The continued warm weather saw barbecues and garden furniture continue to be amongst the top sellers for garden centres in June.
The latest Garden Centre Association (GCA) figures show furniture and barbecue sales up 26.6% over June, 2013. This is the fourth month running that they have been one of the best-performing categories.

"Our member garden centres had another good month, although sales in more traditional categories were down, which is usual for this time of year," said GCA chairman Will Armitage. "However, this was made up for by good sales in other areas and the continued dry weather has boosted those barbecue and furniture sales yet again.

"As well as furniture and barbecues, the other categories that saw increases during the month were food hall/farm shop, which was up by 5.88%, gifts, up by 6.14%, and hard landscaping, up by 7.64%. The year-to-date figure currently stands at 11.14% up."

At GCA member, St Peters Garden Centre in Norton, Worcestershire, manager William Blake said: "We've enjoyed a good year so far on barbecue sales. Strategically, for this year, we decided to only stock Weber barbecues and then price competitively, not necessarily matching, but within reach of the internet prices, and it seems to be paying off.

"No longer are customers coming in, viewing the product, getting their smart phones out and going for a cheaper internet option. Plus, of course, they know us and trust us to deliver any after-sales service requirements.

"In addition to this we've put a number of our team through training at Weber's Grill Academy. It's created 'experts' able to engage and teach the customers as they're selling, which is very important when customers are purchasing complex high-ticket value items."

In May, St Peters enjoyed barbecue sales 80% up on May 2013 and in June, which included a barbecue demo weekend, they rose 100%.

Newbridge Nurseries in Horsham also saw a good month of sales of both garden furniture and barbecues.

Managing director Nigel Wait said: "Unfortunately no one can predict the weather, and garden furniture and barbecue sales have done exceptionally well this year because of the good summer. Next year could be completely different so it's about having the right products on the shop floor, with good back-up stocks and then just praying the good weather will return."