Retail Merchandiser Vol 66 Issue 3 | Page 57

____________________________________________________________________________________ British
Garden Centres
upgrade that has noticeably refreshed the customer experience. At its Paddock Wood location, British Garden Centres invested in increasing the capacity to 245 seats, which has been a strong step forward for the overall site, with wider improvements to the plant area also underway. By the summer, Paddock Wood will have had a full makeover, with upgrades designed to support a better shopping experience and a stronger offer for the local community.
Since stepping into the role of Managing Director last July, Amy has driven the business forward at an impressive pace. She reflects on her experience and highlights how the business has evolved under her leadership.“ I have loved every minute of this journey. It has been fast-paced and the time has flown by because no two days are ever the same. I was honored to be given this role, and I have really enjoyed the challenge of balancing growth with preserving the warmth and energy that people associate with a familyrun business, while building the structures we need for what comes next. Right now, we are very much writing our next chapter. For me, that means listening to our teams, being honest about where our challenges are and putting practical plans in place to address them. That includes strengthening communication, improving consistency across sites and investing in the foundations that make growth sustainable, such as training, standards and support. Ultimately, we want to keep growing, but in a way that makes working life better for our people by providing them with clearer direction, better tools, more development opportunities and a genuine sense of being valued.”
While British Garden Centres is growing fast, its leadership is dedicated to ensuring the business feels exactly the same at 80 sites as it did at five. ■
www. britishgardencentres. com
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