First look at new RHS Garden Wisley Plant Centre
The new RHS Garden Wisley Plant Centre on a damp morning just three days from opening.
First thoughts
Fabulous plant range
Traditional layout
Very much looking forward to seeing it once it opens…
The new RHS Garden Wisley Plant Centre on a damp morning just three days from opening.
First thoughts
Fabulous plant range
Traditional layout
Very much looking forward to seeing it once it opens…
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…
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…
So what has gone so badly wrong wrong with retail? House of Fraser BHS Debenhams Mothercare Maplin The list could go on… Undoubtedly there is a mix of factors. There is Business rate increases, then there is high rent retail units, then of course there is the Brexit effect on the £ and the huge…
Garden Centre giant Wyevale have published their take on the trends that are going to shape 2018. Interesting reading… Nano gardening,housepolant mania, eco gardening and the al fresco dinner party are all gaining strength. But there is a new type of gardener, and new rules of engagement… A fascinating read… “Gardening is increasingly recognised as…
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 is the best career based decision you ever made? Mine, was to study for the RHS Master of Horticulture Award. The letter informing me I had passed the Master of Horticulture popped though my letterbox some 33 years ago and the Master of Horticulture is still opening doors for me today. With the closing…
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…
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…
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…
It would seem that not all is plain sailing in the world of the large chains at the moment. As they grapple with their accounting issues there is increasing speculation that Tesco may be forced to offload Dobbies to concentrate on its core business. And as Guy Hands tells the Evening Standard, that Terra Firma has moved Wyevale…
Have you seen the interesting and thought provoking article by Alan Titchmarsh in The Daily Telegraph about Why don’t people respect gardeners? (To view the article just click on the image) I could not agree more with Alan’s argument here. In my horticultural career I have travelled and worked with researchers at various botanical gardens,…
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…
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.
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.
We are waiting to hear the latest wisdom from garden retail guru John Stanley at GLEE 2013.
Not long now…
We will share his key thoughts online later today.
Do you ever have staff meetings in your coffee shop? I am currently away from Waring Stewart Towers and working in the lounge of a Hotel, where they are having their Christmas Planning Staff Meeting. The Food and Beverage Manager is discussing crackers and whether to go for cheap or expensive ones, they decided their…
It is a good question. Perhaps it could be the subject of a workshop or break out session topic at an HTA or GCA conference. The answer is simple… As a techie I was glued to my laptop last might as Apple revealed their latest product developments. Tim Cook their big boss said. Its not…
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…
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…