden furniture and watering equipment havebeen reportedasbeing in high demand. Let’shopethis is the startof aglorious summer when customers can spend whole days in the garden and as aresult pop into their local garden centretobuy more plants etc.

While this season is still underway thoughts arestarting to turn to 2027,henceour Summer Showroom Directoryinthisissue.The GTNteam havebeen visiting as many as possible this month and we can reportthat suppliers arereally upping their game when it comes to showrooms and showroomvisits. We hope this helps with your planning.Drivesafely!

Justasthis issue of GTNmagazine went topress we received the sad news that John Ravenscroft had died

Most widelyknown forcreatingBridgemere GardenWorld garden centreand its Show Gardens, John wasalso along-timecontributor to Garden Trade News writinga regular column about making the most of nurserystock.In GTNDecember 1991 he signed off hiscolumn as follows: “A final word:remember that people visit

youall year roundand if your nursery stock is nonexistentinthe winter and this wasyourcustomer’s firstvisit to your premises,you will be judged on theshowing that day.Adegreeofriskwith plants has to be taken and accepted if your garden centre istolookimpressiveall year.” 35 yearsonJohn’s advicerings true and reminds us that plants really are the heartofour business.

Theteam at GTN, present and old thankJohn forhis wisdom and vision. We send ourheartfelt condolences to Johnsfamily

EDITORIAL &ADVERTISING

GardenTrade News

Potting Shed PressLtd DairyDrove Thorney Peterborough PE60TX Tel01733 775700 www.gardentradenews.co.uk

THE GTNTEAM

Editor Trevor Pfeiffer trevor@pottingshedpress.co.uk

Features Editor AnisaGress anisa@pottinghsedpress.co.uk

Advertising Sales Alan Burdon Alan@pottingshedpress.co.uk

Digital Editor Neil Pope neil@pottingshedpress.co.uk

Subscriptions KarenPfeiffer karen@pottingshedpress.co.uk

Design &Production AT GraphicsLtd www.atgraphicsuk.com

Lucy Carnell –Design Alun Jones –ProductionManager

Robert Tipping– Managing Director

James Tipping –Technical Director

Printing CG Print Ltd

Do youqualify for acopyofGTN?

If you’dliketobeadded to theGTN distributionlist, please sendyour details to Karen@pottingshedpress.co.uk to see if youqualify to be included.

Alternatively,ifyou prefer your Garden TradeNews digitally, sign up forGTN Xtra,our weekly e-mail newsletteratwww.gardentradenews.co.uk

Potting ShedPress Ltd

Garden TradeNewsispublished by PottingShed PressLtd whoalsopublish: GTNBestsellers,GTN Xtra,Glee Daily News andthe Glee Catalogue, andthe Solex Sun. Potting Shed PressalsosupplyGarden Radio to over 100garden centresacrossthe country.

Director Trevor Pfeiffer SMALLPRINT:All material ©Potting Shed PressLtd 2026.Nopartofthispublication may be reproduced in anyformwhatsoever, either forsale or not, withoutthe expresspermissionofthe publishers. Theinformation supplied in this publication is published in good faithand everyefforthas been madetoensureits accuracy.Potting Shed PressLtd cannot accept responsibility forany error or misrepresentation.All liability forloss, disappointment, negligence or other damage caused by relianceon information containedinthispublication or in the event of anybankruptcy or liquidation or cassation of the trade of anycompany, individual or firm mentioned,ishereby excluded.

Expanding the area of coveredspacehas

enabledplant sales to be generated 12 months of the year.The roof space also accommodates 250,000 lights whichilluminates the spaceatChristmas.

Smallbut mighty

On just1.75acres, the family run Fakenham Garden CentreinNorfolk generates an impressive£4.5million annual turnover.How do they do it?

Atthe second Glee Roadshowheld at the end of April hosted by Gates Garden Centre, Oakham, Martin and Jennie from nearbyFakenham Garden Centrewereinthe hot seat revealing how they generateamultimillion-pound turnover from asmall sitewith just 68 car parking spaces. That equatestoanimpressive £65,000 ayear from each space.

Atraditional sitewith around 50% of sales coming from plants, Fakenham Garden Centre, around 25 miles north west of Norwich, has been in the same family for more than 40 years.After seeing an advert for the garden centreinThe Lady magazine, Martin’sparents secured the garden centre

for £160,000 andsoon after bought an additional parcel of landfromaneighbour, bringing the siteto8000m2 Martin joined thebusinessin1999 after a plan to run his owngarden centrefellthrough. Instead, heinvested his moneyintoFakenham by addingmoreglass and doubling the sizeof heatedcoveredsalesarea.

SurprisinglyFakenhamisone of Westland Horticulture’sbiggest customers. Taking 500 pallets ayear,itretails growing media from a spacejust 62m2.Stock is kept off sitethree miles away,soit’sa logistical feat to transport it to the garden centre.

It is also amember of ChoiceMaketing and although one of thesmallest members,

it ranks fifth in rebatechart. “Being a member hasbeen agamechangerfor us,” says Martin. “Ourpricingisdone for us so we don't havetonegotiate.Whenwego to shows we don’thavetoask for the best price, we ask howcan we sell more.”

Gifting

Aconstant stream of smalldeliveries and displaysthat areregularlymoved helps keep the gift area fresh andinspiring, andwith anew team manager,sales have increased by 25%. Visitstotrade shows meansearching out newand interesting suppliers andthe centre hasa high number of suppliers.

Careful investment

Around 15 yearsago,another investment wasmade with aFordingbridge structure added to the front of the garden centre. Just sevenyears later,morepoly tunnels and acurvedsection resultedin around half of the plant area being protected from the elements. “It's been brilliant,”says Martin. “It has meantwenow haveplant sales 12 months ayear now, whereas beforeitwas, it

Above:Fakenham sells an impressiveamount of growing mediafroma small space.

pretty much stopped in thewinter.”

Morerecentlyina bidtoreducewater wasted through irrigation, afurther £90,000 went to flood benches. Not onlyiswatering moreefficient, it hasalsoeliminated the spots on foliagecaused by chalk deposits in the waterapplied through overhead sprinklers.

It’snot just equipment andcapitalthat benefit from investments, Martin and Jennie also look for thatcertain spark in their staff and supporttheir career

“For the last30years, we have taken on twosixth form college students in September,” explains Martin. “Wenow have eight members of staff who started on the tills or bagging dog food and arestillwith us. Our Pets andAquatics Manager has been withus27years, and oneofour marketing team came to us at 16

“Wecurrently havetwo students, one working on the tilland other in thecoffee shop,and Jennie saw they would make good managers. We approached them to see if theywanteda full-time job after college and we’venow put them on amanagement degree course at alocal college oneday a week.”

Martin adds bothare nowkeyholders and

Below: The20m

Right, Top to Bottom: Fakenham has aspecialist aquatics and pet department with outdoor koiand plants which is runs itself.“We do everything We don't have anybody on sitethat isn't partofour ownstaff.”

Fakenham’s coffee shop has 85 covers and generates a£750,000 turnover.The menu is kept simple,and food made and delivered quickly to allowfor efficient customer through put.

Stock rotation little and often has been akey to increasing gift salesby 25%.

high

run the storeatquiet times.It’shoped one willlook after furnitureand the othertake oversundries. “The idea is that if we decide to retire, we havetwo peoplewho we know can step in,”saysMartin.

The twonew intakesfrom2025are also looking promising with one hopefully building apassion for plants. “It’sa caseof finding the rightpeoplethatshowaptitude. We don’tlook for them, but when we recognise it we will jump on it andtry to nurturethem.”

Gleehits theroad

Gates Garden Centre in Oakhamhosted thesecond Glee Roadshow inApril, bringing the industry together fora dayofnetw t orking andidea sharing.

Last year,the organiserofGlee held afreeroadshow in Devon to bring neighbouring gardenretailerstogether for honest conversation,practicalinsightsand meaningful networking. Such wasits success that this year the event movedto Lincolnshireand the number of attendees doubled. Panel discussions on the challenges andopportunities shapinggarden retail whereshared with fellowretailersatGates Garden Centrein Oakham.

Nigel Gates gaveanoverviewofhis family business, and attendees heardfromGuy Moreton of recruitmentcompany MorePeople. He dispelled some of themyths surrounding working ingarden retail and asked howbest to attractgreat people and make garden retail their careerofchoice.

Industryfigures including Michael Smith fromMeadowCroft Garden CentreinEssex andMartinWard,GIMA’snew Director, joined panelstoexplorethe diversityofadditional revenue streams, while Jennie and Martin TurnerfromFakenham Garden Centre shared thestory of their small, buthighly successful garden centre.

Guy Moreton says: “I’vebeen recruiting in this sector for26yearsand without ashadow ofa doubt, gardening,horticultureand retailget wrapped togethereventhough they’re quiteseparate. Those who don’tknowanythingaboutthe industry perceivethatsalaries are really lowand uncompetitive. We,ingarden retailknowthis is not true.Myteam do nothing but recruit in the garden centresector and we knowthe mostdecent businesses are paying whatever it takes to getreally good talent”.

Gates–family values anda hands-on approach

Thegarden centres of Gates and Fakenham varygreatly in sizebut have many similarities. Both arefamily run with theowners very muchpartof everyday business.

Gates wasset up by Nigel’sgrandfather following the purchase of a Victorian walled garden Cold OvertonHall in 1948.Hepaid £2,500for the 3.5acresiteand grew vegtosell at local markets.

Onthe brink of the 1980’s, the businessbegan to diversifyand since then evolution of Gates has mirrored that of thegarden retailindustry. Todaythe site has 10,000m2ofcoveredretail space,withacafeand restaurant of 520 covers. Onsitewarehousing has expanded to 5,255m2, which Nigel describes as a‘real game changer’and Gate’sown farm shop supplied with meat from the 550 acre farm runbyNigel’sson Jackhas become its ownsuccess story.

Gates recently took over the formerDobbies garden centre at Hinkley. “It’sbeen great funand amassivechallenge. We’vebeen constantly backwardsand forwards to keep things on track, butit’sbeen agreat success storyfor theteam.”

Nigel believesa keytosuccess is being hands on and making thetime tochat to everyone, even if it’sovera cup of tea. When the business takes on newstarters, thefamily values and expectationsare clearly communicated at the beginning and excitement about futureplans are filtered down to all team members.

Pride generated by working at Gates is highly valued and customer serviceisparamount as the garden centreisrelatively rural. Customers know they aregoing to be looked afterand guaranteed apleasurable shopping experiencesoare happy to drivethe extramiles. In fact,data fromthe loyaltyclub(withmorethan 70,000 members across both centres)indicates some travel up to 50 milestoshopatGates, Oakham. Oncethere, theytakeadvantage fora free hotdrink offered once a monthand typically spend afurther £8 in the restaurant.

Industry strikes gold

AnotherRHS Chelsea Flower Show haskickedoff the gardening seasoninstyle and GTNwas there tocatch up on industrywinsand trends.

Blue Diamond Garden Centres has hailed 2026 as anothersuccessful year at Chelsea securing aGold for itsexhibit and thirdplaceinthe show’snew plant competition.

The largest exhibit in Chelsea’s Great Pavilion, the garden centrecreated awalkthrough horticultural spectacle with an eclectic mix of plants80% of which it offers either online or instore.Orchids, flowering dog wood, acers, ferns and an assortment of treeswerecomplimented with perennials and shrubs in themes from Indoor Tropical Walls, through to TapestryGarden and ExoticShade Loving.Customers cansee fullplant listsfrom all the areas on the Blue Diamond website. It also included severalnew plant introductions,exclusivetoBlue Diamond, oneofwhich HydrangeaVELVET NIGHTRED LACE took thirdplaceinthe Chelsea Plant of the Year competition.Available only at Blue Diamond centres for ayear,it’sdarkcrimson flowers and deep purple, almost blackfoliage, willensurethis newcultivar becomes a garden favourite.

Mind the gap

Naturalistic plantingcontinues to be atheme with often considered wild plants rubbing shoulders with cultivated ornamentals. Experienced garden designer SarahEberle, took Best in Showfor The Campaign to Protect RuralEngland Garden: On the Edge, which celebrates the wild and natural spaces on the fringes of towns and cities. Here viburnum andgeranium were complimented by dog rose, foxglove and field maples. Sarah also became the most awarded garden designer in the history of the show

Planting combinations at Chelseaare always inspirational but the beauty of individual plant forms and colourscould be appreciatedthanks to spaces left between them.This wasfurther highlightedwith decorativehardlandscaping,suchas

sandstone, crushed shells,and different coloursand sizes of gravel

Great combinations were seen in The Asthma andLung UK Breathing Space Garden, whereRotherham Redsandstone offset woodland plants.The openness of the planting symbolisedthe need to taketimeand breathdeep,whileinThe Children’sSocietyGarden, spaces enhanced the appreciation of individual plants in their entirety

Meadow-grown success

In the RHS Sustainable ExcellenceAwards, the Lifestyle Product of theYearaward went to Seilich forits MeadowBlend Tea. Created by the company’s founder Dr Sally Gouldstone, it allows the beauty of naturalmeadows to be enjoyedasa herbalinfusion. It sitswithinarange of other meadowgrownblendedteasand skincareproducts from natural botanicals, some of which are already available in garden centres suchas Burfordand Petersham. “Weare hoping other garden centres will be interested in our productstoo andwant to stock them,”says

Sally

Formally working at theRoyal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and with aPhD in Nature Conservation, Sally ploughsbackproceeds from salesintothe maintenanceand creation of newmeadows. Set up just four yearsago, Seilich has nowconserved8acres of meadow land near Edinburgh.

•Sustainable Garden Productofthe Year went to the GazeBurvill National TrustPlanter

Colour combos

grownrange at Chelsea.

Fresh outofthe factory andontothe stand of Felco, wasthe newColourEditionrange of secateurs with matching leather holster Gardeners can choose Felco6ina choice of Pink Passion,Electric Blue,Power Green and Tangerine Orange. Retailing at around £70 for the secateurs and £32 for the holster

L-R: Evie James, Steph Dunn James,Henry James, CharlesJamesand Nick Dunn (third, fourth andfifth generation)celebrated as Frank PMatthews Treeswas awarded aGold forits exhibit bringingthe beautyand diversityofthe Malusgenus to theGreat Pavilion. AGold two year’s running is theicingonthe cakefor the companywhich is alsocelebrating 125 yearsin business.

theymakea quality, long-lasting gift for experienced and novicegardeners alike. Also newisanentrylevel range which Felcodescribes as agateway to discovering the heritage and durability of its products The company’s TomSullivan saysitwas using Chelsea to ‘test the water’.Retailingataround £30,theycome with atwo year-guarantee. In twosizes, Medium and Large, customers

TaylorsBulbs did it again and received aGold for itsdisplayofmorethan4000narcissusstems from 46 varieties. It’s33rdGold,itagainproves thecompany’s skillinbringingflowering cutstems to Chelseainmid-Maywhentheir naturalseason forblooming startsinJanuary. To ensurethere areenoughfor thedisplay, it grows15,000bulbs in controlled conditions to produce 6000 stemsto ensuretip topdisplays forthe Chelsea week.

canchoose from an anvil or bypassmodel. Packaging for the 171M and171L has adistinct whitebacking boardtoeasily differentiatein the retail setting

Bring in the bats

In contrast to the meters of spaceallocated to lighting in garden centres, The BatConservation Trust’sNocturnal Garden focused on agarden undercoverofdarkness. With apurple and deep pink plantingpalettelightened by pale yellow, plants were chosen to attract nocturnal insects, which in turn bring in the bats

It contained awealth of wildflowers but plantingconsultant Cecilia Sandrini,saysthe garden’scultivated plants would work well in a bat-themed display in any garden centre. Her

topfive plants are:

1. Linariapurpurea‘Canon Went’.Tall flowering perennial flowering in summer to earlyautumn.

2. Thymusfrom Turkey .Producing mounds of delicate pink flowers

3. Centaurea‘Jordy’. Anotherdark flowered choicewhich worksgreat as ‘pops’ofcolourin agarden.

4. AjugareptansBlack Scallop. Creeping evergreen, great in partorfullshade with dark purple leavesand purple flowerspikesinspring andearly summer

5. Viola‘BowlesBlack’.Velvety flowers with a yelloweye produced over along period.

Webb 39cm Petrol Lawnmower WER16DV130

Idealasafirstpetrolstep-upforhomeownersmovingfromelectric, thismodeldeliversdependablepetrolperformanceinalightweight, easy-to-handleformatsuitedtosmallerandmediumgardens. Forretailers,itisastrongentry-levelpetrolproductwithclearvalue positioning,appealingtocustomersseekinganaffordable,reliable mowerthatcombineseaseofusewiththebenefitsofpetrolpower.

C Cordless Larger Gardens

This40V47cmself-propelledlawnmoweroffers powerfulcordlessperformanceforlargerlawns,wiith 4Ahdualbatteries&charger,3-in-1cuttingversatility, LEDlights,anduprightspace-savingstorage.

SSP £419.99 TRADE SUPPLY: Contact

Suppliedwith30cmbrushcutter/linetrimmer, 20cmpolesaw,40cmhedgetrimmer,dual 4Ahbatteries,andcharger.

SSP £249.99 TRADE

Muchinterest was createdbythe Moongatefrom J-Class at the recent RHS Malvern Flower Spring Festival.

Garden design comes full circle

Offering timeless garden charm, theJ-Class Moongate redefines outdoorstructures.

While most garden structures simply occupyspace, the MoongatebyJ-Classredefines it. Moving away from the predictable lines of traditional arches, its circular silhouette bringsa sense of architectural permanence and organic balancetoany landscape. It is not merely aportal, but acarefully considered focal point.

Crafted from qualitypressure-treated softwood, the Moongateisengineered using curvedglulamtimber construction. This processallows the timber to follow aperfectradius without compromising structural integrity.The double-frame design createsastrikingsense of depth, offering landscapersand garden designers asophisticated waytoframe borrowed

views or createanatural transition between gardenrooms. Whether left to weather gracefully or used as astructural support for climbing roses, ivyorclematis, the arch retains its crisp geometricdefinition against the changing textures of the garden.

Forthe professional sector,including wedding venues and luxuryhospitality settings, the Moongateservesasaversatile installation. Its clean lines provide ahighimpact backdrop,working equally well as aminimalist stand-alone feature or as an ornatestructuredressed with seasonal flowers and lighting

Uncompromising quality

As partofthe wider J-Classportfolio, the Moongatereflects acommitment to

high-end gardenarchitecture.Fromrobust carportsand pergolas to elegant gazebos and durable larch planters, theJ-Class range stands for uncompromising quality and timelessBritish design. Everypiece is engineered for longevity,blending the warmth of naturaltimber with arefined, contemporary aesthetic.

Discover howJ-Classcontinues to provide homeowners andtrade professionals acrossthe UK with timber garden structures designed to endure beautifully.

To explorethe full J-Class range or placeanorder,visit the official J-Class websiteatj-class.co.uk or contact us on contact@j-class.co.uk

NapoleonPremium BBQs marks 50 yearsofexcellence with accelerated growth strategy and expanded UK team.

Napoleon Premium BBQs is proudly celebrating its 50th anniversary markingfive decades of innovation, design excellence, and passion for bringing people together through outdoor living

As theproudly Canadian-heritage brand reaches this significant milestone,itis doubling down on itscommitment to the UK market through an ambitious growth strategy focused on specialist retailerand garden centrefootprint expansion, enhanced retailer support, and elevated brand visibility

This strategy is being led by UK Country Manager,JoMcDonaldwho took on therole at thestart of the year.She brings awealth of sales and brand-building experienceto the team and is on amission to make Napoleon a household name.

“Napoleonissowell lovedbythose who know and haveused the brand, but it’sstilla hidden gem, saysJo. “Our products can truly elevate the home cooking experience and allowusers to be their ownfood heroes!”

Growing retailerfootprint

In the past year,NapoleonPremium BBQs UK hasmade substantialstrides in growing itsstockist footprintacrossthe UK,Ireland andNorthernIreland. This is supportedby agrowing retailer and consumerservice,as well as awarehouse and spareparts team, which offersaquick and reliable service to partners and endconsumers from the brand’sHQinCoventry

Forthe 2026 season Napoleon has startedtodevelop anetworkofexpert demo chefsand is proud to be working alongside BBQ personalities, Becky

MakingNapoleon famous

Prideaux, Jon Scaife and Kirsty Redden. They will work closely with retail partners to bring the brand to life in-store, delivering live cooking demonstrations and showcasing the trademarked features of Napoleon’sBBQs

Upgrades and newproducts

Complementing this approach is apipeline of continuously upgraded linesand newproducts to exciteUKgrillers.Recent launchesinclude the Apollo Smoker range, to appeal to both entry-level and experienced BBQ enthusiasts with its versatile multi-tier cooking system. Alongside, Napoleon has expanded its popular andfamily-allrounder Freestyle and Rogue range models, as well as introducing advanced ‘Connected’ grills such as the Prestige 500Connected 50th AnniversaryEdition, which combines premium build quality with smart technology and infrared cooking performance.

As Napoleon Premium BBQsUKcelebrates this landmark year,its focus remains firmly oninnovation, partnership, and delivering exceptional outdoorcooking experiences to customers acrossthe country.

To find out morevisit www. napoleon.com/en/uk/barbecues

Below: Forthe sixth year,Napoleon is the official sponsor of CarFest’sThe Big BBQ Cookout, at Silverstone Circuit, hosted by BBQ legends Samand Shauna wheremore than 20 celebrity chefsgrill over the August bank holidayweekend. Aligning with one of the UK’s largestand family-friendly festivals helps people see the product in action and gives Napoleon hugeamplification across social media. It alsosupportscommunity-focused foodie festivals FeastOn: Bristoland Cardiff.

The season of comfort and joy

Bramblecrestislookingahead andgrowing its product portfolioasitadvances towards full employeeownership.

Asthe outdoor living season comes intofocus, British-owned and designed garden furniturebrand Bramblecrest is looking ahead,building on recent industryfirsts andagrowing product portfolio. Among the latest developments is the newly launched Bramblecrest Bench, an updated takeonthe casual dining sofa bench. Speaking to GTN, Tim Pennell, Head of Sales, outlines howinnovation, growth andthe company’s move towards employee ownership areshaping its direction.

Thisspring marks threeyears since Bramblecrest began its journeyasan employee-owned business. Believedtobe afirst within theoutdoor furnituresector, the transition to employee ownership has giventhe company aclear framework for long-term growth.

“The move to employeeownershiphas acted as agrowth catalyst across the business,” says Tim,who has spent morethan20years heading up thecompany’s sales and marketing “That’sparticularly evident within our product development team.”

Recent seasons haveseen the introduction of an extensiveoffering of newdesigns, material combinations and colourways, alongside asteadily expanding range of premiumaccessories that support the core furniturecollections.

Consistent innovation

ForBramblecrest, innovation takes many forms– from industry-first designs, such as the adjustable-height casual dining table launchedalmost adecade ago –tomorerecent developments likethe Bramblecrest Bench.

Advances in production technology have also played arole. Developments suchas sintered stone table tops and heat-transfer processes that replicatenatural wood finishes continue to featureacrossranges, reflecting changing consumer preferences for durable, low-maintenancematerials.

Newranges, Prague and Maine, bothadopt adjustable-height tables and sinteredstone tops as well as the brand’ssignatureSeason-Proof cushions. Whilstbothfeaturealuminiumsubframes, Maine is distinguished by awood-effect, heat-transfer finish with rope back-detailing that combine to provide anatural aesthetic

Colour has also been afocus. The increasingly popular mocha finish withinthe Zurich collection responds to growing demand for warmer,moreneutralpalettes. The newSofia Textilene range nowoffers fivecolour options –the widest choice of colourways within asingle seating range from the brand to date.

Sofiaisdesigned with practicality in mind, offering durable, lowmaintenance sets with stackable chairs. Constructed using all-weather Textilene fabric with inherent comfort, there is no requirement for loose cushions or the associated storage.

Extensions across establishedcollections –including Zurich bar sets and L-shaped sofa configurations –are intended to giveretailers both broader options withinestablished ranges

and greaterflexibility when merchandising, while creating additionalopportunities for incremental sales.

Bramblecrest is also broadening its accessories offer,with twonew parasol products planned, alongside the recent launch of ownbranded cleaning and careproducts, enabling retailers to offer amorecomplete outdoor living solution.

Ownership benefits

Sincetransitioning to employeeownership in 2023, Bramblecrest hascontinued to invest in both the cultural and operational foundations of the business. Employees share the financial success of the company while also being encouraged to contributeideas and improvementsacrossthe organisation.

Quarterly awards recognise and reward stand-out performances by individuals who have clearly demonstrated ‘living’any one of the company’s core values. This supportiveculture is strengthened by the continued rollout of a structured management system.

“The commitments we makegivepeople a genuine sense of shared ownership,” Tim explains. “That createsconfidencetolearn, develop and challenge howwework –even when things arebusy.”

The provision of exemplarycustomer service remains akey focus,particularly against the backdropofwider market pressures and increased competition. Each trade customer is supportedbya dedicated sales representative,

an office-based trade account managerand bespoke online portal to allowreal-time self serve account management. This investment servicenot only drives efficienciesbut also deliversaseamlesscustomerexperience.

account manager and a online to allow real-time selfaccount management investment in service not fficiencies but

Recent research highlighted customer serviceasmarket-leading, reinforcedbyaNet Promoter Score (NPS) of 67,widely regardedas best-in-classwithin the B2B sector.

That advocacy is reflected in trading performance, with 20 newaccounts added in the past year and container sales up sevenper cent year-on-year, as the businesscontinues to anticipatefurther growth and market sharegains.

Staying visible

Close engagement with gardencentres, furniturespecialists and department store retailersremains centraltothe company’s approach. Annual researchshows thatmore than half of the brand’sstockistshaveworked with Bramblecrest for overten years.

Akey driverhas been the highly successful collection of gardenfurniturecreated as a licenseeofthe Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). Launchedin2025, the RHS by Bramblecrestcollection features three distinct rangescalled RHS Rosemoor,RHS Wisley and RHS Bridgewater,eachinspired by iconic RHS gardens in Surrey,Greater Manchester and Devon. These havebeen exceptionally well received, adding further credibility to its long-standing association with the RHS Chelsea FlowerShow, where Bramblecrest showcases its collection.

Earlierthisyear,the brand also supported a series ofin-storelaunchesatJohn Lewisstores in Milton Keynes, PeterJonesand Reading,with membersofthe sales team presentoverseveral days to assist with the rollouts and engage directly with customers.

Alongside this, social media engagement has continued to grow,with content focused on productcare, outdoor entertaining and seasonal inspiration, helping to support brand visibility further.Behind the scenes,additional services arebeing explored, including online

Designed to switch easily

Introducing the Bramblecrest Bench Designedtoswitcheasily between abackless bench anda fully supportiveseat, the Bramblecrest Benchuses two integrated backrests that store neatly within the seatbase when notinuse.

access to an expanded range of spareparts for trade customers

“Wegenuinely careabout shared success with ourcustomers,”says Tim. “It may sound obvious, but providing great products at the right price, supportedby the best servicewecan possiblyoffer,is fundamental to that.”

Three years intoits employee-ownership journey, Bramblecrest continues to position itself as apeople-focused business, investing in long-term thinking,collaboration and product development.Recentlaunches reflect aclear response to demand for contemporarystyling,durable materials and spaceefficient designs.

“Asabusinessbuilt around people –whether customers or employees –investing in trust and better day-to-day interactionsis strengthening the brand for thelong term.”

Timconcludes: “We’re nowaround halfway through the transition to full employeeownershipand slightly ahead of thegrowthtargets neededtoget there.”

Explorethe full Bramblecrest collection and the latestinnovations at www.bramblecrest.com

Forfurther information, please email amember of the Bramblecrest sales team at sales@bramblecrest.com

HARTMAN TMAN

Telford - TF1 7GP

DLF/JOHNSONS LAWNSEEDS

Inkberrow-WR7 4LJ

TOMCHAMBERS

Goole -DN146UE

SOLEX NationalExhibition 1NT National Exhibition Centre - B40 1NT

GREENKEY GARDEN &HOME

Lydney -GL154EJ

Showroomstovisit this Summer

As summer finally arrives,now is the time to be planning your showroom andshow visitsin preparation forthe 2027 buying season.

CELTICLEISURE

Newport-NP20 1EN

SMART GARDEN

Peterborough-PE7 3AG

WESTLAND

Alconbury- PE28 4HY

BRAMBLECREST

Gloucestershire-GL6 8GA

WOODLODGE

Tetbury- GL88YL

LEISUREGROW

Baldock -SG7 5HG

SMART GARDEN

Abingdon -OX143PL

ROYALGARDEN

Rochford-SS4 1YH

Bramblecrest

Whether we’veworked together foryears or you’re discovering Bramblecrest forthe first time,we’dlove to welcomeyou to our showroom in the heartofthe Cotswolds this June to exploreour latest collections, meetthe team and experiencethe brand in person.

If youhaven’t booked your visit yet, contact us to registeryour interest at sales@bramblecrest.com

Showroom at HQ Gloucestershire

Bramblecrest

Travel to theheartofthe Costwolds to exploreBramblecrest’s latestcollections, meetthe team and experiencethe Bramblecrest brand in person. Contact sales@ bramblecrest.com to arrange your visit.

CelticLeisure

By appointment only,comeand seeour rangeofaluminium pergolasdesignedfor UK gardens. Open from 8th –19thJune, please call0330133 9579 to make your appointment

Aluminium PergolasDesigned forUKGardens

We specialise in the design,manufacture, and supplyofpremium, weatherproofaluminium pergolas.Our core linesinclude motorised, retractable,and fixedwaterproofmodels engineered to withstand real UK weather conditions.

Celtic Leisure, Newport,NP201EN 8th-19th June ,byappointmentonly. Www.celticoutdoorleisure.co.uk 0330 1339579

DLF/JohnsonsLawnSeeds

Come and see theLivingShowroomofgrass seedthat has beendevelopedbyDLF / JohnsonsLawnSeedand you’ll have all the information you’ll need to makethe best lawn seedsalesfor 2027 and beyond. Phone01386 791113 E-mail:info@johnsonslawnseed.com

Greenkey Garden& Home

Visit theshowroomwithover500 products, the hiddengemsofheGreenkeygarden productsrange in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire..E-mail sales@greenkeygarden.co.uk to book your visit.

Hartman UK

Throughout June,Hartman invites buyerstopreview itsfull collection ahead of SOLEX in July.Featuring over 50 sets across 20+ranges, the showroom highlights comfort, innovativedesign, and exceptional quality. Carefully curatedtoinspire, the collection offersbuyersadistinctiveand exciting choicewhen selecting theiroutdoor furnitureoffering.

SHOWROOM: Hortonwood 7, Telford, TF1 7GP

Book ASmartVisit!

Opening August2026, discoverthe latest trends,inspiring displays and exciting product launchesinthe Smart Garden 2027Spring/Summer Main Range Showrooms with over 400 NEWdesigns! From innovativesolar lighting and stylish indoor/outdoor living to everything garden and gifting, our showroomsare alwayspacked with freshideas designed to help retailersmaximise sales. Contact your salesmanager to book your slottoday!

SmartGarden Products

2Pentagon South, Barton Lane,Abingdon, OxfordshireOX14 3PZ

Website: www.sgpuk.com

Email: sales@sgpuk.com

Hartman

Seethe Hartman2027collection in theirexclusiveShowroomPreviewsincluding fresh designsand sophisticated newcolourpalettes. By appointment only,atthe HartmanHQinTelford.Call 01952 231231

LeisureGrow

This month,LeisureGrow is throwingopenthe doorstoits LG Outdoor, Sanctuary and Grillstreamshowrooms, givingbuyersand exclusivefirst look at their exciting 2027 collections. E-mail trade@leisuregrow.comorcall01462 744500tobookyour visit.

RoyalGarden

Thenew Royalgarden Showroom,nearSouthend airport,opens itsdoors forthe first time in June,displaying aselectrange of garden furnitureand accessories, perfectly suited to UK independentfurnitureand garden retailers. Contactsalesuk@ mwhgmbh.de

Smart GardenAbingdon

Spend the whole dayreviewingthe entire Smartcollectionattheir AbingdonHQ. 5,000 sq ft of showroom andmeeting rooms await trade only visitors.Contact sales@sgpuk.com

Smart Garden Peterborough

Visit the Eurekabuilding in Peterborough to seethe twofloor, 6,000sqftSmart showrooms. Smarttypically add 400 newproductseach year,soits well wortha visit. Contact sales@sgpuk.com

Solex

24,870 sq mofOutdoor Living Productsunder one roof at theNEC,July7-9.Register nowatwww.solexexhibition.com/

Tom Chambers

TomChambers proudly presents arefreshedfurniturecollection forthe 2027 season, blending innovativeconceptswithtimeless favourites. Book your appointment by emailing sales@tomchambers.co.uk

Westland

Immerse yourselves in all the Westland brands to boost your sales anddiscover their latest innovations and marketing campaigns at theirbrand newAlconbury Showroom. Contactyour Westland sales representativetoarrange ashowroom visit.

Woodlodge

Discover the extensiverange ofWoodlodgepots and accessories plus theW Living range of outdoor furnitureinthe 20,000sqftshowroom. Contactshowroom@ woodlodge.co.uk

Showroom is open!

TomChambers proudlypresentsarefreshed furniture collection forthe 2027season, blendinginnovative concepts with timeless favourites.Designed forbothcontemporary and traditional gardens, each handcrafted range features distinctiveweave stylesthat add textureand character.Highlights include elegant bistrosetswith striking hourglasstables, alongside versatiledining and lounging sets incorporating integrated icebucketsfor effortless outdoor entertaining

Book your appointmentbyemailing sales@tomchambers.co.uk

TomChambersLtd

Showroom address: AWNielsen Road, Goole, DN14 6UE

Come and seeus...

Woodlodge Products, home to premium lifestyle brand WLiving, is the UK’s leading gardenware supplier.Since1987, the familyowned business has supplied over2,000 retailerswithgardenware, homeware and seasonal collections acrossWoodlodge,W Living, ROOT,Snowlodge and Heritage Garden Pottery,and is proud to be both GIMA and GCASupplierofthe Year

Woodlodge Products

Showroom Address-Unit 3, Babdown Airfield,TetburyGL8 8YL

Hartman opens its showroom doors throughout June, giving buyers the chance to preview the complete Hartman collection ahead of SOLEX in July With over 50 sets being showcased, from 20 plus ranges, you will be completely spoilt for choice!

The inspiring new collection has been thoughtfully curated, with an unwavering focus on comfort, innovative design, and exceptional quality Offering industry buyers an exciting point of difference when selecting their furniture offering

Call your Area Manager today to book your appointment or call us

Pleasestep on thegrass

In Worcestershire,DLF andits brandJohnsons Lawn Seed hascreated aliving catalogue of grass seed. Itsprofessionally managed pitches, fairways,creases and trials plots for garden lawns areopentothose workinginthe sporting, amenity andretailing sectorstosee first-hand theperformanceofgrass seed and different mixes.

With more than 300 grass cultivars sold in morethan80 countries acrossthe world, DLF is oneofthe world’sleading grassseed suppliers based in Smoerum, Denmark. It has unmatched experience and into everybox of lawn seed on retailers’ shelvesitpours a centuryofscience, breeding and trialling.

It’ssoil and climate make Denmarkthe perfect countryfor growing and producing grassseed, and DLF,a Danish agricultural cooperative, has been doing it for more than 100years. Owned by its farming investor shareholders, with many farms handed down overgenerations, it is run likeatraditionalbusiness. Overtime, it has builtonits agriculturalrootsand expanded to include professional sports and amenity seedbreeding. Acquisitions, including PGG Wrightson in NewZealand, have resulted in DLFnow supplying around 34%ofthe globes cold season grasses (grasses for temperate zones).

In the UK, DLF hasits headquarters in Worcestershirewhere, on morethan 35ha,

teamsofprofessional greenkeepers and trials expertswork alongside those in the mixing, bagging,boxingand despatching to distributefirst rate seed

Gardenretail is just one part of DLF’sremit alongwithprofessional amenity and agricultural industries. “Most people don’tappreciatethe scale, scope and technologybehind getting Johnsons LawnSeed into the box,”saysGuy Jenkins, Consumer Manager at DLF Seedsand Johnsons LawnSeed. “And it is not even the end product Theend product is thelawn.”

Assessing wildflowers for pictorial lawns

In thebreeding

All the work thatgoesonbehind the scenes to createpremium grassseed is, says Guy,ratherinvisible. Onceharvested, seed must be cleaned, dried, processed, and certified beforeit’sready forsale. But even beforethat, success depends on the gene pool.

Likeall plant breeders, DLF hasits own seed varieties which it uses for making crosses, but it also looks to nature for certaincharacteristics and abilities to overcomestresses thatmight benefit performancenow and in thefuture. “Grass isn’ta clone it’sapopulationand we do not and havenever used genetically modified organisms,”says Guy who cites an example of aSlenderCreeping RedFescue growing around Mount Saint Michel in Francewhich has good tolerancetoslightly salty water. And one of the first amenity perennial ryegrasswas found in NewYorks’Central Park! It also exhibitedgood shoot density, tolerancetowearand being continually mown and walked on. In anod to its

placeofdiscovery, it wasmarketed as Manhattan and wasavailablefor more than 20 years.

Much likethe breeding of ornamentals and for agrass seed cultivar to be commercially viable, it needs to be recognised, officially registered, protected, and prove itself to be distinct, uniform and stable. It’saslowprocess which Guy describes as ‘evolutionnot revolution’, often takingupto18years for aseed or mix to be commercially available.

Comparing grassfor agricultureto thatneeded for amenity illustrates the big differencebetween cultivars and technical know-howneeded to match the right mix to the right situation.

“Two types of perennial ryegrassmight be botanically the same, buttheydo completely different things–one is likea bonsai and one likeanoak.”

Delving deeper,thereare also tetraploid and diploid grasses –the formerwithfour sets of chromosomes, and the latterhaving twosets.

Chromosomes influence many things such as cell size, leaf width, disease resistanceand ability to regenerate andbothtypes havea placeinspecific situations. Tetraploid Amenity Perennial Ryegrasshas deeper roots,leadingto excellent drought resistance, better colour and from it’sresearch dogurine resistance. “TrialsinDenmarkhaveshown some roots to reach 1.5m in length –a usefulcharacteristicconsidering current climate trends. In times of drought,a lawn with ahigh percentage of perennial

Belowand right: TheTitan mixing and packing machinewill handle 650-700 tons of grass seeda month which equates to 500-600 bags an hour.Roughly 8000tons of seed goes through Titan. TheUKhandles 1200 SKUs plus special mixtures seed goes The UK handles

ryegrass will stay green the longest. Perennial Fescues willgobrown first, but their roots will happily wait until the next rains and quickly producegreen shoots again, so a lawn with amix of both is theideal. Guy is alsokeen to point out thereisalso an important distinction when it comesto selling seed as UK native.Althoughsome grassspecieslikered fescue arenativeto the UK, the seed sold todayisnot native stock, willmost likelyhavebeen produced elsewhere. This is also true of seed for pictorialmeadows and wildflowerlawns. Promoting seed as nativewhen it isn’t, is a trading standardsissue, and Guy warns that buyers and consumers need to be aware.

Home lawn considerations

Onesmall garden lawncan havemore environmental variationthen alarge agricultural field of sports pitch. Compaction duetoregular walking to awashing line, or shade from trees, dryareas near fencing or dampspaces in lowerlying areas, arewhy most lawn seed is amixtureofspecies. “Over time, one species mayfizzle out, but the remainderwillthriveand adapt and continue to give agreen, healthylawn,”says Guy And then, of course, thereistolerance todog urine. “Just beforethe covid pandemic,wehad sometrials with different concentrations of dogurine on our grass plots. We found that Tetraploid Amenity PerennialRyegrassisveryresistant and so we nowsellamix calledTuff Grass.”

Whenitcomes to mowing,some speciestoleratebeing cut better than others. “Fescues andbents cantakecloser mowing thanryegrasses, but [because of

Above:Specialistmixes arealsocreated for agricultural headlands and crop coverfor game birds

Below:Guy and Georgeare keen forretailers to visitthe LivingCatalogue and learn more about thesciencebehindgrass seed

TheUK headquarters in Worcester

breakthroughs in breeding]the gap has narrowed,”saysGuy.“Cutting thegrass regularly leadstoafiner leaf width. If youlet any grassgrow, generally (apartfromsome fescues) the leaf widthjust getsbiggerso regularmowing doesactually keep the lawn looking more attractive.”

So, what does Guy think of the current ‘No MowMay’campaign to leavelawns to theirown devices fora month? “It’sfine, but don’t necessarily do it for the whole lawn because youwill actually benefit one lot of wildlife at the expense of another,” he says. Ground feeding birds likeblackbirds and robins like ashortsward so theycan feed and keep an eyeout for predators.

At the end of the day,the type of garden lawnchosen by a homeowner and howtheymanage it is entirelydowntothem.The ranges from DLF and Johnsons Lawn Seed ensurethereisplentyof choicefor all. “It comes backtothe factthatthereisnoabsoluteright or wrong. If peoplewant perfect lines or anatural lawn, it’s still aplant areaproducing oxygen.You grow long,short, medium, or putcloverin it. Whateveryou decide, it’s fine.”

UK trials and theLiving Catalogue

DLF has the largest trials centrefor grassseed performance in the UK and willtest material from Ireland, France, Germany and the Czech Republic,toname afew.However, it also sends seed for independent trialling by the Sports Turf Research Institutewhich looks at the effects of close mowing as well as shootdensity,colour,and disease resistance

The Living CatalogueinWorcestershireisrelatively new and began life as aplan during the covid pandemic. “Before we opened the Living Catalogue, DLF mainlyhostedselect groups at itsR&D sitesinthe UK and acrossEurope,”says George Griffiths Marketing &Digital Communications Executive.“While these visits were valuable, we realised customers would understand and learn more about grass species and varieties if theycould see them in real-life situations and end-use environments.”

Nowinits second year,MattLewis, aformer green keeper and groundsman is responsible for maintaining the Living Catalogue and welcomeslawnmaintenanceprofessionals, privatecontractors, amenitysuppliers, retailers and sports clubs. As well as seeing the grassinsitu, DLF also offers trainingprogrammes.

Aseparateareaincludes squares of single mixand species andone devotedtoNature’sLawnand AceLawn. Thismix contains species and microcloverwhich Guysays shouldbe ahit with gardeners because the clover fixes nitrogen which becomes available to feed the grassand willgrowinnutrient poor soils. From an environmental point of view, the thick coverage of grassand micro clover helpstoreduceweeds and reduces the need to apply nutrient. From an ornamental point of view,italso staysgreen and will flowerifleft to grow above aregular mowing routine

Gardeners in Europe and professionals looking after stadiums in Finland havealready adopted the newmix but not all markets areconvinced. “There’sstill some work for us to do in theUK. Microcloverisanew concept with many benefits to lawns and sports fields, but we areeager to help consumers and retailers develop their knowledge of it,” says George.

Open for business

This month, LeisureGrow ProductsLTD is throwing open thedoors to its LG Outdoor, Sanctuary,and Grillstream showrooms,giving buyers an exclusivefirst look at the exciting 2027 collections.

Buyers areinvited to visitthe showrooms at LeisureGrow’s Hertfordshireheadquarters,where the latest LG Outdoor,Sanctuary, and Grillstream collections arebroughttolife across morethan 7,000m² of inspiring display space.

Designed to showcase everycollection at itsverybest, theshowrooms offer an immersive environmentwherebuyers and merchandisers can explorethe latesttrends, discover standout products, andgather freshideas to inspiretheir retailspaces and captivate customersfor theseasonahead

To arrange ashowroom booking or speak to our team, pleaseemail:trade@leisuregrow.comor phone 01462 744500 www.leisuregrow.com

LeisureGrow Products LTD, DewmeadFarm, New InnRoad, Hinxworth, Hertfordshire, SG7 5HG

Westland’s new showroom –a mustvisit for garden retailers

Simon McArdle,DivisionalDirector -Hardware, gives GTNa guided tour of thenew Westland Showroom at Alconburyjust offthe A1(M) near Huntingdon,Cambridgeshire.

Westland has unveiled amajor newshowroom at its Alconbury headquarters –investing more than £250k to inspirethe futureofUKgardening retail. Itsinvestment reflects Westland’slongterm commitment to helpingretailers grow thegardening categorythrough stronger merchandising,clearer shopper journeys and moreinspirational retail execution.

Spanning more than400m², the newspace bringstogether Westland’sbiggest brands, newest thinking and latest merchandising concepts under one roof,creating what is effectively alivewalk-through of modern gardening retail.

Designed as both acommercial hub and innovation space, the showroom allows customers to experiencehow Westland believes gardening categories should look, feel and perform in-store-fromlawncareand plant health through to houseplants, birdcare,

watering and tools.

“This isn’tsimply aproductshowroom,” explains Simon. “It’saspacebuilt by Westland to help retailers unlockgrowth. Gardening retail is evolving rapidly,and we wanted to createanenvironment wherecustomers can see newideas, challenge convention and have meaningful commercial conversations about the futureof the category.”

Every area has been built aroundreal shopper missions and categorygrowth opportunities. Visitors move through inspirational retail environments that bring together products,merchandising,branding andshopper communication in away designed to driveengagement and sales.

Large collaborativemeeting spaces and integrated digital presentation areas allowretail teams to workshop opportunities directly with Westland’s

commercial, categoryand marketing specialists -all basedon-site at Alconbury. The showroom is nowopen for appointments withgarden centre and retailpartners.

The showroom showcases dedicated zones for:

•Lawn careand grassseed solutions

•Plantfeedsand fertilisers including Boost and Big Tom

•Weed, pest and disease control led by Resolva

•Growingmediaand propagation

•Indoor gardeningandhouseplants

•Birdcarefor Peckishand Gardman

•Wateringwiththe latest FloPro merchandising concepts

•The full vision of aKent &Stowe tool shop

Displays to provide buyerswithupto dateinformation about growing media.

To arrange avisit, contact your Westland representativeoremail marketing@westland.com

Presenting newopportunitiesand easy deliveryoptions, the RoyalGardenrange has beenput together specifically for the UK market by familiar faces,Pauland James Cohen and Simon Whitehead. GTNwas allowed apreviewtothe showroom to findout what Paul, Sales Director UK,James, SalesManager UK andSimon, Operations Manager UK,have plannedfor this year and beyond.

Ranges to suit

Sincelast year,the UK team has been working behind the scenes to choose thebestproducts from asignificant portfolio of products created by Yotrio,the parent companyand aglobal leaderinthe production of garden furniture and allaccessories.

Selecting product has beenjust one part of the task, and finding asuitable location to display product wasanother.Itwas only in Marchofthis year that asitewas finalised enabling the UK team to startcreatingthe newshowroom which will be apermanent shop window and open all year round by appointment.

With around half the globalsales forthe company generated within theUSA and just under that in Europe, it wasclear to Paul that carefulselectionfor the UK marketwas required to tick the boxesofdiscerning UK gardeners andhomeowners andhit the rightpricepoints. Paul explains although the company’s largest European showroom is in Neuss, Germany,the emphasis on the newshowroom would be to display the bespokeranges for the UK market.

“Wehavebeen backwards and forward to Neuss, The FarEast, andthe showroom in Paris, to get the right product, and we areexcited to inviteasmany people as possible to our new showroom,”says Paul.

Exciting options

Furnitureranges so far include those madefrom aluminium, steel, wicker and rope. Some likethe Elegance SteelMesh range areofatraditional

Royalshowroom debut

Openingits doors for thefirst timethismonth, is thenew Royal Garden showroom near Southend Airport,displayinga selectrange of garden furnitureand accessories, perfectly suited to UK independent furnitureand garden centre retailers.

design, andfromthe original Thermosint manufacturing process, whereasthe Norden rangebringsa contemporary element to the selection.Inadditiontochoosingthe right items, James hasalsobeen working to bring elementstogether to make ‘families’which allow UK buyers to mixand match.

As well as the comprehensivefurniture ranges, RoyalGardenalsoofferspergolas, parasolsand bases,plusa fullrange of camping chairs andtables, contemporary modular outdoorkitchens, amatching range of eggchairsand some exciting newoutdoor storagesolutions.The beautyofhavingsuch acomprehensive, flexiblerange,meansRoyal Gardencan make it easy forbuyers to filla containerasall ranges can be mixed, whichis unique forsucha large rangeofproducts.

“Having this flexibilityisone of ourUSP’s andwillallowgardencentres to stockpick up

and go lines,”says Simon,while Paul adds: “And we areworking on adropshipment programme to make distributioninthe UK easy as well forthe heavier,morebulky items such as pergolas.”

Pricing is sensitiveatthe momentwith the cost of aluminium andartificial rattan which is oil based on the increase for everyone. Polyester,also oilbased,has also been affected. “Weare awarethataswell as introducingbrand newranges we need to be competitive, and we haveworked hardtostabilise things forour offersfor 2027,”says James. “Whatwe’re doing is solelyfor gardencentreand independent furniture businesses.Wecan offer them full supportfromour newUKlocation”

This is also backed up by asales team on theroad currently making appointments for buyers to visitthe showroom, and RafaelRosales,Marketing DirectorEU, who is also the RoyalGarden Brand &Category ProjectLeader,bringing his knowledgeand experience of the UK furniture industry.

APoint-of-Sale design service is being established,and aBrand Portal so stockists can download and print everything they need includinginstruction manuals.Royal

Gardenisalsodeveloping an app to make ordering easy,and thewebsite will in time have adedicated area for UK products.

“Wehavechosen what we believe arethe best items with thebest price points,”saysSimon. “Notonlydowe want to be able to offer themost flexibility out of anycompany,wealso want to have the most competitive range. It’sanexpensive exercisetomix containers, but we’vesorteditwith thebackingofthe global company, andI thinkcan approach themarket with agoodbalancebetween pricing andflexibilitywhich is so important.”

offering

Thepowerbehind RoyalGarden

Based in China, Yotrio wasset up in 1992 as afamily business. The companybegan with parasols, closely followed by gazebosin1995 andgardenfurniturein2003.

Thecompany hasmanyfactories acrossAsia with an emphasison responsible production, something that hasalways been important to theUKteam. Although the products aremadewithstate-of-the-art precision machinery, thehandmade touchisstill called upon forwicker weaving andcertain painted productsthatneedextra attention to detail

Beingbacked by suchalarge, reputable company, Royal Garden can’taffordtocut corners especially when it comestoenvironmental andsocialresponsibility.So, when thecompanypublishes targets to reduce greenhouse gasemissions, it is serious about reaching them throughresponsibleprocurement, energy saving, electrification and increased use of green energy

An ever-increasing emphasis is placedonresearch, development, design andtesting.With itsown product testingand inspection centreall items arecertified and tested before production.

To arrange an appointment to view the full range please contact your local representative, or: James: james.cohen@mwhgmbh.de Simon: simon.whitehead@ mwhgmbh.de

General Enquiries: salesuk@ mwhgmbh.de

Essentialdates for the diary as the2026 gardening and flower showseasongets under way.

Summer Shows

HTANational Plant Show

17- 18 June

NAECStoneleigh, Warwickshire

www.hta.org.uk/national-plantshow

BBC Gardeners’ WorldLive

18-21 June

NECBirmingham www.bbcgardenersworldlive. com

Blenheim PalaceFlower Show

19-21 June

Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire www.blenheimflowershow co.uk

Spoga+gafa 2026

22-24 June

Koln Messe, Cologne, Germany www.spogagafa.com

SOLEX 2026

7-9 July

NECBirmingham www.solexexhibition.com

Summer Shows

Ball Summer Showcase2026 7-9,14-16,21-23 July

Milton Road, West Adderbury,Oxfordshire www.ballcolegrave. co.uk

RHSBadminton FlowerShow 8-12 July NEWFOR 2026 Badminton, South Gloucestershire www.rhs.org.uk

HarrogateHome& Gift Buyers Festival 19-22July

Harrogate Convention Centre,North Yorkshire www.homeandgift.co.uk

RHSSandringham FlowerShow 22-26 July NEWFOR 2026 SandringhamEstate, Norfolk www.rhs.org.uk

garden centrecatering

In anew series forGTN,CarolineBenjamin,Founder of Food AllergyAwareoffers supportsogardencentre catering teams candriverevenue throughinclusion.

Garden centres havelong been morethan just retail spaces; theyare destinations of choice. Customers visit not only to shop,but to relax, meet friends and spend time enjoying the environment. At theheart of this experience sits catering.When customers arefed and watered, they stay longer —and crucially, theyspendmore

But what happens when acustomer can’teat safely because of food allergies or intolerances? Will theywalk away and not spend in theretail? From personal experience, Ihavewalked into venues, reviewedthe offering,and left without ordering,not by choice, but because of alack of communication. I could not be assured the food wassafe.

Many of your customers will have done thesame. Theywill havebeen unabletofind clear allergeninformation, experienced staff lackingconfidenceto answer questions, and menus that feel restrictiveorunclear.Insome cases,they simply leaveand that is lost revenue… butget it rightand food hypersensitive customers (FHS) will become some of your most loyal visitors, returning regularly because they trustyou.

With over adecade of industry experienceand lived experienceoffood intoleranceFood AlleryAware works acrosssectors including hospitality, healthcareand increasingly,gardencentre cafés and restaurants. Our focus is simple: to help businesses serve FHS customers safely,confidently and inclusively,without compromising commercial success.

Who is the food hypersensitivecustomer?

The FHS customer includes anyone who needs to avoid certain foods for medical or health reasons. This spans:

•Food allergies (e.g.peanuts,milk,eggs)

•AutoImmune Disease (Coeliac)

•Foodintolerances (e.g.dairy, gluten, sulphites)

•Lifestyle-driven exclusionswherecrosscontaminationmay still be aconcern

While much focus is placed on gluten-free, it oftensurprises businesses to learnthatmilkisthe most common allergens, frequently more prevalentthan gluten in food allergy cases.The question is:“Areyour menus, processesand teamsset up to cater confidentlyfor this customer group?”

Cultivating confidence

Inclusivecateringisnot justabout compliance,itisabout confidence, trust andopportunity.Whenyou create an environment whereevery customer feels safe to eat, youdon’t justmeet expectations, youexceed them.And in doing so,you unlock one of themost valuableopportunitiesingardencentre retail:customers whostay longer,return often, andspend withconfidence

Howwesupport garden centres

We work with gardencentre

catering teams to:

•Reviewand improve Food Safety ManagementSystems (FSMS)

•Strengthen allergen policies andprocedures

•Createclear,accurateallergen matrices

•Train teams to communicate confidently with customers

•Identify safe opportunitiesfor upselling

Akey message we reinforce is thatyour FSMS andallergen documentation should be workingdocuments, not files that sit on ashelf. So,ask yourself,when did youlast reviewyour FSMS?Has your team read and understood them and areyour standard operating procedures (SOP) clear and usable?

Regular internal audits,team briefings andmanagementreviews areessential to ensuresystems arebeingfollowedin practicenot justwritten down

Theopportunities

Over the next 12 months, articles will explorea rangeoftopicsaround food safety and food allergen awarenessand provide practicaland actionable guidance. From back-to-basicsfood safety through to upselling,customer communication and supplier solutions, we will ensure that everygarden centre customer has agood experience.

Upselling

Garden centrecatering thrives on add-ons like pickles, relishes sauces, toppings and sidesbut these toocan introduce hidden allergen risks. Introducing items for sale which youoffer in the restaurant will encourage the FHS customer to purchase and return to purchase these good quality items e.g savouryitems, sausagerolls and pies, cakes and brownies. Because when FHS customers find safe, exciting options, theycome back with friends and family,and theyspend!

Through the articles, we will explore:

•How to include add-ons clearly within allergen matrices

•Safe communication techniques for front-of-house teams

•Managing crosscontamination at condiment stations

•Turning ‘can Ieat here?’into ‘what else can Ienjoy?’

•Labelling– checking your suppliers forcompliance

Suppliers and solutions

Youdon’thave to do this alone.Wewill introduceyou to arange of suppliers, products and services that canhelp makeyour offering more inclusive, including:

•Free-from product suppliers

•Labelling and allergen softwaresolutions

•Training resources and supporttools

We will also explorethe pros and cons of allergen matrix software, includingcommon pitfalls because while digital tools can be powerful,theyare only as effectiveasthe data and processes behind them.

Food

safety: back to basics done well

Strongallergen management sitswithin strong food safety.The aim is not to overcomplicate, buttoensure systems areclear,usable and consistently applied. Future columns will cover:

•What arobust FSMS should include

•The importanceofSOPs and staffunderstanding

•Practicalaudit tools for managers

•Managing risk across storage, preparation and service

Customer communication: confidenceiskey

We want to hear from you

ForFHS customers, communication is everything.Confidence at thecounter translates directly into customerconfidence.Wewillsharepractical guidance on:

•How to askthe right questions

•How to explain what youcan, andcannot do safely

•Buildingtrust throughhonest,consistent messaging

•Supporting front-of-houseteams with scripts and prompts

Allergen certification: building trustand ROI

Done properly,certification is not just acompliance tool, it candifferentiateyourbusinessand drivereturn on investment.We will alsoexploreallergen certification:

•Whatitinvolves

•How it validatesyourprocesses

•How it can supportreputation and customer trust

Upskillingyourteam

Awell-trainedteamisyourgreatest asset and there aremany free resourcesavailable.Investingtime in theseresourceshelps build staff confidence, consistency in serviceand asafercustomerexperience. To supportthe sector, we providefreeresourcestohelp upskillstaff,includingour #AllerJanuarytoolkit, designedtohelp businesses reviewand improve theirprocesses at thestartofthe year.Thisincludes free access to online recorded webinars ranging from coffee shop allergen managementtoFreeFrom labelling.

This column is heretosupportyou. If there areareas of allergen management or food safety,you arestruggling withortopics youwould likeustocover we encourageyou to getintouch.Yourquestions and the answerswegivecan help shape content thatnot only benefits youbut also the wider garden centrecatering community.

Food Allergy Awareisa specialist training and consultancy business supporting hospitality and catering operatorstoimproveallergen management,foodsafetysystems and customer experience. Canwehelp? Email: Caroline@foodallergyaware.co.uk or telephone: 07732637292.

Createanexperience, don’t just sell aproduct

John Stanley,Sid Raischand Dries Jansen on waysto make your customers enjoy amemorable experience.

The world of retailing has, and is, changing rapidly.Some retailers focus on selling products, others on creating memorable experiences and getting customers to Buythe Dreamrather than Buy theProduct. Retailers must decide which model suits their businessand the keyisnot to get stuckinthe middle. Whetherintentional or accidental, an experienceisbeing created. The question is more about whether it is amemorable experience, and whether it is positiveornegative

Beforedelving intoexperientialretailing,it’s important to ensureall experiences are‘on brand’. In other words, theexperiencerelatestoyour values. The keyistomakethe customer experience memorable. Youwant themtotalk to their friends about youand for them to becomemoreloyal to yousoprovide activities thatengage them and have stories intertwined with your brand

Startwiththe journey

Customers should walk through retail zones with eachzone ideally providing a different experience.This can be achievedby merchandising designs, colours, music, and space allocations, but youmust keep on brand. IKEA is brilliant at achieving this and garden centres candothe same. Vignettedisplays to bring ideas to life such as APollinators Paradise or aCurb Garden aremoreengaging than rows ofplants

Contextual retailingisaseasonal event, as is gardening. Gardens change withthe seasons, andsoshould agardencentre. This is agreat opportunity to revitalise your centreata minimumofevery threemonthsand up to six timesa year

The Go To gardencentre

Your aim should be to be the local Go To garden centre. This means engaging with suppliers to launchnew releases at your store, hosting gardenclasses (but youneed to get your topicright) or having livedemonstrations, for example, showing customers howtobuild agardeninaweekend Engagingwith the community mayalsoinclude hosting localart festivals, farmers’markets or other community-based events.

Accept thefuture

Theconsumer is splitting into twogroups. Onewillalways want to go to agrid layout store, pick up plants from benches based on price. Theothergroup areseeking an experience,makingtheirjourney meaningful. The boxstoresare cateringtothe first group exceptionally well and independent garden centres need to focus on the second group of customers.

Formoreinformation

contact John on email: john@johnstanley.com.au

Amendment

Howtocreate interactiveexperiences

•Experiences arebased on emotions and customers can touch, smell, hear,and tastewill all add to the experience. Create workshopsinthe coffee shop to combine food and plants, and workshopssuchasGardentoPlate to bring gardening together with the food preparationand cooking.

•Product sellers tell youwhat it is and howmuch it will cost while anticipation sellers often sell morebecause they create anticipation. Marks &Spencerdoes this exceptionally well in itsfresh produce department. When it comes to merchandising,don’t just sell theproduct. Take and Make Kitsallowyou to bundle products and remove price sensitivity

•You can createa paradise for the consumer,but people buy from people,and the team makesabig differencetothe averagesale. The consumer expects aPlant Doctor, aPlant Guru and engaging service, all from the same person. Once youhavethe right team,you need to care for them.

•Explorehow AI canpersonalise the customer experience.

Clothing stores arenow using smartmirrors andQRcodes are an idealway to communicate stories aboutplants and howto carefor them.

•Customers arealso looking for Instagrammable moments.Have these located around the store and make sureyour name is visible in the photograph.

We appreciateyour feedbackonthis series of articles. In articleone, we mentioned that thefirst garden centrewas developed in 1955.David Green, owner of Primex Garden CentreinPennsylvania, reminded us that his grandfather set up agardencentrein1943. David still operates Primex Garden Centreasa family business.

Floralspectacular at Chelsea

Highlights from the Great Pavilion at the RHSChelsea FlowerShow.

Plants beginning with Hwerethe favourites at the RHS Chelsea Flower Showthis year,with themuchanticipated winner of the 2026 RHSChelsea Plant of the Year awarded to ahosta. Unusual with itsdeep redstems andvariegationof the same on the leaf, Hosta ‘Red Ninja’ was exhibited by Sienna Hosta in Surreyand is the first time ahostahas takenthe crown. Young stock is being grown and bulked up by Fairweather’s Nurseryin Hampshirewith plants ready for garden centre sales in 2028

Bred by Ninja Kramer,thisnew cultivar brings anovel colour to the assortment of hostawith theflushed redin theleaves intensifying with ageand exposure to dappled light or gentle sun. Blending well in mixed borders, Hosta ‘Red Ninja’ is also astandout plant on its owninacontainer, where its summer flowers in atypicallavendershadeare also held on redstems.

Silver and bronzefor Ruby and RedLace

Ground coverhydrangeas aregaining popularityasretailers andgardeners learn howtoget the most from theirnaturally compact andlow spreadinghabit Hydrangea paniculataGROUNDBREAKER® RUBYtook second placeexhibited by Hare Spring Cottage Plants in Devon. As its name suggests, blooms which initially areacreamy white,turn redin latesummer.Blooms put on ashowfromJulySeptember and beyond. Forgardeners wanting alow maintenance plant,thisnew hydrangea is adefinite contender,reaching aheight of 40cm and spread of 80cm.

AvailableinBlue DiamondGardenCentres, is thethird-placewinner Hydrangea VELVET NIGHT REDLACEwithstriking deep red, almost blackfoliage. Its vibrantcrimson lacecapflowers add another layer of bold interest.Initially plants areexclusive to Blue Diamond,but after oneyear plants will be morewidely available.

Shrub rose ’Sir DavidBeckham’ has deeply cuppedbloomsofwhite with ahint of yellow. Bred by DavidAustinRoses, the fragrant flowers openand becomeflatterastheyage Plantsare highly floriferouswithmultiple blooms on one stem.

Launched to celebratethe partnership between Blue Diamond Garden Centresand DiddlySquat Farm Shop, is anew rose called ‘Diddly Squat Farm Rosé’. Upright bushes produce apricot-orangeblooms.

Harkness Rosescontinues itswork supporting theElton John AIDS FoundationaddingRosa WATFORD FOREVERtoits range. Displaying thesquad coloursofSir Elton’sfavourite football club,its unusual two-toneblooms represent abreakthrough in rose breeding

Eye-catching gently furledpetals of deep coralinside and palepink on theoutside, helpedthe BBC ‘The One Show20thRose’ stand outonthe display from PeterBeales With goldencentres, this floribuna can reach aheightof90cm. Proceeds from saleswill supportBBC Children in Need.

Garden furniture keeps movin

– but on tougher terms

Gina Hinde, LOFA General Manager

It seems the outdoor living industry is becoming moreand moreadeptat dealingwiththe economic crises that have hit our shores overthe pastsix years. As an industryitisusually theweather that causes us the most grief;however, current global events now seem to be far more changeable than the weather Product is still flowing in from China, yet Middle East relateddisruption is addingtime, cost and uncertainty to the supply chain forUK and European outdoor living manufacturers. Aluminiumprices havejumped and areat multiyear highs, due to supply distruption, as the Gulf region produces close to 10% of global aluminium, most of which movesthrough theStrait of Hormuz. Polyethylene (plastic) is directly tied to oil prices, which have also risen significantly duetothe MiddleEastwar As aresult, cost prices of outdoorfurniture manufactured in theFar East havetypically risen in theregion of 5-10%, and we areseeing similar pressurefromEuropeontransport, with current increases typically in the region of 10-15%.

Shipping routes

The securitysituation in theMiddle East is continuing to affectkey Asia-Europe shipping routesand,asaresult, outdoorlivingproducts from Chinatothe UK andEurope. Escalating tension is disrupting themain Asia–Europe shipping corridors, and this is now being felt in imports from China. Major carriers arediverting

vessels away from themostaffectedchoke points,increasingtransit distances, voyage times andfuel consumption, andputtingpressureon capacity on theremainingroutes into Europe and theUK.

Freightforwardersreportthatshippinglines have beenrepricingservices for sailings from mid-March 2026 onwards, withhigher baserates andthe potential foradditional surchargesat comparatively shortnotice. Sailing schedules

moving

for March and April were adjusted as services were rerouted,tightening space andincreasing thelikelihoodofcontainers being rolledtolater departures wherevesselsare full In parallel, war-risk insurance and other risk related charges on ships using alternative routes areadding further pressuretoocean freightcosts

Cost implications

Although individual contracts, lanesand buying strategies differ by importer, thereisaclear upward trend inspot rates on Asia-Europe services compared with pre-ChineseNew Year shipments, alongside longer and lesspredictable lead times Typical seafreight transit times for China-UK movements that would be around 30-40 days in more stable conditions are now extending beyond that rangeoncererouting and portcongestion aretaken intoaccount. For UK manufacturers and importers, thepractical effectishigher landedcosts andaneed to build inmore time, flexibilityand contingency when planning spring-summer deliveries, rather than an outright inability to import

There are risks that come with importing, which we areall awareof. Pulling orders forward to beatpeakfreight pricespikes is arisk because, if the sun does not shine, businessescan be left with excess stock –a situation that harkens back to the years following Covid. Accepting higher spot rates on containers or paying premiums for guaranteed spaceonlyerodes already tight margins With such volatility it is sometimes very difficulttoknowwhich waytomove.

From LOFA’s perspective, product is still flowing,but it is movingonlonger, more expensiveroutes andwith lessschedulereliability thanbuyers were used to beforeChinese New Year 2026 LOFA will continue to monitor developmentsand shareupdatesasthe situation evolves. In the meantime, it is important that expectations on timing and cost reflect the realities of the current trading environment

To find out more about LOFA or enquire about membership, please visit www.lofa.co.uk

Puttingona show

g on a

Will Armitage, HTAPresident

One of the most exciting and unique opportunities youget as the President of the HTAisan invitation to thePresident’sPress Day lunch at theRHS Chelsea FlowerShow; I’mnot going to lie, it wasfabulous!

As aresult, Igot to see the showbefore the crowdsarrived. Between 7am and 12noon on the opening day,Iskipped around the show, getting up close to the plants, gardens, gardeners, designers, and landscapers. It’s an amazing experience, as youget to see so many people from the industry. Ieven bumped intoGTN’sveryown Trevor Pfeiffer, who gotmetopose for aphotoatthe David Austin Roses stand by the newrose ‘Sir David Beckham’!

Hobnobbing

Now, whilst Igot to rubshoulders with the great and good (sorry,did Ialready mention that?!), the HTAPolicy,Public Affairs and Media teams were also very busy throughout the whole Chelsea FlowerShowWeek. Theywelcomed international delegates, parliamentarians, media and industry representatives to discuss the importance of our sector and thepressures facing our member businesses. Theyevenmanaged to get MPs’ hands dirty,aspartofagardening workshop,bringing ChelseatoWestminster

Reflections

While at the showand sinceIgot back,

themost common question I’ve been asked is: “Was this year’s Chelsea better than last year?” The answer is quitesimple. Last year’s Chelsea FlowerShowwas last year; this is what we havethis year.The gardens looked fabulous Icould hear the ‘oohs’and ‘aahs’from people as theywalked past. The attention to detail wasincredible,the quality of the plants and planting wasexcellent and the designs were inspirational. Butthe best thing of all is that because it’sonprime time TV everyday for aweek in the run up to potentially the busiest bank holiday weekend of the year for ourretail members -otherindustries would happily hand overusefulbut non-essential partsoftheir anatomy for an opportunity likethis! Ijusthopeyou areall showcasing your ‘as seen at The RHS Chelsea Flower Show’ plants for customers to snap up.The gardens seen on the TV coverage really are ourshop windows; customers draw their inspiration and enthusiasmfromthem

Onething Idid pick up on wasthat a numberofnurseriesweretalking about how theywould be able to produce the plants required for next year,when the showwill be 100%peatfree. Time will tell, but HTA members canaccessthe work we have done so far on adapting to peat-freeand the HTA’sregional events -especially my Business Improvement Scheme group, which

spends quiteabit of time swapping insights and solutions to the issues we areall facing on the subject.

As good as Gold

Finally,Iwant to send aheartfelt congratulations to all our members who madethe magichappen at Chelsea this year There were umpteen gold, silver-gilt and silver medals for ourlandscapers, designers, growers,suppliersand retailers who were involved in three-quarters of theshow gardens this year,aswell as tradestands and exhibitorsinthe famous Great Pavilion.

And while we’reall still on aChelsea high, just areminder…it’sFather’s Daynext, an ideal time to stockuponGiftCards, barbecues, and Dad’sshed stuff

Find out more

TheHorticultural Trades Association is the UK industry’s leading membership organisation and welcomes all sectorsofenvironmental horticulture.

To learn more,pleasevisit www.hta.org.uk or to enquire aboutmembershipplease email: membership@hta.org.uk