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Original poster

Garden Centres remaining open

66 replies

Nonimai · 03/11/2020 10:34

Our local large garden centres are remaining open through the lockdown and advertising their gift shops where their huge displays of Christmas decorations, cards, toys, clothing, gifts etc will all still be available. Meanwhile all our local independent stores on our high streets selling cards, gifts, toys, clothes etc are closing for a month on Wednesday.
The government guidelines are clear that we should only be shopping for essentials and taking as few trips out as possible.
I get that people need goods for their garden and I have no problem with those sales, but the primary Nov, Dec business for garden centres is indoor sales of gifts and Christmas goods.
I find this an absolute kick in the face for small retailers and really distasteful that our local garden centres are promoting their
Christmas decorations, gifts, speciality goods etc and so actively encouraging people to go out and browse.

OP posts:
ChardonnaysPetDragon · 03/11/2020 12:48

Good!

Cyw2018 · 03/11/2020 12:50

I'm in Wales where you can only buy essential items still.

The range have put signs up above all the
non-essential items, saying "click and collect, pick up in store today"... Mobile phone out of pocket...Problem solved!!

I think most businesses (and many individuals) are looking at the small print and the loop holes this time round, it's a matter of survival for many.

Goosefoot · 03/11/2020 13:01

It's a bit weird that some shops are restricted from selling products that aren't essential, but the garden centre can.

nosswith · 03/11/2020 13:03

Garden centres enable people to grow some of their own food. I agree with the decision to keep them open.

nosswith · 03/11/2020 13:03

And to get food for birds, and their presence is important in biodiversity and crops growing.

movingonup20 · 03/11/2020 13:04

Shops can all offer click and collect this time though, our local independent clothing shop has said you can browse and buy online/over the phone and collect within the hour, he'll even bring things to the door to show you. He's checked the rules and is within them. The shoe shop is doing the same

Redwolf1 · 03/11/2020 13:05

I'm a bit gutted that I've got my garden just about winter ready already. I wont need to go to the garden centre or potter in the garden much which is a shame as it saved my sanity last lockdown. I'm glad they're staying open

MarieIVanArkleStinks · 03/11/2020 13:05

The smell of synthetic cinnamon that permeates garden centres from November onwards makes me want to gag.

Whoosh!-goes the point .... Halloween Grin

PleasantVille · 03/11/2020 13:06

@ThomasHardyPerennial

My local independent garden centre is staying open, they are classed as essential as they sell pet food.
Are you in England? There no essential criteria, all garden centre's can open, it's nothing to with what they sell, it's in the legislation
weepingwillow22 · 03/11/2020 13:07

The question should be why are other shops being made to close rather than garden centres allowed to stay open. I think there should be strict limits on numbers in shops rather than forcing closure. Closing some shops whilst others remain open means that the open ones will just get more busy.

alreadytaken · 03/11/2020 13:07

Most small retailers are allowed to operate delivery service and click and collect orders. The ones with any sense have website or Facebook pages promoting their products and advertising their click and collect service. They'll take a hit from no impulse buys but they'll survive.

Any small independent retailer going out of business would probably be doing so anyway. You need to be adaptable to survive.

nosswith · 03/11/2020 13:09

@weepingwillow22 my answer would be that if restrictions had been introduced in late September, that they would not have needed to include shops.

Redcrayons · 03/11/2020 13:11

Seems strange to me that garden centres can open as essential in November. But I can’t begrudge any business having the opportunity to keep going when they can. I’m sure there are plenty of other businesses that can operate safely.

Fifthtimelucky · 03/11/2020 13:16

There's a big drive in our area to support local independent businesses during the next lockdown.

Many of our local independent shops will have to shut in the sense that people won't be able to go in, but they are still taking telephone orders and either delivering or doing a more basic version of click and collect.

CaptainMyCaptain · 03/11/2020 13:20

Apart from the Christmas stuff (which could be roped off if necessary) plants etc. on sale have a limited 'shelf' life and need to be bought at the right time. During the first lockdown bedding plants, vegetable plants etc were in danger of dying off until they were allowed to open again. It would be fairly easy to keep the outdoor parts open and the gift shops shut.

DenimDrift · 03/11/2020 13:21

Dobbies now have a sainsbury's franchise in them!!

nice work, getting round the 'essential store' status!

Juststopswimming · 03/11/2020 13:22

i was delighted to discover garden centres are remaining open, i hope they wont be cordoning off the xmas decs like they cordoned off kettles and pens in Wales....

Callipygion · 03/11/2020 13:38

Someone in the Cabinet obviously owns a shed load of shares in garden centres and off-licences.

MintyMabel · 03/11/2020 13:40

The government guidelines are clear that we should only be shopping for essentials and taking as few trips out as possible.

There is some really weird assumptions made about what is essential. I saw the list from the welsh government, DIY is essential, office supplies were not. What do they think people WFH are actually doing?

Orcus · 03/11/2020 13:40

@Goosefoot

It's a bit weird that some shops are restricted from selling products that aren't essential, but the garden centre can.
It's not really any weirder than the likes of Tesco being able to do it, surely?
Orcus · 03/11/2020 13:45

@Callipygion

Someone in the Cabinet obviously owns a shed load of shares in garden centres and off-licences.
Ehhh, off licences need to stay open. For two vital reasons. One, in some areas they're the local food shop too. Not everyone can travel. Two, hundreds of thousands of people in England are dependent on alcohol and cold turkey can be incredibly dangerous. If you close the off licences, the alcoholics who currently buy their supplies there will go to supermarkets if they can and create more pressure there. And the ones who can't access a supply are at risk of fits, thus putting pressure on A and E at a time when we really must avoid that whatever possible. Not that the Tories aren't corrupt, but this isn't a decision that needs explaining beyond the issues of food supply and avoiding forced detox.
Emmapeeler2 · 03/11/2020 13:46

Glad that garden centres can stay open but feel desperately sorry for High Street shops who have to close while e.g. Tesco will carry on selling the things they would have sold at the busiest time of the year.

laudemio · 03/11/2020 13:54

Many garden centres sell shrubs, trees etc at this time of year. It is a good time to plant. Plus houseplants. It is by no means all wrapping paper and cards

Notnownotneverever · 03/11/2020 13:59

I don’t think the OP was saying that the garden centres weren’t independently run but that it’s unfair to allow some independent shops like garden centres selling non essential items to open but other independent shops selling identical items to shut. It is unfair. I also think people will flock to these places so people will be far to close together. It will be neither here nor there if they are airy if they are rammed full.

eurochick · 03/11/2020 14:05

@Goosefoot

It's a bit weird that some shops are restricted from selling products that aren't essential, but the garden centre can.
That was in Wales. It doesn't apply in England.