GCA: Non-Traditional Categories Performed Well In January

NON-TRADITIONAL categories at garden centres across the country continued to do well in January (2023) according to the Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) Barometer of Trade (BoT) report. 

Christmas sales were up 227.73%, gifts were up 15.87%, food hall and farm shop sales were up 26.65% and clothing sales were up 32.47% compared to the same month in 2022.

GCA CEO, Peter Burks, explains: “We kicked off 2023 with some positive sales in our non-traditional categories, which is to be expected at this time of year, when there is little gardening to be done.

“The selling off of Christmas stock was great for getting cash into the tills and customers were able to grab themselves a few bargains, and for the fourth month in a row, catering sales were up 21.04%, compared to the same month last year, which was great to see.

“The continued positive trend in catering is especially good news as it confirms our outstanding food offer is driving significant footfall, which the rest of the garden centre can benefit from.”

• Houseplant sales were down -3%, outdoor plant sales were down -32.49%, seed and bulb sales were down -20.33% and sales in garden sundries were down -13.52%.
  
  
• Furniture and barbecue sales were down -18.63%, but pets and aquatic sales were up 2.83%.
  
  
• Hard landscaping sales were down -34.52%.
  
  
• Overall sales for the month were up 13.6% with a year-to-date variance of 13.6%.

The GCA represents 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.

For further information, please visit www.gca.org.uk.

Source : Garden Centre Association

Image : Non-traditional categories, including Christmas and catering, at garden centres across the country continued to do well in January (2023) according to the Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) Barometer of Trade (BoT) report.

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