DIYWEEK.net

The organisers of Garden Re-Leaf Day have revealed a simple way to enable garden product and plant suppliers to get involved before the big day.
The Loose Change scheme involves suppliers placing special, coin-shaped stickers in denominations of 50p or £1 - available from Greenfingers - on products of their choice, either before despatch or after delivery to the retailer. The selected products can then be featured in dedicated product displays set up by participating garden centres, with the stickers showing consumers how much money the supplier will donate to the Greenfingers Rosy Cheeks Appeal upon purchase of the goods.

The idea came from former Gardman marketing director Jane Lawler, who is now helping to support the partnership between Greenfingers and Garden Re-Leaf Day. She explained: "Loose Change offers a fast and easy way for product suppliers and growers to take part in Garden Re-Leaf Day and be associated with the appeal. You can buy just a few stickers for a small display in a single centre, or hundreds for distribution across all your participating customers.

"The consumer pays just the normal in store price - but with the knowledge that 50p or £1 of their purchase is being paid to the Greenfingers Rosy Cheeks Appeal on their behalf by the product supplier."

The Rosy Cheeks Appeal is part of Garden Re-Leaf Day, the annual event in aid of children's hospice garden charity Greenfingers, which aims to build unique gardens and outside spaces for families at hospices around the country. The Appeal aims to raise £750,000 over two years to fund the creation of at least 10 more gardens.

Garden centres across the UK are registering to run special events and activities for Garden Re-Leaf Day, which takes place on Friday, March 14 and across that weekend.