THE START of spring saw sales in outdoor plants soar at garden centres across the country (2019).

During March, outdoor plant sales were up 90.85% compared to the same month the previous year (2018), according to the Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) Barometer of Trade (BoT) report. 

Iain Wylie, GCA Chief Executive, said: “Garden centres across the country have enjoyed a fantastic start to the spring season thanks to the milder days we’ve been experiencing, which have brought customers out and about in their droves to stock up on plants and products.

“The weather has been very kind to us and we also had the added bonus of Mothering Sunday at the end of the month, when lots of families chose to pop to their local garden centre. 

“We’ve also seen great sales in hard landscaping at 88.16% up, garden sundries at 58.53% up and furniture and barbecue sales up 55.33%.”

Sales in seeds and bulbs were up 42.75% and houseplant sales were up 26.53%.

Iain added: “It really gives everyone in the industry a bit of a boost when we see such great figures like this and with the recent Easter heatwave, we expect April’s sales figures to be even more impressive.”

During March sales in clothing departments were up 9.04% and catering sales were up 19.45%.

Food hall and farm shop sales were up 2.33%, gift sales were up 2.71%. The only department where sales were down was pets and aquatics at -0.06%.

Overall sales for the month were up 36.75% with a year to date change of 21.51%.

The GCA BoT reports are compiled using actual sales figures and provide an up-to-date trading position statement. They are made available mid-month following the end of the prior month after all member garden centres have submitted their results.

The BoT reports allow members to compare their trading positions with other centres.

The GCA represents nearly 200 garden centres nationwide.

For further information, please call 01244 952170. Alternatively, please visit www.gca.org.uk, log on to www.facebook.com/pages/GardenCentreAssociation or follow the organisation on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GC_Association.