The Garden Centre Association (GCA) has recently released its Barometer of Trade (BoT) for June (2021) revealing houseplants have remained top sellers with sales up 80.56% and outdoor plants up 73.17%, year-to-date. Also, furniture and BBQ sales were up by 94.88% year-to-date.
The report also shows a year-to-date increase in 11 out of 13 categories proving that garden centre demand has been positive at the start of the summer.
Iain Wylie, GCA Chief Executive, explained: “The great weather at the start of June led to outdoor entertainment and alfresco dining remaining popular. People were continuing to spend more time in their gardens and outdoor living spaces. Many centres received a ‘second wave’ of furniture deliveries in June, delayed from earlier in the season, going some way to fulfil the pent-up demand from customers and keeping sales buoyant.
“There was an anticipation of the ending of restrictions in July and people were preparing to be reunited with friends and family and to be able to host them in their gardens and to fully resume entertaining at home.
Ian Wylie, GCA Chief Executive
New gardeners
Iain added: “The nation’s new gardeners also appear keen to continue. Houseplants have remained top sellers with sales up 80.56% and outdoor plants up 73.17%, year-to-date. Our love and appreciation of natural things clearly flows across generations linked with the proven benefits of gardening and plants to our wellbeing and mental health.”
Iain added: “As we move towards autumn/winter members will be wary of the potential for another wave and how this may impact on our sector. Although we managed it successfully in 2020 and as a result, we remain confident for the run-up to Christmas, especially as many customers will still consider GCA garden centres as safe places to shop, with their excellent track record of having appropriate measures in place during the pandemic."
The GCA BoT reports are compiled using actual sales figures and provide an up-to-date trading position statement. They are made available mid-month following the end of the prior month after all member garden centres have submitted their results.
The BoT reports allow members to compare their trading positions with other centres.
The GCA represents nearly 200 garden centres nationwide.
Through sharing information and its inspection programme the GCA helps members to achieve high standards in customer service, plant quality and reliability.
Garden Centre Association
