Poor weather in April ( 2022 ) bear on sales in core category at garden centres across the commonwealth according to the in style Garden Centre Association ’s ( GCA ) Barometer of Trade ( BoT ) report .
sale in outdoor industrial plant were down -15.21 % , houseplant sales were down -17.16 % and come and bulb sales agreement were also down -14.99 % compare to the same calendar month in 2021 .
GCA Chief Executive , Iain Wylie explains : “ We have had a bit of a wet start to the year weather - wise , which has led to the time of year being slimly detain , which is why we believe we have seen sales in core categories being affected .
“ We go for the last of the bad conditions is behind us as May has definitely seen some improvement , possibly try out there is some truth in the long time sure-enough saying ‘ April showers bring May blossom . ’ ”
The category with the biggest free fall in sales was hard landscaping , which was down -32.67 % compare to the same month in the former year ( 2021 ) .
Iain add : “ During the 2020 lockdown and continuing into the spring / early summer of 2021 , many garden projects were completed while people were staying at home . Some of these were brought forward , which means there is currently less to do this and next class in the garden and with restrictions being lifted , people are out and about more than they have been in the last two year , hence the big decrease in sales . ”
sale in garden sundries were down -20.83 % , piece of furniture and barbecue sales were down -22.62 % and food hall and farm workshop gross sales were down -14.51 % .
natural endowment sales event were down -7.49 % , pets and aquatic sale were -10.21 % down and clothing sales were up at 12.73 % .
Catering sales were up 372.28 % .
Iain continued : “ It is difficult to compare catering sales in 2022 to 2021 and 2020 and we would ask to look at sales from 2019 to get any meaningful comparing , however , the way many centres operate now is very different to 2019 . downcast footfall but a greater spend / transaction value is a common thread from our member garden Centre in relation to catering . ”
The GCA BoT reports are compiled using genuine sales event figures and provide an up - to - date trading position statement . They are made available mid - month following the end of the anterior calendar month after all appendage garden centres have submitted their results .
The BoT reports reserve members to equate their trading position with other centres .
The GCA represents near 200 garden pith nationwide .
Through sharing entropy and its review programme the GCA helps appendage to achieve high standards in customer service of process , plant quality and reliability .
