Garden centre shows us around its new extension at improved store
MAJOR changes to a popular garden centre have been revealed for the first time as it gets ready for a bumper year of activities.
Garden King, in Park Road, Newhall, has been showing off its new-look extension, which is more than twice the size of its original store and sits alongside its outdoor plant section.
The original entrance is now blocked off as a storeroom and the old gift shop area has been demolished to make way for the extension. The new entrance leads shoppers to the new extension, featuring a much bigger choice of products than before.
And the garden centre bosses still haven’t finished. A restaurant will be built in place of a rear storeroom and outdoor toilets, scheduled to be open just before Christmas.
Owner Darren Sanders showed the Burton Mail round, first heading to the new houseplant section, which features cactuses, succulents and more. Further down the store are the fragrances and bath products.
Close by is a large selection of greetings cards and at one end of the store is a large display of outdoor garden furniture, including barbecues. It also has brand new indoor toilets to replace the old ones outside.
Mr Sanders said: “The store has allowed us to stock even more. Before we would have one tool section. Now we can have budget, better and expert tools.”
Garden King has an area to buy drinks and snacks, but one of the biggest changes has come as part of its successful Into the Woods experience. Its ownership of the neighbouring woodland has enabled bosses to put on winter wonderland walks, pumpkin trails at Halloween and Easter egg hunts.
This summer it is launching Dino Woods, where children can look out for larger-than-life dinosaurs and have a go at making their own one. A big undercover reception area for those taking part has been created.
This is coupled with a number of additional rooms where the garden centre can put on expert talks, activities and parties.
It has increased the amount of tills from two to four and taken on six new staff, bringing the total to 28, with more on the horizon when the restaurant opens.
It has already seen its car park more than double in size from 40 spaces to 118. Its original car park, which Darren admits was difficult to navigate, is now primarily for goods vehicles and an overflow car park when needed.
To give an indication of the size of the extension, the previous retail sales area totalled 1,952sq metres. The new retail sales area is much bigger at 3,214sq metres.
Darren said: “Everyone has been really positive. We haven’t had any negative feedback. People have been saying they wanted this.”