THE GARDEN Centre Association July 2025 Barometer of Trade (BoT) is out today (August 20) and it shows ‘a good mid-summer performance’.
 
Member garden centres reported that eight of the 13 categories recorded did well, when compared to 2024, with furniture and BBQs, up at +16.72%, crowned July’s best performing section.
 
GCA CEO, Peter Burks, says: “Great to have had a nice bounce back to our sales in July following the heat in June. However, gardening did suffer still from the heat and drought conditions, but the fair-weather category of furniture and BBQs had a great month as everyone wanted to get outdoors.
 
“The other non-weather dependent categories also did what they are there to do and supported the overall performance with nice uplifts in gifts, clothing, food halls/farm shops and catering. Overall, a good mid-summer performance despite the heat and hose pipe bans in some areas.”
 
Clothing recorded the second-best sales figures in July, when compared to the same month in 2024, up at +11.76%, followed by gifts at +9.8%, catering at +8.32% came next and then food hall/farm shop at +6.38%.
 
The miscellaneous category recorded +1.89%, with seeds & bulbs was in seventh place at +1.16% and pets & aquatics next at +0.77%.
 
The garden sundries category was slightly down at -0.35%, then houseplants at -0.92%, outdoor plants down at -4.9% and hard landscaping at -6.99%.
 
The GCA’s BoT reports covering 13 categories are compiled using actual sales figures and provide an up-to-date trading position statement. They are made available mid-month following the end of the prior month after all member garden centres have submitted their results.
 
The BoT allows members to compare their trading positions with other centres. 
 
The GCA represents more than 200 garden centres nationwide. 
 
Through sharing information and its inspection programme the GCA helps members to achieve high standards in customer service, plant quality and reliability.
 
Tickets for the GCA’s 2026 Annual Conference are now on sale via the members’ section on the body’s website or via https://gca.digitickets.co.uk/.
 
For further information, please go to www.gca.org.uk