They’ve done it again! Acheson’s Mitre 10 has won the NSW/ ACT National Timber and Hardware Association garden centre of the year for the second year in a row – and it’s only three years old! It’s cause for celebration for Jacinda and Aaron Acheson and their team, including garden centre manager Melissa Shaw, Marg Sterling and Adam Bellach. “It’s always evolving, changing and trying to keep up with the trends,” Jacinda says. It’s the centre’s uniqueness that draws the attention of the judges, who visited at the end of winter. “Ninety eight per cent of Mitre 10 Home Hardware stores are independently owned and run,” Jacinda points out. In designing the garden centre, which had to be totally revamped after the 2022 floods, she knew the vibe she wanted. “I want it to be somewhere you actually want to come in, have a look around, touch and feel everything, see all the water features going,” Jacinda said. At the moment you’ll find the centre flush with Spring colour, with the widest variety of plants in stock they can so that customers can make the most of this perfect weather to get into their garden. But if they haven’t got what you’re looking for they’ll source it, Melissa adds. Then there’s their design service. “It’s free for us to go out, have a look at your space and work out what plants will go in there, you give us a budget and we’ll do it for you,” Jacinda says. Acheson’s is also in a position to support our community and they’re ramping up towards one of their big events. Ladies night is on October 17 and this year they’re raising money for the McGrath Foundation with the support of Dulux Australia. This popular event will feature cakes and slices, raffles and the “find the gnome” quest. It will culminate in a fundraising tradie auction – with a plumber, painter and builder among those each donating two hours of their time for the cause and Forbes Livestock their expertise for the auction. “Ladies night often gets 150 or 200 people through the door, it’s an amazing night and a lot of fun,” Jacinda said. One of the long-term ways Acheson’s gives back is through selling Marg Girot’s local tomatoes, with all of the profit from those donated to CanAssist every year.
