WET WEATHER caused poor sales in traditional garden centre categories in June (2019) the Garden Centre Association has revealed in its Barometer of Trade report for the month.

Outdoor plant sales were down -12.56%, furniture and barbecue sales were down -14.71% but houseplant sales were up 11.56% compared to the same month last year.

Iain Wylie, GCA Chief Executive, said: “In June 2018 we were all enjoying a summer heatwave, but this was certainly not the case this year as we experienced lots of much wetter weather, which didn’t bode well for our traditional garden centre categories.

“In some areas of the country, a week’s worth of rain fell in two days, so it was impossible for gardeners to get out onto their plots.”

Seed and bulb sales were up 8.49%, garden sundries were down -10.23% and pets and aquatics sales were up 2.37%.

Sales in gifts were up 1.26%, hard landscaping sales were down -8.39% and food hall and farm shop sales were also down -1.83%.

Clothing sales were up 3.21% and catering sales were up 8.99%.

Lauren Huntley, Marketing Manager at Coletta & Tyson Garden Centre, which recently received the ifse Award for Catering Excellence for Best Garden Centre Restaurant (GC) at the GCA North East regional awards meeting, said: “June 2019 was a very tough month comparing it to June of 2018 when the season really kicked in for us. It was always going to be a tough hill to climb but it wasn’t as bad a result as we feared.

“Houseplants and wild bird care saw an uplift but our traditional gardening categories, furniture and outdoor plants, didn’t fare as well. Our new café, The Old Glasshouse, had good sales so that pulled our overall end of month figure up to a decent result.

“As we all know in this industry the season is governed largely by the weather and we just have to ride the wave as best as we can.”

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.