Furniture and BBQs fly out of our members’ doors

People continued to make the most of the sunshine by improving their outdoor living spaces in July (2013) according to our Barometer of Trade (BoT) results for the month.

Barbecues and furniture sales were up 72.75% for the month as compared to July 2012. The category now stands at 12.22% up for the year to date.

Our Chairman, Peter Burks explained: “July was the fourth consecutive month of good sales for our member garden centres, with overall sales up 14.61% as compared to the same period last year. The overall year to date figure now stands at 3.21% up.

“Other good sellers in July were outdoor plants, 15.84% up, garden sundries, 22.88% up, hard landscaping, 24.87% up and food hall/farm shop, 10.4% up.”

Our BoT reports are compiled using actual sales figures and provide an up-to-date trading position statement.

Julian Winfield, Chief Executive of Haskins Garden Centres, whose stores all performed well in the furniture and barbecues category during July, said: “Having possibly under-performed in recent years we have worked hard, with fewer suppliers, to get the price points right all the way through the range.

“We have not shied away from the higher priced ranges and encouraged our centres to do special customer orders for non-standard product lines. However, furniture sales are still substantially down on 10 years ago.”