Case Study This case is about a family-owned garden centre/retailer and reflects upon how the business has continuously improved using lean approaches.

Case Study This case is about a family-owned garden centre/retailer and reflects upon how the business has continuously improved using lean approaches – from 2012 to 2015

http://www.oldrailwaylinegc.co.uk/

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Background to the Business The Old Railway Line Garden Centre was established by Mark and

Christina Cleary in 1990 on the site of the old Brecon to Hereford Branch of the Midland Railway. Their daughter Katie Eckley is the Manager. The garden centre has continually grown since it was first established and has now become one of the UK's premier destination garden centres.

Adjacent to the existing garden centre, in September 2012 a new purpose-built retail facility opened housing a gift area, floristry counter, farm shop, till area, reception desk and offices, as well as a 150 cover restaurant.

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Recognition and Awards Coinciding with these improvements

and extensions to the offering and customer experience, the garden centre has been consistently recognised for excellence: Best Garden Centre in Wales & the West

2012, 2013 & 2014 by the Garden Centre Association

Garden Retailer of the Year 2014 & 2015 by DIY Weekly

Best Plant Retailer of the Year in Wales & the West 2014 & 2015 awarded by The Sun newspaper

The Greatest Garden Centre Team for 2014 by The Greatest Awards

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Changes & Benefits (2012 to 2015) Data from Suppliers – input into EPOS:

Improved both information flow and physical flow of products throughout end to end process

Improved inventory management, including contingent back up stocks of e.g. bedding plants

‘Pareto’ and RRS applied to product range.

Layout:

Improved product flow, reduced transportation and movement (and potential damage to plants)

Improved communication and visual management

Optimised capacity and space by using modular display benches and ‘hot spots’ - grouping plants in ‘themed ranges’ rather than alphabetically

Receipt area now under cover to protect plants and reduce damage in bad weather

Office now on site – improved ‘back office’ operations

Reduced water consumption by using trained personnel and manual hose pipes rather than a ‘watering system’

Improved customer experience.

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Horticultural Supply Chains - Plants

Supply Chain 1:

Lean Thinking:

Source Plants from

Suppliers

Maintain & Display Plants

Sell Plants

• Product information (Barcode, price etc) received early from suppliers – uploaded into EPOS

• Danish trolleys used from supplier, through receipt to display.

• Customer Value = Quality, Cost, Delivery

• Right First Time Quality = Weeded & top dressed; Pre-labelled & priced to aid receipt, display, sale, inventory management, re-order and analysis processes via EPOS*.

• Optimised & flexible use of layout - modular areas – ‘Hot Spots’ for ‘Runners’ e.g. impulse buys such as seasonal bedding plants. Quick changeovers

• Fixed areas – themed benches - for ‘Repeaters’ e.g. Wildlife, Scented. Displayed in Cells – rather than A – Z.

• Strangers – large specimen trees

• 5S & Visual management. Fed & watered by hand – more economical.

• Efficient stock-turn and product freshness KPIs – ‘no plant celebrates it’s birthday’.

(*EPOS = Electronic Point of Sale)

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Horticultural Supply Chains - Plants

Supply Chain 2:

Lean Thinking:

Source ‘Plugs’ from

Suppliers

Grow and Maintain

PlantsMake

up Planters/Baske

ts

Sell

• Product information received from suppliers

• Customer Value = Quality, Cost, Delivery.

• Right First Time Quality.

• Optimised & flexible nursery space.

• 5S & Visual management. Fed & watered by hand – more economical.

• Add value for the customer and business

• Efficient stock-turn and product freshness KPIs.

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Horticultural Supply Chains – Cut Flowers

Supply Chain 1:

Lean Thinking:

Source from Suppliers

Maintain & Display

Arrange, Gift

Wrap & Sell

• Customer Value = Perfect Quality

• Remove leaves, cut stems, display, water

• Value add

• Efficient stock-turn, freshness and high quality standards

(*EPOS = Electronic Point of Sale)

804/19/23

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Thanks to Katie Eckley for her time in hosting a visit to the Old Railway Line Garden Centre.

You can learn more about the garden centre at:

http://www.oldrailwaylinegc.co.uk/

Contact the team at:

[email protected]