Houseplants = Happiness

As someone who started their career in houseplants there is something incredibly exciting about seeing retailers getting so excited about their houseplant offer. Sales of houseplants are soaring, and captivating a new generation of gardeners. But so many Garden Centres are missing out on this trend, with tired displays that lack relevance and wow. Our…

New thinking in Garden Retail

We were fortunate enough to be invited to a preview event for the RHS Garden Wisley Plant Centre and Gift Shop. The new Plant Centre is light, airy, confident and sophisticated. it lives out the RHS values with regards to sustainability, from the environmental credentials of the build, through to the reduced use of plastic, the…

The new RHS Garden Wisley Plant Centre is taking shape

The new RHS Garden Wisley Plant Centre is taking shape Here is a first look of this major new development, which is scheduled to open on in the second week of June. Interesting features are the structures to provide shade, and what look to be structural elements for plant displays, along with plant benches ready…

Dogs in cafes?

Do you allow dogs in your cafe? Should you allow dogs in your cafe? Generally there are no food hygiene/cross contamination issues, and our dog loving customers love to be able to bring their dogs to the cafe. Deepdale Garden Centre, in Lincolnshire bake dog biscuits for their canine customers, while others sell dog beer…

The magic is back

#themagicisback That is Tong Garden Centre’s Christmas hashtag, which accompanies their TV advert, portraying the role that Tong plays in creating the perfect Christmas… While Timmermans Garden Centre is taking the magic further with a new twist on Santa, – Afternoon Tea with Santa It is also worth noting Timmermans also have the circus in…

10 Ways to attract Millennials to your Garden Centre Cafe

Here is the latest feature we have written in our 10 Ways series for Garden Centre Catering. (The link will take you through to the latest edition of the magazine) 10 Ways to attract Millennials to your Garden Centre Cafe  Just click on the image below to read the feature… And if you are looking…

10 Lessons to learn from a visit to Barton Grange Garden Centre

Barton Grange Garden Centre continue to push boundaries in Garden Retail. Recent visits reveal a strategic desire to communicate that this is a place that is all about plants. A place that is engaged with its customers, a place that is fun, vibrant, and most important of all relevant to them… Here are the 10…

Blue Diamond’s East Bridgford Garden Centre sets new standards in Garden Retail

Blue Diamond’s website boasts “our groundbreaking flagship garden and home centre is now open at East Bridgford, with over 81,000ft2 of undercover shopping to discover. The new Blue Diamond centre also boasts two beautiful restaurants – Cafe Home & Garden and The Greenhouse Kitchen, where all our food is always homemade. “We offer our customers aspirational environments in which to…