Vicky Nuttall, Marketing Manager at Forest Garden is certain it is sustainable and says:

‘Consumers are keen to buy more locally produced products in their drive for a more healthy and environmentally conscious lifestyle. The timber raised bed is a product which epitomises the way the consumer is thinking, bringing all these things together. They care about what they eat and how it is grown. They also care where it is made and from what. Softwood is faster growing than the hardwoods and there is little reason why products cannot be made in Britain from softwood grown in Scottish or Welsh forests.’

Any supplier or garden products retailer thinking they are going to get rich from selling Royal Wedding ‘memorabilia’ this spring may be in for a shock. Commemorative plates and mugs, William and Kate (or is it Katharine) gnomes along with Union Jack cushions umbrellas and even Wellington boots have their place, and we will see sales increase over the next few weeks. However the real potential is in all the fantastic garden product and plants we have all day every day. How have you geared up your business logistics to cope with the ‘frenzy’ of trade heading our way:

-       4 day ‘working’ week commencing 18th April

-       3 day ‘working’ week commencing 24^th April

-       4 day ‘working’ week commencing 2^nd May (if the weather is right usually the biggest single days trade of the year for garden retailers).

Suppliers are asking if customers:

-    will accept deliveries ‘outside normal working hours’.

-    will be on site during the Easter Sunday shut down to accept deliveries, allow in merchandisers and get on with their own work.

-    which will even be open on the 29^th April? (some ‘high street stores’ are only open in the afternoon others not at all)

-    will take extra bulk the week before

Some retailers are awake and taking in extra stock already. Suppliers are certainly working on the challenge. Some feel though the biggest challenge is not will there be enough red tagged trolleys, or enough hours in the day, or space to turn 50 feet of lorry round in a car park, it is can they get customers to take the logistics issue seriously.

Suppliers of bulky products have a headache, and William Sinclair, one of the UK's leading suppliers of growing media, has some innovative answers to help them manage this increase in trade and their general growth of sales:

-    they have opened a new satellite distribution depot in the Midlands. Right at the junction of 3 major motorways to handle the 50% increase in stockholding.

-    all logistics are handled by one specialist haulier, not relying on ‘one off’ carriers. Staff from the two companies share office space to ensure communications are spot on.

-    they have launched an online purchasing system allowing customers to submit

orders instantly using the internet. To access this service customers simply logon to a specially created secure web page which is given on registration.

And in what is a first for the garden retail industry they have launched their order tracking service for customers. The high-speed text service enables customers to quickly and easily track the progress of an order from the convenience of their mobile. This will allow William Sinclair’s customers to track orders whenever and wherever they want, helping them take greater control over the way they operate their business. The service typically replies to tracking requests within 30 seconds and places vital information such as order status and delivery due date at the customer’s fingertips. To use the service customers just have to text ‘wsh’ along with their authority code to phone number 80010.

To register for either service customers can either call Robert Daines at William Sinclair on 01522 780310 or

email robert.daines@william-sinclair.co.uk.

Danny Adamson, Managing Director, William Sinclair – Retail, commented:

“The busy Spring growing-season is almost on us, and with a cluster of bank holidays over Easter there is no doubt that this will be one of the busiest periods for our customers. Having access to order information within 30 seconds, and up to 14 days before delivery will give our customers even greater peace of mind and allow them to run their businesses more efficiently.”

Jane Darby, Sales Director at Darby Nurseries says:

“ We have put together a questionnaire for all our customers, to gather the information we need to help them to maximize  sales. We need to know who has enough trolleys, will accept deliveries outside our normal operating times and so on. The closeness of this springs bank holidays is a massive opportunity and a massive logistics headache – none of us can afford to miss it. It is where this year’s profit is likely to be made (or not).Garden centres start planning for Christmas in January and getting stock in as early as July through until September, at least four months beforehand – these bank holidays are likely to generate more sales than Christmas, but my fear is retailers and suppliers may not be ready in time.”

Neil Gow is Director of the Garden Industry Manufacturers Association (GIMA) who represent many suppliers to the garden retail trade says:

“If you have not already been in  contact with your key suppliers and given them advanced orders, I suggest you do it now!”

More details are available on GIMA and all the products supplied by their members on the website www.gima.org.uk.

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