Spending on Simpsons Garden Centre in Inverness set to continue despite fall in profits for owners
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Simpsons – which is best known for operating Simpsons Garden Centre in Inshes – opened Botanic House in Castle Street, Inverness last month.
The performance venue is in the building formerly occupied by Gs nightclub, which closed in January, leaving Inverness without a purpose-built nightclub for the first time in decades.
But this investment is not reflected in the firm’s latest accounts for the year ended January 7, 2019.
Filed as Simpson Highview, the business also operates Torvean Caravan Park.
Its overall turnover increased to £5,820,618 last year from £5,409,937 the year before.
For the same period, pre-tax profit fell from £343,885 to £249,507.
Factors included increased cost of sales and administrative expenses last year.
A strategic report accompanying the firm’s latest accounts stated: “The director is satisfied with the company’s results for the year and the ongoing development of the site.
“Group turnover for the year was £5,820,618, which represented a 7.59 per cent increase on the like-for-like trading period of the
previous year, with group net assets increasing to £2,871,554.
“The garden centre has continued to develop into a year-round destination with the plant offering remaining the core focus.
“The garden centre has received numerous awards and was once again awarded Scotland’s destination garden centre of the year.
“The caravan park had a strong trading year with turnover up 31.79 per cent. This was attributed to continued investment in the site, the strength of the North Coast 500 initiative and the continued growth in motorhome hire.”
It added: “The garden centre continues to reinvest in the site and detailed plans are in place to commence development work on site which will continue to provide and enhance the customer experience.”
The average number of employees increased from 107 to 112 last year, while staff costs increased from £1,428,884 to £1,541,220.
