“Garden Centres as Community Hubs” presents examples of community engagement by HTA members within their local area and provides useful tips on how garden businesses can contribute to the local economy.
Garden retailers have always been active and play an important role in local communities. A recent HTA Member Voice survey revealed that 68% of garden retailers engage in local charity fundraising, 75% participate or promote community events and 67% support school gardening initiatives.
Garden centres and their 20 million customers play an important role in the local economy. They are significant employers in their own right and provide outlets for local plant and food growers through farm shops or catering facilities. They are viewed as community hubs, are heavily involved with schools and charities, and are increasingly becoming destinations for family outings or a venue for events.
The brochure also highlights the benefits that can be reaped from community engagement which include increased footfall, customer loyalty, staff satisfaction and enhanced brand awareness.
The report is free to HTA members and can be downloaded at www.the-hta.org.uk/events <http://www.the-hta.org.uk/events>
HTA is running a series of workshops throughout February focussing on garden centre initiatives that support and connect with local communities and online communities in the virtual world. 'Engaging Communities & Growing Business Locally & Online' aims to demonstrate the importance of engaging with these key stakeholders and feature the latest market research and case studies from garden centres across the country.
Date and venues
Tuesday 21 February, Grosvenor Garden Centre, Chester
With case studies from the host centre and Dobbies Garden Centre Liverpool
Tuesday 28 February, Cadbury Garden & Leisure, Bristol
With case studies from the host centre, Fermoy’s Garden Centre (Newton Abbott) and Cleeve Nursery (near Bristol).
The workshops each run from 10 am - 3 pm and costs £25 for HTA members, which includes lunch and refreshments.
For more information or to book visit www.the-hta.org.uk/events <http://www.the-hta.org.uk/events> or email events@the-hta.org.uk <mailto:events@the-hta.org.uk>
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