DIYWEEK.net

The new additions - Highfield Garden World in Whitminster and Blackbrooks Garden Centre’s two new garden centres at Hastings and Lower Dicker – take the number of Choice Marketing’s members to 45, and bolster its group retail turnover to more than £135million.

Highfield Garden World managing director Tim Greenway said: “We are excited to join the membership of Choice Marketing. After many successful years as members of the Great Western Partnership, we now felt this was the correct time to move to a much larger buying group with a new marketing company. We look forward to meeting many of the members at various upcoming trade shows or at the Choice annual conference”.

Michelle de Lavis-Trafford, CEO of Choice Marketing said “We are delighted to welcome Highfield Garden World to the Group. They are a highly significant garden centre in the West Country, and are sure to make a major contribution to the Organisation. We are also delighted with the acquisitions from Blackbrooks, an existing member, who can further share the benefits that Choice Marketing can bring”.

Choice has also announced a change to its marketing agency, which is a significant move for the Group and its members. Ms de Lavis added: “As the group continues to expand, we felt it was time to look for a larger professional marketing agency who could develop our members’ marketing further and bring us new services and initiatives. We have found the perfect solution with Encompass, whose client base includes some leading high-street retailers and other large businesses”.

Choice Marketing was established in 2002 with 10 independent garden centres as a buying and marketing organisation. The group has now grown to 45 centres and has become a major player within the industry. The plan is to “take a break from active recruitment” once it reaches 50 members, with plans to consolidate its new membership.