Mother's Day was celebrated on March 10 this year in the UK and according to Andy Burton, Managing Director of Double H Nurseries in New Milton, demand was strong as they saw an increased interest in British grown plants from retailers and consumers this year. The phalaenopsis is their main crop for this holiday, but they also grow, foliage plants, chrysanthemums, and kalanchoe. And for all of their products, from all of their customers, demand has been good, he says.
Andy Burton in the greenhouse.
Reason for increased demand
So, Mother's Day went well for Double H Nurseries, and particularly from their e-commerce channels, they saw the biggest growth compared to last year. But what could be the reason for the increase in demand? According to Burton, it is a combination of several reasons.
First of all, they saw more publicity around the sustainability benefits of growing plants closer to the market and using peat free media.
Secondly, the combination of Women's Day in the same week as UK Mother's Day and the poor weather in the Netherlands may have resulted in a lack of products on the markets. " We heard a lot about poor plant availability from the Netherlands, so we managed to step in at the last minute to fill a few gaps where customers had been let down by other growers/importers."
Finally, Burton mentions that the ever-increasing costs of importing Dutch plants into the UK continue to have a positive impact on them. "Our prices have become even more competitive than they have been in the past with none of the phytosanitary, customs, transport, and administration costs associated with importing.
Easter is around the corner
And there is no time to rest at Double H Nurseries as Easter is around the corner and preparations are in full swing. "Easter is the next seasonal peak, but it is much smaller for us than Mother's Day. Popular products will be ones with bright, spring colours, so our yellow phalaenopsis, chrysanthemum and kalanchoe will be in demand. "
For more information:
Double H Nurseries
Andy Burton
Email: andy@doubleh.co.uk
www.doubleh.co.uk