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Take part in the 2009 Garden Centre Inspection Program

April 16, 2009 – The Canadian Landscape and Nursery Association is inviting garden centres to set themselves apart from the competition and take part in the CNLA's 2009 Garden Centre Inspection Program.

A high standard of retailing is essential for the success of any garden centre, particularly in an increasingly competitive climate.  So, how do you ensure that your standards are of the highest? 

Inviting an experienced independent consultant to visit your centre and carry out a tried and tested inspection will check your standards, and will provide suggestions on how best to improve. Garden Centres Canada has commissioned Eve Tigwell to carry out 18 inspections in Canada for 2009: she has over 20 years experience as a retail consultant, specializing in garden centres around the world, and has carried out inspections in the UK, Germany and Denmark for many years.

What does an inspection involve?

• The inspection consultant is on-site for three to four hours. Eve will walk around every part of your centre awarding scores and taking photographs to illustrate your report (up to about 100 photos, depending on the size of the centre). 
• She will then sit down with you to discuss what she has seen; your staff can be involved in this discussion if you wish. Final scores are not mentioned at this point, this is feedback on what Eve has seen and a discussion on how  your centre could be improved. 
• The inspection form will be completed as an Excel spreadsheet, and will be e-mailed to you.  This is followed by CD with the photographs and a further copy of the report, sent in the mail.

What do you get?

• An independent, unbiased view of your garden centre, how it appears to your customers, and how it might be improved both in terms of retailing  and profitability.
• A discussion on the direction of garden centre retailing, with particular focus on your centre.
• A local publicity opportunity.   
• An opportunity for inspections in the future to help you to measure yourself and set standards from year to year. 

Please Note

• The inspections will be carried out in June and July 2009 with a potential for inspections in future years: There are only 18 spaces available, so book your place now for a great opportunity to further develop your garden centre.
• You must be a member of your provincial green industry association to participate. 
• Please note that we cannot guarantee your registration as we need a minimum number of inspections in your area to arrange the inspection at your garden centre.

Click here for more details and to download a PDF of the registration_form.