​From our vantage point, 2025 was a year of contrasts - a slow, chilly start followed by one of the brightest and busiest springs we’ve seen in a long time.

Weather roulette…

The year started quietly. Cold, grey months held back core gardening categories, and we saw centres leaning heavily on cafés and non-gardening retail to keep things moving.

Then spring arrived, and everything shifted. March and April delivered some of the strongest trading in years. Footfall rose, baskets grew, and outdoor categories finally felt alive again.

Unsurprisingly, spring staffing was tight. Centres needed flexible cover, quicker hiring processes and people who could drop into busy retail operations without missing a beat.

Experiences are no longer “nice to have”

One of the biggest trends we’ve observed (not brand new this year, but certainly accelerating), is the continued rise of cafés, restaurants and destination-style retail as core business drivers. Customers increasingly want to make a day of it: shop a little, eat a little, wander, repeat.

This has led to increased demand for restaurant and hospitality managers, chefs and retail leaders with strong customer experience instincts. We’re seeing garden centres increasingly hire from hospitality, leisure and premium retail.

Sustainability & values-led buying

Customers continue to spend with purpose. Wildlife-friendly ranges, Grow-Your-Own, low-impact gardening and better educational advice all performed strongly.

Plant area experts and horticultural advisors who can confidently talk about sustainable choices were in high demand, especially those able to translate technical knowledge into clear, engaging customer conversations.

Industry momentum (despite challenges)

We saw ongoing investment, refurb projects and new owners entering the market - confidence is still very much alive. Awards, events and industry gatherings carried a real sense of energy this year, too!

Leadership roles also continued to evolve. Centres are looking for commercially astute managers who understand retail, hospitality, customer experience and horticulture, or at least know how to build teams that collectively do.

Looking ahead to 2026

If 2025 showed us anything, it’s that the garden centre model continues to evolve. Experience-led retail now sits at the heart of the proposition. Sustainability isn’t a trend; it’s an expectation. And teams need to be more multi-skilled and customer-centric than ever.

From everyone at MorePeople, thank you for trusting us with your recruitment this year, and we look forward to working with you again in the new year!