Christmas comes early with national award
Garsons Esher is officially the capital of Christmas in the southeast and third in the country, whilst Garsons Titchfield came second in the southeast region. The Garden Centre Association (GCA) has just announced the winners of its national Christmas competition in which the Hampshire-based business came second in the southeast region, behind its sister site, Garsons Esher which took first place.
Great Christmas feeling
Judges said the seasonal displays across both garden centres, which this year have a ballet theme, were `beautiful throughout the centre and created a great Christmas feeling’.
Ben Thompson, Garsons Esher director, said: “This has put a huge smile on all our faces. It is an amazing achievement and couldn’t have been done without the commitment and dedication of the wonderful team we have here at Garsons. Being the best in the southeast and third in the country recognises all the hard work and creativity which goes into transforming the garden centre for Christmas.”
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Tough competition
The GCA has around 200 members and has held its Christmas competition for more than two decades. “It’s a really tough competition and the award recognises not only the fact that Garsons has created a magical display, but has also produced an excellent retail space,” said Iain Wylie, chief executive of the GCA. “They have shown a high standard and attention to detail in wowing customers with their displays which inspires them to buy.”
The magic of the ballet
Every Christmas, the family-run business chooses a different theme for its festive displays and this year it has brought the magic of the ballet to the southeast with graceful ornaments and elegant decorations depicting scenes from Swan Lake, Coppélia, The Nutcracker and more.
Planning Christmas displays begins in spring and by the summer months, the props and set designs have been constructed. Garsons chooses tree and home decorations from specialised supplier groups to ensure innovative and quality products are featured. The Christmas build begins in September and is officially unveiled in the October half term. In the autumn, judges from the GCA travel the length and breadth of the country, visiting garden centres to seek out the best, awarding points for display, marketing, customer service, catering and store facilities.
