Pent-up demand for garden products post-lockdown ignited a buoyant summer and autumn season for garden retailers, but with winter around the corner, GIMA members are throwing the spotlight on innovation and top-sellers that promise to keep tills ringing in the run-up to Christmas.

With increasing demand for face coverings and associated products due to the Covid-19 pandemic, supplier RSW International is highlighting its new range of PPE/Healthcare products. It includes hand sanitiser, counter top automatic sanitiser dispensers, medical grade face coverings, children’s and adults’ plain and funky designs, washable face masks, and casual headwear with integrated face visors. Lee Kennerley Head of Garden & Leisure at RSW, said “We developed a competitively priced range of PPE & healthcare products for the retail and commercial sectors and have seen unprecedented demand within the garden and leisure industry for this type of product.”

Sipcam Home & Garden, the company behind the ecofective range, has unveiled SPOT-ON – a new cleaning and weed control brand for 2021. The company says the pandemic has resulted in the market for hygiene and sanitisation products growing exponentially, resulting in the launch of SPOT-ON Natural Antiviral and Antibacterial Surface Cleaner, which kills up to 99.99% of bacteria and helps in the fight against coronavirus. Nigel Thompson, Head of Sales at Sipcam Home & Garden, said: “SPOT-ON is a fresh, cutting-edge brand offering potential to drive footfall and generate sales. Products get the job done with minimal effort, are economical to purchase and offer exceptional, rapid performance.”

Hygeia has also diversified its portfolio with the addition of HyClean – a rapid action, anti-virus cleaner and disinfectant for use on non-porous surfaces and fabric in homes and gardens, launched in response to the pandemic. Tom Stolworthy, Hygeia’s UK Country Manager, said: “With HyClean, we are offering garden retailers the opportunity to add an additional product line to their Hygeia order. In doing so, retailers can offer customers a product that provides total peace of mind when tackling Covid-19 around homes and gardens. It’s a great add-on line that will drive impulse sales when positioned at the tills.”

Winter helps garden retailers tap into demand for domestic fuel. A spokesman for supplier Dizmezs said: “READYBLAZE is a new winterfuel brand for the UK garden centre market which marries superior performance with environmentally friendly features. Every piece of timber in READYBLAZE firewood products is kiln dried to under 20% moisture content level, leading to cleaner, hotter burning and less harmful emissions.” The range includes kiln dried hardwood birch and ash logs for use on stoves and open fires. The company says that all products conform to new UK government regulations on firewood moisture levels.

The pandemic has generated huge demand for grow-your-own products. Vegepod’s Neil Urry said: “Retailers can capitalise on the GYO category with Vegepod and Vegebag. Vegepod’s range of products enable gardeners of all abilities to grow veg at home all year-round. Our newest product, the Vegebag, is a fully contained grow bag suitable for winter vegetable growing at an attractive price point. Point-of-sale set up, demonstrations and staff training are all included with any Vegepod product.”

Bulb suppliers are gearing-up to meet strong demand. Ian Clark, Business Manager at Taylors Bulbs, explained: “Our best-selling items are Amaryllis boxed gift packs which include bulb, pot and peat-free compost. Taylors offers 23 varieties in this format, from the traditional favourites Red Velvet and Christmas Star to unusual double-flowered varieties such as Alfresco and Lady Jane.” Ian said amaryllis appeaks to consumers seeking to add winter colour, or as Christmas stocking fillers.

Birdcare is a buoyant winter category and Fallen Fruits is injecting style into its latest products. Speaking about its Fashionable Feeders and Premium Bird Food, a Fallen Fruits spokeswoman said: “Made from mild steel, our range of stylish bird feeders are the perfect fit in contemporary gardens. In bold anthracite and white colourways, they are available in wall mounted, hanging or free standing designs. Pair them with our new range of premium bird food.” Fallen Fruits also predicts out-of-season demand for its parasols and parasol stands. The spokeswoman explained: “With more people wanting to spend time together in open spaces instead of indoors [during the pandemic], garden parasols and stands will offer shelter throughout autumn and winter. Our tropical inspired parasols are available in Kiwi, watermelon, orange and bamboo leaf designs.”

Burgon & Ball is promoting its Corona tools this autumn. Rainer Schubert, Managing Director at Burgon & Ball, said: “A year after launching in the UK, the Corona range of garden tools available through Burgon & Ball is now a popular choice for horticulture professionals as well as keen gardeners. Corona’s extensive ranges are engineered for lasting performance, reliability and durability – a combination of innovative design and American engineering.”

The lawncare category is set to be extended later into the season, thanks to innovation by DJ Turfcare. Viano Autumn Lawn Treatment is a new organic-based fertiliser that can be used from August to November, delivering a thicker, stronger, greener and disease-resistant sward while killing moss and weeds. Owner of DJ Turfcare, David Jenkins, says: “New Autumn Lawn Treatment will help retailers to capitalise on opportunities for growth and drive sales among shoppers who will no longer tolerate the use of traditional synthetic chemicals on lawns.”

Retailers looking for an autumn sales essential can consider Clear ‘N’ Collect, a multipurpose garden rake that picks up leaves and garden waste. The company’s Sally Coneron explained: “My husband invented the Clear ‘N’ Collect. We launched a couple of months ago, are now stocked in over 25 garden centres and are being supplied by Decco and Stax. Bright POS clearly explains what this innovative product does.”

Ahead of the season of muddy lawns, Primeur is expanding its Recycled Rubber Stepping Stone collection, made from former tyres. Its best-selling stepping stone, Railroad Tie (25x60cm) will be available in on-trend grey for 2021. Primeur’s Jenny Douthwaite said: “Grey is the must-have colour in UK homes and gardens. Previously, Railroad Tie was only available in Earth, so adding a grey option will help gardeners to ‘get the look’ while doing their bit to help divert materials from landfill.”

With consumers’ appetite growing for planting cheerful winter containers, Woodlodge is expanding its Heritage Garden line-up. Additions include Edwardian Glazed Rim Pots with brightly decorated rims, Ribbed Balfour Squares made from GRC cement, Edwardian Brushed Pots in shades of grey and green, and classic-style watering cans. Michael Wooldridge, Managing Director at Woodlodge, said: “The expansion of Heritage Garden for 2021 demonstrates our commitment to developing unique lines that complement the exemplary designs that set this premium range head and shoulders above the competition.”

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