WALLINGTON'S 2022 IN REVIEW
Another year and another look back on memory lane. Just like 2021, this year was filled with amazing highs and sad goodbyes. But we wouldn't have made it this far without you, our loyal customers. And so, as we wrap up 2022, we want to say a special thank you to everyone who has shopped at our store, both physically at 370 Grubb Road, Wallington, or online at wallingtons.com.au. We wouldn't be here without you, so thank you for making 2022 such a special year for Wallington's WRG.
2022, The Year For New Growth
Throughout the year, we’ve added various new ranges, brands, products, and welcomed new staff. One of our biggest achievements for the year was becoming an official stockist of Anco Instant Turf. We now stock their whole range from Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo, Eureka Kikuyu, and even TifTuf. You can check out the whole range on our website right now and use our handy Turf Calculator to find out how much you'll need for your yard. You can shop directly on our website or visit us in-store and talk with our experienced landscape team today.
We also introduced a brand-new variety of compost, ‘Geelong Compost’. This special material is made right here in Geelong with the City's green waste bins which get composted and made into beautifully rich soil that is perfect for gardens. We are proud to have donated four square meters of this new soil to the local community garden project ‘Springdale Community Garden Inc’. This soil went to building brand new garden plots, which help grow organic produce for the Drysdale Foodbank and other locals to enjoy.
Finally, in the last few months of 2022, we signed on as a local supplier of Hartman Outdoor Furniture. This range of outdoor benches, lounges, umbrellas, and other outdoor settings was built with Australia in mind. They are hard-wearing and solid for the summer sun, whilst also beautifully designed to fit any outdoor space.
New Store Layout
As shopping experiences change within the digital age, so did Wallington's WRG. Earlier in the year, our staff made the rather difficult decision to remodel and re-merchandise 50% of our store. Compressing our pool and spa and irrigation sections allowed us to make way for a larger garden, bulk pet food, and Wallington’s Local Pantry to expand. With this remodel comes a few pallets of clearance irrigation equipment, so if you happen to be a tradesperson or someone who is renovating a home, be sure to follow our social media platforms to see when we'll be having the biggest clearance sale we've ever had.
Penny’s Mural
One of the perks of Wallington's WRG is that we never waste valuable space in our store. We were really excited to pay tribute to our original owner, Ed Corless, and his beautiful dog Penny. Painted by a local talented artist, Geoffrey Carran, you’ll now see an amazing mural in our dog food section. So every time you come into our dog food area, Penny will be there to help you pick the most delicious treat for your four-legged friend.
Landscape Office Renovation
Speaking of remodelling, our landscape office had quite the makeover in the third quarter of this year. With some exciting new product lines being introduced, the office needed a bright new look and space to show off these new brands like Anco and Garden Keepers. The team did a fantastic job installing carpets and building a better entry deck for our customers to enjoy.
The Hot Chip Challenge
One of the perks of the new eCommerce team this year was to find new ways to engage with our customers online. The idea of the Hot Chip Challenge video with staff was born. This one-minute clip sees 10 of our staff trying the World’s Hottest Corn Chips. Most of the staff felt a slight heat, some (Neil) barely felt a thing and came back for more. While others, such as poor Nelson, suffered the worst, having to leave the set coughing up a lung. No staff was harmed in the making of this video, they did however not trust our eCommerce team with new video ideas. Stay tuned to our social channels as we look to do more funny videos throughout 2023.
The Dog Lovers Show 2022
One of the biggest highlights of the year was attending the Dog Lovers Show at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre. Our staff are avid dog lovers, so this was right up our alley! We collaborated with the team at Timepet to create a stall showcasing our extensive range of dog products and accessories. Our team put together over 300 show bags, 200 new lines and spent the weekend connecting with fellow dog lovers outside of our local area. It was a huge effort from the staff and we thank everyone who participated, including customers we saw at the event.
The Return of Store Events
2022 saw the return of Dog Day Out at Wallington's WRG. Dog Day Out has always been a favourite amongst our community, so it was tough not being able to host it in the past three years due to COVID-19 challenges. We had a handful of suppliers and local dog-based business owners down to celebrate responsible dog ownership.
We’d like to thank all the staff who hosted and planned the event and all the customers who brought out their wonderful dogs to say hello and enjoy some free entertainment. We look forward to hosting bigger and better events in 2023 as things get back to normal in a post-COVID world (fingers crossed).
What Will 2023 Bring?
Pantry Monthly Events
The best part of Wallington's WRG is the community surrounding us. Geelong and the Bellarine have expanded so much in the past few years with new estates and an ever-growing population. We want to celebrate the community spirit with monthly events throughout the whole year. You can expect pantry taste testings, BBQ meat demos, smoked meat food trucks and so much more in 2023. Do make sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram so you'll be notified when our next event day will be!
Larger Scale Events
As things slowly get back to ‘normal’, we want to bring the community spirit back with large-scale events at our store. From pet days and demonstrations. To market days and holiday special events like Easter and Christmas. We love connecting with locals and we look forward to sharing our space and celebrating local achievements with all of you very soon!
Landscape Design Coming Soon
In 2023, we will be introducing exciting new ways for our community to design their landscapes and outdoor living spaces. We have begun an exciting collaboration with Loud Design Group, which will be offering a creative collaboration space on-site at Wallington’s WRG to support landscape design projects. More information to come on this in early 2023, so be sure to stay tuned to our social media channels.