The category with the great increase in sales during last year ( 2019 ) at garden centres across the UK has been announced by the Garden Centre Association ( GCA ) as part of its Barometer of Trade ( BoT ) report card .
Houseplant sales witness a yr to date increase of 17.6 % compared to 2018 .
Iain Wylie , Chief Executive of the GCA , said : “ We ’re not surprised to see houseplants as the fast growing category at garden centres across the country in 2019 . Demand for them has been phenomenal .
“ On a monthly base , houseplants amount out on top during January , May , August , September and October .
“ The trend has really study off amongst the Millennial multiplication , with 1000000 of posts on Instagram being tagged # houseplant .
“ It ’s now voguish to have houseplant stud around the place and research has shown that the great unwashed like to have something to nourish , love and care for . We also see houseplants having a revival with the sometime generation , peculiarly for those who live alone , who would care something to look after .
“ Having houseplant in the abode is also expert for you . They can help people to de - tenseness and detox . They also , according to inquiry by NASA , help sink in out chemicals from the ambiance as well as aid to reduce dust . We think everyone should have at least one houseplant ! ”
toilsome landscaping also did well in 2019 with a yr to date change of 15.56 % . Outdoor plant cut-rate sale were up 5.56 % , seeds and bulbs were up 9.63 % and garden sundries were up 8.02 % compare to 2018 .
piece of furniture and barbeque gross revenue saw a twelvemonth to appointment alteration of 4.06 % , pets and aquatics were 8.53 % up and gifts were up 5.13 % . Christmas sale were up 4.48 % , food hall and farm shop sales were up 4.53 % , clothing was up 5.56 % and catering was up 10.61 % .
Overall cut-rate sale for the year 2019 were up 6.97 % liken to 2018 .
Joe Aldworth , Marketing Manager at The Old Railway Line Garden Centre in Wales , which won the award for Best Customer Service at the GCA ’s one-year group discussion recently , said : “ Last twelvemonth ( 2019 ) was another record year for us with garden centre cut-rate sale up 14 % and catering increase by 16 % compared to the old year .
“ Although the garden retail industry is heavily influenced by the weather ( of which we faced some disruptive periods of snow and bad weather in 2019 ) we did buck the struggle high street retail ’s trend for another yr .
“ Catering has again provided a critical backbone of the business , driving footfall even when weather is unfavourable . Houseplants also experienced strong growth for another year , with a 38 % sales increase compare to 2018 .
“ Over the past few years we have worked firmly to encourage Modern demographic to the garden center , as well as promote the environmental and well - being benefits of garden and having plants indoors . ”
The GCA BoT reports are compiled using existent sales figures and provide an up - to - date trading position affirmation . They are made available mid - month following the end of the anterior calendar month after all fellow member garden eye have submit their results .
