Leading companies sign-up to HTA Garden Futures Conference

Leading players from across the garden industry are signing up attend next month's HTA Garden Futures Conference which will feature Mary Portas, of TV's Mary, Queen of Shops.
The event will also launch the HTA’s own latest research into consumer attitudes to garden centres and how they may shape the future of garden retailing.

Among those attending this year’s strategic business conference ‘Garden Industry – Evolution or Revolution’ - which takes place on 12 and 13 October at the Barbican Centre, London - are representatives from: Bayer Garden, Donagadee Garden Centre, Fosseway Garden Centre, G7 Computer Garden Services, Garden Centre Group, Grange Farm Nurseries, Grosvenor Garden Centre, Hozelock, John Woods Nurseries, Lovania Nurseries, Mr Fothergill Seeds, Notcutts Ltd, Scotts, Scotsdales Nursery and Garden Centre, Scotts Miracle Gro, Solus Garden & Leisure, Squires Garden Centres, Stagecraft Displays, Sunshine Garden Centre, Suttons Seeds, Thurrock Garden Centre, Vital Earth, Westland Garden Health and Wyevale Nurseries.

Ipsos Mori CEO Ben Page is after dinner speaker on 12 October on how the private sector should be responding to the continuing political, economic and social changes within the UK.

Horticulture Week business and management adviser Leslie Kossoff will look at how businesses around the globe are responding to the post recession environment on 13 October.

Pippa Goodman from the Future Foundation will look at changing consumer trends and HTA marketing director Andrew Maxted will present the latest Garden Industry Monitor findings on consumer attitudes to garden centres.

In addition industry figures including Carol Paris from the Garden & Leisure Group, James Barnes of Dobbies Garden Centres, Boyd Douglas-Davies of Webbs Garden Centres and Jon Kitching from Beckworth Emporium will join the speakers to spark a discussion about the future of garden retailing as they see it.

HTA president Caroline Owen said: "The event is a ‘must do’ occasion for anyone in the garden industry who is committed to developing their business in the future whether they are retailers or suppliers."

The HTA Garden Futures Conference 2010 is sponsored by Horticulture Week, Garden Retail magazine, Scotts Miracle Gro and Westland Garden Health.

Source : Matthew Appleby - Horticulture Week