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Garden Centres
Garden Centres and RFID: What are the benefits?
We’re all well aware that Garden Centres have evolved and diversified, now offering a wide variety of plants, garden tools, furniture, decorative items and more for a full day out. As the demand for efficient operations and seamless customer experience grows, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology is emerging as a transformative solution. But what is RFID? Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) refers to a wireless system comprised of two components: tags and readers. The technology is widely used in industries because it simplifies and automates processes. It uses radio waves to communicate, identify, and track objects wirelessly, making it a valuable tool for a variety of applications, from supply chain management to access control. You’ll see it being rolled out more and more across UK Retail. Here’s how RFID can benefit garden centres and elevate the way they serve their customers, other than the obvious easier, faster checkout experience using less staff! 1. Efficient Inventory Management RFID simplifies this with automated tracking: Real-Time Visibility: RFID tags provide live updates on inventory, allowing staff to monitor stock levels, locate items quickly, and know exactly what’s available on-site. This also helps better anticipate demand. Reduced Human Error: Unlike manual processes, RFID minimises human error, ensuring the inventory is accurate and reducing the need for frequent physical counts. 2. Streamlined Checkout ProcessIn a world where we’re becoming ever-more impatient and praise a fast service RFID means enhanced and fast checkouts & self-checkouts. Customers can simply place items in a designated area and they’ll be scanned automatically, no more looking for barcodes and trying to make them scan! 4. Enhanced Customer Experience and EngagementRFID provides valuable insights that help garden centres personalise the shopping experience: Customised Recommendations: By analysing customer purchases, garden centres can use RFID data to suggest related items or seasonal plants that match customer interests. Educational Insights: Customers can scan plants with their smartphones for instant care tips, growth expectations, and background information on each species, turning shopping into a learning experience. Customer Service: None of this means taking away staff, it should mean existing staff can spend more time on the shop floor with customers therefore improving the overall shopping experience! 5. Loss PreventionGarden centres face the risk of theft and misplaced items, especially with high-value plants and accessories: Enhanced Security: RFID tags are a theft deterrent, as items with RFID can trigger alerts if removed from the premises without proper checkout. Better Tracking of High-Value Items: Garden centres can track more expensive items like sculptures, fountains, and furniture, preventing loss and reducing shrinkage. 6. Data-Driven Business Decisions With RFID, garden centres can make informed decisions to improve profitability: Sales Insights: RFID data allows managers to identify top-selling items, peak shopping hours, and high-demand seasons. This insight helps optimise stock and seasonal planning. Customer Flow Analysis: Understanding how customers move through the store allows garden centres to optimise layouts, create attractive displays, and ensure popular items are easily accessible. In Summary , RFID technology offers garden centres a wealth of benefits, from efficient inventory management to improved customer engagement. By investing in RFID, garden centres can streamline operations, reduce waste, and create a seamless shopping experience that keeps customers coming back. As the garden centre industry continues to diversity, those embracing RFID will be well-positioned to flourish in this tech-enhanced, customer-driven landscape. Want to see the latest Garden Centre Retail jobs? Get in touch with our Garden Centre Recruitment Team today by calling Felicity or Michail >
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Business Improvement Regional Events with The HTA
Over the past month or two, MorePeople’s Garden Centre Team have been involved with some HTA Business Improvement Events. These are fairly small, intimate events attended by various Garden Centres that are part of the GCA from the same geographical area, discussing the past year, best sellers, challenges faced and sharing ideas and solutions to help them move forward. Last week Michail and Felicity joined a Business Impressment Event in Coventry at Smiths Garden Centre to present. Michail comments…“Our presentation focused on recruitment, staff retention and succession planning. We shared our experiences and insights in the hope of helping attendees address any challenges they may be facing. It was valuable to hear their perspectives, as each business has unique needs, so we tailored our responses to address their specific situations.Some of the garden centres in attendance had never worked with recruiters, so they were interested in understanding exactly how we operate. Others wanted to know which roles are the most challenging to recruit for, and some sought our opinion on the increase in the national living wage.The conversation covered a wide range of topics, making the presentation both interactive and engaging.We learned a lot about how these specific garden centres operate, the unique challenges each one faces, and, importantly, what works well for them. As a recruiter for the garden centre industry, these conversations are invaluable, allowing us to exchange ideas, expand our market knowledge, and develop tailored solutions for the businesses we support.”
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Future-proof Yourself: Key Takeaways From Andrew's Talk at Harper Adams University
We had the pleasure of visiting Harper Adams University yesterday where Andrew delivered an insightful lecture to 1st year agriculture & business students. From CV tips to LinkedIn must-haves, Andrew provided invaluable insight to over 100 students to kickstart their career and get ahead of the game.So, what were the key takeaways from Andrew’s lecture?1. Be proactive & ask for help There are thousands of people out there willing to help you. Take pride in asking for help & don't suffer in silence! From careers and trade events, to teachers, lecturers and anyone you encounter that inspires you. Asking them for help is a sign of strength and willingness to learn. It demonstrates characteristics like determination and drive which are standout traits hirers are looking for!2. Find a Hero Have you seen a job role and thought, 'that could be me one day'? Focus on this, reach out to the professional, ask them questions and follow in their footsteps! Have an end goal set in sight.3. Listen & Network!You will be surprised at how much learning you will achieve from listening to those in the industry. Use the power of LinkedIn to connect with people in the sector, ask questions and expand your network! This is a great example of helping your future self, these actions may seem simple to do now, but you will kick yourself a couple of years down the line trying to remember the name of a certain company that made an impression...4. Turn problems into good problemsWe can't ignore the fact that we face multiple problems every day. But, how you approach them makes all the difference. There will always be a solution and a simple change in perspective will allow you to discover it quicker than you thought.5. Refining your CV & Cover LetterWith many years of experience in the recruitment industry, it's fair to say Andrew has seen a lot of CV’s… One of the most crucial points he made was to provide engaging examples of the characteristics you claim to have. Some examples may not directly align with the job role, but they can still showcase key abilities in diverse scenarios. It's great to say you possess leadership qualities for example, but hiring managers want to see an example of you showcasing this. Andrew also mentions the importance of researching your chosen company's values. Employers are looking for not only the right skills but also the right personality & cultural fit. Demonstrating that you share similar values can set you apart from other candidates. Want to learn about MorePeople and the specialist sectors we work in? Click here.
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Emily's 6 Months of Success in Recruitment
Emily is a specialist recruiter in the Horticulture & Agriculture industry here at MorePeople and this October, we celebrated her first six months! To gain an understanding of Emily’s transition, as she had no prior experience in recruitment, we discussed what she is most proud of in her journey, what surprised her about recruitment & the challenges she faced and successfully overcame. Continue reading to hear Emily’s goals for the next six months… What are you proud of achieving in your first six months as a recruitment consultant?I’m definitely proud of how consistent my placements have been right from the start. Transitioning into recruitment, especially in a niche sector like horticulture/agriculture, was a bit daunting, but I’ve kept a steady flow of placements and built solid relationships along the way. Keeping that momentum going has been a huge confidence boost! How does recruiting compare to your previous job role?It’s worlds apart, but oddly similar too! My previous job role was as a Standby Art Director in the film industry, which was all about adjusting to what the director needs and being ready for those last-minute changes. In recruitment, it’s pretty much the same in that sense, except now I’m matching candidates with companies, not set decoration with characters. Plus, I rely on intuition—understanding who or what feels right for the bigger picture. I’m definitely still flexing those creative muscles to come up with different ways to find the right candidate. What is the biggest lesson you’ve learnt whilst working in recruitment?Flexibility is everything. Candidates change their minds, clients adjust what they’re looking for, and sometimes obstacles come out of nowhere. The key is staying adaptable and not taking things too personally—it’s all part of the process. What are your goals for the next 6 months?I want to deepen my knowledge in agriculture and horticulture so I can speak the language even better. It’s also a goal to build my network further and develop a go-to talent pool. I love being able to pick up the phone straight after taking a job brief and have the perfect candidate in mind.Congratulations to Emily for her accomplishments so far, and we can't wait to see more amazing work from her in the future!You can learn more about Emily and her current vacancies here.Did you know that we are also specialist recruiters for businesses operating in the food, agriculture and garden industry supply chains? You can find out more here.
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Rural Professionals
Route to Rural
Route to RuralThe CAAV (Central Association of Agricultural Valuers) have recently launched their Route to Rural initiative, promoting the work of the rural surveying and rural valuers’ industry. Whilst they have more members than ever before, they have highlighted a recruitment gap in applications into rural roles. The CAAV is a specialist professional body which represents and briefs members within the agricultural and rural space. To gain entry to the Association, an examination must be conducted to demonstrate an understanding of rural surveying. The Route to Rural scheme aims to increase public awareness and understanding of the work as well as reaching a wider audience than the conventional routes to entry. Membership provides valuable ongoing networking and training opportunities.Currently, to become a Chartered Rural Surveyor and Valuer, who can carry out and sign off required work, a RICS accredited degree or a certain number of years of experience is required. In the past, this has somewhat hindered the type of candidates coming through and limited the talent pool.It’s possible to complete a top-up Master’s degree following your studies. This can be a one-year course or part-time alongside your work. Through conversations with clients, we are seeing an increase in companies looking further afield and supporting candidates from non-traditional backgrounds on their route to rural. Through personal experience, I didn’t complete an MRICS degree but I did explore the idea of the Rural Surveying and Agricultural Valuers route, by reaching out to local firms and applying to larger company's internships and summer work experience programmes. This provided me with a few weeks shadowing a qualified Surveyor and Valuer and gaining an insight into what the role would look like. Case Study:Claire Adcroft, AssociateUndergraduate degree in Geography. Reached out to a local Agent for work experience, fell in love with the Rural side and continued further weeks of work experience. Recommended that to undertake this career path would need a Masters, undertook a Masters degree and began the route to MRICS and FAAV.Has now been in the profession for almost ten years, focusing on Valuations and Farm Agency.The best part of the job...the variety and getting to nosey around some amazing properties. Top tip: grow your network, reach out to Surveying firms local to you and relevant employees via LinkedIn. Contact details can often be found on company websites, it’s very much a case of reaching out to people and knocking on doors. There are enough Surveyors willing to help, especially in bringing people into the industry.The CAAV are calling on employers to sign up to offer work experience through their route to rural programme, the hopeful outcome being that they find good future staff with transferable skills. They are calling on employers to consider their local network, including Young Farmers clubs and local schools to encourage young people to become aware of the work that rural surveyors do. They’re also looking to encourage those considering a second career later on in life, with transferrable skills into the rural industry. What work do Agricultural Valuers do? Sales and lettings: Sales, purchase and lettings of farms, estates, houses, commercial premises and land.Tax planning: Advice on rural taxation and finance, including income and capital taxes.Government Schemes: Payments and grants, applications and advice.Auctions: Property, livestock, machinery and equipment auctions.Valuations: Valuation of farms, estates, houses, commercial premises and land.Joint Ventures: Preparing contract farming, share farming and other agreements.Compensation: Compulsory purchase and compensation claims, including water and gas pipelines, road and rail schemes and electricity wayleaves.Planning: Preparing advice, applications, site promotion and appeals.Diversification: Providing advice, grant/finance applications and any planning issues.Renewable Energy: Advising on renewable energy projects including wind, solar, water, biofuels and biomass.Telecoms: Advice on agreements relating to telecommunication masts and broadband cables.Dispute Resolution: Arbitration and dispute settlements, mediation, independent experts, evidence preparation and hearings.Estate Management: Management of rural property and business.Strategic Business Advice: Strategic business advice, planning and identifying opportunities.Environment: Advice on government schemes, natural capital, biodiversity, soils, water and climate change.The MorePeople take:Within our rural team, we are seeing an increasing number of candidates considering the rural surveying route, without having an MRICS degree.Companies understand the need for a wider skill set, covering blind spots and the benefits of fishing from a larger pool. When taking job briefs and through general conversations, we’re seeing a lot more open-minded approaches to what their ‘ideal candidate’ looks like. With the uptake in utility and infrastructure projects, candidates from other backgrounds are securing roles in this area and undertaking rural work. This could be one of the reasons we are seeing a wider pool of people coming through. Next steps:If you’re interested in finding out how you could start your ‘route to rural’ then please reach out to myself, Hannah, in the Rural team here at MorePeople. My contact details can be found by clicking here.
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Unpacking the Key Ready Meal Trends Defining Global Growth
Unpacking the Key Ready Meal Trends Defining Global GrowthMintel’s latest article focuses on the ready-meal industry, uncovering the key factors that drive consumer purchases. From health trends to the future of ready meals, we have summarised their article below. As specialist recruiters within the food & fresh produce supply chain, it is essential for us to utilise this valuable insight.Why do consumers buy ready meals?The first thing that pops into our heads is convenience. Sometimes the thought of cooking a meal from scratch after a stressful day at work seems like the worst idea on the planet. Ready meals offer us speed and ease. Secondly, consumers look for cost-effective benefits. We have seen supermarkets advertise their cost-effective properties successfully through the ‘dine in for x amount’ campaigns. This way, companies are targeting both the need for speed and consumers feel they are getting more out of their money.Additionally, trialling new products is essential within the prepared meal industry. We have seen brands experiment with international flavours, for example, the US brand Blue Zones Kitchen, offers diets from the healthiest, longest-lived regions in the world! This offers a quick taster into a cuisine you may be unfamiliar with, and may not want to fully commit to making. Health and WellbeingFollowing on from Blue Zones Kitchen, we have seen a global shift in health and fitness attitudes over the last four years and subsequently, consumers want to purchase meals that promote health benefits. From protein intakes to plant-based goals, ready-meal brands now have a gap in which they can harmonise consumer demands for both convenience and health. Over two-thirds of UK adults agree that brands should support them in making healthier food choices, emphasising the demand for brands to support consumer health aspirations.You can read Mintel’s full article here.
