Allergen labelling inadequate – Lessons to learn…
There are vital lessons to learn in Garden Centre Catering from the tragic death of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse…
Click on the headline below for the full story on the BBC website…
There are vital lessons to learn in Garden Centre Catering from the tragic death of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse…
Click on the headline below for the full story on the BBC website…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Just a thought… I am sat in a coffee shop, part of a chain, and am watching one of the members of staff copying the answers from her managers workbook. So, I am now pondering, and not for the first time, what is training… If it to.. Set standards Ensure consistency Motivate staff Improve quality…
One of the interesting comments made at a Catering Forum by Costas Constantinou, ex Head of Catering at The Garden Centre Group. We took the fish and chip offer at £5.99 and changed from frozen to fresh battered fish and raised the price to £8.99 and tripled sales. Our consumers want us to be constantly improving their…
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.
Like many people at Waring Stewart Towers we receive the John Lewis marketing email. In todays email is a link to their Sheffield Store, which is celebrating its 50th birthday. They are doing this by holding workshops, These allow them to Gain credibility as experts Engage customers Give customers a reason to visit (which is…
So is it a genuine mistake? Is it that the staff do not care? Is it that the staff are not trained? Were the staff just too busy? So the question is, if these teacakes were on display in your coffee shop how would you react. After all it even says remove the film?…
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…
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…