GCA Publishes February Garden Centre Trading Figures

Before the virus lockdown in March, it was the rain. February sales fell 8% in the month with substantial falls in revenue from plants and gardening according to the Garden Centre Association.

Outdoor plant sales fell -31% in the month, while garden sundries sales were down -16%.

The bright spots were clothing +12% and catering, a third of the month’s sales, at +8%.

The smaller garden centres were hardest hit. Those with sales below £2m saw a reduction in sales of -20%, while the biggest, those with sales over £6m, saw income decline by only -1%.

There were significant regional variations. Garden centres in the North East, North Thames, and Wales and the West experienced the biggest declines. While 12 garden centres, notably in South Thames and the Midlands said sales actually increased.

These figures may change as only 52 garden centres contributed, compared to 69 in January.

Source : Reproduced with permission from George Bullivant, Gardenforum

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