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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2006 10:55:33 GMT
Hi all,
Following on from the 'supermarket plants thread', I started thinking about why I don't bother more often to make the trip to our nearest garden centre (we live in the inner city, and the nearest garden centre is on the outskirts - two bus trips away). Instead, I try to grow as much as possible from seed or cuttings from friends. And the reason - apart from pure economics - is that it is increasingly becoming a 'lifestyle centre'. A limited selection of plants (often with signs "... as featured on"), but lots of furniture, 'garden features', incredibly expensive knick-knacks etc. I don't blame the managers - they have to sell what people want. But if - as I did a few months ago - you go with a list of 'wants', you're likely to be disappointed. Is this becoming a feature elsewhere? Or am I just being crotchety? ... cheers ...
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Post by Spruance on Sept 22, 2006 11:12:22 GMT
Hi CC,
I know exactly what you mean.
My local GC used to be run as a small nursery with a high majority of plants grown on the premises. Then the family sold out to Johnsons Seeds, which at the time was headquartered in Boston.
If anything, that sparked something of an improvement, although perhaps understandably they went from selling a range of seeds to only Johnsons. Otherwise, they continued the tradition of growing their own plants, as far as possible, and still stocked mainly gardening specific items.
Around 5 or 6 years ago, the GC was again sold to a private entrepreneur. He had no real GC experience, but was a member of the family that run the town's main department store. Since then, the lifestyle effect that you have mentioned has become more and more noticeable.
They no longer grow their own plants, and from time to time the plants that have been bought in, look a little neglected. Often this is just a case of lack of water. They now stock a wide range of the ubiquitous cane furniture together with books, clothing and general gift items.
On the other hand, it does seem to be a very successful venture. So I suppose if that is the only way for private firms to compete with the likes of B&Q, then fair enough. I still think I preferred the old nursery style operation, but they still have mostly what I want as well as all of the lifestyle stuff, so I really can't complain too much.
Spruance
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2006 11:19:17 GMT
And, I forgot to say in previous rant, they don't always have trained staff. On my last visit I saw a lovely little fuchsia but the label had almost no information. So I asked one of the staff about hardiness ... and she blithely informed me that 'it's a fuchsia, isn't it, all fuchsias are hardy'  ... cheers ... |
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Post by magrich on Sept 22, 2006 11:29:17 GMT
I thought it was only me!!! I have found one gc near me which is nicely divided........they have loads of 'lifestyle' items, but in a separate area they have real gc goods, and the staff seem to know what they are talking about9 or know a man who does). guess I am lucky, but this gc does seem to be much more expensive than others.  |
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Post by piggingardener on Sept 22, 2006 11:38:07 GMT
I much prefer nurseries and garden shows for buying plants. I rarely go to garden centres because they seem to know so little about the plants they are selling. Most of them are probably busy with Christmas stock now anyway............but that's another thread  I too grow lots from seed, so satisfying and therapeutic!! |
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Post by 4pygmies on Sept 22, 2006 11:47:33 GMT
This is one of my pet rants (I have quite a few....). I HATE all that c**p about "lifestyle" which permeates everywhere these days. All the TV channels, the magazines, the shops and the GC's. It sooo bland and stultifying. Anything or anyone with any personality or individuality is stifled by the tyranny of minimalism, fashion, "country" living etc etc. At my local GC I have come to the conclusion that I probably know more about the plants than the staff who work there and I bet nearly everyone who posts on this board does too. And they are so similar - we are all supposed to want exactly the same stuff, furniture and plants in our gardens. Even some of the seed catalogues are guilty. Now you can go into a plant shop (ie GC) and buy an entire garden "off the peg", seasonal planting schemes, even bl***y Christmas now - we are all expected to want exactly the same. And it's all so expensive - subtlely underpinning it is the notion that if you haven't got money, new this or that, if you don't aspire to the "brand", you are a failure. It's wasteful, boring and dull, dull, dull.
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Post by sweetleaf on Sept 22, 2006 12:16:01 GMT
This is one of my pet rants (I have quite a few....). I HATE all that c**p about "lifestyle" which permeates everywhere these days. All the TV channels, the magazines, the shops and the GC's. It sooo bland and stultifying. Anything or anyone with any personality or individuality is stifled by the tyranny of minimalism, fashion, "country" living etc etc. At my local GC I have come to the conclusion that I probably know more about the plants than the staff who work there and I bet nearly everyone who posts on this board does too. And they are so similar - we are all supposed to want exactly the same stuff, furniture and plants in our gardens. Even some of the seed catalogues are guilty. Now you can go into a plant shop (ie GC) and buy an entire garden "off the peg", seasonal planting schemes, even bl***y Christmas now - we are all expected to want exactly the same. And it's all so expensive - subtlely underpinning it is the notion that if you haven't got money, new this or that, if you don't aspire to the "brand", you are a failure. It's wasteful, boring and dull, dull, dull. I dont go for "fashion" items i.e. I actually like Verbena Bonariensis, but refuse to buy because "fashion" has vastly inflated its worth and now its in everyones garden......not for me then. The new fashion for heating the patio with one of those gas heaters up a pole is wasteful in the extreme, have these guys not thought of global warming and the confusion that nocturnal animals and insects are having to put up with? Then there are the soullesss boxes of annuals barely clinging on to a rather undeserved life.... keep em is what I say! Lots of people waste their money buying "off the peg" gardens when they dont even understand what kind of soil they have, and so none of it survives the first winter. They do deserve to fail IMO but I pity the plants.  |
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Post by Spruance on Sept 22, 2006 12:22:05 GMT
Just thinking on about the lack of knowledgeable staff. I was once given a mini-lecture by someone at the aforementioned local GC along the lines of it being no good buying a Pieris as they would not survive in the local soil. (Neutral PH at home).
I resisted the obvious question... "Why are you selling them then?", and just pointed out that some of the Pieris in my garden are over 20 years old! He was rather dumbfounded to say the least.
Spruance
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2006 13:04:48 GMT
But if you buy the Christmas decorations in one of our local GC's in their sale after Christmas you can get some lovely ones for next to nothing, they slash the prices like you wouldn't believe. They're way too expensive at full price, but I've got some as sun catchers and they cost me pence. I know what you mean about all this Home Front brainwashing but ah, the post Xmas sale.........but the furniture's a ridiculous price.
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Post by piggingardener on Sept 22, 2006 13:16:44 GMT
I got some brilliant stuff in last January's sale at ikea. I'd actually never been there before but decided to go and see what all the fuss was about.
They were selling anything marked Julien (Christmas) for 39p. I bought 2 boxes of 6 different coloured glass tea light holders for 39p per box!!! They are great in the garden if we eat outside. I got a lantern and some tea towels as well. BARGAIN!!!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2006 15:24:12 GMT
I have to agree with you CC so we both must be crotchety, I try and keep away from garden centres as they are usually full of people just looking around/having a coffee and a scone and buying a scented candle...why would I want to buy one of them at a garden centre ( come to think of it why would I want one anyway!!!);D
I have one or two small, independent nurseries near me which I use and I also buy stuff mail order from other nurseries. When I go to stay with my friend in Essex it's the perfect opportunity to visit nurseries in that area (Glen Chantry being a favourite if I'm allowed to say and Beth Chatto a close second).
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Post by Spruance on Sept 22, 2006 15:55:48 GMT
When I go to stay with my friend in Essex it's the perfect opportunity to visit nurseries in that area (Glen Chantry being a favourite if I'm allowed to say and Beth Chatto a close second). Hi GH, Yes, you are most certainly allowed to say, on here at least! Spruance |
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Post by toonia on Sept 22, 2006 16:02:09 GMT
You'd buy scented candles if you lived with a dog like the Pongster!
I haven't got a lifestyle, I don't think. Do I need one?
The GCs here usually only have gardening related stuff, and not very much of that! They've only just recently stocked pond items like planting baskets and pumps, but no netting!
There is one assistant in the best one who knows his stuff and I always try to find him, he must think I'm a stalker!
No nurseries anywhere near!
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Post by MamIDdau on Sept 22, 2006 16:26:35 GMT
We have the same problem with garden centre staff. The guys and gals in the garden centre are really lovely people but working in a garden centre now is not so much knowing about plants and tending to them but about stock management. The plants are, after all, stock which needs to be displayed, moved, sold and sold in time for the next batch to come in. I know in our store we've got a whole trolley load of winter pansies being reduced to ridiculously low prices to get rid of them and they only came in last week or so. That's because they've over ordered and some more came in a few days ago.
Many people come looking for jobs in the garden centre thinking it will be just be pottering around, looking after the plants and talking to people about them. It's working outside in all weathers, lugging about heavy trolleys, bags of slate, paving slabs, compost and fencing panels and then responding to calls querying garden furniture.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2006 17:27:14 GMT
Lifestyle - sometimes I wonder if I've got a life, let alone a style for it.  |
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Post by Plocket on Sept 22, 2006 17:49:36 GMT
Oh it drives me nuts having to fight my way through people brousing through naff china and glass ornaments, wind-chimes and goodness knows what other crap they sell in garden centres these days. And that leads me back to the Christmas thread because the garden centres are just as guilty as supermarkets and department stores for putting out the Christmas tat far too early.
Some nurseries are guilty too but I forgive them more easily!
Oooh I feel better for getting that off my chest!
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Post by Susie Snowdrop on Sept 22, 2006 17:56:31 GMT
Oh dear Plocket, sounds as though you could do with a large glass of wine You'll be pleased to know that where I work there is not a hint of christmas anywhere! Nor do we sell china, jewellery, greetings cards, sweeties, clothing, rabbits or spare car parts ;D. In fact, all we sell is plants, pots, composts and other stuff strictly related to the garden  Susie x |
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Post by Plocket on Sept 22, 2006 18:05:34 GMT
Oh Susie it sounds like heaven!!! Actually I've got a large Pimms in front of me and I already feel mellow - the sounding off helped but the Pimms can't do any harm!!!!!
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Post by Susie Snowdrop on Sept 22, 2006 18:09:44 GMT
Cheers P.......enjoy The nursery may sound like heaven but it certainly is not heavenly to work there! Lots of hard humping around alot of the time. Still, we do get alot of compliments from customers which helps ease the load somewhat! Slurp, slurp, slurp...........must fill my glass up ;D |
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Post by Plocket on Sept 22, 2006 18:20:14 GMT
I'm not at all surprised it's hard work and I'm sure you are shattered when you get home. But do you think it's rewarding? I'd love to work in a nursery and envy you the job, even in the rain!!! Cheers!!!  |
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Post by Susie Snowdrop on Sept 22, 2006 18:25:15 GMT
Love the smiley! Yes, it is rewarding sometimes but, as we are a nursery and not a garden centre, it is extremely seasonal. I sometimes get a little lonely if I'm working by myself all day . Just joking, love it really and it's alot easier when you haven't got loads of customers about . I know we'll be fairly quite now until the last week in November. That's when the chrimbo trees start |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2006 17:49:02 GMT
After having been so crotchety, I should add that there is a brilliant garden shop (tiny - very few plants) near where I live which stocks the entire range of T&M seeds, will get any others, and is an Aladdin's cave of bulbs around this time of year. Also has every type of organic fertiliser you can think of, stocks green manure seeds, will order and post you nematodes etc. The owners/managers are very helpful and knowledgeable; it's been going strong for a couple of decades and I just hope the (elderly) people who run it have kids so we can look forward to a couple more decades of this treasure trove ;D ... cheers ...
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Post by Susie Snowdrop on Sept 23, 2006 20:16:22 GMT
So CC, when was the last time you were in our nursery |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2006 20:41:24 GMT
Well now, if I had time to hop the Irish Sea ...
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Post by torontotrini on Sept 30, 2006 18:18:49 GMT
The GCs around here are still doing pretty good as far as sticking to the business of plants and gardening, and having knowledgeable people on staff. But yes, we're beginning to see that "lifestyle products" trend making its way in. So far it's been mainly patio furniture, garden ornaments and those all-essential wind chimes.
The trend that is really beginning to worry me is "big fish swallowing smaller fish, becoming bigger and hogging a bigger share of the market". The net result, predictably, is less variety and higher prices. About 3 years ago a big fish swallowed a medium-sized fish I used to go to quite a bit, and you wouldn't believe what has happened to the prices since then. The one good thing they've done is to keep much of the original staff so there are still knowledgeable people around to talk with/ask questions. But the prices are totally ridiculous, and the range of what is available has shrunk. I don't buy there any longer until they get to their end-of-season sales, when their prices are reduced back to being reasonable.
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Post by torontotrini on Sept 30, 2006 18:25:22 GMT
Oh. I forgot to mention. We go through one stage more than apparently you guys do before they start pushing Christmas stuff at us. Halloween. Right now they've got all kinds of goblins, hobgoblins, Bush masks, Blair masks, witches costumes, etc. jostling alongside the spring bulbs, shrubs and the perennials they're trying to get rid of. Right after Halloween, the Christmas stuff will start appearing. Oh Joy. I can hardly wait, really.
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Post by rhodadendron on Sept 30, 2006 18:30:57 GMT
Blair masks!!!!!! Ohmigod - I hope we are not talking Cherie Blair here - that is really scary!
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Post by torontotrini on Oct 1, 2006 11:56:22 GMT
No; it's good ol' Tony; caricatured of course. His and Bush's were best sellers a couple years ago. Is Cherie his BH? I know I've seen her picture at some time, but I can't really remember what she looks like.
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Oct 1, 2006 13:01:17 GMT
There are quite a few GCs around Leicester, most of the big ones have the obligatory cane furniture, ceramics and silk flowers. However, some people like that..When I go to GCs with one my sisters she most of her time looking at chairs and pet gerbils...whilst I head straight outside to look at the plants, we both enjoy ourselves so where's the harm? Through visiting these huge posh GCs this sister has developed an interest in plants and has redesigned her small garden, she LIKES being able to have lunch whilst buying a pot arrangement...if that's her thing then that's ok with me. I quite often pick up my John Inness there..maybe the odd pot or twelve... ;D When I go plant shopping with another of my sisters, we tend to drive out to the specialist nurseries and only go to the big GCs if we want a cuppa!. We've set ourselves a task this year, starting in spring we plan to visit all the small local nurseries we can find (we tend to just visit the same 3 at the moment) It's horses for courses isn't it?. I don't mind as long as we have the choice to visit whichever we prefer, where it all falls down is when some great huge organisiation takes all the trade away from the small businesses...and that doesn't just happen with GCs... |
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Post by toonia on Oct 2, 2006 11:03:46 GMT
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... cheers ...
