I think you summed up at least 50% of garden plant shoppers very well Sussexmum.
I usually go with a plant in mind or at least know where the plant is to be placed in the garden, therefore look for a sun lover, shade or damp area plant depending what I need. However I also like to look at what is on offer, perhaps buy some new gardening gloves or bird feeder. I don't think I have ever bought clothing, refreshments or houseware goods at the GC, I prefer specialist shops for those items.
The Blue Diamond GC we have here is very well managed, the staff are always helpful and approachable, the plants are well looked after, special offers are good on plants and other garden products like gravel, peat, and garden shoes/boots/tools etc. There is nothing shoddy or neglected there unlike another large centre that sells plants, where most of them are half dead after a few weeks on the shelves.
I have grown several succulents from the sweepings from wyevale. Last summer I was checking the reduced plants when a young lad was sent out to sweep. There were several bits of various succulents in his pile of sweepings and when I told him they would grow into new plants he told me to take them so I did. The GC does tend to be a bit of a mess. They employ students to tidy and water over the busier periods and no one has any real knowledge about the plants. i also have found some real bargains in the other tat they sell. A large glass chopping board for a couple of pound, cat treats for 50p etc. GC’s are now in the same position as other retailers they have to fight to attract enough customers to make the business viable. Not so easy these days with so much competition.
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I don’t think a garden centre without All the extras would survive where I am. They need the money bought in by the sale of the Radley bags, posh wellies and household goods. if someone just wants plants and is a novice they get them along with the food shop in Morrisons or lidl. As they brand out past a few bedding or simple shrubs they might go to one of the large diy sheds garden sections. Those with more experience or who know exactly what they want will go to one of the nurseries. wyvale and Haskins fill the gap of the Sunday afternoon shoppers who want a nice afternoon out. They are not looking for a particular plant nor do they want to spend the time waiting for it to flower. They want a flowering plant to look nice on their patio whist they bbq and drink a gin and tonic. So they go to an over priced garden centre where they buy a plant which has been forced into early flower in a giant greenhouse somewhere. They want to have something to eat and drink in the over priced cafe and they want to look at and buy all the random tat that is sold. Thry go home with their overprice plant after a happy afternoon out. The plant graces their patio for the summer but is dead by Christmas. But they don’t mind as the cycle will continue next year.
I've only just seen this but it's a massive over generalisation. In many areas, including where I live Wyevale has been virtually the only show in town for many years. Even the most avid gardener has not had an alternative unless they were able to travel miles to get to the almost mythical garden centre / nursery where everything was grown locally and staffed by people who eat and breathe plants. The nearest garden centre to us which I would class as very good is about 15 miles away. It still does have huge amounts of non gardening products for sale and I have no doubt that is how they survive the winter months when plant sales drop to near zero.
Despite that they actually do have knowledgeable staff who are able to answer questions about plants.
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The GC does tend to be a bit of a mess. They employ students to tidy and water over the busier periods and no one has any real knowledge about the plants.
i also have found some real bargains in the other tat they sell. A large glass chopping board for a couple of pound, cat treats for 50p etc.
GC’s are now in the same position as other retailers they have to fight to attract enough customers to make the business viable. Not so easy these days with so much competition.