Garsons in Esher and Titchfield – the winner of the first Best Garden Centre Award at The Excellence in Housewares 2020 – is celebrating the 150th anniversary of the business.
To commemorate the milestone, Garsons is introducing a selection of branded products “with a beautiful logo and artwork of our 150-year story from a local artist,” reports buyer Sarah Crees. Items include a reusable water bottle and coffee cup, reusable bags, a special pale ale glass and a drinking glass. There are more bespoke products in development for the Christmas season.
Garsons’ directors are all descendants of its founder, George Henry Thompson, who established his growing business in Esher’s West End Village in 1871. George specialised in vegetable production, selling to greengrocers through London’s Borough Market.
The family business continued to supply London greengrocers with fresh produce until the 1970s, when supermarkets rose to dominance, sourcing from international suppliers. The Thompsons then started selling at retail to the local community and developed a Pick Your Own business, Farm Shopand Garden Centre. In 1999, Garsons opened its second site at Titchfield having bought a local nursery.
Sarah links Garsons’ success to the constant evolution of the business. Last October, the Esher site created a newly expanded area for its Cookshop and Gift Food department by building a link between the Farm Shop and Garden Centre buildings.
- To read the feature on Garsons in the latest edition of Progressive Housewares click here.
