GTN July 2022 - Garden Trade News UK

J U LY 2 JULY 2022 022

gardentradenews.co.uk

Advice & information for garden centre professionals

Bring on Summer!

Solex returns LIVE at the NEC

12

pages of SOLEX Exhibitor News

SOLEX

2022

PREVIEW

ISSUE

TRENDS FROM SPOGA+GAFA | NEW DATES FOR SOLEX 2023

SOLEX preview

Welcome to SOLEX 22

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23/06/2022 18:47:55

Your chan ce to win one of fou Fortnum & r Masons’ H ampers Re

Over three days in July, the Summer Outdoor Living Exhibition staged at the NEC, Birmingham will have everything you need to help your customers get summer ready next year.

giissttte er ffo or SOLEX

Scan this QR Code to vis Registratio it the SOLE n page on solexexhibit X 2023 By registe ion.com ring early for 2023 you chance to will be in wit win one of ha fou hampers for r Fortnum & Mason ’s Christmas.

The draw will take pla ce 12th No vember 202 2.

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rom luxury dining sets to subtle lighting, exhibitors at SOLEX will be displaying the newest and most stylish lines in the hottest on-trend colours. Live demonstrations in the Loving Outdoor Living Zone is the place for ideas and inspiration to boost barbecue and outdoor cooking sales.

Terms & Cond

itions

The prize draw is open companies ), their imm to all UK residents aged 18 or promotion ediate famil . over, ies or anyo ne profession excluding employee s of the prom ally connected four prizes oter with the to be given creation and (and any associated away in a More info administr free draw on the prize ation of the to take place and due to dem on 12th Nove and the ham its contents can be mber 2022 found at fortn per comp . onents may umandmason To be eligib be subject le for the draw .com/theto subs taste you must titution.

-of-fortnum have regis In receiving s-hamper. tered for solex Please note the prize you 2023 name in any by 31st Octo and all med are agreeing to take ber 2022. part in reaso ia and make nable publ your nam The prom e available oter reserves icity and agre on request the right to e that the to third parti promoter disqualify For a full list es. may publ any entry of the term ish your not made s and Cond in accordan itions pleas ce with these e go to: www terms and .solexexhib conditions ition.com/ . t&c.php There are

2 July 2022

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SOLEX preview

SOLEX 22 NEC Birmingham. Halls 17,18 &19.

Pre-register to be in with a chance to win one of five outdoor living products. eventdata.uk/Visitor/Solex2022.aspx Opening hours: Tuesday 12 and Wednesday 13 July 9am-5.30pm Thursday 14 July 9am-3pm

Solex exhibitor list 4 Seasons Outdoor UK Ltd 420 A-Mir & Co Ltd 340 AEL Outdoor Solutions (GLATZ) 210 Alexander Rose Ltd 430 & 435 Alfresco Brands 180 Ascalon Design Ltd 520 BBQ Gourmet 170 Barlow Tyrie 235 Beef Eater 255 Bramblecrest 370 Broil King 470 Celtic Spas 395 Char-Broil 475 Crop Candle – El Fuego 195 Daro (Trading) Ltd 440 Devine Distribution Ltd 390

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Extreme Lounging Firepits UK Firmans Gardeco Garden Furniture Global Ltd Garden Impressions Ginique Glencrest Glendale Garden and Leisure HEX Living Hartman Innovators International Kaemingk Kamado Joe Kettler(GB) Limited LANDMANN Ltd

250 120 350 290 230 575 160 320 480 500 550 490 560 165 565 485

Leisuregrow Products Ltd 400 & 410 Lifestyle Appliances 240 Lifestyle Garden @ ScanCom 140 LOFA 285 Mambo Outdoor Living at Kettle Interiors 585 Mercer Agencies Ltd 310 Minster Stylish Living Ltd 190 Norfolk Leisure 555 Pacific 360 Pagoda (Munro Importers) 530 Pit Boss and Louisiana Grills by Dansons Europe 270 Premier Decorations Limited 465 ProQ Barbecues & Smokers 280 Que Fresco Ltd 130

Quest Leisure Products Ltd 300 RotaSpa 175 Supremo Leisure Ltd 380 TOBS (The Old Basket Supply Ltd) 580 Tom Chambers 545 Tower 570 Traeger Grills 265 Tramontina United Kingdom Ltd 450 Tripod Home Ltd 260 Universal Innovations – Sahara 460 Waspinator Ltd 185 Woodlodge Products Ltd 540 Zest4Leisure 220

July 2022 3

SOLEX preview

New date and look for SOLEX 2023 We are pleased to announce that SOLEX is expanding and in 2023 will take place on 16-18 May. These new dates sit comfortably within the new buying calendar set by manufacturers in the Far East and will allow SOLEX exhibitors and visitors to place their orders in plenty of time for the 2024 spring/summer season.

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he last two years have seen a seismic shift within our industry, and the way we do business has been totally changed.

Far East manufacturers have put increased pressure on the outdoor leisure industry to move the ordering process to mid spring, a full two months earlier than in previous years, so to accommodate this we have moved the dateline for SOLEX forward. We have worked closely with the NEC, Birmingham over the past year to fit this new timeline into what we know is a busy exhibition period.

New look and expansion for SOLEX 2023 SOLEX was set up for LOFA members to showcase their best-selling ranges and newest collections to industry buyers, it is the perfect place to enable them to meet the quality buyers that SOLEX attracts. We feel it is now the right time to open our exhibition up to a wider outdoor leisure

audience, and that is why from 2023 onwards SOLEX will be split into three specific areas.

Summer garden zone

This section is for those companies that do not meet the LOFA criteria but want LOFA members zone to be part of the Summer Outdoor Living Filled with an inspirational group of companies Exhibition. However, the standards LOFA all focused on the outdoor living industry, upholds will still need to be met by these our LOFA members offer the most companies in this zone. All their unique outdoor entertaining products will have to meet idea from BBQs, furniture, fire current UK regulations so pits, spas, shading, lighting, we can be sure they are If you are interested chimeneas and a wide range supplying good quality in exhibiting at SOLEX 2023, the only exhibition of accessories. All adhering and safe products to the organised by the industry to the LOFA Code of Practice, industry. for the industry, contact this group of companies are This is a very exciting time gina@lofa.com the best brands within the for SOLEX. The new format outdoor living sector. means we can grow and develop the show and encourage more innovation, New enterprise zone new companies and fresh ideas and we are Open to new start-ups and businesses enabling looking forward to forging new relationships them to get onto the industry ladder and help with a wider section of the industry over the them on their way to becoming LOFA Members. coming years.

The Summer Outdoor Living Exhibition attracts quality buyers and visitors from multiple and independent garden centres, high street and department stores, online retailers, DIY stores and other industry professionals. This relaxed and friendly exhibition is a great place to do business, so, whether you are a visitor or exhibitor, SOLEX has everything you could possibly want or need. It is the perfect place to see new products, discuss new ideas and increase brand awareness.

4 July 2022

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OUTDOOR COOKING PERFECTED VISIT US AT SOLEX, HALL 17, STAND NUMBER 265

THE ALL NEW TIMBERLINE

Planting for Pollinators eco-friendly products from G Plants Easy gardening solutions with pollen-rich flower varieties to help entice and protect pollinators and other garden wildlife.

All packaging is recyclable.

Designed and packed in the UK.

STOCK UP ON BEES® SEEDS & BEE FRIENDS® BEST SELLERS NOW & PAY NEXT YEAR !!!

G Plants along with the support from our merchandising team will re-fill all video stands with stock, and delay payment so that sales continue throughout the winter as they make great Christmas gifts & stocking fillers!

Video units help to promote product and increase sales!

From the 1st September until 30th November 2022 all stock* delivered will have the invoicing delayed until January 2023.

Have product in stock and selling through for up to 6 months before having to pay!

For further details or to place an order, please contact your direct sales person or email:

sales@gplants.com *Minimum re-stock order is 10 cases or £200 net of VAT and included are Bee Friends® Seed Shakers, Seed Bombs and BEES® Seed Mat.

Comment

Bring on summer, please!

A

s the longest day of 2022 passes, we are still waiting for a prolonged spell of warm weather to spend consecutive days of leisure time out in the garden.

At the start of the year many predicted that the weather would once again be the main factor effecting sales in 2022 and while it doesn’t seem to have hit gardening activity so far it would appear to be one of the issues contributing to slower than hoped for garden leisure sales.

A welcome spell of proper summer weather, soon please, will tell us if it is just the weather holding sales back or whether the economic situation is dampening sales after two fantastic years.

Whatever the outcome, one thing is key: New will be all important for 2023 and beyond. We’ve heard this year the newer aluminium framed

furniture has sold through well at retail and at spoga+gafa there wasn’t a set of weave furniture to be seen.

We know the COVID lockdowns increased the number of gardeners in the UK and reduced the average age of gardening customers.

The key now is understanding how outdoor leisure fashions are changing as a result and what better place to find out how the outdoor leisure manufacturers and suppliers are meeting that demand than at SOLEX 2022.

After two years of virtual SOLEX the GTN team are really looking forward to being back at the NEC for SOLEX 2022 and meeting everyone during the three days, 12th – 14th July. Look out for the SOLEX SUN e-mail newsletter over the coming days and LIVE from the show.

See you there!

EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING Garden Trade News Potting Shed Press Ltd Dairy Drove Thorney Peterborough PE6 0TX Tel 01733 775700 www.gardentradenews.co.uk THE GTN TEAM Editor Trevor Pfeiffer trevor@pottingshedpress.co.uk Advertising Sales Alan Burdon Alan@pottingshedpress.co.uk Associate Editor Mike Wyatt mike@pottingshedpress.co.uk Digital Editor Neil Pope neil@pottingshedpress.co.uk Features Editor Anisa Gress anisa@pottinghsedpress.co.uk Subscriptions Karen Pfeiffer karen@pottingshedpress.co.uk Design & Production AT Graphics Ltd www.atgraphicsuk.com Kirsty Craner – Design Alun Jones – Production Manager Robert Tipping – Managing Director James Tipping – Technical Director Printing CG Print Ltd Do you qualify for a copy of GTN?

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Potting Shed Press Ltd

2

Welcome to SOLEX 2022

Advertisers in this Issue

4

New date and new look for SOLEX 2023

5

8

It’s all about the plants at the HTA National Plant Show

10

Boosting sales at Gardeners World Live

12 15

Traeger

6

G Plants

11

STV

14

Vitax

Alfresco dining with Glencrest

21

Norfolk Leisure

SOLEX 2022 Exhibitor News

23

Zest

25

PATS Telford

26

Four Oaks Trade Show

27

Fordingbridge

24

Innovations from Sipcam

25

Trends from spoga+gafa

28

LOFA Column – An exhibition organisers diary

31

Lava Lite

30

HTA Column – Words fail Boyd!

32

SOLEX 2023

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Garden Trade News is published by Potting Shed Press Ltd who also publish: GTN Bestsellers, GTN Xtra, Glee Daily News and the Glee Catalogue, and the Solex Sun. Potting Shed Press also supply Garden Radio to over 100 garden centres across the country.

Director Trevor Pfeiffer

SMALL PRINT: All material © Potting Shed Press Ltd 2022. No part of this publication may e reproduced in any form whatsoever, either for sale or not, without the express permission of the publishers.

The information supplied in this publication is published in good faith and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. Potting Shed Press Ltd cannot accept responsibility for any error or misrepresentation. All liability for loss, disappointment, negligence or other damage caused by reliance on information contained in this publication or in the vent of any bankruptcy or liquidation or cassation of the trade of any company, individual or firm mentioned, is hereby excluded.

July 2022 7

HTA National Plant Show

© STEVER BURDON PHOTOGRAPHY

Brisk business at the HTA National Plant Show

It’s all about the plants At the HTA National Plant Show in June visitors were treated to a rich selection of introductions to fire up interest in plantaria and houseplant areas.

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t was heartening to see an impressive number, more than 137, of new introductions at the HTA National Plant Show in June illustrating the health and vigour of the plant market. Many of the cultivars won’t be ready for stocking until next spring and summer but at the show retailers were placing reserve orders, and nurseries and growers reported steady business with positive responses to their new catalogues and stock lists.

The demand for houseplants continues with suppliers reporting that decorative foliage is the way forward. This held out in the new plant awards with the number of entries in the houseplant category showing the highest increase.

The HTA’s New Plant Awards are a useful barometer of plants likely to appear in the media and be in demand by customers, and this year the Best in Show was Impatiens walleriana ‘Glimmer Appleblossom’.

Exhibited by Ball Colegrave, Reading, it is one of seven colours in a new series of double

8 July 2022

flowering busy lizzies which importantly boast high resistance to impatiens downy mildew. The company’s Gareth Powell says it is now working on ideas and ways of merchandising with point of sale so retailers can easily communicate to customers why ‘Glimmer Appleblossom’ and the other colours in the series work well in all garden situations. “It’s a great consumer product,” says Gareth, “with a good habit, fresh coloured flowers and leaves and we will be promoting it in 2023”. The judges said they were all looking forward to welcoming impatiens back into the garden after a significant time not being able to grow them.

Visitors reflected this sentiment by making it their favourite in the Visitors Vote.

happy to grow in sun or part shade and tough during times of heat and drought. It was entered into the competition by Newey Perennial Plugs and Liners, West Sussex.

Darren Selvery from Newey, said interest in the geranium was high as it was also for Salvia ‘Pink Amistad’ introduced in May at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Annual and perennial winners Getting the most marks in the herbaceous perennial category was Geranium ‘Kelly Anne’ touted as a pink ‘Rozanne’. Large, pink-veined flowers appear from late spring to the first frost. It’s a great all-rounder,

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HTA National Plant Show “All remaining stock of the saliva has now gone”, he says, “and we are taking forward orders for next year in significant numbers.

We are expecting big sales in 2023.”

Family owned Allensmore Nurseries, Hereford, is celebrating its 50th anniversary supplying garden plants and among the party balloons and bunting was a dahlia with real flower power. Vigorous Dahlia x hybrida ‘Cabaret’ won a Gold medal in the awards and held its rich, velvety claret-coloured blooms on strong, straight stems. It’s one of four in this series, although it’s by far the most robust and eye-catching. The nursery’s Tracey Rowley says it’s a definite one to sell in a 3L pot, if not bigger.

Trees and shrubs In the Shrub & Climbers category, it was a physocarpus providing three seasons of garden interest with colour changing foliage that was the winner. Grown by Wyevale Nurseries, Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Magic Ball’ has new shoots of bright orange in spring, which turn yellow, through to orange during summer and finally bright red in autumn. Pink flowers in summer add to the display on this easy to grow, compact, ball shaped plant.

Wyevale Nurseries also got a Gold medal for an extremely compact and relatively thornless Rosa ‘Cutie Pie’. Pink edged flowers are produced en-masse making it perfect for a container or front of a border.

Frank P Matthews, Worcestershire always dominates the Trees & Conifers category and this year was no different. Its new crab apple, Malus ‘Halloween’, was the winner and is aptly named as its yellow-orange fruits with a ribbed appearance and short stalks make them look like tiny pumpkins. Displayed with squashes and other pumpkins it’s going to be a real hit in October. For spring sales its semi-double pinky/ white flowers are a draw as most crab apples only have single flowers. Director Stephanie James says it’s been an incredible few years for tree sales. “We could have sold double the number of trees and have been encouraged by how well the Plant a Tree for the Jubilee campaign has gone.”

Trees on a M106 rootstock are being shipped this autumn and Stephanie hopes in the future trees will be available on shorter M27 rootstocks.

Winning plants at this year’s show included Geranium ‘Kelly Anne’, Dahlia ‘Cabaret’, Physocarpus ‘Magic Ball’ and Rosa ‘Cutie Pie

of Instagram when it comes to promoting houseplants and to keep a look out for new cultivars including variegated African violets which are being bred in Holland. It’s new Alocaisa ‘Silver Dragon’ won the Housplant category, singled out for its unusual metallic looking and architectural foliage in silver grey combined with a good shelf life in the retail setting

Malus ‘Halloween’ and the new ‘Silver Dragon’ alocasia alongside one of Javado’s clever ways to display houseplants

Plants for the home According to Michel Heemskerk from Javado, foliage plants with interesting patterns, shapes and colours and displaying them in ‘rooms’ so customers get an idea of how they might look in a bathroom, for example, is helping sales. He also said retailers shouldn’t underestimate the power

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July 2022 9

BBC Gardeners’ World Live review

Boosting sales the Seabrook way A busy gardening show and launch for new foundation name.

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he warmest temperature so far this year didn’t deter visitors and if sales at BBC Gardeners’ World Live in June were anything to go by, gardeners are very much in the buying mood. Sales of Verbena ‘Margaret’s Memory’ were reported to be particularly strong. The show was also a platform for designers and nurseries to show off their creative skills and talents and to display new cultivars in the Show Gardens, Beautiful Borders and Floral Marquee.

Winning the highest Platinum award was the Peter Seabrook tribute created by Neil Gow and a team of volunteers supported by the David Colegrave Foundation. The garden was inspired by 100 years of the BBC and celebrated Peter’s 60 years of broadcasting and writing. To recognise just how much Peter championed new plants, the display was also host to around 40 pots of new plants from colour summer bedding to shrubs brought along by many breeders and growers including Bransford Webbs, Hilliers, MNP Flowers, and Ray Evison Clematis, New Leaf Plants, Whetmans, Ball Horticulture, Volmary, Whartons Roses, Frank P Matthews.

Of those were two named for Peter, a new lavender sweet pea, stems of which were presented to Mary Berry by Adam Frost, and a climbing yellow rose with deep golden eye bred

by Whartons. Some of the other plants were so new they are yet to be named.

Colourful Streptocarpus and begonia from Dibleys Nurseries on the Dr Who inspired display.

Seeds of sweet pea ‘Peter Seabrook’, from Sow Successful, will be available to buy early autumn for September and October planting and £1.00 from every packet will be donated to the Floral Fantasia at RHS Hyde Hall, Essex, which was originally created and maintained

by Peter Seabrook. For 2022, 10,000 packets will be available, increasing in 2023.

Alison Seabrook Moore and Peter’s grandson Tom Moore celebrate the renaming of The Colegrave Seabrook Foundation.

Westland CEO, Edward Conroy, took time out from his annual sales conference to celebrate Peter Seabrook’s contribution to the industry.

Lily ‘Dianthe’ a pollen-free cultivar

10 July 2022

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ENJOY

FLY-FREE SUMMER BBQS

STOCK THE BEST SELLERS

Outdoor Insect Contrro ol Day & Night

www.stvuk.com

Promotion

From casual lounging to all year alfresco dining Elegant and contemporary designs enhance Glencrest’s furniture collection and make outdoor living and everyday occasion.

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lencrest’s new Ashbury collection is designed for maximum comfort without compromising on style. Generously deep upholstered cushions carefully engineered to enhance comfort, are coupled with sturdy streamline aluminium frames to create casual elegance and durability. The first introductions include a versatile Large Corner Sofa Set with adjustable lounge seating options, easy adjustable hi/low firepit table settings and guest footstools.

Ashbury’s co-ordinating furniture options provide a beautiful cohesive outdoor living area and optimise the home and garden environments. With supreme comfort and flexibility, the Sun Lounger, Bistro, Sofa and Creative Cube Sets plus adjustable height dining and cleverly designed fire pit table sets make every outdoor living and everyday occasion.

Glencrest expands and enhances its increasingly popular Chatsworth range Katie Blake, Glencrest’s own brand, now offers 10 new lines as part of the Chatsworth Collection, a simple yet sophisticated range to inspire gatherings of all kinds.

Exclusive Platinum additions have been designed for all season dining and outdoor gatherings. Lounge, dining, fire pits, fire pit tables and corner sets share elegant, lightweight frames, mixed with durable rattan weave with sofa backs that add a sculptural curve element.

12 July 2022

Glencrest’s versatile Ashbury (top) and Chatsworth collections offer options for dining with friends or enjoying a quite evening.

The sleek new Platinum chair draws people in, surprising users with its delightfully light-weight frame.

Its 7mm stone flat weave crafted over dark aluminium frames and cushions are paired in sophisticated colour combinations allowing customers to create their own signature outdoor space.

The Chatsworth Platinum versatile range brings a host of other modern design possibilities including fixed or extending tables as standard or complimented with a fire pit. Table styles combine durable aluminium frames with tempered or woven glass tops in clean-cut, delicate lines.

Fire pit tables continue to prove a popular and an essential option for an inspirational outdoor atmosphere.

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Promotion

Glencrest launches new client trade website

Katie Blake’s new Everyday Basics furniture As a family-run business, Glencrest understands the pressures families are facing right now we are always on the lookout for innovative products to improve home and outdoor lifestyles that continue to offer great value for money and meet customers’ expectations. As always, quality remains our top priority. This is why Glencrest is super-excited to launch Katie Blake’s new Everyday Basics ready-to-assemble furniture range. It features: • Durable weather resistant rattan weave.

• Tempered safety glass on tables.

• Powder coated steel frames.

• Cushions confirming to British Standard 5852 fire and safety with 5cm thick cushioning and rot free 100% polyester finish. Cover fabric is zipped and machine washable.

Glencrest’s Chatsworth and Ashbury ranges (above and below).

At Solex and as part of a new technological shift, Glencrest is introducing a new trade website and client portal. One of the main advantages of the new trade site is that it ensures Glencrest customers have accurate pricing and up-to-date inventory information. This improvement is made possible thanks to its integration with the company’s internal stock system. The online catalogue is now the exact reflection of the internal management system. Glencrest customers will have a secured access to their existing accounts at all times and a host of other functionalities.

“Since 1981, Glencrest’s mission has been to establish excellent bonds of trust with its customers and suppliers,” says Jack Whiteley, Glencrest Chairman and CEO. “And that’s just the beginning. We intend to use this tool as a springboard to other functionalities that will improve trading efficiency and make our communications even more effective.”

We would be delighted to show you our range at Solex.

Hall 19 stand 320. www.glencrestseatex.co.uk

Katie Blakes new Everyday Basics collection.

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July 2022 13

SOLEX exhibitor news

Making the most of the great outdoors With new products and fresh ideas, exhibitors at SOLEX are geared up to help you and your customers capitalize on outdoor living.

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or the latest in all things to make precious time spent outside comfortable, fun and relaxing, you need to be at SOLEX, taking place at NEC Birmingham this month. As with all trade events, everyone is looking forward to returning to a physical show where you can meet and talk to the teams face-to-face and see, touch and appreciate all the products for real. But it’s not all about what’s new

and exciting. The sustainability message is being broadcast loud and clear with companies working hard throughout the whole supply chain, from sourcing through to manufacturing and packaging. They are keen to tell you how they are progressing on their journeys to meet targets and gain certification…and these stories can be great sales pitches to pass onto your customers as they make their buying decisions.

Don’t let wasps spoil fun in the garden

Waspinator is an easy impulse purchase decision for customers looking at garden leisure equipment. It’s not pest control, it’s an outdoor living enhancement that stops wasps spoiling enjoyment of the garden. On sale in the UK, Europe and US for more than 14 years Waspinator repellent effortlessly gets rid of wasps without chemicals or harming them. You just hang it up and they fly away. It’s a tried and tested method with ancient origins.

Waspinator is supplied in a small footprint, big impact, free standing display unit with a low cost cassette replenishment system.

Stand 185

Cooking demo and new ranges at Bramblecrest

Focusing on new lines and concepts, Bramblecrest will be introducing new ranges and extensions for 2023, adding to its contemporary synthetic rope and aluminium collections, and traditional rattan ranges. New introductions include Amsterdam, Vienna and Zurich.

Amsterdam is a modern, aluminium range featuring an anthracite frame and Eco cushions. With its signature broad arm rests, this range includes casual dining and firepit options.

Vienna offers a highly contemporary

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‘floating’ design. Stylish and practical Eco cushions sit on a broad aluminium base. The base features a light oak ‘wood-effect’ heat transfer on the distinctive aluminium slats.

Zurich has a distinctive angular design which offers enhanced comfort. Tree-free arm rests and table tops are an attractive feature and give added texture to the range. This low-maintenance range also features piston casual dining tables which enables the table height to be adjusted by just one person.

Bramblecrest’s stylish Vilamoura collection will continue to offer modular coffee table sets and

Light up your outside lounging

Extreme Lounging brings style and comfort to the outdoor lifestyle with products that are British through and through. Recent additions include the B-Hammock, B-Bed, made with double stitching, carefully considered comfort fillings, and proper weatherproofing as well as the B-Bulb, an elegant, iconic and efficient light for use indoors or outside. UV resistant and weatherproof it can be charged with a USB making it highly portable and is now joined by B-Bulb Connect Festoon. As its product range continues to grow, Extreme Lounging is creating an iconic choice for those who love life outdoors.

Stand 250

the popular La Rochelle range will expand from bar table sets, sun loungers and reclining sofa sets to also offer dining options. Likewise, after a successful introduction, the Mauritius range will extend into offering dining table sets too.

Stand 370

July 2022 15

SOLEX exhibitor news

The future of eco fire pits

The revolutionary El Fuego from The Crop Candle Company is a green alternative to conventional fire pits which, around the world, release thousands of tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere. It burns 100% ecofriendly vegetable wax which along with heat, produces a large, hypnotic and therapeutic flame. The smokeless El Fuego emits only 1.4kg CO2 p/hr, unlike most conventional wood and gas fire pits that produce up to 15kg CO2 p/hr. This also makes the El Fuego a popular choice in small gardens, lodges and parks where smoke pollution can be a nuisance to close neighbours.

El Fuego allows you to enjoy being in the garden well into the evening. Its large flame requires no maintenance. It’s easy to light in minutes and put out in seconds. El Fuego is

sold with eight hours of fuel included. The patent protected El Fuego is a great asset to any garden and those who enjoy outdoor living wanting to do their part for the environment.

Stand 195

Turning up the heat

Alongside new steel Sirius and Stella fire pits Gardeco is also introducing an extended selection of Mexican chineneas and a range of 100% natural-material woven furniture featuring seating and table sets as well as individual pieces, all with a highly decorative finish and style.

Post-pandemic, Gardeco is committed to lower prices wherever possible for the benefit of our customers and is also pleased to announce it has found suitable solutions to the problems caused by the pandemic to sourcing and transport Stand 290

Sizzling new Tower barbecues

Tower is bringing its recently expanded outdoor living range to SOLEX allowing visitors to check out its latest selection of barbecues, outdoor heaters, tools and accessories including the new Kamado Charcoal barbeques and Magna Gas Fire Pits.

Tower’s latest charcoal barbecues – the Kamado XL and Kamado Maxi – are perfect for grilling delicious foods with an authentic chargrilled taste. Designed in a contemporary egg shape with an embossed finish, they look as stylish as they are functional for grilling,

smoking, baking and searing. The ceramic body with powder coated steel frame delivers fantastic heat retention for outdoor grilling.

Making it easier to barbecue anywhere, Tower has developed the Tourer Two Burner Gas BBQ, a state-of-the-art portable Barbecue for grilling delicious foods in the garden or on the go. With a collapsible design and folding side shelf, it can be easily stored and effortlessly transported in the boot of a car.

Stand 570 SUPE RIOR PERF ORM ANCE

Built in barbecues that are out of this world

From Broil King, the ‘built-in’ barbecue range offers superior quality, design and versatility with a contemporary look. Exceptional grilling performance that you’ll only find on a Broil King, with dual flame burners, heavy-duty cast iron cooking grids and a cast- aluminium cook box. It’s your grilling space, so go ahead and use it to the fullest. Transform your barbecue into the ultimate entertaining appliance.

Stand 470

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SOLEX exhibitor news

Spanish tradition inspires new range

Katherine Wheel is new to the barbecue collection from FirepitsUK, offering flexible barbecuing and excellent control when cooking outside. Inspired by traditional Spanish outdoor cooking and grilling, it has a unique wheel mechanism to raise and lower the grill plate. Designed to sit on a table or heat resistant work top, this is the vanguard

for a new outdoor cooking tradition.

FirepitsUK designs and manufacturers more than 40 different designs of fire pits, chimineas, outdoor kitchens and pizza ovens. All made from British steel and made to order in its UK workshop, FirepitsUK produces high quality, robust designs with many unique features for both warmth and cooking outdoors.

Stand 120

Garden bar is Zest’s new party piece

Outdoor living expert, Zest, is launching a new on-trend bar, dining set and garden pizza oven table. Its new space-saving Garden Bar is a perfect, innovatively versatile party piece. Storage doors open to make a base for a fold down counter, while the hinged doors on the side panel contain fully fitted drinks cabinet shelving. The main storage space contains two stools for guests.

The contemporary-style Freya seating and dining range incorporates alternate width wooden slats spaced to make a comfortable ergonomic seating shape with generous arm rests and room for a glass. The high back improves support and gives real presence. Part of Zest’s Easy Build range, the Freya dining set is designed with fewer components for simple assembly and comes with a choice of furniture combinations to suit any size space.

The new Garden Pizza Oven Table has been designed with 365-degree access for fuelling the oven, cooking and serving. The central tabletop holds the pizza oven with fold up sides for preparation and serving and two shelves hold drinks and refreshments.

All products are made from FSC®- C114990, sustainable slow grown softwood from responsibly managed forests and are pressure treated with a 10-year guarantee against rot.

Stand 220

Timberline grills from Traeger perfect outdoor cooking

Traeger, the innovator and category leader in wood-pellet grills, has perfected the outdoor cooking experience with the introduction of the all-new Timberline grill and the Timberline XL. Both will be exclusively previewed at SOLEX. The ultimate combination of consistency, convenience and versatility, Traeger’s new Timberline redefines what a grill can do, pushing the limits of cooking outdoors, while bringing people together to create memorable meals.

Originally launched in 2017, the Timberline revolutionised the grilling

Norfolk Grills videos promote delicious cooking

Norfolk based Michelin Star chef joins Norfolk Grills to inspire folks around the nation to cook something delicious on their Norfolk Grill barbecue. From rib eye steak to an all-in-one fish stew, Galton Blackiston cooks a variety of dishes and sides all using the Norfolk Grills range. Set in the beautiful north Norfolk countryside a full series of You Tube

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

industry by pioneering a digitally connected cooking platform with the introduction of WiFIRE® and an industry-first Direct Drive motor for variable fan and auger control.

Traeger’s new Timberline represents the future of outdoor cooking with more stateof-the-art features that will be integrated into forthcoming grill models.

Also bringing a touch of Traeger magic from the US this year, is the phenomenal Diva Q - Traeger chef and world champion pit-master. She is running a series of Masterclasses each day, showcasing the versatility and simplicity of cooking with a Traeger. Visitors are welcome to get involved with a masterclass, or simply watch.

Stand 265

recipe videos is being released weekly.

Head to norfolkgrills.com to watch the series so far, as well as see the full recipes plus Galton’s best tips and tricks.

Stand 555

July 2022 17

SOLEX exhibitor news

Ginique brings a touch of drama to the garden

Glencrest expands and enhances its Chatsworth range

Katie Blake now offers 10 new product lines as part of the Chatsworth Collection including the exclusive Platinum additions designed for all season dining and outdoor gatherings.

Lounge, dinging, fire pits, fire pit tables and corner sets, share elegant, light-weight frames, durable 7mm stone flat rattan weave, sculptural curved sofa backs and a new Platinum chair design. The dark aluminium frames and cushions paired with sophisticated, yet subtle weave colour combinations are beautifully versatile and create a very relaxed feel.

As part of these latest additions Glencrest is also introducing a new woven-glass surface, enhancing the Chatsworth Collection and giving customers a greater depth of choice.

Fixed or extending, standard and complimented with a fire pit, Glencrest’s table styles combine durable aluminium frames with tempered or woven glass tops in clean-cut, delicate lines. Chatsworth fire pit tables continue to prove a popular and essential option for an inspirational outdoor atmosphere.

Stand 320

18 July 2022

The Glowbus® Dewdrop is a statement piece offering pure outdoor luxury in any garden thanks to its timeless design and blend of simplicity. The Dewdrop is made from sustainable Corten steel and comes in three sizes. The medium and large is now available with a new EcoSmart Fire bioethanol burner which produces a beautiful big flame that is CO2

neutral, sustainable and completely odourless and smokeless. This carbon neutral fuel source is ideal for the environment making the Corten steel fire sculpture a showstopper during the day and a source of warmth and cosiness in the evening. The Dewdrop will be lit and displayed in the Loving Outdoor Living Zone alongside SPIN, Ginique’s bioethanol outdoor table lamp.

Stand 160

Char-Broil’s high performance grill of the future

2023 is going to be hot as Char-Broil takes electric barbequing to a whole new level. Its E-Novation off offers ers the grilling power of charcoal and gas grills without the stress. Temperatures up to 370°C can be infinitely infinitely and precisely regulated made possible by the innovative, digital control panel which, combined with Char-Broil’s patented TRU-Infrared™ cooking technology, ensures even heat and keeps meat juicy. In addition, the electric grill of tomorrow will impress with faster heating, environmentally friendly, energy-saving grilling and easy cleaning. The advantages? No gas bottle, no ash, quick and easy to use.

Stand 475

Eastern contemporary luxury

Munro Importers is highly experienced in sourcing garden furniture in China and Vietnam. Having its own offices in Hangzhou for more than 25 years has meant the team knows all the best factories and has good working relationships with them.

Pagoda’s eye-catching ranges offer an inspired combination of materials such as aluminium and steel frames to provide modern outdoor designs with uncompromising quality, durability, comfort and easy-care. If quantities are sufficient, it can ownbrand products in mixed containers with a maximum four products. All shipments are thoroughly checked to international AQL standards and shipped directly from factories to your warehouse.

Stand 530

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

SOLEX exhibitor news

Everything you need for outdoor living

LeisureGrow is launching 2023 collections with new ranges and innovative products from across its subsidiary categories: LG Outdoor, Grillstream, Casa Mia and NOMA. Casa Mia is a pizza oven and outdoor heating range, recognised as a “highly commended” garden leisure product of the year. Casa Mia introduces the first multi-use gas-powered chimineas and bespoke u-shaped gas burner pizza ovens.

For those that love to cook outdoors, the Grillstream range has patented Grillstream grills, the gas/charcoal hybrid cooking system and the Gastro system that continues to revolutionise the barbecue world.

The NOMA garden lighting range brings Illumination to outdoor space with elegant and magical lighting concepts while LG Outdoor offers a choice of dining and lounging sets, modular sets with clever adjustable tables, sunloungers, and a variety of accessories.

Stand 400-410

Re-invent your offering with BBQ Gourmet

Becoming the one-stop-shop for all your customers’ garden needs takes some preparation. BBQ Gourmet helps you get there with its wide collection of barbecue and grilling accessories, including fuels, that make any outdoor cooking experience better. It has all the ingredients needed to create the perfect garden cooking session for your customers—

including rubs, sauces, injections, and brines to whip up delicious meals. To nail the best

flavours, and impress their guests, your customers need the right combination of products, from the marinades that add taste and the sauces to make meat tender, to the grilling hardware that lets everyone practice this magic. With BBQ Gourmet’s product range on your shelves, your customers don’t have to look far when putting together the perfect outdoor feast.

Stand 170

Dansons Europe sets new standards

Outdoor grilling on the go

A game-changer for the world of outdoor cooking, the ProQ Flatdog is a high-spec portable charcoal grill which folds down as thin as a laptop. Transforming from flat to functional with an instant opening mechanism, the Flatdog’s pioneering spacesaving design has been created to make carrying a barbecue effortless.

With a grill surface spacious enough to feed a family, the Flatdog boasts the largest cooking surface of any fold flat portable barbecue, with the efficient airflow design allowing for a premium cooking experience.

Embracing the joys of outdoor living and the full flavour of al fresco cooking, the Flatdog works with all kinds of charcoal and

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briquettes, for a true barbeque taste. Easy to carry, the Flatdog has been made to flatpack for the back of a car, caravan or campervan. Simply flip the ProQ Flatdog into shape and it is ready to light. Once the coals have gone out, the design means the barbecue cools rapidly, ready to be folded flat again in around 10 minutes. Made from high-grade stainless steel for durability and rust resistance, the Flatdog is easy-to-clean and maintain.

An environmentally conscious and safe alternative to single-use barbecues, the ProQ Flatdog has been created as a positive move to reduce the use of destructive ‘disposable’ barbecues.

Stand 280

The Pit Boss® and Louisiana Grills® are two of the hottest barbecue brands setting new standards in quality, innovation and value, and bringing Dansons Europe’s Bigger. Hotter. Heavier™ brand mentality to SOLEX. Check out the Bigger. Hotter.

Heavier™ Pit Boss® Pro Series Wood Fired Pellet Grills, sporting massive builds, bluetooth and WI-FI control and Danson Europe’s unique direct flame seraing technology that instantly transforms your Pit Boss® from a world class barbecue smoker into a high temperature wood fired grill, to char-grill or sear your food at temperatures over 530°c. Can your pellet grill do that?

Stand 270

July 2022 19

SOLEX exhibitor news

Come and join the party

GLATZ is a Swiss family company with more than 125 year’s experience. As its exclusive UK partner, AEL is chosen and trusted by discerning customers as it offers the most comprehensive and innovative choice of parasols on the market. It is currently working with 42 independent and group garden centres, showrooms displaying a range of Glatz parasols.

If you are interested in becoming an approved Glatz retailer in the UK, then please contact us. The products shine with longlasting performance and a host of benefits that can be explained and demonstrated to

consumers. The benefits of becoming a Glatz retailer with AEL include full sales training, POS displays and materials, demonstration models, technical support, and after-sales from staff

with high levels of technical knowledge and experience in the home and garden retail industry with Glatz.

Stand 210

Premier gets smart with its lighting and point of sale

Fiji from Firmans is the latest in maintenance-free, al fresco dining

The new Fiji collection combines cool contemporary styling with sumptuous seating and relaxed casual dining. From integral ice buckets to roaring firepits, the Fiji collection offers an all-yearround haven of tranquillity for your garden. Designed to maximise loadability, the range offers the all-important KD function throughout allowing both style and profitability to harmonise.

Stand 350

Premier Decorations Limited is releasing The Catalogue 2023 bringing the best products for spring and summer together in one publication.

With new packaging concepts for solar, battery operated and low voltage lighting, the Outdoor Living Company is fast becoming the destination brand for smart, alternative lighting in store and online.

As shelf space is precious in store, Premier Decorations has introduced a new range of off-shelf display solutions. Promotional Mini FSDU’s are ideal for enhancing availability on the shop floor and secure add on sales that are so often missed by consumers when associated products are not adjacent to the main displays.

Stand 465

Adjustable innovation

The Innovators International height adjustable extending table combines innovation with a practical twist. This ceramic tile top table is height adjustable allowing it to be raised or lowered to suit the occasion. By simply pressing the easy-to-use lever, the table can be adjusted from a dining table for al fresco dining to a coffee table perfect for relaxing with a drink with friends. Additionally, the centre of the table pulls apart with an easy open mechanism allowing for an extra section to be released creating extra space to accommodate more guests.

This innovative height adjusting extending table is a must have for any outdoor setting for entertaining guests.

Stand 490

20 July 2022

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

SOLEX exhibitor news

Ascalon’s preseason offering

Ascalon Design is looking forward to displaying a significant proportion of its garden furniture and structures, including larger pieces such as its bestselling gazebos and tunnels. This includes a number of new furniture ranges, new colourways on popular lines such as the Avalon, a selection of new seat pad designs, and much more. The show will also mark the launch of its preseason offers for 2023.

Ascalon Design is also looking forward to talking to customers about its work improving supply chains and distribution for the upcoming season, including the completion of its new warehousing facilities so it can hold higher stock levels than ever before to keep up with the increasing demand.

Stand 520

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

New Risha range works indoors and outside

Supremo UK is boasting a new outdoor living collection and a selection of best-selling items. Its stand will be packed with awe-inspiring designs with an emphasis on new items created with comfort and quality in mind featuring the distinctive styling and attention to detail that Supremo is renowned for.

A collection highlight is the Risha wood and rope range in responsibly sourced eucalyptus. With its versatile textiles, the Risha range has the exceptional ability to handle all-weather conditions as well as look the part inside, creating a style that can flow from interior to exterior. Constructed with UV stabilised yarn, woven with more than 10,000 strands with a reinforced core, the rope is extremely durable and comes with a marine grade certification. The double braided cover makes the rope extremely strong but soft to the touch - a perfect match for the solid, natural frames.

Supremo will also have more exciting additions to its aluminium ranges, and will be introducing a full fabric collection and innovative weave sets, which now boast over 200 different designs.

Stand 380

July 2022 21

SOLEX exhibitor news

Style, quality and competitive pricing from Hartman’s Riviera range

Air fryer and barbecue

LANDMANN will be showcasing the first barbecue to feature an airfryer.

The Fryton is an innovation that combines a barbeque with an air fryer that enables more flexibility with cooking more than ever before. The airfryer is the perfect addition barbeque, it allows you to grill, fry and cook outside - perfect for creating tasty sides such as garlic bread, jacket potatoes, cauliflower wings, chicken nuggets, and fries.

It comes comes with all the features you’d expect from LANDMANN, such as the 65 x 40cm Modulus Cooking System cast-iron grill, which helps food stick less, cook faster and distributes heat more evenly. Perfect for groups of six or more people, it also features four 3kW burners with piezo ignition and a 3.0kW stainless-steel adjustable side burner ideal for making smaller side dishes or sauces so you can cook different foods at different temperatures without affecting the main grill.

LANDMANN is also celebrating its partnership with Chef of Foodies, so look out for top chefs at the LANDMANN outdoor area offering tips and delicious barbecue tasters to all who come by.

This follows on from the launch of the LANDMANN and Chefs for Foodies BBQ Food Boxes and the LANDMANN Grill Academy that allows barbecue lovers to get involved in interactive cooking classes to improve their skills.

Stand 485

22 July 2022

Storming into the market and immensely popular with customers who visited the Hartman showroom in June is the Riviera range. It’s a beautiful example of bringing fth room the indoors out, and creating the fi fifth look that is currently dominating social media platforms and trend inspiration.

Riviera is Hartman’s new solution-dyed acrylic fabric off ering and is impressive for offering more than one reason. This adaptable, high design range can be used indoors and thanks to the clever all-weather fabrication it can also be used outdoors where it can be left outside all

year round. The new range also comes with an impressive five-year manufactures warranty, signifying the comfort, design and quality of the product.

The Riviera is also astonishingly competitive, challenging the weave and aluminium markets with attractive and affordable price points which are too good to ignore.

Hartman will be showcasing the Riviera range along with its 2023 collection where you can expect to see the addition of colour, revitalising the shop floor with on-trend interior shades giving interest and a sense of variety to continue to drive consumer demand into the coming season.

Stand 550

Storage and furniture designed with end users in mind

Since bursting onto the outdoor storage and furniture scene in February 2022, the HEX Living family has designed and produced an innovative range of contemporary metal sheds, garden storage solutions and outdoor furniture. HEX Living products are designed and manufactured with the end user in mind and, as a British manufacturer, is uniquely placed in the market to offer retail partners complete flexibility when it comes to stock supply.

HEX Living manufactures and holds large volumes of stock in its Staffordshire factory, so can immediately supply the exact quantity of product when you need it. This eliminates the need for forecasting and the requirement of purchasing minimum quantities to fill a shipping container. Immediate order and delivery mean there is no need to hold large volumes of stock, releasing valuable cash flow and space.

As part of The HEX Group, HEX Living is committed to being carbon neutral by 2037.

Stand 500

The sky is the limit with Glendale’s Venetian Gazebo

Whether entertaining or breakfasting al fresco style, Glendale’s exclusive Venetian Gazebo, with louvered open and shut roof, will help create a cosy atmosphere even when the sun goes down. With a contemporary design, this permanent gazebo with extruded aluminium frame, blades and gutters, will work at home or in a commercial setting. Available freestanding or fixed to a wall, the Venetian Gazebo has downpipes incorporated into the down posts, built in LED lighting, and can be created from a choice of five stylish powder coat colours.

The blades can be operated by remote control and adjusted to any position within the 135

degree range to allow full or partial sunlight, the release heat, capture cool breezes, or close for full protection.

Stand 480

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

SOLEX exhibitor news

Affordable luxury

Mercer Leisure will be showcasing its new 2023 garden furniture and Wonderwal Ranges offering customers luxury products at affordable prices, and its team will be on hand to provide product information and discuss future requirements.

Based in Moira, Northern Ireland, Mercer Leisure has been supplying the garden trade for more than 25 years and has everything for the home and garden. Its extensive range of rattan garden furniture and rattan fire pit sets is bolstered with outdoor heaters,

metal furniture, gazebos, parasols, and WonderWal, a versatile trellis and hedging garden solution to brighten up any outdoor space.

Due to its success Mercer Leisure has been expanding across the UK and now has a dedicated sales team looking after customer’s requirements and a new showroom in Coventry which adds to its existing showrooms within a 30-minute drive of both Northern Ireland's main airports.

Stand 310

Hot tubs to make every garden a staycation destination

RotoSpa has been building high quality hot tubs in Birmingham for 20 years. Increased awareness coupled with understanding the health benefits of hot tubs, has quickly made them one of the “must have” garden products of the 21st century. Why not have a staycation and holiday at home every day of the year? Aware of rising energy costs, RotoSpa has design its hot tubs and insulated them to the highest standards, creating what has become the benchmark for energy efficient hot tubs in the UK. RotoSpa takes the stress out of hot tub retailing with a full delivery package and incentives for both the retailer and customer. It also provides full training, display hot tubs and point-of-sale material to make the display look inviting and informative.

Stand 175

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

July 2022 23

Promotion

Happy plants and a happy planet with Sipcam Home & Garden’s latest ecofective® introductions Launched exclusively at Glee 2022, and scooping one of the highly coveted Glee New Product awards, Sipcam Home & Garden is proud to further introduce two exciting new additions to the leading ecofective® portfolio designed to create happy plants and a happy planet. Introducing all new Organic Superfood and Peat-Free Compost Booster.

Award-winning Organic Superfood Joining the ever-popular ecofective® portfolio of pioneering bio-technology garden care products is the first of Sipcam’s newest innovations. All-new Organic Superfood was selected by a panel of leading industry figures as the winner of the Glee New Product ‘Growing Materials’ award at this year’s edition of the leading garden retail exhibition. Taking inspiration from the nutritional superfood market and the power of superfoods for positively impacting our wellbeing, ecofective® Organic Superfood is designed to make plants thrive by providing a complete package of essential nutrients.

With an NPK of 5-4-3, pelleted Organic Superfood is packed full of natural biostimulants, magnesium and organic matter. Each 800g box will help up to 40 plants, seedlings and potted plants thrive no matter the soil type or external conditions with six actions designed to give plants whatever they need to thrive: 1) Yields are doubled and benefit from bigger, brighter blooms 2) Strengthens against disease attack 3) Supports plants during stressful conditions including heat, drought and over watering 4) Controlled release of nutrients for long lasting support 5) Improved water retention 6) Improved root development

Peat-Free Compost Booster Also boosting the ecofective® portfolio ahead of the 2023 season and further strengthening Sipcam’s commitment to helping gardeners make better choices for their plants and for the planet, is Peat-Free Compost Booster. Created to partner with peat-free compost suppliers, drive up the average basket spend and increase consumer engagement and confidence with peat-free growing media, this carefully balanced compost booster is full of all the To find out more about the essential nutrients plants need to leading product range from Sipcam Home & Garden, visit grow within peat-free compost. It www.sipcamhg.co.uk. includes an NPK of 5-4-3 to enable greater growth and strong plants.

Available in powder form, gardeners can easily mix it into the compost.

24 July 2022

Like the all-new Organic Superfood, Peat-Free Compost Booster will offer six multi-actions for greener, healthier plants which will be labelled more clearly on all packaging to help consumers at the point of sale. With weather-proof packaging, the Sipcam team has created something which can be quickly and easily cross-merchandised alongside existing peat-free compost ranges.

“We are very proud to be playing our part in the protection of our planet and to be creating products that make it easier for gardeners to also make the right choice for both their plants and the environment”, says Nigel Thompson, Head of Sales at Sipcam Home & Garden. Our latest additions are demonstrative of this fact, and we have no doubt they will appeal in the retail setting as the benefi ts benefits for both plants and the planet are clearly communicated.

Of course, the Glee New Product Award win supports this fact. Only days old, Organic SuperFood clearly stood out in the marketplace, with the judges remarking on not only the features and benefits but also the carefully considered packaging that is designed to offer a real point of difference in the retail environment. It’s an exciting time and we thank the judges for their belief in what we have created.”

Like all ecofective® products, all new Organic Superfood and Peat-Free Compost Booster are child and pet safe. Both products are also made using a sustainable process that reduces Sipcam Home & Garden’s carbon footprint while avoiding the production of harmful gas emissions such as methane and ammonium.

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

spoga+gafa review

Recycled is the norm

Highlights and future trends from spoga+gafa, the garden lifestyle show held last month Germany

A

round 25,000 visitors from 112 countries came to Cologne in June for spoga+gafa to see new products and innovations from around 1,000 exhibitors hailing from 52 countries. This year’s theme was Sustainable Gardens so products boasting durability, were reusable, used resource-saving materials and were water and energy efficient both in their manufacture and use within the garden were highlighted.

Although the show was reported to be smaller than in previous years, the quality of the displays was exceptional and exhibitors reported positive feedback and sales from new and existing customers.

Struck by three key observations was Boyd J Douglas-Davies, PR and Communications Director at British Garden Centres, who was part of the UK contingent visiting the show.

TELFORD 25-26 September 2022 The UK’s National Pet Industry Exhibition

Where the

pet industry

meet to do business Register for FREE entry Simply visit the website www.patshow.co.uk or for more information call 01892 862848

VISITOR INFORMATION PATS Telford takes place at: The Telford International Centre, St Quentin Gate, Telford, Shropshire TF3 4JH For the full list of exhibitors and latest show news visit www.patshow.co.uk

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

OPENING TIMES Sunday 25th September 9.30am - 5pm Monday 26th September 9.30am - 4pm FREE PARKING Over 1300 spaces

info@impact-exhibitions.com

COURTESY SHUTTLE A complimentary ‘PATS’ bus runs between Telford Central Station and the venue on both show days

@ PATS_TELFORD

pats_sandown_telford

July 2022 25

spoga+gafa review

Recycled is now the norm Three years ago I would say that recycled plastic was in the minority. At this show it was the standard. Rather than the vagaries of recycled being a challenge they are now being embraced – a good example is the Happy Ocean pots from Elho. Made from maritime waste each pot is unique in colour.

100 % of Areta’s colourful bar chairs can be recycled.

Sept 6-7th

2022

s!

Trade - Celebrating 50 year re ltu cu rti Ho e th r fo ow Sh The UK’s Premier

Find hundreds of plants, products, services & technology for your business FREE entry, parking & catalogue for all in the garden sector

Sponsored by

Tel: +44 (0) 1477 571392 | Email: info@fouroaks-tradeshow.com | www.fouroaks-tradeshow.com 26 July 2022

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spoga+gafa review

Any colour… except black, or brown weave!

Colour has arrived in the world of garden furniture big time. From vivid primary colours to soft muted tones everything was at the show. Not just in scatter cushions and throws but in the frames and main upholstery. Traditional weave was almost impossible to spot and the only weave of note was the multi-coloured option from Hartman.

Cooking in the round The shape of barbecues is set to change with a significant number of round, hexagonal and various other multi-sided grills on show. Bar height and accessible from all sides, these new grills will get any party started.

Next year’s show 18– 20June 2023 Spogagafa.com

Frames in soft tones and woven chairs from Hartman which were an exception

If you are looking to increase proftability from your external space, look no further than Fordingbridge.

01243 55 44 55 info@fordingbridge.co.uk www.gardentradenews.co.uk

July 2022 27

VIEWPOINT

Diary of an exhibition organiser March 20 -– August 2021 1 COVID, B****Y COVID September 21

Have had an inspired idea about making SOLEX Carbon Neutral event, approached Planet Mark to see if they would help in collating the information and make this happen. #savetheplanet #letsdothis

October 21

MAS More SOLEX sign ups Glendale, Garden Furniture Global, Zest4Leisure, Tom Chambers. #MerryChristmas

21 Restrictions lifted. Oh c**p!

Can I remember how to organise an exhibition, and can I fit into non elasticated waist trousers?

Yes, and NOOOOOOOOO! 21 Meeting with the LOFA council. After the horrendous time our members have had over the last two years, they have decided to reduce the cost of the stand space for SOLEX 22 for all our members.

So, we are offering a Covid special price for 22 only, hope this will make everyone smile LOVE THE COUNCIL GUYS Have sent out new contracts to all our LOFA members let’s see who replies first.

Oh goody, Glencrest and Ginique, followed by…Tramontina, Daro, Alfresco Brands, Minster Stylish Living, Pacific Lifestyle, Waspinator, Mercer Agencies, A Mir, AEL Outdoor Solutions, Garden Impressions. Firmans, Beefeater Europe, Traeger, Supremo, Leisuregrow, 4 Seasons, Alexander Rose, BBQ Gourmet, Dansons, Extreme Lounging, Lifestyle Appliances, Ascalon, Munro Importers, Tripod Home. #solexisbackbaby

November 21 1 Have started to put together marketing plan.

Contacted everyone and anyone that has industry magazine or website, let’s ’s see who wants to let me advertise?

Inundated with replies, hoorah, I wonder nder if I can coax any more companies to join LOFA and exhibit at SOLEX? Yes I can …Hartman, Universal Innovations.

Kamado Joe, Premier Decorations, Woodlodge, Bramblecrest, Barlow Tyrie, Firepits UK, Que Fresco. Charbroil, Norfolk Leisure, Quest Leisure Products.

December 21 - Christmas

January 22

Body mass is mainly mince pies and turkey with the odd Quality Street thrown in for good measure, easure, where did I put those elasticated waisted trousers???

Back to work… Right back into it! Meeting set up with Maelstrom Event Solutions who manage SOLEX for us, they have worked with us for many years, they know how we operate, and Matt is also a Star Wars fan so basically, we are bonded for life, whether he likes it or not! #maytheforcebewithyou Started on the SOLEX marketing have decided to go all out with social media posts, adverts, solus, press releases, banners, and Mail Chimps to advertise the show… phew!

Advertising overload… why oh, why is each banner and publication a different b****y size? Surely there is some European law that states all must be uniform in size? May lobby parliament?

Hotels, I need to sort out Hotels! Have found a lovely lady called Alison from Helms Briscoe who is literally whipping them all into shape for me and they are now all up on the Solex website.

Another batch of SOLEX sign ups Broilking, roilking, Kaemingk, Kettler, TOBS, Rotospa Rotos 2 February 22 Looking to work with and invite our partners along to the SOLEX show, so far have convinced BBQ Mag, Planet Mark and RSPB to rock up and talk to exhibitors and visitors about what they do, what

28 July 20222

VIEWPOINT we do and our plans to work together.

Also have managed to use charm and convince Marcus Bawdon, BBQ Whisperer, to judge the Best BBQ in show, and he is going to amaze us all by giving a masterclass in BBQ wizardry, am v excited.

More sign ups Landmann, Kettle Interiors, Lifestyle Garden & Scancom #lightitup #bbq #fireproducts

March 22

Our plan is to have an outdoor zone for those with fire products. So we have come up with LOVING OUTSIDE LIVING ZONE – have ordered more gazebos than you can shake a stick at so the outside Fire and BBQ area will look amazing.

Have also designed large flags which hopefully will be fluttering in a light breeze and not a fullon gale, it is in July so should be ok (famous last words) Even more sign ups Innovators International, Gardeco, Pro Q Smoker, El Fuego (I really hope they will be wearing Mexican hats at the show) Tower, Celtic Spa, Divine Distribution Much cause for celebration SOLEX HAS SOLD OUT – WOO HOO HOO ! #wehavedoneit

April 22

Arrived at NEC today for meeting with traffic, security, catering bods and anyone else that decides to join us to sort out finer details of show.

This place is like a beehive, there are people in and out of meeting rooms, and large spreadsheets and plans being wielded by everyone.

Lease is up on our old office so we need to mo move out sharpish, have found new and v cool place down by the river in Ironbridge, have organised movers, decorators however, have failed miserably miserab on broadband supplier front so may be without internet for a couple of weeks. #whoneedsmoderntech Easter – time to break out the elasticated waisted trousers again - soooooooo much chocolate!

May 22

Hoorah, have moved mo into new office on Star Wars Da Day but still no broadband. #helpmeobiwa #helpmeobiwanyouaremyonlyhope Praying to the Jedi has worked, broadband has been switched on and we are now fully linked to the digital world again! #newdigs #speedydownloading #speedydownloadingtoday Not long to go now, office is a full of flags, branded t-shirts, high-vis jackets, new POS and assorted SOLEX paraphernalia.

Receiving a few frantic emails and phone calls from exhibitors about show, have taken to using a calming voice when corresponding with them.

Using phrases like it will be ok, if you need any help you know where we are, but thinking to self you’ve left it a bit late mate! #notlongtogo #getawiggleon

June 22

A month to go and so I have decided to take a week’s holiday to chill out so that I can be all zen like and full of buddha quotes in time for July 12, oh and get a tan of course! #Chanting #Chanting #Chanting

July 22

#itsfinallyarrived #welcometosolex2022 #eventorganisedbytheindustryfortheindustry #exhibition #acelebrationofsummer #backtogetheragain #LOFA #furniture #bbqs #lovingoutdoorliving #spas #sp #firepits #lighting #parasols #newproducts #newideas

023 2 EX May L SO - 18 again 16 ewego r #he July 2022 29

Viewpoint

Words fail me!

Boyd J Douglas-Davies, HTA President

A

n unusual situation I admit but it does happen just every so often. The cause of this temporary situation…

I recently learned that several members of the Young People in Horticulture Association (YPHA) had to take one or even two days annual holiday to attend the inaugural meeting of the YPHA at Wisley. I won’t name and shame the particular companies and organisations but I hope you are reading this and reflecting on that extremely short-sighted decision. The YPHA was formed by people under the age of 35 who felt there was something missing in their career. Well done to them all for not only creating this group but gathering over 250 members, organising numerous webinars throughout lockdown, hosting a fantastic day at Wisley this spring and pulling off one of the greatest spoofs of our time on April 1st.

All under 35 are welcome to join the YPHA and should be encouraged to do so. If you employ, and want to retain, the next generation of horticultural excellence then you should get closer to YPHA and don’t ever make a member of your team take a day’s holiday to attend a YPHA meeting – unless you want to lose them!

UK companies aren’t alone in failing our future colleagues.

While visiting a large plant wholesaler in Aalsmeer recently I witnessed the receptionist One of the new ideas for bringing turning away a group of students food growing into along with their lecturers. What the classroom was the logic? It seems you can take horticulturists to water… but they’re not allowed to drink in the amazing displays!

I’m pleased to report the HTA has initiated a number of projects this year to attract people – of all ages – into our wonderful industry. We shouldn’t underestimate how much we need to do to overturn the image our industry has held for years… poorly paid, hard work, the career of last resort etc etc. Talking to influencers, both digital and traditional, is really important if we are to change long-

held perceptions. The range of roles available is, as we know extensive, and we are an incredibly flexible industry offering so many different shift options. It shouldn’t be so difficult to recruit. I do think it is a lack of understanding that holds many back from applying for jobs with us. If every company in our industry approached just one education establishment and invited them to visit and learn we would make great progress.

The HTA team has a number of resources available that can support such visits – contact us through the website.

Getting serious about food production Recently I wrote about my perception that serious indoor home food production was being hampered by the lack of proper growing cabinets and tables. Imagine my delight to discover several serious pieces of equipment at the SPOGA+GAFA show last month. One particular machine is being sold extensively to schools that are sitting them in classrooms and incorporating horticulture in a number of lessons. Bringing food production into the classroom must be the way to develop young minds and make them realise that greening the world isn’t difficult. Did you see Greta Thurnberg at Glastonbury? Surely she was talking about gardening when she told festival-goers: “We are capable of the most incredible things. Once we are given the full story we will know what to do. There is still time to choose a new path, to step back from the cliff. Instead of looking for hope, start creating that hope yourself.” As an industry we need to tell everyone the full story and help them create that hope. (YPHA – have you signed Greta up for membership yet?)

Congratulations to the team at Glee for staging a great show. It was good to see it well supported by exhibitors and visitors. The show held all its usual charm and had a real buzz to it. There’s a lot of logic to holding the show just after the main season rather than several months later – everything is still fresh in the mind and discussions surrounding products can be much more useful for exhibitors and shoppers.

We shouldn’t underestimate how much we need to do to overturn the image our industry has held for years....

Find out more

The Horticultural Trades Association is the UK industry’s leading membership organisation. It welcomes all sectors of horticulture – to join please contact services@hta.org.uk YHPA www.yhpa.org.uk To watch the April 1 spoof video visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVMRjPo6tvo

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