For the team at Barossa Mitre 10, gardening is far more than a department in a hardware store, it is a passion, a point of pride and something they genuinely love sharing with their community.
That passion has now been recognised on a national stage, with the Nuriootpa store taking home ‘National Garden Centre of the Year’ at the recent TTHG (Total Tools Hardware Group) awards.
According to Home Business Leader Stuart Jenkins, the award is a reflection of the people behind the garden centre and the care they put into it every day.
“Sandy and the garden team are incredibly passionate about what they do. They treat the garden centre as if it were their own garden at home, taking pride in how it looks and the quality of what we offer.”
“Most important of all, they focus on providing personalised customer service, taking the time to help customers with advice, ideas, and solutions. We believe that local knowledge, genuine passion, and personal service are what truly set our store apart,” Stuart said.
Owned and operated by locals, Barossa Mitre 10 has always placed strong importance on being part of the community it serves. The people who run the store also live locally, creating a deep connection between the team and the customers who walk through the doors.
That connection has helped shape the garden centre into a space that is not just functional, but welcoming and enjoyable to visit.
Upon accepting the award, Stuart explained that the recognition had been years in the making, built on a consistent commitment to maintaining high standards.
“The team works hard to ensure the store, particularly the garden centre, is always presented to a high standard. We focus on stocking quality plants and garden materials, and we make sure customers receive the expert advice they need when planning or working on their gardens.”
“Our team is always willing to go the extra mile to help. Most importantly, we do what we do out of a genuine love for gardening and helping our customers, not for recognition or awards. Having a team that is passionate about what they do has been the key to maintaining those standards and to our ongoing success,” Stuart says.
Walking through the garden centre itself, it is easy to see the care that goes into every detail. The space has been thoughtfully designed to feel calm and inviting, with a natural flow that encourages customers to slow down, explore and enjoy the surroundings.
“The garden centre has also been created to be a beautiful, calming space, which has a natural, easy-to-navigate flow.”
“In summer, we run misters, which creates a cool and refreshing environment for customers to enjoy. The team is constantly watering, pruning, and maintaining the plants and displays to ensure they resonate with local gardens and gardening styles.”
“The feedback from our customers is consistently positive. They love the welcoming atmosphere, the quality of the plants, and the care that goes into every part of the garden centre. We’re always open to feedback, and we take any suggestions on board to make sure we continue improving and providing an enjoyable experience for everyone who visits,” Stuart says.
Behind the scenes, the strength of the team is another key factor in the store’s success. Many staff members have been part of the business for over 10 years, building both experience and a strong culture within the workplace.
When asked how management continues to train staff to meet such high standards, Stuart says the team’s loyalty and shared values make all the difference.
“This extensive experience and loyalty has created a strong culture where everyone takes pride in what they do and in maintaining the high standards across the store. We also place a strong focus on succession planning. Passing on knowledge and skills to newer team members is very important to us.”
“By sharing what we have learned over the years, we ensure that valuable knowledge and experience are carried forward to the next generation of team members. This helps maintain consistency, strong standards, and the level of service our customers have come to expect,” he said.
While competition exists in the region, including the well-known Barossa Nursery, the team at Barossa Mitre 10 remains focused on delivering what they know best — quality plants, helpful advice and exceptional service.
“Barossa Nursery, run a very good business and also maintain high standards. Despite the competition, we stay focused on what we can control, making sure we offer a great range of quality plants, keeping our pricing competitive, and maintaining our high service standards so we continue to provide an exceptional experience for our customers and stand out in the local market.”
For Stuart and the team, the award is something to celebrate, but it is also motivation to keep improving and growing.
“We have some exciting additions coming to our range, including the reintroduction of roses, which we have not stocked for quite some time. This is something I’m really looking forward to, and our customers are excited about it as well. It is a great way to refresh our offerings and continue providing what our community loves,” Stuart said.
