Garden Centre Website Design in Kent – Stones Garden Centre
Garden Centre Website Design in Kent – Stones Garden Centre
Stones Garden Centre on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent is a long‑established local business specialising in buxus, exotic plants and bonsai. When the original owners regained control of the site after several years away, they began a major redevelopment of the garden centre and surrounding facilities.
As part of this redevelopment they required a modern website redesign that would showcase their products, promote the garden centre and allow customers to purchase items online.
We were approached to design and build a mobile‑friendly WordPress website for the garden centre, following the success of the Stones Fishing Lakes website which we had previously created for the same family‑owned business.
About Stones Garden Centre
Stones Garden Centre is located halfway between Sheerness and Minster-on-Sea on the Isle of Sheppey and has been serving gardeners in the area for over 25 years.
The centre is particularly well known for:
- Buxus and ornamental shrubs
- Exotic plants
- Bonsai trees
- Seasonal garden plants and supplies
After the original owners repurchased the site, significant work began to redevelop the garden centre. Future plans included expanding the facilities with:
- An on‑site café
- A specialist hot tub retailer
- Expanded retail areas
A modern website was needed to support this redevelopment and attract more visitors to the centre.
WordPress Website Redesign for a Garden Centre
The existing website was outdated and not designed for modern devices. One of the main goals of the project was to create a responsive website design that worked well on mobile phones and tablets, as many customers search for garden centres while out and about.
The new website was built using WordPress, allowing the client to easily update content, add products and manage the website without requiring technical knowledge.
Key objectives included:
- A mobile responsive website design
- Clear navigation for customers
- The ability to sell products online
- A visual design that reflected the branding of the garden centre
- Integration with photography to showcase plants and products
E‑commerce Functionality
To support online sales, the website included an e‑commerce shop allowing customers to browse and purchase selected products directly from the website.
This functionality enabled the garden centre to:
- Showcase plants and gardening products online
- Allow customers to purchase items before visiting
- Expand their customer base beyond local footfall
The e‑commerce system also allowed the business to manage:
- Product listings
- Stock levels
- Pricing and promotions
- Online orders
Website Design & Branding
Because the garden centre is part of the same family business as the nearby fishery, the website layout was designed to feel familiar while still reflecting the unique branding and colour scheme of the garden centre.
The design focused on:
- Clean, natural colour palettes
- Clear navigation
- Large images of plants and products
- A simple layout that works well on mobile devices
This approach helped create a website that is both visually appealing and easy for customers to use.
Photography for the Website
As part of the project we also created new photographic content for the website.
Professional photography helps businesses like garden centres present their products more effectively online. High quality images were used throughout the website to highlight:
- Plants and shrubs
- Bonsai trees
- The garden centre environment
- Featured products
These images help bring the website to life and make it easier for customers to explore what the garden centre offers.
A Website Designed for Growth
The completed website gave Stones Garden Centre a modern online presence that supported the redevelopment of the business and helped promote the centre to local gardeners.
The site provided an easy way for customers to:
- Discover the garden centre
- Browse available products
- Purchase items online
- Find directions to the location
Although the business has since moved to a different e‑commerce platform as it has grown, the original WordPress website played an important role in helping the garden centre establish its online presence during the early stages of redevelopment.
Technologies Used
- WordPress CMS
- Responsive website design
- E‑commerce functionality
- Custom styling and layout
- Product photography