Garden Trade Specialist - Glee Preview

Glee Preview 2023

GA R DEN

TRADE SPECIALIST

Book your ticket now for Glee 2023

Glee 2023 - the International Festival for Garden, Leisure and Pet – will soon be here (27th – 29th June, NEC Birmingham). An unrivalled platform, Glee connects the garden industry to inspire change, drive growth and launch innovation, and this year will be packed full of extra value for retailers. Here we find out four undeniable reasons why you should be booking your ticket now!

Hundreds of brands, thousands of new products

Perhaps the most exciting aspect of Glee is the sheer volume of brands and products for retailers to get up close and personal with. For three days buyers will have the opportunity to meet with over 400 exhibitors, all ready and willing to inspire and to extend their retail network. Thousands of new products will be launched at Glee, with the New Product Showcase the essential hub to see these products in one handy location.

Summer of love for gardening

Taking place in late June, the summer timing will firmly shape Glee’s content, creating a festival feel throughout. From the Glee party on Tuesday 27th to the newly located Fire, Grill & Chill area – find it outdoors at the front of the NEC near the Hall 6-8 and hall 20 entrances –there is plenty to keep the summer vibes going.

As always, Glee’s Green Heart will return to the light-filled Atrium area, where the newest plant varieties and bestselling blooms can be viewed, alongside leading suppliers that are looking to build new retail relationships, whilst the all-new Talent

Store will inspire indoor and outdoor plant visual merchandising ideas and celebrate emerging industry talent.

The June timing of Glee also provides the perfect opportunity to preview new collections and place orders for the upcoming gardening season, selecting from the thousands of existing products and thousands of new products exclusively launching at the show. With the busy summer season on the horizon, Glee is also the ideal for sourcing seasonal products such as outdoor furniture, garden heating and garden décor.

Glee expands to reflect the needs of the industry

Visitors to Glee this year are set to see new and enhanced product sectors, reflective of the exciting diversification that is shaping the future of garden retail.

Joining the line-up will be a new dedicated DIY sector, full of everything consumers need to spruce up their home and garden, including power tools, fixtures and fittings, and coatings. This area will offer significant potential for retailers who want to develop their role as ‘green department stores’. Elsewhere, Glee Home, Gift & Clothing will be transformed

into a dedicated sector for trend-driven garden home and giftware suppliers and buyers, whilst Outdoor Entertainment will see its representation increased significantly. This is reflective of the predicted growth for this area, as the country continues to view their home as sanctuaries during a time of economic turbulence. Finally, Glee 2023 will see the introduction of Sourcing at Glee, an important destination for major wholesale buyers and procurement experts. Network, inspire & educate Glee 2023 will be home to a comprehensive seminar programme, where sustainability and how it will impact garden retail will be hotly debated, with further showcases visible throughout the event. Elsewhere the

show will facilitate important conversations, such as how we can futureproof our industry or how we can better service ethical consumers.

Throughout the exhibition, Glee will provide multiple opportunities for garden retailers to network with industry peers, gain insight into industry trends and best practices, and attend seminars and workshops to expand their knowledge and expertise. Register now!

Online registration for Glee 2023 is now open. All visitors need to visit www. gleebirmingham.com/visitorregistration to secure their free digital ticket. Find out more about Glee 2023 please visit www. gleebirmingham.com. To enquire about exhibiting please call +44 (0)203 3545 9752.

Images courtesy of GLEE

One product to transform your outdoor space, an instant garden makeover in a tin!

For 40 years the Protek have been making water-based paints from their factory in Somerset, UK.

The business was started by Eric and Janet Thornborough with the vision to sell quality wood stains, decorative timber coatings and preservatives. The result was a range of products that offered great coverage, were effective and long lasting and were kind to the environment.

Today the same environmental values are at the heart of the business. All the paints are water based contain low VOC (Volatile organic compounds), low odour, low toxicity. All the products are non-flammable and safe to use for exterior cladding on buildings. As it is water -based it is child, pet, bird, bee, and plant friendly,

allowing you to paint with total confidence and peace of mind. The packaging has been refined to ensure that the materials used are recycled and that the tins can be recycled too.

Protek have a wide range of products, one of their most versatile in the range is Wood Stain and Protect.

Wood Stain and Protect is a multipurpose garden paint that can be used on wood, masonry, and terracotta pots. Whatever the project Wood Stain and Protect can do it. From sheds to fences or summerhouses to sandpits, playhouses to bird boxes, rabbit hutches to planters, even an old, tired wall or a ‘seen better days’ plant pot, it covers them all.

No wonder Protek call it ‘an instant garden makeover in a tin’!

Wood Stain and Protect is available in 40 colours that will suit all colour palates, tastes, and trends. Whether you are looking for classic wood colours, modern greys and blacks or bright rainbow

colours for children the paint range offers great choice and excellent coverage. Prices for this affordable range have a RRP of £22.50 for 2.5Litres.

To support retail outlets

Protek creates a unique display plan that is designed to maximise the sales area available. Using sales histories from similar sized businesses, current trends, and future predictions Protek will help make the most of your space.

If stock holding is an issue

Protek can offer various stock options that can work with salesfloor and warehouse space. Staff training is offered to help upskill the sales teams

to ensure that they are aware of all product details and benefits.

To find out more about Protek and the brand look at our Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/ protekwoodstain/ Where you will find inspiration, how to guides and so much more.

Come and see Protek at Stand 6B61 at Glee Birmingham, to discuss all our products and services they can offer you.

Contact Protek today for more information and free samples:

Email: sales@protekproducts. co.uk

Call: 01749 344697

www.protekwoodstain.co.uk

Images courtesy of Protek

Our Most Unique Scarf Yet... and it’s Eco Friendly!

Art on Scarves are thrilled to be exhibiting their eye-catching range of Eco Scarves at GLEE 2023.

These beautifully light and stylish scarves have been printed from our own paintings and designs, making them a unique, elegant yet completely sustainable accessory. Recycled from PET Plastic Bottles, these gorgeous and sustainable scarves come in an eco-friendly box, to make them the perfect ‘green’ gift in 2023.

With 16 different designs to choose from, there is something for everyone. “Our Collection by Emma Lawrence is particularly popular and our retailers report that they’re flying off the shelves. We have just

added another 3 of Emma’s designs to the Collection, this month,” says Lucy Hay, CEO of Art on Scarves. At Art on Scarves we recognised the demand for more ecological accessories and their packaging so we developed these lovely, light and silky scarves, that are just a dream to wear. Add a touch of sustainable style to your life!

Find us on Stand 8F56 at GLEE 23. For more information contact Lucy Hay: lucy@artonscarves.com or + 44 7592 451667.

Image courtesy of Art on Scarves

Innovative propagation items feature highly in Garland’s new products at Glee 2023

More products manufactured at company’s UK factory

Following a highly successful start to the season, Garland Products will be launching over 40 new products at Glee 2023 (Hall:8-20 Stand: 20H30-J31). These include 24 new propagation products, which result from a major investment to further cement Garland’s position as the market leader in this sector. The propagation products include injection moulded Square Tom Pots in two colours, black and green coloured Super-Sized Seed Tray and Garden Tray and a Deep Root Garden/ Seed Tray. Also added to the range is a Vented Large Budget Propagator and a Vented Budget Propagator Lid. Two sizes of Jute Seed Mats to fit the company’s Standard Seed Trays as well as Micro Greens Trays are also being introduced.

Among the exciting launches are two brand new split cell growing systems. There is a new 28-Cell Deep Root Seed Success Kit, which has 28 injection moulded cells along with an injection moulded base tray and a vented propagator lid. A new 24 Cell Fast Root kit and a 24 Cell Self Watering Fast Root option comprise shallower split cell moulding and base tray, and are available alongside individual split cells. Also new are Jute Growing Bags including a Potato Bag, a Bean and Pea Bag as well as a Grow Bag option. Six new Jute Hanging Basket Liners are available as well as a Half Basket Liner and two cut-to-size options for wall baskets and mangers.

A very practical deep new Home & Garden Storage Tray, available in Green, Sage or Anthracite colours, will prove perfect for a wide range of uses around the home and garden.

Completing Garland’s exciting launches for 2023 is a new Cane Grip Grow Pot Set and a new Duogrow self-watering planter. The Cane Grip Grow Pots comprise two 11ltr Square Growing Pots coupled with cane supports which are built in to a moisture retaining Mulch Cap lid together with a base tray reservoir for retaining water. These competitively-priced pots are perfect for growing tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, chillies and other similar plants. The Duogrow is a 2-pot self-

watering planter that waters plants at the optimal times, keeping the soil at the perfect moisture levels. The unit requires no electricity or timers as it works on a wick-based system. The Duogrow is infinitely extendable with the addition of a 2-pot extension kit which connects via the Smart Reservoirs to create a multiple unit system. The Smart Reservoir system can be filled up from a single unit and maintains the perfect watering conditions across a single unit or the whole system for up to 14 days at a time.

Commenting on Garlands 29th appearance at Glee, sales director Mark Dedman said:” Last year we achieved sales growth of over 25 per cent on 2019, which was the last comparable non-Covid year. We will be at Glee to showcase this year’s new products which see us return to more in-house manufactured new products. Furthermore, recent investment in the latest warehouse management software has allowed us to plan resources, resulting in just under 99 percent of products delivered in full.”

Garland’s Grow Pot Sets (set of 2)

Garland’s Super-Sized Seed and Garden Tray – black and green

What’s Driving Outdoor Living Trends at Glee 2023

Summer is fast approaching and as homeowners around the UK start planning for social gatherings and alfresco dining, Glee - the International Festival for Garden, Leisure, and Pet will be embracing the outdoor living trend with ideas and inspiration for 2024.

Taking place at the Birmingham NEC from the 27th to 29th of June, the halls at Glee will once again be home to exhibitors showcasing the latest designs in BBQs, inspirational furniture styles, and material and outdoor lifestyle influences within the dedicated Outdoor Entertaining sector. Glee’s late June timing is designed to offer significant benefits to buyers, with thousands of existing and new products exclusively launching at the show together providing the perfect opportunity for buyers to preview the latest collections and place orders for the upcoming gardening season.  With summer right around the corner, Glee is also the first opportunity within the 2023 buying calendar to source outdoor furniture, garden heaters, and decorative items or finalise top-up orders for immediate delivery into store.

The power of the outdoors

There is no doubt that the outdoor living movement has exploded recently as outdoor spaces have been embraced

with new interests. Gardens have become, more than ever, a place to relax, escape, work, eat, exercise, and play. Recent research by YouGov for the HTA (2021) revealed that nearly half of UK households (42%) use their gardens to entertain family or friends with garden parties and barbecues. The HTA also showed that sales in the outdoor living department at garden centres were 19.88% up in 2022 compared to 2021, indicating that this momentum is showing no signs of stopping.

Indoor and outdoor merged rooms

Furniture and accessories have blurred the lines between indoors and out, adding comfort and style by effectively creating zones while maintaining an open look and uninterrupted view of the garden and beyond.

Emotive design forms the foundations of Glee exhibitor Bizzotto’s brand philosophy and furniture collections. With a commitment to high quality, sustainability, and beauty, its three furniture brands, “Yes”, “Bizzotto

Outdoor” and “Homemotion” will take centre stage. Tramontina has all retailers need to sell the stylish and versatile al fresco dining dream, from beautifully understated bistro sets to loungers which create individual and comfortable areas to relax in. Hex Living will also be creating the perfect outdoor room with its contemporary garden furniture ranging from loungers to storage solutions.

Social hotspots

Fire pits, chimineas, log burners and patio heaters have proven to be the must-have garden accessory and that trend is set to continue into next year as people enjoy their gardens for longer. According to an Amazon survey, 32% of people plan to buy a fire pit in 2023, making it a popular outdoor cooking and heating appliance.

Pinnacle Agri is a newcomer to Glee and its showstopping product is the Firestorm Patio Heaters which use eco-friendly wood pellets to create a dazzling, smokeless flame within a glass tube, perfect for those that like the modern aesthetic. Fandango Products will be bringing back its safe and easy-touse Kindling Cracker firewood splitters. They are also the UK distributor for Espegard’s fire pans and accessories, which with their simple and functional design for warmth and cooking will win over fire pit lovers everywhere.

Al fresco dining

The overall barbecue and alfresco eating market in 2021 were worth just over £2.2 billion, with the UK hosting around 165 million barbecues in the same year. And with the cost-of-living crisis affecting many, garden dining and cooking remains a fashionable and cheaper alternative to a visit to the local pub or restaurant. Campingaz has enhanced outdoor cooking experiences throughout the UK and beyond and will

continue to inspire both retailers and consumers through its barbecue range at the show. Blackstone Europe will give retailers the opportunity to sell outdoor cooking experiences for large groups or families with its griddles and barbecue accessories. Elsewhere, household names such as Kamado Joe, Landmann and Primo Grills can all be found within Glee Outdoor Entertaining, featuring what the latest innovations from these market leaders.

Dudley-based Midtherm and Glee newcomers Gozney will also be bringing their ranges of pizza ovens to capitalise on the soar in popularity of outdoor cooking.

Garden Decor

Poppy Forge is bringing its Britishdesigned and made garden products to the Outdoor Living sector including plant supports, arches, obelisks, garden art and boot care products.

Primus will be returning to the show to showcase its leading homeware, gifting, and garden décor brand. From its Wallace & Gromit sculpture range to wind chimes and hangers, outdoor clocks, and metal wall art they will offer customers garden decor with quality pieces that draw the eye and elevate an outdoor space.

Illuminated spaces

The craze for solar garden lights has seen consumers extend their garden time after the sun goes down. Solar lighting can enhance a garden or outdoor space, giving it a wonderful, cosy ambience as well as practical illumination for outdoor areas that need a lift. Nordlux’s range of lights can be used beyond the garden to illuminate the front door, driveway, and garage, as well as balconies and terraces. Forum Lighting Solutions is one of the UK’s largest suppliers of lighting and radiant heaters are an energy-saving solution to keep the garden warm after dark.

Eco-Friendly

The sustainable garden industry has seen a huge boom - with more and more eco-savvy consumers opting for eco-friendly materials for their outdoor living accessories. Dr Heat will showcase its eco-friendly firelighters produced exclusively from recycled candle wax and shredded Miscanthus grass, grown in the South West of England. BCB’s International’s FireDragon - EcoFriendly Fire Lighters, made from rotten vegetable matter, will appeal to fire and flame lovers who don’t want to harm the planet.

Matthew Mein, Event Director at Glee said: “Consumers are increasingly focusing on improving their outside spaces, with recent statistics supporting the growth of the outdoor living industry. Increasing choices, a newfound love of the garden and budget-friendly options made available by retailers are making outdoor entertainment more affordable and accessible for consumers. At Glee 2023 those exhibitors that make up the Outdoor Entertaining sector will together showcase the latest trends and products that will help to drive growth in the industry this year and beyond, whilst enabling buyers to better plan their buying and merchandising strategies ahead of the peak summer season.”

Find out more

Glee is the UK’s leading garden retail show, focusing on building year-round profits for buyers and suppliers within

the core gardening and outdoor leisure product categories. To keep up to date on the latest Glee news visit www. gleebirmingham.com. To enquire about exhibiting at Glee 2023, which will take place June 27th – 29th, please call +44 (0)203 3545 9752.

Pull out box

Don’t miss Glee Fire, Grill & Chill

For the second year in a row, many of these outdoor heating solutions, barbeques and firepits will be in action within Glee’s dedicated Fire, Grill and Chill area. Relocated to a prime location at the front of the NEC near the Hall 6-8 and Hall 20 entrances, this area will be the go-to place for leisure buyers to source 2024 ranges, as well as provide the backdrop to the Glee Party on Tuesday 27th June, to which all exhibitors and visitors are invited.

Images courtesy of GLEE

Handy to assist retailers in maximising earning potential at this year’s Glee

Stand: 20H20-J21

At this year’s Glee (27-29th June 2023 at the NEC, Birmingham), on stand 20H20-J21, British garden equipment manufacturer and supplier Handy is emphasising its support for retailers and the many opportunities available through Handy to maximise earning potential.

Established in 1938 and still a familyowned British business, Handy is now one of the UK’s largest independent garden machinery wholesale distributors and manufacturers. Handy’s own brands include Webb, The Handy and Q Garden, and it is the UK-appointed distributor for Greenworks and Cramer cordless equipment. In addition, the company distributes access brands such as Flymo, Kärcher, Bosch, Solo, Walsall wheelbarrows and more. Many of Handy’s products are award-winning and regularly feature as Gardeners’ World ‘Best Buys’. Handy also regularly supports retailers with their own label manufacturing needs with the design and production of exclusive models. An intimate lounge area has been created on the Handy Glee stand

specifically for visitors to the show to discuss their garden machinery needs in a relaxed environment. Handy staff will be on hand to advise retailers not only of the products available but also of the support provided, including dropship opportunities and point of sale support, and Handy’s online portal for quick and easy access to spare parts; Handy carries over 70,000 spare part lines and has market leading availability thanks to its £6m+ stock commitment. Mark Moseley, Handy’s Sales & Marketing Director, comments on the change of direction for the company at this year’s Glee: “At previous shows, we have very much focussed on our extensive product range, and we feel that the breadth and quality of our product lines are well understood. For

2023 we have chosen to change the emphasis to focus on the extensive support and service we have in place for retailers to help them get the most out of our products, by meeting their customers’ diverse needs and maximising sales. Our experience, expert knowledge and dedicated customer service are central to this. We not only understand product but also the needs of retailers and their customers and it’s important for us to convey this. It’s equally important for us to listen to our customers, so the new lounge area on the Glee stands will enable a two-way discourse, in an informal setting.”

For more information, visit Handy at Glee Stand 20H20-J21, or go to www. handys.co.uk

Handy at Glee

Top reasons why the Glee Green Heart is a must for growers & plant buyers

The horticultural hub of Glee, Green Heart is THE place to be seen amongst a range of leading growers. An integral part of the show each year, the central atrium location makes Glee Green Heart a high-profile hub to draw some of the best attendance in the show. This year the area is about to experience even higher prominence as an exciting new show feature – the Glee Talent Store – will be located alongside Green Heart. The new show highlight, coupled with Green Heart, will place indoor and outdoor plants front and centre, whilst demonstrating the power of visual merchandising. Here we find out more about why Green Heart should be on everyone’s to-do list this Glee (27th – 29th June, NEC Birmingham).

• Linked sales and crossmerchandising inspiration – Exhibitors within Green Heart always passionately use the area to demonstrate how to link sales and create successful crossmerchandising opportunities that can be quickly and easily implemented instore. This theme will be elevated within the all-new Talent Store, where exciting new talent from across the sector will be constructing live retail sets, each demonstrating how collaboration and fresh ideas can create a new way of merchandising indoor and outdoor plants within the retail environment. Meanwhile, Fire, Grill & Chill, Glee’s dedicated outdoor entertaining demonstration area, will be relocated to the front of the NEC near the Hall 6-8 and Hall 20 entrances, directly adjacent to Green Heart. This means even more traffic will pass by Green Heart, bringing with it new buyers and helping to forge new retail relationships.

• Learn more about the plants of the future – Join Glee’s new ambassador, Michael Perry as he showcases the plants of the future, drawing from the latest varieties launching at Green Heart ahead of the 23/24 season. Whether you’re looking to gather inspiration or want to launch new varieties, this will be a must-see for future-facing brands and retailers.

• See, smell & touch –

Exhibiting within Green Heart provides growers with the opportunity to inspire plant buyers and retailers alike by allowing them the chance to get up close and personal with the plants themselves. From new varieties and bestselling blooms to exciting merchandising ideas, this thriving part of Glee is a must for growers, whilst for garden retailers it’s the perfect place to come if they want to step up their game when it comes to plant retailing. Additionally, Green Heart’s location within the NEC Atrium provides a unique ‘greenhouse’ setting, flooded with natural light to present plants at their best, plus with a choice of benches, growers can select the best option to suit their ranges.

• Optimise profit potential of seasonal plants nowWith seasonal plants being more topical than ever, Green Heart represents an opportunity to not just showcase these high-impact lines but also enables retailers to place orders ahead of peak sales periods, safe in the knowledge that they’ll be prepped to meet consumer demand.

• Secure autumn sales

– Glee’s late June timing provides the perfect platform for growers to showcase autumn varieties. Buyers will be looking out for ‘show only’ deals, to gain extra

margin and impulse sales potential for autumn and beyond.

• New networking opportunities – This year, in a new move, Glee’s Green Heart exhibitors will benefit from a Key Buyers Day. A special networking reception will bring growers and plant buyers together, with growers able to provide a wish list of buyers they’d like to meet.

• View complementary products – Glee’s 400+ exhibitors and thousands of new product launches makes it the perfect place for growers to source new supply partners for collaborations and linked sales opportunities. For retailers, the opportunity to ‘shop’ all products needed to create the most comprehensive plant area is right there for the taking at Glee 2023, with everything from pots and planters, compost, fertilisers and tools all represented.

Green Heart – key benefits for growers

Whether a grower or nursery, Glee’s Green Heart has been set up to offer a uniquely cost-effective and highly beneficial exhibiting package to ensure that plants remain at the very heart of the show. In addition to the benefits already mentioned, Green Heart exhibitors can also enjoy:

• Free access to the Glee Exhibitors Toolkit including Glee Show Preview and Show Guide entry, customer invites and online profile

• Entry into Glee New Product Awards

• Inclusion in our feature display of new plants and recent launches and introductions to your range

• Limitless ‘pop up’ opportunities to promote your plants through podium displays

• Main stage presentations on plant retailing and trends

Still not sure? Let Will Blake from St Peter’s Garden Centre offer some more wise words. He said of Green Heart: “With plants being at the very core of the garden centre industry, it is incredibly important that they are showcased and centre at our biggest horticultural trade event of the year!”

Find out more

Glee is the UK’s leading garden retail show, focusing on building year-round profits for buyers and suppliers within the core gardening and outdoor leisure product categories. To keep up to date on the latest Glee news visit www.gleebirmingham. com. To enquire about exhibiting at Glee 2023, including within the Green Heart, please call +44 (0)203 3545 9752.