Retailer Membership
National Garden Gift Cards
Be part of the National Garden Gift Card Programme which drives 2 million customer visits into retailers across the UK. The programme locks £35m of card currency and £49m of gross margin into member garden centres. Participation in the programme is reserved for HTA member retailers.
The HTA provides all essential equipment, terminals, and point of sale items, making our card-based and electronics gifting programme easily accessible to all. The aim of the gifting scheme is to acquire consumers and secure finds within the horticulture sector for the benefit of garden centres, suppliers and plant growers.
- The UK gift market is worth £8 Billion
- The gifting market has been growing at 10% year on year 10% driven by digital growth
- A National Garden Gift Card is given around 1 million times a year
A thriving community stands at the heart of the association, belonging to a supportive network can elevate both your work and your business. WhatsApp groups connect members for mutual support and enables us to get key messages out to members quickly and easily.
Join our Business Improvement Schemes and Forums to collaborate with industry peers and a dedicated industry consultant. Discuss recent trade trends, share experiences, and address challenges in a confidential environment. Access a comprehensive range of resources, information and how-to guides at your fingertips.
As an HTA member, you'll receive updates on government legislation, advance notice of regulations, and insights on key lobbying topics like peat, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and cross-border trade. Stay informed through webinars, policy briefings, town halls, technical workshops, emails, and our quarterly magazine.
Join member surgeries and town halls to ask questions, exchange knowledge, and share best practices. We also frequently help organise political visits and activities to raise the profile of horticulture with MPs, ensuring your voice is heard by decision-makers.
As a member, you’ll gain free access to exclusive market data, including wages and labour benchmarking, to help manage costs effectively. Market research reports made available exclusively to members include
- Monthly Market Update Reports: Comprehensive reviews of garden centre sales, analysing key factors influencing market conditions, including consumer confidence, inflation rates, and weather patterns.
- State of the Market Reports: Review of the macro-economic factors set to impact our industry.
- Research Projects such as the Value of Plants which shows insights on the benefits of plants, their role in health and wellbeing, climate solutions, economic impact, and consumer preferences.
Training
Discover industry specific eLearning courses designed to enhance your employees’ skills. With flexible access and compatibility across all devices, our eLearning Hub enables convenient learning to seamlessly integrate into busy schedules.
Courses include:
- Basic Principles of Ornamental Nursery Management
- Using Garden Plant Protection Products Safely
- Allergen Awareness (Natasha’s Law)
As an HTA member you will also enjoy preferential rates on these invaluable resources
Regulation Support
Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging came into full force in 2024, and horticultural businesses like growers and retailers need to be aware of their potential obligations under the new regulations.
The HTA offers resources, documents, webinars and government insights to help members navigate these regulations. Members can also get a 10% discount on compliance services with Ecoveritas, packaging waste compliance experts.
Media Engagement
Our media engagement initiatives serve to amplify our member’s voices, enhance awareness, and advocate for the interests of our industry.
Through discussions on platforms including the BBC radio and TV, ITV and print media such as the Financial Times and The Guardian, we address pertinent topics including the value of horticulture and the implications of post-Brexit border checks.
Elevating our media engagement alongside our lobbying work, ensures our industry’s concerns are heard and understood.
Preferred Partners and Advice Lines
Members can access our Preferred Partners, who have been researched and trailled by our team. We hope this will save you valuable time and aid in reducing essential business costs.*
Members can tap into our free** expert advice lines, covering a broad spectrum of critical business concerns from HR and legal matters to plant pest and disease management.
*The HTA will receive a commission fee based on a successful referral. The amount of the commission will depend on the type of order placed. Full details will be provided by the Preferred Partner before entering into the transaction.
**Some advice lines may become chargeable after a period of use
Dedicated Support Team
As an HTA member, you will have a dedicated Member Engagement Manager for personalised assistance in understanding how your association can help meet your business needs and to guide you through our range of products and services.
Our friendly Services team is also available Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 5:30pm (5pm Fridays) to answer any questions you may have.
Enquire now
HTA Services team:
Horticultural Trades Association
Horticultural House
Chilton, Didcot
Oxfordshire
OX11 0RN