Tasmanian family-run nurseries plea to plant-lovers

After a string of closures, these Tassie nurseries have issued a plea to plant lovers as they struggle for survival against giant chain hardware stores.

Andrew Clark owner and Jade Jenkins apprentice at Harmony Garden Centre Lauderdale. Harmony Garden Centre one of many nurseries struggling to stay financially afloat in Tasmania. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Tasmanian nurseries have issued a heartfelt plea to buy local after of a string of closures.

At least four garden centres across the state have closed in the past year, including Riverview Nursery in Devonport, Niche Plants in Launceston and Legana Plants Plus.

Andrew Clark began working at Harmony Garden Centre in Lauderdale as an apprentice more than 35 years ago.

He said the “noticeable decline” of local garden centres in the past 10 years in favour of chain hardware stores was “really sad to see”.

“I’m so passionate about educating people about how to grow plants and my fear is that overtime, the educational part of the industry will be diminished,” Mr Clark said.

In response to increased competition the garden centre had invested more into growing plants themselves, he said.

“Plants are coming from smaller groups of growers because big chain stores influence mass production, so there’s less variety and less niche,” he said.

“Our plants are grown here in Tasmania with love. They’re hardier and fresh.”

In Sandy Bay, Chandlers Nursery has supplied plants and expert horticultural knowledge to locals since 1888, with the store being passed down through generations.

Staff at Chandlers Nursery with actor Samuel Johnson for a fundraising event in 2019. Picture: Facebook

Director Lauren Chandler – who worked alongside her father, sisters and brother – said the expertise offered by local garden centres set them apart from chain stores.

“In garden centres most people are either qualified horticulturalists or have been in the industry for years,” Ms Chandler said.

“I understand that with the cost of living people are needing to save money, but big stores are not always cheaper and here you’ve got quality and personalised service.

“We’re very much a community. You’re not just shopping at a business – we’re bringing you into our family.”

Lauren Chandler director of Chandlers Nursery. Picture: Instagram

The comments are part of a greater push to support Tasmania’s struggling small business sector, with both Mr Clark and Ms Chandler acknowledging that competing with chains had always been a “tough gig”.

Confederation of Greater Hobart Business chairman Edwin Johnstone was keen to emphasise the financial pay-off of shopping local.

“It keeps money circulating in the local economy and you’re investing in the wellbeing of your own neighbourhood and its residents,” Mr Johnstone said.

“Harmony Garden Centre is a great example of a local Tasmanian business that sells unique products and offers the type of personalised customer service that big chains rarely offer.”

Mr Clark added that in a warming climate, plants would become more important than “putting down asphalt and concrete for big chain stores”.

“It’s about nurturing both plants and businesses,” he said.