Member Article

Cumbrian garden centre to grow online after 200 years in business

Lyndan Orvis, E-Commerce Manager a Hayes Garden World based in Cumbria spoke exclusively to Bdaily about how the 200 year old company is embarking on an online expansion.

The company has a turnover of circa £11.3m and has had the biggest improvement in profit for five years.

It employs 187 people and has just come to the end of £5m investment in its flagship Ambleside store.

Now the company is aiming to grow from listing 7,000 products online to 30,000 of the 50,000 products it can offer.

Lyndan spoke of the challenges faced by the company, what the company does differently and the easiest thing about being in business.

He said: “We are very flexible and adaptable to the changing market trends of garden centre retailing.

“We implement change quickly both online and in store and we are not scared to lead the way.

“Sometimes we are think too far ahead of retail trends but usually see the benefits.

“The biggest challenge we face is the growing Competition, both e-retailing and high Street with nationals/multinationals battling for Market Share.

“The easiest thing for us is the opportunity to work with so many and external companies and specialists in SEO, Design, Media, Photography and social media to name but a few.

“Sharing their expertise and building strong networks is very satisfying.

“ We are Very Globally family orientated, we are one Big family at the end of the day from Top to bottom.

“We care, share, strive and help.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sophia Taha .