New Dobbies marketing director joins garden centre company
After nine years with garden centre group Dobbies, director of marketing Richard Watson is to retire from his position on the management board this month to further his career in consultancy.
Following a stint at Halls, among other agencies, Watson, a director at Covey advertising in Edinburgh, joined Pringle of Scotland as marketing manager, before joining Dobbies as marketing director.
Watson has seen Dobbies blossom from 6 to 18 outlets during his time with the firm, making it one of the fastest growing groups in the country.
Dobbies chief executive James Barnes said: “We’ve all benefited enormously from Richard’s extensive experience in marketing and PR in the retail sector, and with his help we’ve been able to establish ourselves as far more than retailers of plants, seeds and garden tools. Instead, Dobbies is now seen very much as a day out destination.”
Last year, sales at Dobbies topped £40m, up from £8.5m in 1997, when the company achieved its listing on AIM.
Taking over from Richard Watson is Deborah Robertson, who joins Dobbies from Edinburgh’s Gyle Shopping Centre, where she was marketing manager for five years.
Dobbies now employs around 1,000 staff and continues to grow through strategic acquisition and development.