The Genker Plantencentrum offers a wide choice of about 4400 varieties of high-quality garden plants, and it is easy for customers to find their way in the clearly organised range while also making their shopping trip an agreeable experience. It comes as no surprise that the Genker Plantencentrum has for the third year in succession been voted the best Belgian plant centre by the Belgian Association of Garden Centres.
“We have a terrain of 20,000 m², and five years ago we renewed everything. At its heart is now our new 2000 m² glasshouse and at the exit is the renovated 500 m² checkout building that guarantees smooth customer service.” Bart Himmeleers, manager
About the garden centre
The Genker Plantencentrum was set up in 1993 and since then has become well established in the broader region. It is able to attract customers from far and wide, even Wallonia and the Netherlands, because it has the largest range of plants in the Benelux. As the manager Bart Himmeleers tells us: “We have a terrain of 20,000 m², and five years ago we renewed everything. At its heart is now our new 2000 m² glasshouse and at the exit is the renovated 500 m² checkout building that guarantees smooth customer service.” “To help our customers make their choice, our plants are neatly arranged per variety and each has a clear information card. Anyone who wants advice can of course ask a member of our staff. We have a team of about 70, 24 of them full-time. In the peak season they are joined by temporary and student workers. Customers can recognise the full-time staff by their yellow outfits and know that they can ask them for advice. By contrast, the temporary workers wear blue outfits.”
Wide range
As Bart emphasises: “The great bonus of the Genker Plantencentrum is undoubtedly the wide range of garden plants we offer.” “Plants make up about 80% of our turnover, and we do after all offer 4400 different varieties, including ornamental shrubs, bulbs, trees, box, conifers, hedge plants, ornamental grasses, perennials and patio plants. We present all our plants in a pot so that our customers can plant them in any season. Plans of the layout are on display everywhere, with the plants clearly marked by variety, so customers can easily find what they are looking for.”
The success of the Genker Plantencentrum is of course also reliant on the quality of the products. As Bart explains: “We arrange weekly direct deliveries from a number of nurseries. That enables us to offer a wide range of high-quality products at all times.” “We select producers who are effective communicators. After all, our customers expect not only a good product, but also want a clear photo and product information to help them make their choice.”
Plant sales are influenced by garden trends. As Bart says: “Ornamental grasses and hydrangeas are currently doing very well. And anything edible is also very much in demand, whether it be fruit or vegetables. People want to enjoy their gardens, and a patch of tasty morsels is part of it.”
Following the pattern of the seasons
“Spring is the high point of our year”, Bart says. “And that’s when we take on extra staff to make sure everything goes smoothly. In the autumn sales decrease drastically, and in the winter we even close down from mid-December until the end of January. Because our sales peak is concentrated in just a few months, we deliberately decided not to do any catering, though there are several dispensing machines available for customers.”
Investment in environment and people
The Genker Plantencentrum is serious about sustainable initiatives, including the efficient use of water. As Bart explains: “For that purpose, when we renewed the glasshouse five years ago we had ten 20,000-litre tanks installed under the glasshouse complex.” “In addition, we also have electric carts that are good for the environment and also make the work of our staff easier. Because it is extremely important to find and keep good staff with their invaluable knowledge of the products so that we can offer customers good service. That’s why we invest extra sums in ergonomic initiatives that lighten the workload of our staff. For example, we recently introduced a CC container stacker that easily stacks these heavy trolleys on top of one another. We also have electric carts to move the shopping trolleys around.” “And we invest in our customers too, focusing on making their visit a pleasant experience. There are several benches, for example, to take a breather or just to enjoy sitting among the flowers and greenery. We have also allowed for wide gangways so that everyone can make their choice at their ease and so that the disabled also feel welcome. In fact for the latter group wheelchairs and extra parking spaces are also provided. In their turn, we treat our youngest visitors to some physical activity on a bouncy castle.”
In figures
- Set up in 1993
- 4400 varieties of plants
- Turnover: 80% plants, the rest in equipment, accessories and decoration.
- 70 members of staff
- 24 full-time
- 46 temporary and students
- Land area of 20,000 m²
- 2000 m² under glass
