UK: Earley Ornamentals shares plans for 2018
With time-poor consumers chasing instant colour and garden spaces changing year-on-year, consumer behaviour and buying habits are evolving.
Next Generation Gardening
Smaller gardens mean options like window boxes and containers, vertical gardening and easy care, dig-free planting are on the up. Retailers are looking to attract a new gardening generation - younger, less experienced gardeners who may require more information and advice yet are keen for instant impact.
As a result, growers are turning to lower, count packs to create larger, ready-made containers of mixed plants already showing flower.
An ageing population is also highlighting commercial opportunity among the over 50s who are benefitting from their economic security. With the affluent over 50s taking a more active approach to retirement, garden retailers are most definitely looking to focus their attention on the ‘grey pound’.
Colour Confidence
For 2018, colour confidence looks set to grow. This was evident at Four Oaks where the strong, rich colours proved popular with those that visited the Earley Ornamentals stand.
Weatherproof Plants
Another evolving market dynamic is the growing demand for stronger, more robust plants. These plants need to withstand the increasingly extreme weather conditions the UK is experiencing as well as the climate changing effects that are extending the traditional seasons.
The Rise of Health and Wellbeing
The mental and physical benefits of gardening are at last being recognised with health and wellbeing definitely set to be high on the agenda. Rises in community gardening and the health conscious ‘growing your own’ is also being seen with an increasing commitment, and campaigning, to saving and creating habitats for our local wildlife.
Read more at Earley Ornamentals