November launch expected for Wyevale ecommerce site

Wyevale is believed to be looking at November to launch its delayed transactional website.

Wyevale Garden Centres said: "Our online team is working on a number of plans to enhance and expand the online experience we offer our customers, and we expect changes will roll out over the course of 2015."

Meanwhile, Wyevale Garden Centres online manager Darren Mogg will leave for a role outside the industry on March 31.

Tim Patten joined from Morrison in September 2014 as multi-channel director and he has been building his team and developing Wyevale's online plans.

At last week's Garden Retail Summit, Mdj2 Associates director Andy Newman said independents such as Chessington, Hayes, Bents, Longacres and Woodcote Green were getting ahead of chains with their omni-channel retailing.

Newman backed up the argument of leading online garden retailer Primrose co-owner Ian Charles that groups ignored online sales at their peril. Charles said only Notcutts, of a list of the national garden centres chains, had properly transactional websites.

Wyevale's click and collect launched in 2008 but products are yet to be available to order online for home delivery.

Source : Matthew Appleby - Horticulture Week
www.hortweek.com/wyevale-garden-centres-online-launch-gets-closer/retail/article/1336677