Garden and homewares retailer Dobbies is seeking to grow online engagement with the launch of a programme of exclusive virtual events to help the brand keep up with competitors that have already seen a big upswing in online sales.
Launching on Saturday 27 March and running throughout Spring, the expert sessions will be hosted by Dobbies’ Horticultural Director, Marcus Eyles, live from his own garden. Eyles will provide viewers with engaging tips and tricks, tutorials and live demonstrations across a variety of topics, to help gardeners make the most of their outdoor spaces.
The sessions are free of charge and exclusively available to Dobbies Club members and follows a successful programme of Facebook Live sessions in 2020.
Further events are expected to be added through the summer and provide a virtual alternative to the regular ‘Grow How’ events previously hosted instore, says the company.
Eyles comments: “Over the past year, more of us than ever before have discovered a love of gardening and experienced the ways that it enriches our lives and improves our wellbeing. Gardening is something we can all enjoy, no matter how large or small our outdoor spaces, and we are delighted to be launching this series of virtual events. We hope that they will inspire and help gardeners old and new to learn the skills and techniques they need to take their gardens to the next level.”
The move comes as a study by hose maker Hozelock finds that 8 in 10 consumers in the UK have taken up a new hobby in the lockdown, with 82% of those looking for something mindful, calming and rewarding such as gardening.
