"In lockdown, people discovered the possiblities of their balconies and gardens"

Garden centers were the first to suffer the effects of strict confinement and the total closure of so-called non-essential establishments, but thanks to the work of the sector they were able to reopen serving their customers in the products that were essential. Garden centers were among the first to perceive the positive change of trend in the national market of plants and gardening.

This is corroborated by Joan Bordas, owner of Garden Center Bordas in Gavà (Barcelona), who explains that "this campaign has been and is still excellent", since "people who have been confined to their homes have discovered the possibilities offered by a balcony, a terrace, a garden or houseplants”. For Bordas, new customer profiles have been incorporated "from origins, very heterogeneous ages, and social classes".

In general, all sections have benefited, but the ones that have stood out the most have been, houseplants, flowering and aromatic plants, orchard and fruit trees, flowers and artificial plants, Maceteria, agro-shop, pets, barbecues, and garden furniture.

Bordas exudes enthusiasm when asked about the face-to-face celebration of Iberflora planned for October. She says that "Iberflora must be the spearhead of the whole sector" and that, in part, the future of the sector "depends on the proper functioning of Iberflora, of it being a source of innovation and is able to direct customers towards true industry professionals: the gardens, nurseries, gardening companies, and auxiliary companies”.

To finish, Joan Bordas leaves a phrase for reflection and that attests to his enthusiasm for the future: "In the chaotic world we live in, the future of the world depends, in a large part, that our sector becomes indispensable at the local level, regional, autonomic, national and global".