QUINTA DA EIRA – A FUTURE OF OPPORTUNITIES

Vasco Pyrrait, a Forestry Engineer, after two years as head of Green Space Maintenance for the Estoril, Cascais, and Sintra areas, was invited to take over as manager of the Quinta da Eira Garden Centre, a challenge he accepted with great enthusiasm.
Returning to the Horto do Campo Grande Group about two years ago, after an experience abroad, was seen by Vasco Pyrrait as a homecoming. This new role is viewed as recognition for his work and a great opportunity, as “this garden centre’s location, size, and offerings provide all visitors with an experience of well-being—a potential we must explore, making this challenge a particularly attractive and stimulating project.”.

How would you describe what the Quinta da Eira garden centre has to offer?
With around 20,000 square metres, the garden centre has a vast exhibition area, both outdoors and indoors. In the outdoor area, you can find large trees and a variety of plants that aren’t always easy to find in other similar spaces. The greenhouse and covered area house indoor plants, pots, decorative items, furniture, and a very complete display of Weber products, which is updated every season. One of the advantages of the garden centre, due to its size, is precisely that it allows us to display a vast number of plants, while also having a qualified team that preserves and cares for the space and the plants properly every day—something not all garden centres can guarantee.
We prioritise national suppliers, but when necessary, we turn to international suppliers, mostly Dutch and Italian, always with the aim of providing unique and distinctive species. In a highly competitive sector, differentiation always comes down to offering quality plants and proper service, both in terms of customer care and complementary services such as design, construction, and green space maintenance.

And regarding substrates, what options are available?
As part of the Horto do Campo Grande group, we are able to provide our own brand products, namely substrates that meet different needs—from solutions richer in organic matter, like the BIO Substrates, to more affordable options like the Universal Substrate, allowing customers to purchase a quality product at a competitive price. There are also lighter substrates, suitable for balconies or other specific applications, offering a very complete range adapted to different requirements.

Does the garden centre also focus on outdoor decor items?
That’s right; in addition to plants and gardening products, there is a strong focus on outdoor decoration, offering elements such as decorative stones, fountains, and various statuary. These are unique pieces, often hard to find elsewhere, crafted by partners who guarantee quality and exclusivity.

We know that garden maintenance is an essential service. How does it work?
The maintenance department has been growing, with several mobile teams working mainly in this area with private clients. Many of these clients are foreigners who have chosen to live in Portugal or people with holiday homes in the region, where gardens require regular, specialised, and high-quality monitoring that the competition often cannot guarantee.

What specific maintenance services are available?
In addition to basic maintenance services like lawn mowing, weeding, pruning, and planting, we carry out more complex interventions, such as high-altitude pruning using crane lifts. This is a service that sets Horto do Campo Grande apart in the market, allowing us to respond to needs that many smaller companies cannot meet. The team’s experience is also essential in fighting pests that affect gardens, such as lawn bugs, which can compromise the health of green spaces.

Is plant rental for events a service that the Quinta da Eira garden centre intends to develop?
Renting plants and decorative elements for events is a business opportunity that is still largely unexplored here at the Quinta da Eira garden centre. The proximity to venues like the Estoril Congress Centre, the Casino, the Racetrack, and the Equestrian Centre paves the way for this focus. The experience Horto do Campo Grande already has in this area demonstrates its potential, especially due to the existing structure, which allows us to offer an agile and efficient service.

In your perspective, what are the main challenges for Quinta da Eira?
The size of the space is a challenge in itself; it needs daily maintenance and constant attention from the staff. I was well received by the team, and everyone showed they were ready to give their best to revitalise the space and make it even more attractive. The presence of animals like macaws, swans, and peacocks creates a special atmosphere, ideal for family visits. However, it is fundamental to improve conditions and create new dynamics. The partnership with Weber will be a key part of this renovation, with the creation of a Weber Store and a Weber Academy, where customers can learn how to use and get the most out of charcoal, gas, or electric grills and enjoy all the features these excellent products offer.

What message would you like to leave for the Quinta da Eira team?
Nothing is built alone. The team is essential to the success of the project. From the beginning, I felt the strong commitment everyone showed, and I am grateful for that. We have established a relationship of respect, proximity, and collaboration that has already started to bear fruit.
Customer loyalty depends largely on the service and the involvement of the team. Customers are increasingly knowledgeable and demanding; therefore, only excellent service keeps them loyal. Loyalty requires continuous work and a lot of dedication because a relationship of trust takes a long time to build but can be lost in an instant.
Since I took over, I have been holding regular meetings to align goals with the team and ensure everyone is involved in the project. Motivation and a spirit of initiative are visible, which gives even more strength to push the changes forward. Creating a positive work environment not only improves productivity but also reflects the mission of Horto do Campo Grande, where contact with nature and plants has a positive impact on well-being. The goal is for everyone, from employees to customers, to feel part of this space and its growth.