Dobbies further strengthens its senior leadership team with the appointment of Rajesh Gupta as Strategy and Business Development Director. Rajesh qualified as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG and has 20 years’ experience in retail working in strategy, business development and customer roles with Argos, Sainsbury’s, Pets at Home and Central Co-op, latterly as Chief Customer […] The post Dobbies Garden Centres appoints Rajesh Gupta appeared first on Garden Centre Retail ..read more

Dobbies has appointed Stephen Pitcher in a consultancy role, working closely with the gardening and horticultural teams. Stephen has extensive experience with national UK brands, including Homebase, B&Q and Wyevale, and will be supporting Dobbies’ gardening and horticultural team, headed up by Commercial Director, Andy Hannan. Stephen will focus on ensuring the business delivers the […] The post Stephen Pitcher collaborates with Dobbies in consultancy role appeared first on Garden Centre Retail ..read more

Marcus Eyles has decided to move on from his role as Horticulture Director at Dobbies to pursue a new chapter in his illustrious 40-year career. Marcus joined Dobbies, the UK’s leading garden centre retailer, in 2017 as Head of Online, before progressing to Purchasing Director, and latterly Horticultural Director. Marcus’ passion for gardening dates back […] The post Marcus Eyles departs Dobbies after seven years appeared first on Garden Centre Retail ..read more

British Garden Centres is delighted to announce that it has raised over £15,000 in support of Garden Re-Leaf Day, an annual event that raises funds for Greenfingers Charity. March 15th saw the UK’s largest family-run garden centre group organise various events in its 62 stores across the length and breadth of the country to engage customers […] The post British Garden Centres raises £15,000 for Garden Re-Leaf Day appeared first on Garden Centre Retail ..read more

Plant pot innovator elho has been awarded the prestigious Which? Best Buy for its bestselling green basics grow pot, it has revealed. An essential in every retailer’s ‘grow your own’ offering, the popular product has topped the sustainable pots trial, receiving praise for being easy to use and clean, as well as providing plenty of space for roots […] The post elho ‘Grow Your Own’ innovation awarded Which? Best Buy appeared first on Garden Centre Retail ..read more

Despite facing a deluge of rain across the United Kingdom, the HTA Market Update in March 2024 reports that garden centres in February 2024 remained positive, with a +6% increase in overall garden centre sales compared to the same period last year. Fran Barnes, Chief Executive of the HTA, commented: “In February 2024, England experienced […] The post HTA Market Report – Wet February sees modest market growth appeared first on Garden Centre Retail ..read more

As the spring season unfolds, garden centres will want to ensure they have the right stock to entice customers back time and time again. Apta – one of the sector’s leading pot and planter brands – has created five special spring promotions, including up to 39% off RRPs to ensure that garden retailers across the […] The post Bolster spring sales with exclusive Apta garden centre deals appeared first on Garden Centre Retail ..read more

Dobbies, the UK’s largest garden centre group by number of stores, is gearing up for its busiest season of the year with more than 17.5 million summer bedding plants starting to make their way into 71 stores across the UK in pots, packs, containers and hanging baskets. Seasonally relevant just now are Pansies, Violas and Osteospermum […] The post Dobbies gears up for the first day of spring appeared first on Garden Centre Retail ..read more

The GCA Barometer of Trade (BoT) report for February 2024 saw clothing romp ahead at +20.9% with catering just behind at +19.55% when compared with the same month last year. Just three of the categories recorded by the GCA were down when likened to February 2023, according to the figures submitted by its member garden […] The post GCA BoT figures reflect wet month with a ‘sunny outlook’ appeared first on Garden Centre Retail ..read more

Garden Centre Retail catches up with the senior buyer of houseplants for the 77 Dobbies Stores, Claire Bishop, to talk about her role, her experience, and her passion for plants. How did you get into the sector and how long have you been in this industry? I’ve been with Dobbies for 14 years and I’ve […] The post Celebrating IWD 2024: Claire Bishop, Dobbies appeared first on Garden Centre Retail ..read more