An uplift across the majority of product categories at GCA member garden centres, revealing a positive year-to-date variance of +2.22%. Overall, gardening was strong with autumn planting and hard landscaping performing well. Houseplants underperformed in September at -4.67%.
The best category in September was Christmas up at 31.72%, followed by food hall/farm shop up 14.65%, catering at 14.47% and then hard landscaping at +10.67%. Gifts were up at 4.22%, outdoor plants at 3.96%, garden sundries at 7% and seeds and bulbs at 0.93%
Furniture and BBQ sales continued to struggle as sales were down -3.77% but improved performance due to the hot spell earlier in month which led to subsequent furniture sales.