Reflections from Glee

Plentyofinspiration, ideas, innovative products, positive enquiries and reports of new customer leads. That was Glee 2023.

Gleemight be overfor another year,but thebusinessand relationships built during the three- dayevent will hopefullylastfor many years to come.The Junedateisstillproving atalkingpoint for some especiallyifgardencentres arestill busy with customers, butfor themajority of visitors andexhibitors,buyingand restocking whilethe summer season is stillfresh in thememory proved to be worthwhile.

Letting newtalent shine

Brimming with merchandising ideas for visitors to tryintheir ownstoreswas thepairofTalent StoredisplaysinThe Atrium createdbytwo teamsselectedfroma workshopheld earlier in the year.Organised by Gleewiththe Garden

Centre Association,itwas KatherineDavies, Pughs Garden Centre Wenvoe;Amber Dowsettand Freya Markwood from PerrywoodGarden CentreTiptree andSudbury;Nathan Evans, BentsGarden& Home; Louisa Powerand Damian Walker from theBGC’s in Ongar andHarrogate,that took home thetop prize. Their ‘bughotel’concept using outdoorplants presenteddisplays which were sustainable and easy to recreate in anygardencentre.

“The Talent Storeshould be an intrinsicpartof theevent becauseit’sabout nurturingtalent, giving themthat opportunitytoshine away from their stores. Youcan see howproud each team member was andafter deliveringsomething live at Gleethey cantakewhat theyhavelearntbacktotheirstores,” said Matthew Mein, Glee EventDirector.

Above:This year’s crop of Rising Starsgatheredtogether, forthe first time, on the Westland Unwins stand forameet-and-greet as partoftheir journeytocome up with sustainable ideas for generating foot fall and driving sales in garden centres.

Below: Woodmansterne presented the GreenfingersCharity acheque for£11,000 following afundraising campaign which included sales of aspecial range of Greenfingersgreetingcards. It waspresented by Seth Woodmansterne to Linda Petrons who said the donation would makeahuge difference.

Matthewlooks back on Glee 2023

“It’sbeen an absolutely jampackedthree dayswith so much goingon,”says Matthew Mein, Glee Events Director.“We’vehad over 400 exhibitors which includes 25 to 30 additional exhibitors of which183 were newtoGlee. This meant therewas more for buyers to seeinterms of newness.Imet buyers that were here for three solid days walkingthe aisles because therewas so much to get through.”

Other highights for Matthewwerethe Talent Store which along with FireGrill andChill helped createa ‘festival’ atmosphereinand around The Atrium andthe NewProduct Showcase. “But it’snot just about the new products, therewerethousands of newideas herethat visitors couldtakeback to their stores to help sell more product to their customers.”

Above:The Best Glee Green HeartDisplay waswon by Hills Plants, Chichester,for its appealing and inspirational displayoffoliage houseplants with pops of colour from flowering plants. Judge Andy Bunker from Alton Garden Centre(left) said it had something for everyone. In agarden centreitwould certainlyinspireimpulse purchases especially when supportedbyinformativepoint of sale.

“We’re over the moon to have won this award,”saidLaura Marner “Our displayisall about creating the dream vision forhouseplant lovers.Wehopewe’ve inspired afew to give it ago!” www.gleebirmingham.com/connect

Next year’s Glee, which celebrates its 50th anniversary, runs from 25-27 June. One of the biggest developments is the introduction of the free, networking initiativeConnect @Glee, an industryconnections programme changing how the garden and outdoor living retail community do business. It’sdesigned to help buyers find the right products and brands their customers will love,and for exhibitors to efficiently and effectively create leads, orders and opportunities.

The platform enables suppliers and buyers to requestmeetings, which aredouble opt-in, meaning buyers get to meet exhibitors who have the products theywant, and exhibitors get to meet buyers they’re interested in.All Connect @Glee meetings arescheduled basedonmutual availability between both parties, with meetings taking placeon the exhibitor’s stand. Onceregisteredtoattend Glee 2024,the show organiser will be in touchwith details on howtotakepart.