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…

Facing up to Xylella fastidiosa

There can be little doubt that this is the gravest threat facing the whole of UK horticulture from growers to garden centres, from botanical gardens to landscapers. We have Gathered together some information on Xylella here. Advice for the HTA, this is a link to the Xylella page on the HTA website. Advice from the…

What we can learn from a bicycle

Brompton make amazing folding bikes that just work.

Their MD has taken the company from 24 staff to 240 staff.

He has turned Brompton into a global brand.

Here he shares his amazing story…

Thirsk Garden Centre supports local growers

At one time every Garden Centre consultant would be telling you that the answer lay in being more corporate, copying what the big players were doing and never, ever, should you handwrite signage. Today however we have ripped up the rule book and we celebrate the small producer, the artisan and the independent. So, we…

Interesting information for buyers and marketing plans…

We help several Garden Centres with their marketing and so are always on the lookout for factual information about how people use their outdoor spaces… The RHS have just published the results of a recently commissioned a survey on 2,000 adults across the UK, looking at their thoughts about gardening and growing plants. The RHS…

Marketing Weeks offer us a huge opportunity!

Marketing Weeks and Special Interest Days offer all Garden Retailers the opportunity to boost footfall, have fun, and increase sales. At Waring Stewart Towers we have been busy compiling a list of days for Garden Retailers. To download the list click here: Marketing Weeks If you would like help to create a 12 month marketing plan…

Congratulations to the top 25 Garden Centres for food.

The Telegraph Newspaper has published its list of the top 25 Garden Centres for food.

There are some superb Garden Centres listed here, and many more out there doing great things with fresh local ingredients…

Just click on the image to be taken the feature.

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What we have to do

We will report more on the themes of John Stanley’s presentation in due course. However he finished with a powerful quote from Claude Bissell Risk more than others think is safe. Care more than others think is wise. Dream more than others think is practical. Expect more than others think is possible.   Powerful words.

10 Great ideas from Chelsea to use in your Garden Centre today! #4

We know that customers are interested in our green message, the green stories we can tell about our products and what we are doing to help wildlife…

So we loved this sign at Chelsea.

Just imagine a display at the entrance to your centre that could say this…

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We saw this today in Seth Godin’s Blog – What does your brand stand for?

Some very wise words from Seth Godin, one of our heroes at Waring Stewart Associates and the Garden Centre Blog. “What does your brand stand for? If you tell me about service and quality and customer focus, you haven’t answered my question, because a hundred other brands stand for that. If you are what others…