Coronavirus and the horticulture sector
The current situation with the global health crisis is naturally a worrying time for anyone in business. The horticultural sector
First Franchise is the UK's leading garden centre consultants
Our consultants are experts in the horticultural industry, having worked for many of the leading garden centre groups as well as running their own garden centres. We represent the leading retail concessions and help site owners develop outlets with a focus on rental income. Our consultants and associates can advise on the entire concession process from a single unmanned short term promotion through to a development of a greenfield site with a horticultural focus. We work with the leading garden centre groups and independent garden centres and provide specialist management of their concession portfolio.
Helping garden centres flourish
Since 2004 we have established garden centres as retail destinations, ending the seasonal fluctuations that used to dictate the success of centres. Thorough good concession partnerships, garden centres experience higher footfall throughout the year and this in turn more profitable concession partnerships.
Concession areas and workspaces available in garden centres across the UK
For all enquiries please use the contact form below.
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CONCESSION MANAGEMENT
Offering garden centres a full range of consultancy solutions to develop and manage their concessions offering.
CONCESSION BRANDS
Offering retail brands a full range of consultancy options to help brands develop their concession offering. We also help present brands to relevant decision makers within the industry.
GARDEN CENTRE DEVELOPMENT
Helping garden centre owners develop their centres from branding, to planning permission, product development and much more.
We work with many of the UK's most popular retail brands
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Growing the garden centre
We work with garden centres and retail brands and have transformed the horticultural sector – changing garden centres from plant and tool shops, to retail destinations in their own right. We helped multiple garden centres weather the storm of unpredictable seasons by developing a retail offering that works with their business’ ethos, values and their customer demographics.
The concession model has revolutionised the way that garden centre owners look at excess space in their centres to maximise their profit potential throughout the seasons. We form partnerships between centres and brands, working with both garden centres and retail brands to find them their perfect partners. We work with all of the major garden centre groups as well as the majority of independently owned centres.
We also help garden centres beyond their concessions, assisting with the transformation of their centres into retail hubs offering unique product ranges, profit maximising layouts and assisting with complete store refits. Our specialist team will develop all aspects of your business, from branding and buying to fixtures and fittings, to meeting your specific requirements.
Our team has vast experience and knowledge of the sector, with an intricate understanding of the garden centre business, concession management and retail development strategy. We are committed to offering the highest standards in advice and have one principal objective: providing clients with an unbiased and professional service.
Contact us today for further information and any questions you have.
Growing the garden centre
We work with garden centres and retail brands and have transformed the horticultural sector – changing garden centres from plant and tool shops, to retail destinations in their own right. We helped multiple garden centres weather the storm of unpredictable seasons by developing a retail offering that works with their businesses ethos, values and their customer demographics.
The concession model has revolutionised the way that garden centre owners look at excess space in their centres to maximise their profit potential throughout the seasons. We form partnerships between compatible and mutually beneficial brands, working with both garden centres and retail brands to find them their perfect partners. We work with all of the major garden centre groups as well as the majority of independently owned centres.
We also help garden centres beyond their concessions, transforming their centres into retail hubs offering unique product ranges, profit maximising layouts and assisting with complete store refits. Our specialist team will develop all aspects of your business, from branding to fixtures and fittings, to meeting your specific requirements.
Our team has vast experience and knowledge of the sector, with an intricate understanding of the garden centre business, concession management and retail development strategy. We are committed to offering the highest standards in advice and have one principle objective: providing clients with an unbiased and professional service.
Contact us today for further information and any questions you have.
What our clients say about us
"First Franchise helped us to create our destination garden centre by blending the right concessions and our trading garden centre in a way that has maximised our rental income and profits. First Franchise advised us on the design and the floorplan was created with specific concessions in mind. Colemans has set new standards in garden centres in Northern Ireland and we are delighted with the results."
Richard Fry MD
Colemans Garden Centre
"The team at First Franchise understood the gap in the local market and from our first meeting, impressed us with their vision. The Wooldridge Construction team and First Franchise have worked together to rejuvenate the former Wyevale Garden Centre and we have developed a site that we are proud to own and operate"
Charlie Wooldridge MD
Wooldridge Group
"First Franchise have been assisting our group for almost 20 years. They understand our format and we can rely on them to promote our group and look out for opportunities that they believe will be of benefit to ourselves and host stores. First Franchise have helped our group expand across groups and independent sites and we have no hesitation in recommending them to retailers looking at the garden centre sector for the first time."
David Lawrence MD
Maidenhead Aquatics
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