By Melissa Coleman
The Independent Hardware Group (IHG) celebrated a year of achievements and success with its vast network of independent retailers, including Stanthorpe Mitre 10, who came away with the Garden Centre of the Year award for Queensland.
Stanthorpe Mitre 10 owners Bill and Melissa Kerr said it was an amazing feat to win.
“We are actually at the bottom end of the category because we are a medium end store,” Mrs Kerr said.
“We came up against bigger stores throughout the state and they have bigger store areas then us.”
“It was exciting and a big surprise to have won the award.
“We are all very proud of our achievement,” she said.
The Kerr’s had never been to an IHG Award presentation due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The awards provide an opportunity to recognise the excellent work stores, suppliers and staff achieve in the industry.
Stanthorpe Mitre 10 came up against Mitre 10, Home Hardware and Timber and Thrifty Link and True Value Hardware stores across Queensland to take home the award.
“The competition was tough and to come up winners, being a small country town is excellent,” Mrs Kerr said.
“It was a team effort with Kay-Lee Antonello and all our staff and suppliers; we’d like to thank them,” Mrs Kerr said.
“We’d also like to thank our loyal customers.”
After the initial expansion of the old garden centre was complete with metal display shelving, an automatic watering system and shadecloth for protection from the elements.
Mrs Kerr said she remembered standing back with her very keen gardening lady Kay-Lee thinking how are they going to fill this area.
The task of filling the garden centre with plants, pots, decorative ornament and features began.
“Now, we have started to overflow past the garden gates and feel we need to expand again.
The Garden Centre are excited to be supplying bare rooted trees for their clientele.
“We have 500 ready for potting this spring.”
“The locals are our greatest supporters, and the new garden centre is the talk of the town.
“We have visitors from as far as New South Wales and the coast dropping in to see what is new in store,” she said.
Stanthorpe Mitre 10 will be competing in the National Finals in February 2023.
