Leekes, the award-winning independent retailer, has expanded the product offering within its Garden Centres.

The move comes hot on the heels of the success the business has seen generated by the new-look Building Centre at its Llantrisant store, with sales within the company’s Home Improvements sector up by 23% since its re-launch in June 2008. Leekes plans to emulate this success within the garden centres of each of its stores by offering customers an extended range of garden and landscaping products, allowing the business to consolidate its position as a ‘serious’ garden centre.

Lee Tiffin, Home Improvements Business Manager at Leekes, says “We have always offered a large range of quality garden furniture, barbecues and accessories and we will continue to do so. To evolve into a destination garden and landscaping centre however, we need to respond to customer demands for products that add value to their homes and gardens, or give families more space.”

A significant number of new ranges have recently been introduced by the retailer to enhance its already comprehensive portfolio of garden and landscaping products. Garden buildings such as sheds, gazebos, home offices and summer houses will be in stores by the end of March along with a new range of walling, paving and driveway product. Leekes began to increase its range of garden power tools last spring and has been rewarded with a 240% year on year sales growth. With good weather forecast and an extended range of garden power products brought in for the summer, Lee is looking forward to further success.

Leekes is also catering for a special interest sector of the market through the introduction of two new concessions; Maidenhead Aquatics which specialises in aquariums, ponds and aquatic livestock, and Dragon Reptiles, offering an assortment of exotic animals including reptiles, amphibians and spiders.

‘Softer’ products have also been brought in. New ranges of gardening gifts have arrived on the shelves with a selection of traditional foods including preserves, chutneys, confectionary and biscuits now available - some of which have won ‘Great Taste Awards’ accolades – and also a range of pick ‘n’ mix sweets. The fastest-selling new product line at Leekes comes from Laura Ashley, one of the most famous names in high street fashion and home styling. The well-known brand has branched into the gardening market by introducing a collection of wellies, umbrellas, gardening gloves, kneeler cushions and coordinating accessories which have been designed with women firmly in mind.

Lee says “Whilst we all know that times are tough, historically when there is an economic downturn, gardening and DIY benefit as people spend more time improving their homes and gardens. This has been reflected in sales within our Home Improvements business sector so it makes sense for us to extend our product offering within our garden centres with a view to building on our earlier successes.”