New data tool for nursery industry coming soon – register your interest now!

As part of the Hort Innovation Nursery Fund’s industry analysis investments, researchers are busy prepping the next version of the information-rich ‘nursery industry data tool’ – and levy payers are being encouraged to register their interest in accessing the free, updated resource now.

First released in 2018, the Excel-based tool is designed to help nursery levy payers benchmark core aspects of their businesses against the wider nursery industry. It allows users to make comparisons in relation to the type of plants sold and the market segments operated in. It also allows users to compare business sales, number of employees and wages to national averages, and compare their views on the future of the nursery industry to those of their peers.

With 2017/18 surveys having been completed with close to 300 nursery businesses, the team behind the project Nursery industry statistics 2017/18 to 2019/20 (NY17008) is now building all the latest insights into the updated tool, which is scheduled for release during May 2019.

Everyone who took part in the project surveys will automatically receive a copy of the new resource. However, any nursery levy payer who didn’t take part and is keen to access the tool can now register to be emailed a copy when it’s released. To register your interest, simply contact communications@horticulture.com.au with the subject line ‘Registering for nursery data tool’. 

While full insights from the 2017/18 surveys are being built into the data tool, some of the key stats on the industry currently available from the most recent financial year include…

• Some 1.9 billion plants are sold by greenlife production businesses each year, valued at approximately $2.4 billion in sales to the following market channels: retail, landscape, local government, revegetation and forestry, consumers and primary industry (an increase of approximately five per cent in value since 2015/16)
  
  
• There are around 1650 nursery businesses currently operating in Australia, employing up to 25,000 people
  
  
• 68 per cent of nursery businesses are investing in infrastructure, new technology and/or education and training 
  
  
• 81 per cent of those surveyed said they were fairly to very positive about the industry's future, with ongoing market demand and growth expected to continue.

The strengths of the industry are seeing the media sit up and take notice, with recent articles on consumer trends and the nursery industry’s role and responses – including this recent piece on the keen public interest in indoor greening. With this in mind, nursery businesses are also reminded of the Hort Innovation Nursery Fund’s marketing program, which includes the consumer-facing Plant Life Balance online resource and smartphone app, plus all the associated resources for educating and encouraging Australians to improve the health (and look) of their indoor space with plant life. More information on this levy-funded work can be found at www.myplantlifebalance.com.au. Retail nursery businesses looking to be ‘Plant Life Balance accredited’ can also learn more at www.plantlifebalance.com.au/accreditation.