Overall sales were up 15.11% in comparison to May 2012 with seeds and bulbs up 38.58%, outdoor plants up 17.71% and hard landscaping up 33.39%.
Peter Burks, Chairman of the GCA, explained: “May was a good month all round for our member garden centres, with all areas performing well. It was apparent from sales lots of people were out in their gardens planting both hardy nursery stock and bedding plants, as well as seeds.
“Outdoor plants were up 17.71%, garden sundries 20.02%, furniture and barbecues 7.29%, food hall and farm shop 14.52% and catering 15.81%.
“We are thrilled to have had a good May, following a strong April, but unfortunately this still hasn’t allowed our members to recoup losses they saw during the first few months of the year. The overall year to date figures, calculated at the end of May, stand at 2.39% down.”
The GCA BoT reports are compiled using actual sales figures and provide an up-to-date trading position statement.
James Ducker, Director of Langlands, which owns Leeds Garden Centre and Shiptonthorpe Garden Centre, both in Yorkshire, said: “May was a fantastic month for our garden centres, with Leeds Garden Centre finishing the month 47% up and Shiptonthorpe Garden Centre 16% up.
“We saw increased footfall in both centres and people were definitely buying in volume and spending more. At our Leeds store seeds and bulbs were up 147% and outdoor plants up 62% while garden furniture and barbecues were up 38% at our centre at Shiptonthorpe.”
The BoT reports produced by the GCA allow member garden centres to compare their trading positions with other centres.
For further information, please call 0118 930 8918. 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.
