Motivational speaker and retail guru John Stanley challenged 30 representatives from the HTA retail group, garden retailers, growers and manufactured goods suppliers to make a difference to the sector in just 24 hours during a workshop at the end of August.

The ‘bootcamp’ style workshop was organised by the HTA’s Retail Management Group was held in Sheffield as a precursor to a session at the HTA conference in Chester next month, where Stanley will give talks on ‘new thinking on generation marketing’ and ‘global retail best practice’.

The ‘highly interactive’ event combined presentations and workshop sessions, as well a visit to nearby Ferndale Garden Centre. It also featured guests from Denmark’s Planteriget and The Arboretum in the Republic of Ireland.

Caroline Owen who chairs the Retail Management Group said: “We know we constantly need to innovate and change to keep ahead of the game. John Stanley brings an exceptionally valuable overview of all that is best in retailing around the world and challenged all of us at the bootcamp to think deeply about our customers, our centres and our teams.”

HTA’s Commercial Director Andrew Maxted, commercial director of the HTA, added “This was very much a pilot exercise and we are looking forward to a lively session at conference where John and some of the bootcamp participants will share their thinking and plans for the future with other delegates. John’s approach to marketing and merchandising is inspirational and we plan to roll this out this through a series of events and good practice guides which will be available to members over the winter months.”

The conference, ‘Green Light for the Garden Industry, takes place on October 15 and 16 in Chester.

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