Over the last fifteen years, we have been working very hard to try and
even out our sales graph. We have the same space, overheads and
largely the same staffing levels throughout the year, so it was always
difficult when about 50% of our trade was completed in the March to
June period. In garden centre speak we have been trying to reduce the
‘lumpiness’ of our sales graph, or put ‘the shoulders on the seasons’
which means trying to leave the peak where it is, but working to add
sales on either side of the peak so that the drop off is not so marked.

The arrival of our coffee shop was probably the most effective factor
in helping with this as we all eat and drink throughout the year; I
would say evenly throughout the year, but we all know we eat more at
Christmas! I guess where I am coming from with this is justifying why
we as garden centres do such a great job at Christmas. We have
just spent some time, several weeks actually, building our Christmas
displays and regularly hear from behind the curtains ‘not Christmas
already’ in equal proportions to those whose attitude is ‘can’t wait
for it to be open’. I have just worked out that the percentage of our
annual turnover generated in November and December has risen
from 10% in the year 2000, to just over 20% in 2015. I hasten to
add for all the core gardeners that this has not been at the expense
of gardening sales, far from it, plant and gardening sales have
increased significantly in value for the same period. We have some
incredibly talented staff here, the last thing we want to do is to lose
some of them because we cannot offer year round employment, so
if you are one of those that grumble at the sight of a bauble in late
October, please be assured it all helps to keep the whole business
ticking over and ensures the plants and gardening are stocked and
staffed throughout the year.

Talking about talented staff, our Christmas displays this
year are again truly inspirational, and this is brought
about by the vision of Tania and her team, and built by
our own version of the DIY SOS team, which is actually
Adam on his own most of the time. I dread to think how
many times Adam looks at Tania with a look that says
’and you expect me to build that!’ when looking at one
of her ideas sketched on a notepad. But I have seen
a sheet of MDF board sketched on by Tania, cut out,
shaped, sanded and glued by Adam, and then painted
and glittered to form some fantastic snowdrops which
form the basis to a wonderful display. I will leave you
to admire the finished article. Following the massive
increase in customer numbers for the last two years
who queue to see Santa or who visit our Snowglobe,
we have decided to be proactive and try to manage
them this year with an online booking system. So if you
are thinking of Santa, Snowglobe or Tea with Santa this
year, go to our website www.bosworthsgc.co.uk and
follow the events button to book your time slot.

And finally for this year in Village Connect, an apology
for being a bit hasty in the July/August issue for saying
that the next issue would reveal where we are hoping to
relocate the Garden Centre to. In my world, decisions,
once made, are implemented quickly, but add in layers
of planners, lawyers, advisors and negotiations, and
things are out of my hands, so unfortunately the great
reveal did not happen. And as I write this, it is almost
over the line, but not quite, and I vowed not to reveal
anything until I was either contracted to a site or had
submitted an application. I recommend another of
our websites www.bozzysonthemove.co.uk for a bit of
light-hearted reading and for the place where we will
announce our proposed new site.

Thank you to all our customers and readers of
Village Connect, have a Great Christmas and a
Happy New Year, hope to see you in 2017.

Not Just A Garden Centre Finedon Road, Burton Latimer Northants, NN15 5QA

Only minutes from J10 off the A14 and midway between Kettering and Wellingborough

OPEN: Mon-Sat: 9am - 6pm Sun: 10am - 5pm • Disabled Access All Credit Cards Accepted 01536 722635 www.bosworthsgc.co.uk Visit our online shop: www.shop.bosworthsgc.co.uk www.facebook.com/BosworthsGC

LANDSCAPING All types of landscaping undertaken from Consultation to Design, Construction and Aftercare

e: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. www.bosworthslandscaping.co.uk