The Garden Press Event
Latest trends and products on show for the gardening press The Garden Press Event in March was the place to be for suppliers to get products noticed by leading journalists and influencers.
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Tools from Fiskars for every gardening job
ardening journalists, bloggers and social media influencers descended upon the Business Design Centre, Islington in March to see and hear about the new trends and products for the coming year. The Garden Press Event’s aim is to equip garden writers and anyone involved with the press or media, with everything they need to promote gardening to consumers whether it’s being read in traditional magazines, presented in articles and videos online or through podcasts. Around 90 companies promoted their latest projects and newest products. Here are some of GTN’s highlights:
Greenman Garden Tools are traditional and hard wearing
Fourth-generation business Greenman Garden Tools takes a traditional approach to the craftsmanship of its hand tools. Handles are made from ash, a tough, sustainable wood said to cause less vibration than fibreglass or metal. For its digging and cultivation ranges, handles are longer than most and attached with extra-long lipped sockets and multiple rivets. Greenman’s Half Brite Border Spade and Fork are a little different to anything else. They have a bright polished lower section to the carbon steel head and forks traditionally done to show off the quality of the metal. Greenman says these carbon steel tools are hard wearing and get better the more they are used. Greenman supports its customers with numerous how-to videos fronted by Adam Greenman and a monthly newsletter with information on tools and their care, gardening tips, planting guides and recipes.
16 March/April 2022
Fiskars is offering a range of new and innovative tools to tackle every garden to-do list with ease. New pruners appear in three ranges - Solid™ which are simple, effective and affordable; Plus™ designed for more rugged everyday use, and X-series™ for exceptional performance. For cutting back flowers, herbs or snipping blooms for flower arrangements its ReNew Gardening Scissors are an ecofriendlier choice. They are made from recycled and 100% recyclable materials, including the 21cm stainless steel blades. New planting tools in the lightweight but sturdy Solid range include the Hand Bulb Planter and the Planting Stick to aid seed sowing. When it comes to harvesting the X-series tools provide everything gardeners need from the Folding Produce Knife with precision blade and push button lock for easy closing and safe, compact storage to the sleek Plus Garden Harvest Basket.
Packaging focus for Spear & Jackson
As well as introducing new products for 2022, Spear & Jackson has reviewed its packaging to reduce or remove entirely materials such as single-use plastics. With backing cards made from FSC certified materials and secateur packaging reduced to partial blisters in PET plastic, the company has made huge strides recognising the importance of sustainability to customers. These changes will be rolled out across its whole range but have already been implemented on The Kew Gardens Collection, which for 2022 has a new look with the packaging designed around botanical illustrations.
To support new and existing customers, Darlac boosts it online advice
Darlac has appointed Damian McEvoy as Technical Lead to strengthen its in-house product development. As a user of Darlac’s range Damian speaks from experience when it comes to recommending the right tools for the right job. A current focus for Darlac is investing more time in its customers by getting out and about and supporting them with product information and know-how while having knowledgeable staff that lead to better sales and fewer returns as customers purchase the right tool in the first instance. Darlac supports this with extra resources on its website including ‘how-to’ videos and also highlighting five essential tools for new gardeners – namely a pruner, lopper, saw, shears and a sharpener. With spares available across its whole range the sustainability message is also key as is, educating consumers about the importance of maintaining tools to make them last longer.
www.gardentradenews.co.uk
