The garden centre, a retail business of the future
In response to climate challenges and evolving consumer habits, garden centres are reinventing themselves. More than just points of sale, they are becoming green hubs, combining services, education and positive local impact. Between ecological transition and community, they embody the retail business of the future.
In a world where inflation is undermining all sectors of retail, consumer habits are changing fast. Households, which are shrinking in size - 79% of households in 2019 consisted of one or two people - are reviewing their priorities and rechannelling their spending. Against this backdrop, the traditional retail model, centred on mass sales, is reaching its limits. Moreover, the general trend is towards fewer new products placed on the market, brought about by ecological awareness and the need to optimise the use resources. The time has come to reinvent physical points of sale, which must become much more than mere product showcases.
The end of "neutral retail" is upon us. From now on, retailers will have to embody strong values, respond to the specific needs of consumers and create communities committed to sustainable lifestyles. Customers are looking for places where they can find practical solutions and advice and become actively involved in the ecological transition.
Much more than sales
It's precisely in this context that garden centres are establishing themselves as retailing models for the future. They are not simply distributors of gardening products, but places where people can learn, share and learn about crucial issues: preserving biodiversity, responsible resource management and the climate transition.
Garden centres need to evolve to become true "green hubs" or “plant centres”, places where individuals will find much more than just products. They will become centres of knowledge and services, where re-use and tool hire will be promoted. By transforming their outlets into solution centres, garden centres are putting the customer and his or her needs back at the centre of their approach. These outlets will no longer just be places to shop, but community focal points, where the exchange of ideas, education and solidarity will be at the heart of the experience.
To reinforce this approach, garden centres will also draw on strong local roots, working with French producers. This will enable them to reinforce their role as drivers of the ecological transition at local level, while offering their customers products with a positive impact from sustainable sources. Today's consumers are no longer content to simply buy a product: they want to embrace values and play an active part in building a more responsible future. Garden centres have long been on this path, with their commitment to nature, and they are now ideally placed to embody the retailing of tomorrow.
The future is green
In response to the climate emergency, garden centres must also play leading role. They are the rare stores capable of offering products with a positive impact, while at the same time encouraging responsible practices and environmental protection.
In today’s urban world, garden centres have a unique opportunity to establish themselves as key players in the promotion of urban agriculture and community gardens. By offering dedicated spaces where city-dwellers can learn to grow their own fruit and vegetables, they are contributing not only to environmental awareness, but also to social cohesion. Garden centres can organise practical workshops and training courses on urban gardening techniques, and provide equipment adapted to small spaces such as balconies, patios or even green walls.
Garden centres can also play an educational role with younger children by working with schools to build gardening into the curriculum. Projects such as creating educational vegetable gardens or organising school outings help to raise children's awareness of environmental issues from an early age. This helps to shape a generation that is aware of the importance of nature and the need to preserve it.
By integrating these different dimensions, garden centres are becoming key players in the ecological transition in urban areas. They offer not only products, but also services and experiences that enrich the lives of local communities. In this way, they are positioning themselves as essential partners for towns and cities wishing to improve the quality of life of their residents while reducing their environmental impact.
Ultimately, garden centres don't need a revolution, but rather a natural evolution of their model, based their historical strengths. By transforming themselves into solution hubs, they are becoming places of the future, where people, nature and sustainability meet. The transition is already visible in many outlets, and this model is ready to expand further to meet the challenges of tomorrow. The garden centre is not just tomorrow's retail, it is today's retail undergoing a profound transformation.
Thomas Le Rudulier - Jardineries de France