The Garden Centre Association ( GCA ) has had several new phallus unite it in 2023 – with nine garden centres and 22 associate degree sign up and approved so far this twelvemonth .
These garden centres let in Hillmount Garden Centre , Belfast , The Hertfordshire Garden Centre , Yarnton Home & Garden , Oxfordshire , Rutland Nursery and five Hilliers – Newbury , Three - Legged Cross , Weyhill , Aldermaston and Lechlade .
Peter Burks , Chief Executive of the GCA , explains : “ We ’d care to welcome all our newfangled members . I am proud of to account that we now have 210 garden heart phallus in entire and , between them , they ’ve produced more than £ 1 billion of patronage during the past 12 months .
“ It ’s been a bumper yr for membership at the GCA , as we also have a further 13 associate members and three garden centres who have give recently , and to be okay as members , to tally to these too . ”
The unexampled approved centres have already received visits from their GCA regional inspector . These visit differ from the GCA ’s one-year inspections , as the date is pre - staged , rather than unannounced . This gives new members the chance to meet their examiner and be mouth through the review process .
Peter keep : “ Now these garden centres are penis , they will profit hugely from our review process , as well as our annual conference in January , where they can connection with others in the sector .
“ Our members say our unique yearly inspection and feedback Roger Huntington Sessions are one of the bounteous benefit of membership . The inspections are a fantastic operable , management and motivational tool , which helps towards improving standards within a business , as well as helping colleagues develop their skill . These combine to keep everyone on their toes and ensure they ’re always striving towards reach usable excellence .
“ We always aim to help our members achieve the in high spirits standards across all areas of their businesses admit customer service , merchandising , plant quality and marketing . ”
GCA members are also capable to get at the Association ’s e - learning opening Garden Retail Online Workshops ( GROW ) , which aid member garden centre keep their client service at the highest criterion .
Managing Director of Yarnton Home & Garden , Glen Sheldrake says : “ We felt that as an independent home plate and garden centre we would benefit greatly from rank of a barter organic structure . The GCA gives us the opportunity for fighting discussion with our match , routes to improvement through the judgement schemes , a smashing training programme and much else besides . ”
Through sharing information and its review programme the GCA aid member to attain high criterion in customer service , works quality and dependability .
Peter adds : “ There are so many benefits for centres to bring together an organisation like ours . We ’re a friendly and inclusive gang and rank enables businesses to easily share best practice , experience and ideas , which helps them make positivistic and proactive decision . We use a organization called Mighty that allows members to communicate with each other in private too .
“ We also help members to accomplish high standard in areas like customer military service and plant quality , which are important in ensuring they place upright out from their challenger . ”
Other benefit include entree to the GCA ’s Barometer of Trade effect , this allows members to compare their trading positions with other member garden centres .
Peter concludes : “ It ’s a genuine pleasure to welcome these new members . If anyone is concerned in conjoin us , we accept applications at any time of year , so if there are any centre or associates , who append our manufacture , out there intend of link us , then please do n’t hesitate to get in cutaneous senses . ”
For more information : Garden Centre AssociationTel . : 01244 952170[email protected]gca.org.uk
