Castle Gardens in Sherborne, Dorset and Barton Grange Garden Centre in Preston, Lancashire to receive accolades at the GCA annual conference in Oxfordshire in January.
GCA chief executive Gillie Westwood, said: "Our congratulations go to Castle Gardens for coming first in the garden centre category and to Barton Grange Garden Centre for topping the destination garden centre group.
"The garden centres are judged on the innovation, inspiration and excitement created from the way their Christmas products are displayed. The range of products available, accessibility, how easy it is for customers to find and select products and 'wow factor' are also
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
John Lewis posts record sales
John Lewis has posted its highest-ever weekly sales figure for the week to Saturday, December 17, despite gloomy reports from other retailers on the high street.
The department store chain broke thought the £130m sales barrier, with revenue soaring 10.6% to £133.1m for the week compared to the same period last year, an uplift of 7.8% on last week's record figure of £123.5m.
Christmas shoppers boosted demand for electronics, toys and home accessories, with furnishing, Christmas decorations and table accessories all performing well.
The retailer has also seen a particular demand for gift food and electronic gadgets such
The department store chain broke thought the £130m sales barrier, with revenue soaring 10.6% to £133.1m for the week compared to the same period last year, an uplift of 7.8% on last week's record figure of £123.5m.
Christmas shoppers boosted demand for electronics, toys and home accessories, with furnishing, Christmas decorations and table accessories all performing well.
The retailer has also seen a particular demand for gift food and electronic gadgets such
Monday, December 19, 2011
Builders Less Pessimistic About Housing Market
Rising interest from would-be buyers is leaving U.S. homebuilders less pessimistic about the housing market. But tighter lending standards are still keeping many potential buyers from purchasing new homes.
The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo builder sentiment index rose two points to 21 in December. That's the highest level since May 2010. It's just the second time the index has been at 20 or above in two years.
Still, any reading below 50 indicates negative sentiment about the housing market. The index hasn't reached 50 since April 2006, the peak of the housing boom.
Last year, the number of
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Cute tuques for cool days
When the temperature drops and the cold-weather gear comes out, a slate of seasonal ills, from scaly skin to frizzy locks, follows on their heels. Protect your head from the elements – and counter a bad hair day – by throwing on a cute, colourful wool tuque. Choose one topped with a pom-pom to stand out during that first snowball fight of the year.
From left to right:
Steve Madden, $32 at the Bay (thebay.com)
Nine West, $40 at the Bay
Roots, $30 at roots.com
Roots, $36
BDG, $29 at Urban Outfitters (urbanoutfitters.com)
Source: The Globe and Mail
Saturday, December 17, 2011
EULEX's de Marnhac: freedom of movement is a must
In an exclusive interview with SETimes, EULEX chief Xavier de Marnhac underlines the need for co-operation and rule of law.
By Linda Karadaku for Southeast European Times in Pristina -- 17/12/11
EULEX chief Xavier de Marnhac. [EU]
EULEX is not able to move freely in northern Kosovo due to the opposition of the local Serbs who accuse the mission of siding with Pristina officials.
The EU mission wants the barricades put up by the local Serbs to be removed, and have permanent and unconditional access for everyone.
EULEX chief Xavier de Marnhac spoke with SETimes correspondent Linda Karadaku about the mission's goals, and the hurdles it is facing.
SETimes: How will EULEX be able to return to the north and have freedom of movement?
Xavier de Marnhac: I cannot stress enough the fact that the barricades in the north should come down and that
Friday, December 16, 2011
Disclosed documents reveal Brazilian strong support for the Pinochet regime in Chile
The telegrams were retrieved by the Brazilian Embassy in Santiago after Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff passed a government transparency law and opened a national truth commission earlier this month. The cables span from 1973 to 1976 and reveal coordination between the governments of Chile and Brazil that served to sustain oppressive policies under both regimes.
According to Folha, two months after the September 1973 coup de état that saw Gen. Augusto
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Christmas sales "on a knife edge", says BRC
Footfall on UK high streets fell by 2.6% year-on-year last week, according to the latest BRC-Springboard Footfall Monitor.
For the week commencing December 5, footfall in shopping centres fell by 1.9%, and declined 0.2% in out-of-town locations.
Compared with the previous week, footfall fell 2.2% on high streets and 1.4% for out-of-town, while shopping centres saw numbers rise by 1.3%.
Footfall in the week commencing November 28 was boosted by the effects of public sector strikes and the end of the month payday which fell during the period. On an annual basis, both high streets and out-of-town footfall measures
For the week commencing December 5, footfall in shopping centres fell by 1.9%, and declined 0.2% in out-of-town locations.
Compared with the previous week, footfall fell 2.2% on high streets and 1.4% for out-of-town, while shopping centres saw numbers rise by 1.3%.
Footfall in the week commencing November 28 was boosted by the effects of public sector strikes and the end of the month payday which fell during the period. On an annual basis, both high streets and out-of-town footfall measures
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
