College Research into Raised Gardens

• 11-28-2009 11:21 PM

  Trish Reynolds Joined on 11-28-2009 Posts 2

  College Research into Raised Gardens Reply Contact I am a mature student at Merrist Wood undertaking a NCHort and need to research the rise in popularity of raised garden style of gardening for an assignment. Can anyone please provide information or stats (or point me in the right direction) on increase in sales of these through garden centres or websites, or linked sales. This can range from a rise in sales of GYO products, new product lines, resurgance in old, childrens accessories. Anything that can help me prove that garden centres displays, improved linking of point of sale, the media and gyo schemes through retailers, schools and societies have shown an increase in this style of gardening. I have already approached a numer of garden centres and a couple of web retailers with no responses from all but one, so am trying this avenue, as trade proof of increased popularity should help prove my theory. Any help at all would be really good.  Thank you

• 11-30-2009 1:59 PM

  In reply to

  Matthew Appleby Joined on 08-04-2008 Posts 200	Re: College Research into Raised Gardens Reply Contact Hi Trish, I'm looking into this and will get back. Matthew Appleby

• 12-01-2009 4:55 PM

  In reply to

  Matthew Appleby Joined on 08-04-2008 Posts 200

  Re: College Research into Raised Gardens Reply Contact Trish. I've spoken to Forest about raised bed sales and Stewart Company about sales of propagators etc. I suggest the HTA will give figures as will GCA. Seed companies will speak to you on edible seed sales-now at 70/30 proportions to edibles after formerly being the other way round.   Raised Beds: Forest's Vicky Nuttall:Increased interest in growing your own fruit and vegetables has had a positive impact on sales of raised beds and sleepers.  In 2009, we saw a 20% increase in sales of timber sleepers across independent and multiple retailers.  This can partly be put down to increased demand from consumers building their own raised beds, but also by our ‘Buy 3 get 4th Free’ multi buy offers on sleepers which helped to drive sales of these products.  Raised beds in kit form were a new line for us this year and they didn’t disappoint.  Sales levels reached well into the thousands and in 2010 we expect to see an increase of approximately 70% within this category which is a combination of increase sales of like for like products plus an increase in the breadth of range of raised beds on offer. Stewart Company: MD Lee Mowle said sales to independent garden centres were 15 per cent up in 2009 after a slow start. Stewarts had record sales in April and May. Stewarts supplies 1,000 customers including Garden Centre Group, Dobbies, Wilkinson and Homebase with recycled flower pots, garden accessories, watering products, decorative planters and propagators.

• 12-01-2009 5:09 PM

  In reply to

  Trish Reynolds Joined on 11-28-2009 Posts 2	Re: College Research into Raised Gardens Reply Contact Matthew, thank you so much for finding this information for me, it is immensely helpful. I will also follow up on the HTA link as well. Thank you for your time, I really appreciate it.  Trish