The HTA Garden Retail Monitor shows June’s garden centre sales were up by 26% compared to 2012. Year to date sales are up 3% compared to this time last year and have now overtaken 2012 levels, but are down on 2011.
The Sunday People’s nationwide competition ‘Cultivation Street’ has helped generate coverage for gardening in media titles not traditionally associated with gardeners, which has helped to get the gardening message across to less committed and affluent gardeners.
This edition also takes a look at using the emotional appeal of plants to the senses of touch and smell to drive impulse purchasing. It highlights what retailers can do to inspire consumers and increase impulse purchasing and transaction values.
HTA Director General, Carol Paris, comments, “It’s pleasing to see the season pick up with the warmer weather resulting in improved consumer spending and consumer confidence. However, there is still some way to recovery after last year’s washout and we expect that autumn and our ‘Plan it, Plant it Campaign’ will contribute positively for the final part of the year.”
