Categories & Criteria
Categories to cover the whole industry
Project categories
Entries may be submitted individually or jointly by key parties involved.
Best Retailer Marketing Campaign
Awarded to the garden retailer that demonstrates the most innovative marketing campaign to reach and appeal to its customers. This could be a marketing or promotional campaign for multiple outlets, an individual business or a single branch and the initiative could be nationwide or local, or a shared cost activity with a supplier. Entrants must describe how the campaign or promotion was concieved, executed and evaluated for success, giving necessary data to support their claims. Each entrant must submit photographic evidence and relevant items of promotional material to support their entry. Garden retailer and their suppliers are eligible to enter.
Most Successful New Plant
The best new plant launched for sale through garden centres for the garden consumer. This must be launched within the qualifying period demonstrate innovation and fill a gap in the market for the gardening consumer. Entrants will submit photographs of the plant and information on a) the plant’s breeding b) the customers’ response to it c) quantified the plant’s commercial success. Entrants should explain why stocking the plant is important or beneficial to retailers.
Most Successful New Product
The best product launch for sale through garden centres for the garden consumer. This must be launched within the qualifying period and demonstrate innovation and fill a gap in the market for the amateur gardener. Entrants will submit photographs of the product and information on how it was a) conceived b) the response to it c) show its commercial success. Entrants should explain why stocking the product is important or beneficial to retailers.
Best Business Development: New Build, Refit or Launch
Awarded to the best garden centre development built within the qualifying period. This may be a new build centre, an extension, rebuild or refit or relaunch. It should show best practice in design, innovation and environmental standards. Entrants should describe how the initiative was a) conceived, b) executed and c) quantified in terms of commercial success.
Business categories
Best Customer Service Award
Awarded to the garden centre that shows customer service above and beyond the norm, for instance delivery services, garden design services, advice leaflets, advice lines and well-run customer service desks. Please include any feedback available from customers and evidence of what your centre’s customer service offer involves. The award winner will show it offers its customers advice, information, attention to detail and a pleasant customer service beyond its competition.
Best Catering Facilities
Awarded to the garden centre that can demonstrate it operates its catering operation runs to the highest standard no matter how big it is. The award will recognise innovation, success, customer service, quality of food and drink, ambience and efficiency. Entrants should submit written and photographic evidence showing commercial evidence of success.
Best Pet or Aquatics Department
Awarded to the garden centre that can show its pet or aquatic department is of the highest standard. The award will recognise customer service, quality and range of product, the best animal care and innovation. Entrants should submit written and photographic evidence.
Best Planteria
Awarded to the garden centre with the best outside plant space. It should reflect the best quality and range of plants and show a commitment to customer service and innovation in use of space. Entrants should submit written and photographic evidence.
Retail Outlet of the Year: under £3m turnover
Awarded to the garden retail outlet that most impresses the judges. The outlet will need to demonstrate excellence during the qualifying period for the Awards in one or more areas, including for example: profitability, turnover, growth, customer satisfaction, awareness within the local community, staff motivation/retention, significant improvements in one or more aspect of the business etc. Entrants will submit written evidence with any relevant supporting printed and/or photographic material.
Retail Outlet of the Year: over £3m turnover
Awarded to the individual garden retail outlet forming part of a chain or multiple group that most impresses the judges. The outlet will need to demonstrate excellence in one or more areas, including for example: profitability, turnover, growth, customer satisfaction, awareness within the local community, staff motivation/retention, significant improvements in one or more aspect of the business etc. Entrants will submit written evidence with any relevant supporting printed and/or photographic material.
Urban Garden Centre of the Year
Awarded to the garden retail outlet that operates from an urban setting which most impresses the judges. The outlet will need to demonstrate excellence during the qualifying period in using often restricted space to bring in urban, perhaps non-core gardening customers through innovative events, displays and community involvement.
Please also detail profitability, turnover, growth, customer satisfaction, staff motivation/retention, significant improvements in one or more aspect of the business etc. Entrants will submit written evidence with any relevant supporting printed and/or photographic material.
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General categories
Best Garden Retail Website
The Best Garden Retail website will be given to the company that has the clearest website design, most enjoyable online experience for customers and bes delivery times. Entrants will submit written evidence, with supporting printed material if available. The award winner will show evidence of competitive pricing, customer service, testimonials, turnover, profitability and company growth.
Commitment to Training/Education Award
Awarded to the garden centre with the best attitude and commitment to education and training in garden retail. Entrants will submit written evidence, with supporting printed material if available. Entrants should demonstrate how they are a) committed to training of the highest standard, and b) how they have enabled staff/students/trainees/apprentices to better their knowledge and career development.
Community Involvement Award
Given to the garden centre that shows the most commitment to getting involved in activities within its local community. This may include running kids’ clubs, older peoples’ clubs, gardening clubs, charity fundraising or any other activity that shows the centre is at the heart of local life. Show written and photographic evidence, including media coverage, of how being committed to the community benefited business and added to the garden centre’s appeal. The Award winner will show how a garden centre is more than just a retailer that sells plants and garden goods-it is important to its community.
Best Environmental Policy
Awarded to the entrant who has demonstrated the best attitude to environmental awareness within its operation. This could, for example, relate to peat use, or energy or water conservation, or any other environmental factor, including waste management, recycling, composting, etc. Entrants will submit written evidence, with supporting printed material if available.Written evidence should describe how the entrant’s policy was conceived, executed and quantified in terms of success.
Individual awards
Nominations are invited – and free of charge
Garden Centre Trainee of the Year
This category is open to anyone that has been working within a garden centre for less than two years. The Award entry should demonstrate how the apprentice has made a difference to their business, be it excellent customer service, innovation or going that extra mile. Garden centres must nominate their member of staff and apply for a ‘Trainee of the Year’ promotional pack containing voting forms and promotional aides. Garden Centres will need to encourage customers to vote for their nominated Trainee. All voting forms along with a supporting written entry must be sent in to complete the submission.
Written submission – trainees will detail their personal or career gains they have achieved from participating in their studies and job and how they have integrated on-the-job and off-the-job training and what benefits this has held. Trainees must show how they have developed their communication skills including self-reliance, team participation, and assistance as well as customer advice. Please add any knowledge or understanding that the trainee has gained from new developments and trends in your workplace or industry.
As well as receiving a prestigious Garden Retail Award the winning trainee will win an HTA Diploma (or equivalent depending on experience) in Garden Retail course worth £350 funded by category sponsor, Westland.
Employee of the Year
Awarded to the individual who, in the opinion of the judges, has shown the most outstanding aptitude for and commitment to their role in the garden centre. Entrants must be nominated by their employer.Written evidence should explain why the individual nominee should be given the award, specifically: a) what successes/achievements have been accomplished to warrant nomination, b) how the entrant is regarded by their colleagues and customers.
Outstanding/Lifetime Achievement Award
Awarded to the individual who, in the opinion of the judges, has made the most outstanding contribution to garden retailing. This may be awarded to someone who has ‘lifetime achievement’ status, or it could go to someone who has made a significant contribution to the industry within the past few years. Entrants must be nominated by a third party (for example, a colleague or employer).Written evidence should explain why the individual nominee should be given the award, specifically: a) what successes/achievements have been accomplished to warrant nomination, b) how the entrant is regarded by their peers, customers, colleagues, subordinates, seniors etc and c) why the nomination is particularly relevant to the current awards qualifying period.
