GTN September 2019

SPECIAL SHOW PREVIEW EDITION

gtn SEPTEMBER 2019

Advice and information for garden centre professionals

gardentradenews.co.uk

SPECIAL SHOW PREVIEW EDITION

gtn SEPTEMBER 2019

Advice and information for garden centre professionals Advice and information

for garden centre professionals

gardentradenews.co.uk

Glee 2019 Showcasing the future of garden retailing

INTERVIEW

Primeur know how to create instant impact Eco-friendly, innovative, practical, robust! It’s no wonder that Primeur products have become an instant hit with garden centre customers. On the eve of Glee we discover some of the secrets of success from this multi award-winning company.

It has been an amazing award-winning performance by eco-friendly company Primeur over the past 14 months. This unforgettable period in the West Yorkshire firm’s history has brought two Glee Awards, including Best Overall New Product in 2018, and three GIMA Awards, topped by the prestigious Sword of Excellence.

Expectations are high for Primeur’s next appearance at Glee this month, and who would bet against the company adding to its incredible trophy haul.

It has been a hectic time for the Primeur team as the company builds on its newfound success in the garden centre marketplace.

Sales Director Jenny Douthwaite found time in her buzzing schedule to talk about how Primeur has achieved such sudden success and reveal what the company has got planned for the future.

When did Primeur first start trading and what were its first products?

The company began trading in March 1968, so we have just celebrated our 50-year anniversary! The business started as a supplier of coir doormats to the UK mail order market.

When did you enter the gardening market and who was the brains behind that move?

James Keighley (our Managing Director) spotted this innovative product at one of our partnering factories and knew it was a great idea for the UK market. The eco credentials and robust nature of the product made it perfect for our temperamental weather.

Continued on page 4

Eco-friendly garden products from Primeur have been wowing industry award judges over the past year.

The Tierra Verde Recycled Planters (above) won the Decorative Pot category before clinching the ultimate Sword of Excellence Prize at the GIMA Awards 2019. A year earlier saw the Recycled Rubber Garden Borders (left) clinched the Garden Landscaping category at the GIMAs.

2 September 2019

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INTERVIEW

OUR

N ROLL OF HO

S 2018 D R A W A A M GI Winner g in p a c s d n a L n Garde

EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING Garden Trade News, Potting Shed Press Ltd Dairy Drove Thorney Peterborough PE6 0TX Tel 01733 775700 Fax 01733 775838 gardentradenews@tgcmc.co.uk www.gardentradenews.co.uk THE GTN TEAM Editor: Neil Pope neil.pope@tgcmc.co.uk Associate Editor: Mike Wyatt mike.wyatt@tgcmc.co.uk Director: Trevor Pfeiffer trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk Publisher: Mandy Davies mandy.davies@tgcmc.co.uk Advertising: Alan Burdon alan.burdon@tgcmc.co.uk Ben Greenwood ben.greenwood@tgcmc.co.uk

2019 S D R A W A T ct RODUC GLEE NEW Pg Product & Best Overall Produ Best Landscapin

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2019 S D R A W A A GIM cellence x E f o rd o w S & r inne Decorative Pot W www.gardentradenews.co.uk

SMALL PRINT All material © Potting Shed Press 2019. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form whatsoever, either for sale or not, without the express permission of the publishers. The information contained 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.

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September 2019 3

INTERVIEW

Primeur will be showcasing the company’s extensive Point of Sale and merchandising displays at Glee this year, along with the impressive Mighty Mats range.

How do you come up with new ideas for products?

We are constantly searching for new ideas and concepts, and work closely with our development team and factories to create exciting new products. As well as attending trade shows in the UK and further afield, we are mostly inspired by customers needs which shape our development of future products. Our garden range is unique as it’s produced from recycled rubber tyres.

The products are therefore highly durable and can withstand extreme force and temperatures all year round.

Could you have imagined winning so many garden industry awards in such a short period?

It’s been very surreal but we’re thrilled to have won these prestigous awards the past two years. The industry has been extremely supportive and the awards have helped to bring recognition and awareness to customers who may not have previously considered recycled products in their category and the benefits they bring.

It’s great to win these awards but have sales of your garden products matched your expectations?

When we launched the ranges back in 2016 we were entering the unknown as the garden industry was completely new to us.

Initially we began to supply to established garden centre groups and the customer feedback was impressive. Since winning the landscaping award at the GIMA 2018 Awards and the New Product Award at Glee 2018 we have seen substantial growth in sales. We are proud of our journey so far and have high expectations for 2020.

In what other markets do you operate?

Primeur’s core business is in doormats and we have sucessfully supplied the market

4 September 2019

for over 50 years. Our expertise supports our supply to a variety of retail formats, ranging from online specialists to major multiples. We work closely with our customers to understand their individual needs. Our product development and design teams create bespoke product, POS and merchandising solutions for all our ranges.

We have our Mighty Mats range available to the garden centres and would like to grow the eco-friendly ranges in the coming years.

Will you be launching new products at Glee?

We are excited to be showcasing the full range of our ‘Sword of Excellence’ award winning planters. Recently judged as being ‘eco- friendly, stylish and a good price.

A sustainable & commercial product in a competitive marketplace.’ ‘We believe Tierra Verde Recycled Rubber Planters represent everything we as an industry should be striving for.’ Also featured is our newly

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developed merchandising displays and POS made exclusively for our product ranges.

How can you top winning so many awards?

We are immensely proud to have won these awards. These achievements we hope will help to move the business forward not only in sales but through development and generating additional interest in our products. We will continue to develop innovative products which are functional, stylish and sustainable. We believe product focus will keep us at the forefront of innovation in the garden sector.

Want to see the products first hand and meet our team? Come visit us at Glee 2019 in Hall 19 Stand D10-E11.

www.primeur.co.uk

GLEE PREVIEW

Glee 2019 Showcasing the future of garden retailing

As garden retailing continues to thrive, with double digit year-on-year growth, the future for our industry continues to look bright. One place where this optimism will shine through will be the forthcoming Glee exhibition (10-12 September, NEC Birmingham), where 550 plus suppliers will join with 7,000 UK and international key decision makers, buyers and trend setters, to showcase the future of gardening.

Matthew Mein, Glee’s Event Director (right), said: “The market is reporting a strong start to the 2019 season, with sales up 37% year-on-year. A combination of good weather, and consumers retreating to their homes in a time of economic uncertainty, has paid dividends for our industry.

“As such we move into the 2019 event with a sense of excitement regarding the future development and growth of our sector.

From an engaged audience, the potential of the ‘millennial pound’, new tech hitting the market, and a wealth of existing ranges continuing to hit the mark, Glee 2019 will be a thriving hub for the garden retail market, offering unrivalled value.”

Add the new Glee Connect app to maximise your time at Glee 2019 Glee has joined the digital revolution with the launch of its new exhibition smartphone app, designed to provide an unrivalled matchmaking solution to help suppliers and retailers to get the most out of their time at the show.

Visiting retailers will be able to better measure – and even increase – their ‘Return on Time’ spent at the show, through personalised exhibitor recommendations, and an easy to use meeting scheduling function. The Glee app will also include an overview of all of the exhibition’s wider educational content and seminar programmes, helping retailers to plan their trip around Glee all from the palm of their hand, or via the web platform if preferred.

Glee exhibitors can also optimise their time via the app, as it provides a powerful new way to generate more leads, and manage meetings with new, potential and existing customers. Popular exhibitor focussed features of the app include the ability to filter and refine visitor recommendations via Smart Recommendations, as well as Meeting Delegation which enables management of meetings across the sales force.

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Building more content to help support the continuous growth of gardening in the UK will be a key theme of the 2019 event. Look out for more features, seminar sessions and new-for-2019 workshops, and year-round information relating to trends, merchandising and practical advice on ways to build better business, whilst also tackling the most burning issues set to affect the industry in the years ahead.

Bigger and better than ever before, ‘Pets at Glee’ will be a thriving section of Glee, designed to make it even easier for garden centre pet buyers to directly source 2020 ranges.

Featuring a multi-functional space, Pets at Glee will house interactive workshops aimed at helping garden centres start their pet retail journey, as well as provide visual merchandising inspiration that touches on key areas of pet retail including pet food, accessories, luxury and technology. It will also house a dedicated networking space for pet retailers and garden centres to connect with each other to share their experiences through facilitated speed networking sessions.

There will also be a dedicated Pet New Product Showcase, which will showcase the latest and great new product innovations from Pets at Glee exhibitors. This year the showcase will feature nine award categories made up of: Best Pet Clothing Product, Best Pet Toys and Entertainment, Best

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Pet Accessories (Collars, Leads, Muzzles, Harnesses), Best Pet Health, Grooming and Cleaning, Best Pet Bedding and Travel (housing, carriers, cages, baskets), Best Pet Food and Treats, Best Pet Technology, Best Eco Initiative Pet Product Award and Best Overall New Product for Pets at Glee.

The Retail Lab @ Glee – in association with the HTA - was introduced in 2017 to showcase the latest trends within the garden industry, whilst also providing retailers with hands on advice and inspirational content that they can take back to their own stores to drive sales in the coming season.

The response to this new area surpassed expectations, with suppliers and retailers remarking on the immediate ‘take home’ value of the Lab’s content.

This year the Retail Lab will focus on two key themes ‘Shop’ and ‘Nature’, both of which will be supported by eight key themes entitled - Do it Yourself, Plant and Gift Shop, Garden Therapy, ‘Do Nothing’, Plastic Free Future?, Urban Green City, Outdoors = Indoors, Nurturing Nature, and Pet Alley – all of which represent key growth opportunities for garden retailers, whilst also addressing those issues that are shaping consumer spending habits.

Once again, the Retail Lab @ Glee – in association with the HTA - will be created in partnership with a panel of industry experts, led by Creative Director, Romeo Sommers of ByRomeo.

GTN PROMOTION

Bringing great brands together Following their first full season in the UK market, the recently formed AMES UK group are already celebrating significant progress. Integration of the Sales and Marketing operations of Kelkay, La Hacienda and Woodshaw is complete, allowing the team to focus on their goal to bring a fully joined-up service to their customers.

Dedicated to supporting their independent retail partners, AMES UK provided merchandising materials and support to over 500 centres across the UK in 2019.

Dedicated garden centre offer The focus for Richard Pyrah, Group Sales Director, has been a clearly defined channel strategy for the business, allowing the sales agency team to provide a dedicated garden centre offer.

This well-established team of sales professionals and supporting merchandisers now provides the complete service for garden centres across all the categories served by AMES UK – aggregates and landscape products, water features, outdoor cooking and heating, wooden furniture and garden structures, pots and containers and garden décor.

AMES UK brings together a family of garden category brands into a robust and vibrant organisation with bags of ambition

Increasing focus on independents Richard attributes significant sales growth in the La Hacienda brand to this increased focus and sales success in independent garden centres.

“The range merchandising approach we adopted for outdoor cooking and heating last year was welcomed by our garden centre customers and with their commitment and support we’ve driven over 20% growth in the category this year.

“For 2020 we are taking this to the next stage to help even more centres take advantage of this rapidly growing market sector.”

8 September 2019

La Hacienda outdoor heating and cooking merchandising will see an improved framework, updated graphics and new hotspot displays to maximize sales opportunities in this growing category.

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Product innovation Innovation in the product development team at La Hacienda has also helped to drive consumer engagement with exciting new materials and designs that respond to the wider trends in outdoor living.

Glee will see them launch a completely new range of contemporary clay chimeneas to re-invigorate the sector.

Stronger together Exciting brand developments There are also exciting developments in brand marketing designed to protect the business’ success in UK garden centres.

Sarah Winn, Group Marketing Director said “Our customers can expect to see some exciting developments when they visit us at Glee this year.

“Being part of AMES UK has enabled us to invest further, not only in new product innovation, but also to look at the future of our brands and how we can exploit their strengths to appeal specifically to the typical garden centre shopper.”

The AMES UK brands will be all together at Glee 2019 in the centre of Hall 6 where each of the key brands will have its own dedicated display space.

Antony Harker, AMES UK Managing Director, is keen to emphasise that the principle of demonstrating how product categories can be merchandised effectively and most profitably in garden centres remains the main objective.

“Our customers can expect to see great merchandising solutions designed to fit garden centre environments, as well as hundreds of exciting new products.

“It’s really a question of taking the best elements of what we do and replicating it effectively across new categories and new brands. And when you pull them together the overall effect is so much stronger!”

See all the AMES UK brands at Glee in Hall 6 www.gardentradenews.co.uk

September 2019 9

GLEE PREVIEW

Plastic-free future How are Glee exhibitors planning to reduce dependency on single-use plastics?

Here we investigate what they’re doing to relieve their burden on the planet.

Garden products giant Evergreen Garden Care says it is “committed to finding new ways to reduce waste” and points out that it has systematically reduced the weight of packaging since 2001 by more than 1,000 tonnes. Recent initiatives include virgin plastic reduction of 800 tonnes via improvements made to its bottles, caps and sprayers. For example, the new MiracleGro 1L bottle saved 40 tonnes per year, according to the company.

An Evergreen Garden Care spokeswoman adds: “We have saved 420 tonnes of plastic with the introduction of recycled material in our compost packaging. Paper has reduced by 600 tonnes, with 95% of cartons made from 100% recycled paper fibres. Packaging recycling on sites has increased by 30% in the last 12 months, with all initiatives saving 2,300 tonnes of carbon dioxide in one year.”

Neudorff has made a big impact in the UK as demand for organic gardening goods grows. Its accolades include being crowned ‘National Champion’ at the European Business Awards in the Environmental and Corporate Sustainability category in 2016, while it also won the title of ‘Germany’s most sustainable company’ in 2014.

In recent years Neudorff has focused on helping retailers and their customers to use less single-use plastic by introducing refill options. But Jude Beharall, sales director at Neudorff UK, points out: “Plastic packaging is essential for many of our weed and control products, due to registrational reasons. However, we have taken steps to help customers make reductions. For example, our best-selling Sluggo Slug &

10 September 2019

Snail Killer range was the first slug killer to be made available in cardboard cartons.

We encourage customers to use the 300g and 1 kg cartons wherever possible, thereby significantly reducing the quantity of plastic being added to landfill as a result of gardening activities.”

Promoting sustainable growing is the goal of Deep Roots, a company that’s dedicated to replacing plastic in both gardening and agriculture. Its own roots lie in a small town in western India, when in late 2017 founder Nikunj Agarwal saw saplings being nurtured and raised in single-use plastic containers.

Nikunj said: “This seemed a huge irony, and since then, Deep Roots has dedicated all its resources to the pursuit of protecting of our ever-degrading environment.”

He adds: “DeepRoots brings Jute Grow Pots, the first of its kind for sustainable growing. Jute Grow Pots are organic plant-

“The Sluggo Slug & Snail Killer range was the first slug killer to be made available in cardboard cartons”

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raising containers made out of natural jute fibre. They’re 100% bio-degradable and a great alternative to plastic pots. Not only is our primary raw material from a renewable source, we also run a zero-waste facility while, at the same time, promoting employment among under-privileged in society. We can do business and we can do good!” The company says sizes of Jute Grow Pots can be customised for various growing needs, from starting seeds to transplanting or as an attractive stand-alone planter.

Vegepod, a supplier of self-contained raised garden beds, says it is often asked about the green credentials of its polypropylene plastic, eco-climate covers and containers. A Vegepod spokeswoman says: “Because our containers are durable and designed for optimal plant growth, an individual Vegepod has a minimum 10-year lifespan. Most untreated timbers are lucky to last longer than two years before rotting and breaking down. The impact of such timber production, the repeated timber growing, harvesting and rebuilds would make an interesting study when compared to a one-off plastic container that lasts up to 10 years.”

But are Vegepod’s containers made from recycled plastic? The company points to an important issue: “Recycled plastic is unable to be certified as ‘foodsafe’ as it contains many different grades of plastic. Vegepod will not allow such material to be used for organic food growing, despite the appeal of the tagline ‘Made from recycled plastic’. However, our eco-covers and containers are completely recyclable and do not end up in landfill.”

GLEE PREVIEW

New Low Voltage Lighting from NOMA

Market leaders NOMA will be shaking up the industry once again with their launch of the latest technology in outdoor lighting – NEW Low Voltage Lighting.

This ultra energy efficient technology means lights can either be plugged into an electric source, or run on batteries – whichever is most convenient.

The ultimate all-weather lighting, NOMA’s Low Voltage Lighting can be used in any location in the garden, for 6 hours every day with NOMA’s Fit & Forget battery pack or plugged into an electricity source using NOMA’s patented EasyTimer.

NOMA’s new range of wicker animals features this new technology, allowing them to be positioned anywhere.

Great for adding height and interest to a garden all year round, they deliver the wow factor day or night.

Technology and Innovation This technology and innovation is what differentiates the NOMA brand and makes it the trusted garden lighting company for all seasons.

New Low Voltage Lighting sits alongside: 4Fit & Forget battery technology (patented) – minimum of 60 days of lighting from one set of batteries. Timer setting for light every night. Place anywhere for light in any weather.

4Solar 365 lighting (patented) – guaranteed 6 hours of light every night with a timer that switches on at dusk. Works in all weather conditions, every night of the year.

New Products With NOMA, there’s always something different – like the stunning Global Flame Effect Wall Lantern, with a rust resistant metal finish and a realistic flickering flame inside powered by Solar 365 technology, or the Carp and Trout Stake Lights that ‘swim’ through the garden.

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The Bulb is the original and only real-look filament bulb which can be powered by Solar 365 or Fit & Forget battery technology. And now for 2020 the NEW Low Voltage Connectable Light sets will allow up to 10 sets of Bulb lights to be joined together from one Easytimer transformer.

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

GLEE PREVIEW

Co-ordinating Home Décor from Petface Petface is ready to wow visitors to this month’s Glee with over 60 new products across toys, accessories, bedding, and treats.

With great quality products at affordable prices it’s a stand that’s not to be missed, and Peface’s new warehousing and distribution systems means live stock is in good supply – particularly for Autumn pet bedding and Christmas gifting.

Petface’s new range of dog bedding and accessories is designed to fit seamlessly into the home. The ranges are based on key colours and trends, with patterns and pantones to complement consumers’ home décor scheme.

New Treats for Canine Connoisseurs

For the most discerning of pets and pet owners Petface is launching its new range of Dog Deli Treats. This new range of grain and gluten free treats are not only tasty and healthy but also offer health benefits like joint care, fresh breath, and calming effects.

Favourite treat brands Dog Deli and Doggy Bistro are also being expanded with exciting new developments. Petface’s premium treat brand – Dog Deli – has seven new meat and meat-free based snacks to delight dogs everywhere. And there are six new SKUs in Doggy Bistro after the popular response to this brand going rawhide free last year.

Pet Selling Solutions To help all the new products fly off the shelves, Petface has created fully-branded CDU solutions, shipper displays and off-shelf display units to free-up space on shelves, and help maximise sales.

There are great new promotions on core lines across accessories, bedding, and treats to help push sales, and as always, the Petface team is working hard to offer great prices to let independents compete on a level playing field, with memory foam dog beds available for £19.99 RRP, and dog toys for £2.99 RRP.

Find NOMA Garden Lighting and Petface at Glee Hall 06-19 6S50-T51 www.gardentradenews.co.uk

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GLEE PREVIEW

GREAT EXPECTATIONS What buyers want to see at Glee

Phillippa Stubbs – British Garden Centres “We’re really looking forward to Glee, and to working with suppliers both existing and new to put together an exciting and inspirational range for next season, across our group.

“With the emphasis more on staycations, better quality of life and all things green, we hope to see lots of new products entering the market with the emphasis on quality for a fair price to all concerned. Hopefully there will also be a few weird and whacky items to get everyone talking.”

Andy Bunker – Alton Garden Centre “As with last year, we’ll need to have a good look through the ranging for garden art, such as Smart, La Hacienda, Fountasia, to name but three. We’ve found that if we can choose the right product and put it in the right place, it will really sell.

“I’m also keen to find some outdoor add-ons for the Christmas season, as real tree sales are quite static. We’ll be looking for something to put a little more cash in the tills and, as always, I’ll make New Products one of my first stops.”

Adam Wigglesworth – Aylett Nurseries “2019 has been a great trading year so far with customers showing real interest in the ‘green’ credentials of the products they are buying.

“Never before have I dealt with so many queries on products with regards to their environmental impact. There’s a real head of steam behind consumers’ desire to improve their environment and to reduce their footprint at all levels.

“Curating the correct range of products for this changing market will be challenging but will also bring its opportunities.”

Colin Barrie – Caulders “This has been a rollercoaster of a season, but core gardening has been very strong. At Glee we’re looking forward to seeing the product innovation being introduced for next season. Smart Garden was excellent last year, its range of product was superb, and the sell-through proved to be excellent. I’m looking forward to seeing what it has to offer for 2020.

“The changes at Westland and Gardman are hugely exciting for the industry and as our major core gardening suppliers we’re excited to see what they have in store for 2020. Glee is a great chance to showcase 2020, and a brilliant opportunity to network with suppliers and fellow retailers.

“The layout and format of the show was superb in 2018 and I’m sure it will be even better this season.”

GREAT EXPECTATIONS More from buyers on p16

14 September 2019

Bord na Móna to launch entirely peat-free brand Bord na Móna will launch the Happy Compost range at this year’s Glee event, boasting a completely peat-free brand featuring six new products.

The Happy Compost product range includes vegetable compost, tomato planter, rose, tree and shrub compost, soil improvers and an all-purpose compost available in two different sizes. Bord na Móna is pleased to launch a range that caters to the needs of any gardener, whilst also staying true to its environmental responsibilities.

The most eco-friendly range yet, Happy Compost’s packaging is recyclable, using 30% recycled plastic in the bags – the highest amount achievable. The core raw materials in Happy Compost products are either recycled or by-products including bark, green compost, wood fibre and coir, all of which are 100% peat-free.

Happy Compost is manufactured in Great Britain at the most modern growing media factory in the country and trialled extensively over two years, outperforming all brand leading peat- free compost. Bord na Móna is currently moving all production to the UK at a new site in Liverpool and a new distribution site in Cambridge.

Steve Harper, Head of Commercial & Marketing for Bord na Móna UK, says: “Happy Compost is our most innovative and versatile brand yet. The name Happy Compost is inspired by the feeling of happiness and contentment.

“The new products channel this by providing great gardening results and also supporting our environmental responsibilities by going 100% peat free. We invite everyone to visit our stand at Glee to get a first look at Happy Compost.”

Major breakthrough in garden cover material A new range of garden covers using a material described as the ‘fabric of the future’ is being launched by Garland Products at Glee 2019 (Stand Hall 8 D30-E31).

The material is the result of two years development by the company and is worlds ahead of traditional polyester used by other garden cover suppliers.

The new material has major advantages over traditional polyester covers as it is already 100% waterproof, so requires none of the traditional coatings to make it water tight. It is also naturally UV stable and almost untearable.

In addition, the company will be making over 30 other product launches at the show.

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

GLEE PREVIEW

GREAT EXPECTATIONS What buyers want to see at Glee

Boyd J Douglas-Davies – Hillview Garden Centres and Vice President of the HTA “Glee is a pivotal point in our year. As we prepare to say goodbye to the current gardening season our sights are firmly set on the next by the time we arrive at the show.

“I hope we’ll see significant progress across a range of products that will delight and excite our current and potential customers. We’re looking for reductions in packaging - particularly plastics. We are also hopeful that we’ll see some suitable growing media, which will answer the questions being asked at the moment.

“Meeting up with current suppliers is always a large part of the show, but we will also be searching for the new opportunities tucked amongst exhibits we’ve never seen before.

Without Glee our lives would be much, much more difficult!”

Gerald Ingram – Planters and Garden King “We’re very lucky having Glee on our doorstep. We are excited to see what Westland has done with Gardman, and how the new owners at Evergreen are shaping their business. We are concerned about a lack of garden pest control products so will be keeping an eye out for them.

“Garden projects like laying patios and building pergolas etc will be of interest. We will also be looking at new categories such as toys.

Justin Williams – Fron Goch “We are very much looking forward to Glee. Retail and leisure are being transformed and merging, and the high street is changing rapidly. I hope what we see will help us understand in the years ahead who our customers are and why they will be visiting us, what is our niche, which areas will be more immune to competition and in what way can we add the most value for our customers.

“We may have to go through some hard times in the near future and needless to say the stalwarts of our industry will be as important as ever; new sells, quality & reliability, trust in our brand and best value for pound spent, but with a twist of experiential retail and leisure time thrown in. We need products that fit that future.”

Colin Dale – Notcutts “It feels as if we are at a crossroad, where we need to make a huge step change on all things environmental. This will include natural controls; careful use of plastics and generally products that show that we are working with nature (whilst still being effective). Hopefully Glee will help us make some final decisions in these areas.”

GREAT EXPECTATIONS More from buyers on p24

16 September 2019

Exciting launches from Evergreen Garden Care Evergreen Garden Care and its portfolio of market leading brands will be exhibiting at Glee with marketing campaigns, new POS and, most importantly, exciting product launches for 2020.

The new stand features a number of different immersive zones aligned with each product area, including lawn care and feeding, to showcase Evergreen Garden Care’s ongoing commitment to product development.

Designed to illustrate Evergreen Garden Care’s impressive research and development heritage and unique facilities in Levington, the stand features a modular greenhouse to create a supersized world where visitors can be immersed into the brand and gain a deeper understanding of the products.

Experts will be on-stand throughout the exhibition to talk about the new products in detail and how to deliver outstanding results.

As part of the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, Jane Hartley, Marketing Manager at Evergreen Garden Care, will be conducting talks throughout the show and highlighting key initiatives the organisation has undertaken, such as reducing the amount of single use plastics across its packaging.

Visitors to the stand will also be able to find out more about Evergreen Garden Care’s multi-platform consumer marketing plans for 2020, which includes a TV, digital and in-store campaign, and see the new product packaging first-hand.

Looking ahead to Glee, Mark Portman, Managing Director of Evergreen Garden Care, commented: “We’re delighted to be exhibiting at Glee this year and announce our exciting product innovations for 2020, which includes Performance Organics and Small and Simple ranges and rebranding across growing media.

“Our new products are the result of extensive consumer research, which has identified key drivers for growth within the category, and our unique research and development facilities.

“We have put a high level of investment behind the marketing campaign for next year to support the new product development, which will continue to drive footfall into our retailers and convert consumer interest and awareness into more sales.”

4Visit Evergreen Garden Care on stand 8E30-F31 in hall 8 to find out more or visit www.lovethegarden.com

New range of handheld machinery

Following the continued growth and success of the Webb range of petrol and electric lawnmowers and handheld machinery, a new range of 20v cordless handheld machinery is being introduced to bolster the range.

The new Webb 20v range includes a cordless hedge trimmer, cordless line trimmer and a long reach hedge trimmer and are priced competitively priced to help retailers convert people away from restrictive corded machinery into the freedom of cordless power.

“With retail prices starting from a little as £59.99 to £99.99, we believe the Webb proposition is a real contender amongst the leading garden machinery brands and delivers super quality and performance,” said Mark Moseley, Sales & Marketing Director of Handy Distribution.

“We have been very careful in choosing the right battery platform that can be expanded to a broader range in the future. Customers want to be able to add to their collection of cordless machinery and be able to share batteries to ensure they always have power on hand.”

4See the new Webb 20v for yourself at Glee Hall6 Stand M40-P41 or contact Handy Distribution on 01793 333220 for more details.

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

GLEE PREVIEW

THANKS TO NATIONAL TRUST, KINGSTON LACY

Burgon & Ball A plethora of productive partnerships Burgon & Ball is launching a wide selection of new products at Glee 2019, with exciting new ideas in tools and giftware. Here’s a taster of what you’ll find on Stand 8E50-F51.

Gardening with the National Trust Combining the appeal of two of the most respected names in the gardening world, a major new collaboration between Burgon & Ball and the National Trust offers a unique opportunity to retailers this autumn. This exceptional new collection of high-carbon steel gardening tools uses traditional manufacturing techniques to create lasting performance and a timeless ‘heritage’ style, to be followed by a children’s range next year Exclusively shown at GLEE, these are beautiful high performance tools, designed to help every gardener enjoy their garden.

RHS: a longstanding partnership Burgon & Ball also builds on its longstanding collaboration with the RHS this autumn, with the launch of a new collection of RHS-endorsed axes, as well as a new RHS-endorsed scarifying rake. With a classic hickory wooden handles, the three new beautifully weighted axes have been drop-forged for increased strength and durability, to hold their edge for the longest time.

Their appeal extends to nongardeners as well, thanks to the trend for woodburning stoves, with their need for firewood.

18 September 2019

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

GLEE PREVIEW

Houseplant heaven

Practical gardening and gorgeous gifts with designer style The ever-popular Sophie Conran for Burgon & Ball collection goes from strength to strength, with this autumn seeing the launch of a wide selection of gardening gifts, wild bird care and, by popular demand, new tools, including large tools - all with the range’s signature combination of elegant looks with advanced performance. And to make sure these items catch the eye in-store, there’s a fresh and contemporary look for the collection, with new-design packaging.

Corona: built for lasting performance Engineered for lasting performance, Corona tools are a byword for quality across North America and are the choice of professionals as well as keen gardeners. At Glee last year selected lines were previewed to great acclaim, and this September the whole of the range now available in the UK will be on show, offering new opportunities to retailers.

With the vogue for houseplants in full swing, there are new designs in Burgon & Ball’s hugely popular collection of indoor pots. The new additions include a selection of glazed pots exploring colour and texture; a tempting triple pack of the Baby Dotty pot, one of the runaway successes of the range; and something very different, an ikebana pot for Japanese flower arranging, bringing a taste of the exotic to those who’ve been inspired to flex their floristry muscles.

To find out more about these exciting products talk to the friendly and helpful team on stand 8E50-F51

Burgon & Ball www.burgonandball.com 01202 684141 www.gardentradenews.co.uk

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GLEE PREVIEW

Apta

Delivering outstanding value Customers are growing their planter sales with the help of Apta’s exceptional promotional ranges – and their renowned service levels.

During recent seasons Apta, the market-leading supplier of planters and accessories, has developed an enviable reputation for quality, with branded ranges, including the RHS and Laura Ashley at the forefront of product design and category growth.

But did you know that, in addition to these premium ranges, the company offers outstanding value as well?

“Our Himalaya range of promotional terracotta has grown repeatedly, year after year,” explains Apta’s Commercial Director, James Hoad.

“It offers truly outstanding value for money, combined with a traditional handmade look and feel that is timeless, and perfect for British gardens.”

22 September 2019

Apta is able to take advantage of its buying power with factories to keep prices low.

“This year we are reintroducing a glazed Malaysian planter range which retails at £14.99 and under – a genuine price roll-back!”

While these products sit at the lower end of the company’s price range, they are still backed by a full support service, including benches, point of sale and nationwide merchandising.

“We’ve consistently invested in our merchandising service, and now have over 50 people on the road during peak season displaying pots,” says James. “It’s hard to overstate how important that service is when explaining how we grow our customers’ sales.”

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

GLEE PREVIEW

Exciting new innovations

With Apta’s track record of product innovation, it’s no surprise to learn that there will again be several exciting product launches at Glee this year.

“We’re very excited to announce our partnership with Aardman Animations, which will see the launch of a brilliant range of Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep garden ornaments,” adds James.

“It’s perfect timing because there’s a brand new film out in October – ‘Farmageddon’ – and it’s also the 30th anniversary of Wallace & Gromit.” All designs come in colourful gift boxes and there’s a display stand available too.

The company will also be showcasing an extended range of indoor pots. As well as several additions to its hugely successful RHS Interiors collection Apta is launching a unique collection of ethically manufactured recycled paper pot covers.

“It’s no surprise that indoor pot sales continue to grow with the resurgence in houseplants,” explains James, “but in a crowded marketplace Apta’s range is a real point of difference.”

To see Apta’s extensive product range visit Glee stand

7J40-L41 & 6L40-M41 For further information and contact details see www.apta.co.uk www.gardentradenews.co.uk

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Lite range extended Fiskars has extended its Light range in 2019. It brings more accessibility for gardeners of all ages and strengths with its lightweight yet durable tools, as well as fresh targeting opportunities for retailers.

All new items in the Light collection are made of lightweight, FiberComp and anti-corrosion material, to help make gardening tasks easier and more enjoyable.

The tools added to the existing range include nursery tools, cutting tools, cultivators, leaf rakes, a weed puller, patio broom, forks, spades and a tree pruner.

The range of lightweight tools opens up more opportunities for retailers to attract new groups, as Fiskars has taken into consideration the ages, stamina and strength levels of a broad range of gardeners to create what is a comprehensive collection.

Driving container growth Woodlodge will reveal its muchanticipated 2020 product line-up at Glee, with fresh new ranges that are poised to raise the bar in stylish outdoor living.

The Tetbury-based company, which is known for refreshing up to a third of its product range each year and supplies over 2,000 garden centres across the UK, is a pioneer of driving growth in the container category, introducing pots and containers that tap into the latest consumer trends and fashions.

Launch highlights for Glee 2019 will include a new pottery range that has been designed to encourage consumers to play a role in attracting bees to gardens. Woodlodge will also tap into the trend for environmentallysensitive garden products by unveiling a pottery collection crafted from ecofriendly bamboo.

This season, Woodlodge helped retailers grow sales of pots and containers by expanding its flagship Heritage Garden range, while its ground-breaking William Morris Pottery Collection – a real game-changer that

introduced iconic Victorian chic and timeless style to outdoor living – took the container market by storm. Buyers visiting Glee will be first to see a new bird bath that will bolster the William Morris range.

Michael Wooldridge, Managing Director at Woodlodge, said: “The container market is ripe for growth, with a resurgence of interest in outdoor living driving demand for stylish containers.

Woodlodge has a proven track record in helping retailers to expand the category, and the best way to inspire consumers is by bringing out fresh designs which capture the mood of the new season.

Buyers will be able to see our latest ranges for 2020 at Glee, and learn more about the consumer fashions that are extending interior style to gardens and outdoor rooms.”

4To book a meeting on-stand before your visit to Glee, call 01666 501000 or alternatively find the Woodlodge team on stand 6S30-T31 at the show. To see the full marketleading range of pots and containers from Woodlodge, visit the company’s website at www.woodlodge.co.uk

International Buyers’ Centre to be hosted by Gardenex The Gardenex export federation will be hosting the International Buyers’ Centre at Glee 2019, which is valued by the international buyers as a business hub within the show. The Centre will be located once again close to the entrance of Hall 6 on Stand N10-P11.

The PetQuip association, a sister division of Gardenex, will also be providing business services to pet product suppliers and buyers on its Stand 19R51 in the PetQuip Village section of the exhibition.

During the three day event, an important element of the Federation’s export business creating activities will be the staging of a series of International Buyers Connect sessions. The 10-minute introductory meetings will be held each morning of the show and are available exclusively to exhibitors at the show.

In addition to the International Buyers Connect meetings, the Centre will provide a wide range of other facilities and information for both international visitors and for UK suppliers.

Export advice and details of the wide range of business-generating services provided by the two associations will be available from the association teams, as well as early notification of business initiatives, events and export government grant funding opportunities for UK businesses over the coming 12 months.

GREAT EXPECTATIONS What buyers want to see at Glee Mike Ryan – Cherry Lane “I’m looking forward to Glee more than ever this year. It really is an exciting time in the garden centre industry at the moment, with an excellent trading year so far. We’re already well advanced in our planning for 2020, but I will be looking for new trends, products and sales opportunities to help us build further on this success and continue to evolve our customer offer.”

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Graeme Jenkins – Dobbies “I’m really looking forward to seeing a wide range of new products and innovation, as well as meeting many of the suppliers, a number of whom we already work with. I’m particularly interested in ways in which we, as an industry, can build more sustainability.

Our Horticulture Director, Marcus Eyles, will be speaking in more detail on Thursday 12th September at Glee regarding the ways in which Dobbies plans to ensure there is less single-use plastic and more recyclable materials across our business.”

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

Mike Burks – The Gardens Group “I’ll be looking at new products and any suppliers new to the trade, as well as liaising with existing suppliers. I’ll also be looking for new trends.

“During discussions with suppliers I’ll be asking for their thoughts with regards to environmental awareness, including issues such as the packaging they use as part of delivery and how necessary and how recyclable that all is.”

More from buyers on p28

GLEE PREVIEW

Smartified!

It has been a busy yet exciting year for Smart Garden Products as Managing Director Jonathan Stobart explains.

Reflecting back on the 2019 season, it’s been quite a year. The UK garden centre landscape is changing once more with the sell-off of Wyevale garden centres. Our UK sales have increased by over 40% so far, helped by a warm Spring and a late Easter, which proved a perfect combination.

The one black cloud has been the continuing Brexit paralysis so we’ve been busy preparing contingency plans to cater for a potential “No Deal” scenario so that we can continue to offer our European customers seamless continuity of supply.

This year also saw the addition of the Briers range of gloves and footwear to the Smart portfolio and we were delighted to welcome several of the Briers staff to the Smart family. We’ve refreshed the brand, created new packaging and developed some fantastic new designs – in

fact you could say we’ve “Smartified” the range and all will be revealed at Glee.

We’re also very excited to be launching at Glee our new range of Pet Products under the brand name Zöon, a comprehensive range of over 650 products created by a team of very experienced pet industry marketeers.

Another key focus of product development for Smart is a massive expansion of our Core Gardening range, including new assortments of Mesh and Films, Wire Netting and Fencing, Cloches and Watering Cans.

These are all above and beyond umpteen extensions to our existing product groups including Solar, Hanging Gardening, Faux Décor and Flamboya.

So, we hope that visitors to our stand at Glee won’t need to ask “What’s New?” since so much on display will be new – over 1200 items in fact!

To see more from Smart Garden Products, including the new ranges from Briers and Zöon, visit the company at Glee in Hall 6, Stand L50-R51 26 September 2019

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

Watering cans form part of a massive expansion of Smart Garden’s Core Gardening range.

GLEE PREVIEW The Briers brand has been ‘Smartified’ with some fantastic new designs.

The new Zöon pet range from Smart Garden is stylish and comprehensive with over 650 new products.

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

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GLEE PREVIEW

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

What suppliers want to see at Glee

Consumer-friendly range Outdoor surface and patio care specialist Azpects will be attending Glee to exhibit their new consumer-friendly EASYGarden range and give away a fantastic 50” TV. Their professional-strength products are available for the first time in stylish consumers packs ideal for garden centres, DIY stores and builders merchants keen to increase all-year-round revenue. The

EASYGarden range features 10 products delivering exceptional cleaning and protection for patios, decking, paths and features. They can even help restore greenery and artificial grass!

An easy-to-enter prize draw will see one lucky visitor to stand 19E36 win a stunning new 50” 4K TV to grace their home or workplace.

New Campingaz barbecues cook up a storm Celebrating its 70th anniversary, Campingaz builds on its established reputation with the launch of its new Attitude Gas Barbecues.

Catering to the barbecue and garden market’s need for equipment suitable for smaller urban spaces and balcony cooking, these new table-top products feature sleek, urban styling with pioneering precision cooking, all within a compact package.

Designed at the company’s headquarters in France, the two models in the new Attitude Barbecue range (Attitude 2100 EX and Attitude 2100 LX) are packed full of user-friendly

technologies combined with powerful performance. Their smart technologies ensure that the entire cooking surface can reach temperatures over 250 °C, thanks to the powerful Campingaz Blue Flame two-burner system and Even Temp Technology, whilst also enabling efficient and economical gas consumption Precise heat management is achieved by measuring the surface temperature of the split cast-iron grid and reversible griddle, as opposed to the traditional method where oven heat is measured under the lid.

Unveiling Wallace & Gromit Potty Feet With a history spanning over 40 years, the instantly recognisable work of Aardman has become as synonymous for its ‘Britishness’ as a good cup of tea, discussing the weather, and strawberries and cream during Wimbledon. Now three of the studio’s most beloved characters – Wallace, Gromit, and Shaun the Sheep – are set to be immortalised in a new range of pot feet

by Jardinopia as part of an exclusive global licensing deal, helping the characters to find a new home and fan base amongst a nation of gardeners.

The Jardinopia/Aardman ranges will be officially unveiled to the market at Glee 2019, where three sets will be revealed; two showcasing Wallace & Gromit characters undertaking gardening tasks, and one for Shaun the Sheep, the perfect accompaniment to A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon - the second Shaun the Sheep feature which is set to hit UK cinemas 18th October. 2019 also marks the 30th anniversary since Wallace & Gromit first appeared on our screens in A Grand Day Out. Fast forward to today and the studio is

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Alan Roper - Blue Diamond “My expectations for Glee never change: I’ll be looking for great new products, and for innovation. Having launched our own ‘Eco’ brand this year, commercially viable green and sustainable products will certainly be on our radar.”

Damian Powell – RHS Retail “Glee is a great place to see what key industry suppliers will be launching for the following season; it’s also great for spotting trends as they emerge into the marketplace. We’re hoping to see more products made from sustainable materials, something that is ever more important to our customers.

Terry Head – Stewarts Garden Centres “Glee can sometimes be a battle between the big suppliers in the market, but I’m hopeful that the smaller players will be in a position to get a bigger bite of the cherry this year. There is increasing pressure from our customers for more sustainable products, so a big thing for us will be asking every exhibitor what they’re doing to make their products more eco-friendly.”

Emma Kelly – Bents “As always, our team will be looking for new, innovative products and suppliers.

Sustainability is high on our agenda, so we’ll be looking at what suppliers are doing to reduce packaging and cut down on plastic. We are also looking for some more natural alternatives to mainstream garden chemicals and fertilisers.

Caroline Owen – Scotsdales “Glee is always my favourite show of the year as it gets us back to our roots. My expectations would be for companies to be looking at the environment, whether that’s in product or packaging.”

now home to 4 Oscars® and an endlessly impressive list of awards and accolades, not forgetting a worldwide audience that continue to love and adore the work of the Bristol-based studio.

4To find out more about Jardinopia and Potty Feet visit www.jardinopia.com, and join them and the Aardman characters on Glee Stand 6S81.

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

Derek Bunker – Alton Garden Centre “I’ve been to every show since it started. Whilst I’ll be making a beeline for certain stands, we will all be looking around the show for new products and potential new suppliers as well.

“I believe the exhibitors should be a lot happier than in previous years, thanks to the changing ownership of all the Wyevale centres. It is good news for the trade that so many have moved back into independent ownership.”

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

Welcome to

FEATURING

Welcome to Gardman Crest, the brand new company showcasing the reinvigorated combined businesses of Gardman and Crest Garden. Here we take a look at how the company is fulfilling its aim of being “stronger together”.

All of the company’s brands ensure that quality, design and functionality are at the core of its activity and products while keeping today’s gardener in mind.

Gardman Crest has retained all of the great products and brands that Gardman produced so successfully over the past 25 years, while keeping the two leading brands of Kent & Stowe tools and Flopro watering from Crest Garden.

Plantpak has merged with Grow It and is now a fully comprehensive range of growing and propagation products.

Gardman Crest has spent the past 10 months working hard to enhance its product offering with high quality innovative additions in all of its ranges. In fact it will be Gardman Crest’s biggest and best launch ever and will definitely excite the gardening market.

The team at Gardman Crest thanks its customers for their continued support and looks forward to seeing regular and new customers at Glee 2019. They say you will not be disappointed by a visit to their stand (7F50-K51).

Visit the Gardman Crest stand at Glee

Refreshing the brands and products

This year’s Glee stand 7F50-K51 will bring together the brands of Gardman Crest, including Kent & Stowe, Cole & Bright, Flopro, Gardman and Grow It. Every brand will have its own unique lifestyle section to draw you into all of the exciting new developments.

Look out for the smoked glass walk through in Cole & Bright, the landscaping and decorative gardens as well as watering demonstrations and don’t forget the amazing life size blossom tree.

Upon entering the stand you will also be able to see how products look in store with new branding, packaging and stands.

Everything you see is a fresh new look – going back to what the company is good at while keeing today’s gardener in mind.

The merging of Gardman and Crest Garden gave the new company a unique opportunity to look at rebranding products as well as refreshing their look and feel.

“Gardman is back in a big way,” said Natalie Searle, Head of Marketing. “We are gardening experts and here to showcase our new range of hanging garden, arches, obelisks, gardening essentials and instant garden décor. The brand has gone back to its roots, ensuring quality and functionality are at the heart of everything we do.”

The Grow It brand will see an exciting re-launch at Glee, with consumer friendly eye-catching packaging and informative stands. The packaging will also differentiate between propagation, indoor growing, growhouses and greenhouses and plant supports – making is easier to shop.

Cole & Bright has a new decorative range, all branded to show products have quality and functionality. The beautiful new packaging allows for the ‘illuminate and decorate’ range that can now be merchandised side by side with functional lighting.

TURN THE PAGE TO FIND OUT WHAT’S NEW FROM GARDMAN CREST www.gardentradenews.co.uk

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New products for 2020 It’s been a busy past 10 months for the Gardman Crest team, which has worked hard to innovate.

Grow It has designed a range of unique plant supports that grow with your plants. This smart system allows a modular approach, meaning you can create your own bespoke plant support.

Grow It has also introduced advanced growhouse solutions with stability pockets for wind resistance as well as stronger covers, zips and shelving. Walk in models have newly designed ventilation in the form of side roll doors – representing that of a household door to ensure even distribution of air flow.

Another exciting development from Grow It is in the form of propagation. The brand has blended perfectly with Plantpak products ensuring quality and breadth of range.

The new range of propagation focusses on reducing single use plastics – as all of the products are made from recycled and recyclable materials.

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Gardman Crest is excited to introduce a new range of Kent & Stowe gardening gloves, footwear and kneelers – offering the high quality, bespoke designs and breadth of range, all with new and innovative merchandising solutions.

Kent & Stowe is also showcasing a new tree care range and a select range of traditional cutting tools with full guarantees and space conscious stands.

The brand has also had an exciting redevelopment of the cutting range with fresh new colours and beautifully designed packaging to highlight their modern techniques for strength and longevity as well as a clean and precise cut.

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

GLEE PREVIEW

New and exciting products for Cole & Bright include the new decorative range and motion sensor security lighting. The stylish security lighting has dual power functionality, meaning guaranteed lighting 365 evenings of light a year owing to the Cole & Bright battery back-up solution. It also has the brand’s highest lumen ever at an astonishing 1200 – making homes feel safe.

The Gardman brand is back to its former splendour and heritage, returning with beautiful hanging baskets, planters, arches, obelisks and gardening accessories.

An exciting new development and UK-first is the new range of decorative jute co-co liners. These unique liners are perfect for décor while your baskets are growing – ensuring the containers look fresh all year round. The new range of decorative arches and obelisks complete some of our bestselling collections.

Visit to the Gardman Crest stand (7F50-K51) at Glee www.gardentradenews.co.uk

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Potstars set to be a hit

GLEE PREVIEW

The recent surge in sales within the house plants sector which is up 31% year on year, has led Meadow View Stone to develop a new ground-breaking product.

This latest innovation in house plant technology will complement and actively cross sell into the house plant sector via this bespoke collection of decorative aggregates, a sector in which Meadow View Stone specialises.

The innovative company is introducing its new Potstars collection which brings together a selection of highly decorative, smaller graded gravels in eight distinctly different colours and styles. These decorative gravels and sands can be used in conjunction with Easihold, a water based resin fixing spray which binds the stones together.

These decorative gravels and sands can be used in conjunction with Easihold, a water based, resin fixing spray which binds the stones together.

Potstars creates a decorative bound surface that stops animal or child related soil dramas that are usually associated with loose gravels.

This easy to use spray contains NO harsh chemicals yet is tough enough to create a firm but flexible finish that is fully permeable and helps to alleviate moisture evaporation.

The product is suitable for any plants,

trees or shrubs, pots or troughs, with a recommended laying depth of the gravels or sand at 20mm.

The Easihold spray when applied will then fix and bind the 5mm top layer of gravel in a strong, durable finish, but will leave a loose buffer layer of stones directly contactable with the soil or substrate below. This allows the finished surface to be more pliable and easier to remove and re-pot over time.

It hides away unsightly roots, soil or compost, and enhances any house plant to create a decorative feature in the home.

Potstars and Easihold stone binder collection is the latest innovation in house plant technology.

Visit Meadow View Stone at Glee 2019 on stand 19C30-D31 to find out more about this fantastic new product for the house plant sector.

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

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GLEE PREVIEW

Shaking up the UK pest control market

Leading North American biotech company The Environmental Factor Inc. will be bringing an industry-first nematode shakeable granular biocontrol product to Glee.

Environmental Factor currently sells to DIY retailers, garden centres and online across Canada and the US, and is now ready to hit the UK market in a big way with a range of products, which includes insect controls, organic fertilizers and soil amendments.

The company will be launching new shelfready shakeable nematode products for Slugs, Weevils, Ants, Gnats and more. In total there will be 10 exciting new products in the range: 4NemaKnights Biological Insect Controls for Slugs, Grubs, Weevils and Fungus gnatsTM for a complete bug controls inside and outside wherever you grow!

4RainDrops Water Saving GranulesTM – natural polymer that brings rain to your plants when mother nature and you are busy.

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4Simply Organix Ready to Spray & Soluble powderTM organic range for lawns, plus a complete garden and plant line of soluble nutrients for Vegetative Grow, Bloom and Micronutrients. The 3-step feeding program is ideal for gardens, indoor hydroponic growing and containers.

4Simply Organix Lawn in a Box – the complete season feeding program all in one easy carry box for up to 200 square meters.

So what’s so different about the new insect control range?

Traditional nematode formulations have been successful but have limited biocontrol for over two decades. NemaKnights are the next generation biocontrol, with an exclusive six-month shelf stable and slow release shakeable formula.

The line includes the All-purpose Garden formula for grubs, caterpillars and weevils, and there is also a formula for Ants, Slugs

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

and indoor/outdoor fungus gnat control.

Nematodes were typically shipped only by mail order, now they are on the shelf and the consumer can apply without having to mix in a watering can or garden sprayer.

Another great advantage for retailers is that the NemaKnight nematode products can be put on the shelf without refrigeration.

They can be merchandised in high traffic areas without any problems and also in dedicated garden control displays.

Is it easy for customers to apply?

Yes! Just open the lid to remove seal, replace the lid and flip it open to start shaking out the nematode products.

FIND OUT MORE AT GLEE 4To find out more about this Industryfirst non-refrigerated slug control product in granular form visit the Environmental Factor stand 8B74 at Glee.

GLEE PREVIEW

Pure Fantasy It’s easy to imagine that sales of Fountasia products are from the land of Make Believe but just one look at GTN Bestsellers Christmas Top 50 Chart reveals the scale of this company’s success.

So what’s the secret behind this 20-year-old successful family-run business? Here we attempt to find out.

How did the Fountasia story begin?

Fountasia is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. The business has its origins in the manufacture of quality tin whistles, which the father of MD Michael Weedon still makes for the music industry.

Fountasia, though, focuses largely on the garden centre market. Michael himself is the designer-brains behind today’s current range, in collaboration with a talented Chinese artist who exclusively interprets his drawings for manufacturing.

This year saw Nik and Khris Weedon join the Fountasia family as the Third Generation.

You regularly appear in the GTN Bestsellers charts - does that give you a sense of satisfaction?

Yes, definitely. Taking into consideration the time and effort involved in producing truly innovative products it is good to be recognised, and to see our products selling well.

How has the company grown over the past few years?

Over the past five years Fountasia has grown by 60%+ each year as consumers become more aware and spend more on quality gifts and garden decoration.

What’s your most popular product or product line?

Our World of Make Believe has been the most popular and bestselling range with new products being constantly developed to keep things fresh.

Who comes up with all the different designs?

In the early days Michael would develop the products.

With our turnover reaching £8 million this year we now have a team of three or four people, including Michael, working on the 2020 new products.

Will you be unveiling lots of new products at Glee?

There will be a lot of new products at Glee, along with enhanced display solutions focusing around key ranges and new-to-market concepts.

36 September 2019

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

GLEE PREVIEW

World of Make Believe World of Make Believe has been the best new product launch in Fountasia’ history and the company is excited about the many developments to this range, including a consumer-facing website to drive footfall in garden centres.

With over 1,500 décor products there is a huge range from which retailers can choose.

Fountasia products are manufactured – in many cases hand made – to a high quality specification to ensure our products appeal to a range of customers as value for money.

‘World of Make Believe is already seeing great sales and re-orders from customers as impulse sales but also as a collectable range’

Animal Kingdom The Animal Kingdom range is a great success and offers a great range which is creating customer interest in store and driving the average customer spend in garden figurines.

Fountasia has two range options available – real life colours and décor colours (bronze and gold). Both sell well but generally customers keep the ranges displayed separately.

The company is happy to tailor a range based on bestsellers subject to your budget for any range.

Fairy & Pixie World Adding the new Pixie range to the current Fairy range is recommended as it is huge demand.

Fountasia can provide a Free of Charge tree display to help bring the range to life.

The company recommends rather than taking certain lines on this it is better to order only one case of all lines and then top-up based on sales.

Garden Bells

Tinkling Toadstools

Garden Bells has seen a massive growth in sales this year thanks in no small part to the introduction of the Tinkle Toes Range, which adds a new, fresh twist. With Tinkletoes currently selling out within weeks of arrival this is a range not to be missed.

This range sells extremely well and even more so when displayed alongside the bestselling Fairy Kingdom Range. Available in a variety of colours and sizes.

VISIT FOUNTASIA AT GLEE TO SEE THE LATEST IN GARDEN DÉCOR

Stands 6M30-N31 & 6L30-6M31 www.gardentradenews.co.uk

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Give Room To Nature – that’s our calling and it’s why we’re building a brand that your customers recognise and love. You’ll see us increasing PR & marketing with core consumer press, as well as inspirational new display materials.

Watch this space for elho innovations launching at spoga+gafa. Including the unique Corsica Vertical Forest, new for 2020 – a simple solution for vertical gardening that builds on the success of the GTN bestselling Corsica Easy Hanger.

Did you know that our Greenville Collection is made from plastic production waste?

And that 12 recycled laundry liquid bottles make a Green Basics Watering Can? Our first elho multi media campaign, The Beauty of Waste, launched in 2019 in Europe, with a TV commercial in the Netherlands and Germany. In the campaign, we share our passion for making beautiful designer pots out of recycled plastics using 100% wind energy.

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www.gardentradenews.co.uk

T: 07910 212155 E: david.nicholson@elho.nl www.elho.com www.facebook.com/elho

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September 2019 41

Please come and visit us at: Glee Birmingham NEC, 10th -12th September 2019 Hall 7 Stand J91 to discuss the oportunity of acquiring a Rowallan of Scotland Handbag Concession in store What We Offer In store concessions available Stock provided free of charge Stand provided and installed free of charge Free stock replenishment every two weeks High rate of commssion paid In store staff training available free of charge Available for immediate delivery Tel: 01563 541709 Email: sales@rowallan.com

Doctor Organics The Organic Solution Looking for a range with a difference to sell to your customers at Glee this year? Doctor Organics brings you the organic solution.

Filled with organic goodness our product range provides the answer to nature’s challenge with insects and disease, poor soil and plant nutrition.

To promote the organic way of life the conscientious gardener first must look at what nature really needs and then understand what the plants need.

Every plant has its own little ecosystem of bacterial and chemical uptake and in nature the plants are very happily balanced with their own way to optimise their presence on Earth.

The garden is not really any different. A plant knows where it is best and what the soil needs. The gardener has a choice; to either supply what the plant needs or to let nature dictate what plants should go where.

As we tend to want certain plants to thrive and we want certain plants to stay away from the garden (weeds) we have a tendency to provide nature with a challenge.

So to help restore balance in nature we are best to provide nurture with nature in mind. Doctor Organics brings a product range that does exactly that.

4Doctor Organic’s Plant Pills 4Doctor Organic’s Grass Tonic & Soil Conditioner 4Doctor Organic’s Repair Potion

42 September 2019

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

DOCTOR ORGANICS Stand: Hall 06-19 8C80 Tel 01642 42 42 65 info@organicfertiliser.info

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September 2019 43

GTN Bestsellers make great Christmas Stocking Fillers The Playwrite Group Plc are delighted to be able to say that their selection of Christmas Stocking Fillers is going from strength to strength. In the January 2019 GTN Bestsellers list, 10% of the Top 50 items were Playwrite Group items, with 8 items appearing in the top 100.

As you can see from the picture below, these included items such as Magic Snow, Plush Elves, Christmas Slap Bands and our top rated item, the Christmas Jingle Stick, which came in at number nine on the list.

We also have a fantastic selection of new items available this year, shown right, and we are looking forward to seeing where they all rank in the 2020 listing. We’re sure you will love them just as much as we do!

If you would like any further details on our full range, visit our website at www.playwritegroup.com.

Alternatively, contact James Cornelius on jamesc@playwritegroup.com or the sales team on 0207 6831288.

Procurement Made Easy Anything that makes a time consuming process faster and more efficient has to be good news! But what if it saved you money too?

Here at Acopia we always see procurement from your side of the table and specialise in transforming a tedious task into a positive time and cost saving activity.

Garden centres like yours typically spend up to 25% of their operating costs on consumables.

72% of garden centres say that controlling costs in this area is important to them.

That’s why we work our magic to make this investment work harder for you by eliminating hidden costs and gaining control of spend for you right across your business.

Enter My Acopia We created a unique online platform especially for retailers like yourselves that unlocks your profit potential. It frees up precious time and reduces your admin whilst giving you complete visibility of spend with bespoke options that fit seamlessly into your operation.

Find out what My Acopia can do for your business and why garden centres like Dobbies are already using it!

Join us at Glee Stand 19P32 Hall 06-19 44 September 2019

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

Get in touch with Jake Elkins today E: jake.elkins@acopia.co.uk T: 07881 311857

acopia.co.uk a better way of procurement

Since launching in the UK just over a year ago, Vegepods have grown exponentially and are turning the heads of garden industry experts. Matt Harris, the inventor of the unique raised bed, discusses the sustainability of Vegepods, why plastic is used and how this is in fact more sustainable and durable than timber and recycled alternatives.

Q: Tell us about the sustainable side of Vegepods?

A: Vegepods are made from a virgin polypropylene plastic, a heavy duty and durable plastic which is foodsafe. Growing produce in a Vegepod ensures your harvest is free from nasties, Q: Is this plastic made from recyclable materials?

A: No, it isn’t. And for very good reason. Using recycled plastics wouldn’t guarantee the product is foodsafe and could be prone to leaching harmful materials into what you’re growing. Recycled plastics have a much shorter life span as do wooden raised beds (2 – 3 years) whereas a Vegepod has the potential to last 10+ years.

Q: What are your views around the unfavourable use of black plastic within the gardening industry?

A: The issue here is single use plastics - plastic bags, packaging and gardening pots. A Vegepod can last up to 20 years, and is in use 24 hrs a day, 365 days a year. That’s 175,200 hours use out of a Vegepod vs an approximate 150 hrs of a single use plastic.

Q: What does the future look like for Vegepod as a company?

A: We are making a product that in itself helps reduce carbon emissions, we’re one of the good guys. As a company we are continually reviewing our impact on the environment from the packaging we use to the processes we employ across the globe.

Visit Vegepod at GLEE on stand 8C75 / Hall 06-19 www.vegepod.co.uk / info@vegepod.co.uk 01737 764 940

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September 2019 45

GLEE PREVIEW

Urban barbecues are on the UP with Cadac Cadac will be on stand 6P34-Q35 showcasing its range of premium patio barbecues, including its award-winning Citi Chef 50 (SRP £300) and extended range of Citi Chef 40 (SRP £200) barbecues, designed with urban living in mind.

Cadac barbecues offer a unique style with a premium finish, there is no China badge slapping in sight, and are all supported by an extensive POS programme and UK based warranty support.

4 To find out more visit the team on stand 6P34-Q35.

W: www.cadacinternational.com/uk E: info@cadacuk.com T: 0333 2000 363

Zest 4 Leisure committed to customer service Zest 4 Leisure is a leading supplier of high quality, FSC certified, timber garden products including garden furniture, arbours, arches, fencing, trellis, planters and an extensive ‘Grow-Your-Own’ range.

Zest 4 Leisure’s new innovative products will be unveiled at the show and displayed alongside the GIMA finalist; Noah’s Arbour.

The company is committed to delivering the best in customer service and offer a marketing support package which includes, its digital library of product shots and product assembly videos which will be showcased on the stand.

4You can visit Zest 4 Leisure on stand 20Z30 to see the company’s 2020 timber product range and to meet the team.

ecofective brand poised for growth at Glee Leading environmentally-friendly plant care brand ecofective will feature its rapidly expanding portfolio at Glee 2019, showcasing the latest generation of natural feed, weed and pest control products that cater for the UK’s growing band eco-friendly consumers and organic gardeners. ecofective has experienced strong demand throughout 2019, with sales driven by consumers seeking effective green alternatives to conventional fertilisers and pesticides. The retail ban on metaldehyde-based slug pellets

46 September 2019

has strengthened the market for natural slug controls, with the company poised to showcase its new ecofective® Slug Killer – supplied in a recycled container and containing FERRIMAX bait. ecofective’s Head of Sales, Nigel Thompson, said: “Sales of natural pest control products and chemical-free fertilisers have performed well this season, with the fashion for grow-your own continuing to gather pace, while rising numbers of organic and vegan gardeners are demanding effective plant care products that are kind to the environment and to wildlife. Ecofective

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will build on this growth at Glee 2019.”

Created by leading plant technology firm Sipcam, the ecofective Child & Pet Safe range is safe to use in gardens that are home to youngsters and animals.

Used by professional growers and adapted for retail, the pioneering formulations behind the brand are safe to use around beneficial insects, including bees.

Glee will provide the ideal platform to showcase the company’s Royal Horticultural Society-approved RHS Garden Care range.

4The ecofective team will be on stand 8E70 at the show. To find out more visit www.ecofective.uk.com

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September 2019 47

GLEE PREVIEW

Exhibitor expectations Adam Taylor – Taylors Bulbs “Glee takes place just as the peak selling weeks for flower bulbs are beginning, so we always gain invaluable insight into emerging trends, as well as taking orders for promotional products and replenishments. We are looking forward to a busy show and seeing how the new opening days may increase attendance.”

James Hoad – Apta “We approach Glee as we always do; very confidently and excited about the opportunities for the next season. The show is still the focal point of our year, and we’ll have many new products to launch. The mood in the industry seems very upbeat after a decent season. The attitude towards Glee itself is also much better recently and the show has recovered a bit of a buzz, so I hope it’s well attended again.”

Paris Natar – Smart Garden Products “We have invested more than ever before in product development with over 1,200 new products. Our expectation is to see as many current and potential customers as possible at Glee to provide them with a flavour of our new 2020 ranges. We hope to pique their interest sufficiently for a subsequent, more leisurely visit to one of our showrooms at either Peterborough or Abingdon.

“Glee is also a fantastic training ground for our team, whether in sales roles or elsewhere. Talking to so many people in such a short space of time is a great way to become fluent in ‘Smart’, while receiving fantastic feedback - not always complimentary, but always bang on the money! In short, to coin a close colleague’s favourite saying, we just want to: ‘sell more stuff!’. Wish us luck!”

Mark Hall – Creative Products “With Creative launching a number of new products at Glee this year, as well as the Wyevale big sell off, we are hoping to see some new opportunities.

“Creative Products is well placed to offer garden centres risk-free buying as all stock supplied with Creative Products TV promotions come with full SOR when promoted products change.’

Nick Finding - West Country Soil Improvement Limited “This will be our second year as an exhibitor at Glee. It will be a hard act to follow having won the Seed Corn Fund and Best of British New Product Awards last year! What we learned last year is how critical this event is in the gardening year and what a valuable networking and learning experience it is. It has certainly become a cornerstone of our trade marketing plan and we wouldn’t miss it!”

Andrew Mellowes – Woodlodge “We are excited about Glee this year as it always provides a great opportunity to catch up with our customers and begin to put firm plans in place for the next season. It is both the quality and quantity of retailers who visit the show that is important to us.

“With more than 150 new products being launched, we know there will be new ranges that will inspire consumers and generate additional sales for all our customers.”

Richard Pyrah – Kelkay “With support and investment from AMES UK we have been able to drive significant growth in several categories during 2019. Glee will be an exciting opportunity to show customers how we’re intending to build on that growth and demonstrate the benefits of bringing a family of category brands together under the AMES UK umbrella.”

Mark Portman – Evergreen Garden Care “With a new team in place for Glee this year, it gives us a great opportunity to engage with our customers and showcase our exciting range of innovative new products across both Miracle-Gro and Roundup. Our innovation - which we’re looking forward to sharing - is based on meeting consumers’ demands for quick and simple gardening, plus the increased interest in more natural and sustainable gardening approaches.

“The new Glee stand will enable our customers to get closer to the products and will give us the opportunity to demonstrate the expertise and passion behind every product. We are really looking forward to Glee 2019 and working with our customers to create significant category growth.”

GREAT EXPECTATIONS What the consultants say Jane Lawler – Marketing Consultant and GCA Auditor “I think this will be my 30th Glee and I love the anticipation and the build-up every time! It has become a vital cornerstone for my business development and networking activities – not least because I am guaranteed to meet up with all my clients past and present, but most importantly it’s where I have been introduced to lots of new contacts and developed some exciting new client relationships.

My diary is already filling up for this year!”

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Kimberley Hornby – Hornby Whitefoot PR “This year we’ve seen more exhibitors engage with the PR programme than ever before.

“A look at a plastic-free future and a focus on sustainability has shaped much of the conversation during this campaign so we’re looking forward to seeing how this translates at the show. From wholly new products and packaging solutions, to green initiatives and new product innovations, this Glee will be a strong demonstration of how our industry is coming together to showcase a greener and more sustainable future.”

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Tim Jeffries – Mr Fothergills and Darlac “We look forward to Glee as the one time in the year when we have a chance to meet our Mr Fothergills’ stockists en masse, have the opportunity to show our full range and discuss development plans.

Of course, it’s always good to meet potential new stockists, show them the Mr Fothergills offering and discuss how we could develop sales with them. For Darlac, Glee is an important part of our growth plans.”

Keith Nicholson - Westland “I expect this year to be one of the strongest Glee shows in recent times. There will be a strong focus on sustainability and the environment, and there will be a different dynamic in the post Wyevale era.

“For Westland as a group, Glee will be our first opportunity to really showcase all the developments of our Gardman Crest business along with many new Westland developments.

“This has been one of our strongest years for product evolution. In growing media we have new specialists ranges and more developments for New Horizon. Lawns see real step changes in quality and performance of grass seed for the consumer.

“There’s a fresh approach to the Growing Success brand, and we will be launching the Gardman ‘Wild Bird Banquet’, a consumer communication plan aimed at inspiring and incentivising customers to grow the market and increase penetration linked with our biggest ever garden survey about the importance of wildlife in the garden.”

Katie Blake Garden Furniture is becoming one of the bestselling brands throughout the United Kingdom.

With its great reputation achieved by innovation in design and excellent service, retailers stocking Katie Blake are reporting growth, profit and, most important, happy customers!

Katie Blake operates on a strict pricing strategy across its stockists in garden retail, high street and online discounting is not allowed! It has always been Glencrest’s policy to protect their customers, something that other brands don’t appear to value. We are able to offer superior product at such competitive prices purely on the basis that we own our manufacturing operation.

For next season we are introducing two new ranges – a stylish Aluminium Range and a Luxurious Rattan Range branded ‘Katie Blake Elite’. Contrary to many opinions about the popularity of Rattan, sales of Katie Blake would suggest that it is still a firm favourite.

The new Elite range provides a high level of comfort with stylish design features and can come with Sunbrella cushions that can be left outdoors permanently. For outdoor use Sunbrella Fabric is far superior to other fabrics, which makes this range unique and long lasting.

Katie Blake now adopts Solution Dyeing and is achieving level 7/8 Light to Fast tests!

This fabric is guaranteed not to fade for 2 years. Every set of furniture comes complete with a waterproof cover included as standard. The Katie Blake Elite Range also boasts the same 10-year guarantee, covering the frames and the Rattan weave.

Sales Manager Iain Ross, Katie Blake, Glencrest Seatex Ltd. T: 01702 527814 E: sales@katieblake.co.uk

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September 2019 49

50 September 2019

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Quality background music for HTA retail members with no PRS or PPL licences for only ÂŁ495 per year

Call 01733 775700 or 07973 504214 Email gardenradio@tgcmc.co.uk

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September 2019 51

GLEE PREVIEW

Glee 2019 by numbers 550

suppliers will be exhibiting at Glee this year

ÂŁ6000 61%

is up for grabs for the winner of the GIMA Innovators’ Seed Corn Fund

of visitors will attend as a result of seeing the Retail Lab last year

7,000 300+

50

275

3

UK and international key decision makers expected to visit

companies have broken into the market thanks to exhibiting in the Innovators Zone 52 September 2019

entries expected in the Glee New Product Showcase

22

awards will be handed out to winners of the New Product Showcase Awards www.gardentradenews.co.uk

benches will make up the horticultural hub of Green Heart

action packed and profitable days are guaranteed on September 10, 11 & 12

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September 2019 53

NEWS UPDATE

TALKING POINTS 5 STORIES THAT MADE THE HEADLINES

1

The Wyevale ‘Sale of the Century’ continues at a pace.

A number of centres have been sold over the past few weeks, the latest being Bournville Wyevale (at the time of going to press). It was bought by British Garden Centres, taking them to 25 centres and now the third largest UK garden centre group.

Wyevale also announced that Swindon Hay Lane Garden Centre’s landlord, Studley Grange Limited, will continue to operate the site as a garden centre.

3 Stax Trade Centres has acquired hardware and ironmongery manufacturer M.P. Smith and Co. Ltd, a long-standing supplier to the company. Stax says it’s a strategic move to strengthen its supply chain but that the companies will continue to run as separate businesses. M.P. Smith was established in the mid-70s and using the brand name SECURIT has been a market leader in the UK ironmongery sector.

People News

2

The Garden Centre Association is encouraging its members to do what they can to help reduce the amount of plastic going to landfill. Two of its member centres – St Peter’s Garden Centre in Norton, Worcester, and Webbs of Wychbold – recently worked with Herefordshire and Worcestershire authorities to get non-black PP plastic pots and trays accepted in household and kerbside recycling bins.

4

GIMA’s many fundraising activities during the past year have raised more than £20,000 for Greenfingers. The GIMA Charity Day kick started proceedings, raising an impressive £8,000. GIMA’s biggest ever fundraising event – and personal challenge for those taking part – was the GIMA Wing Walk in late June, when GIMA’s Vicky Nuttall, Evergreen Garden Care’s Mark Portland and SBM Life Science’s Lowri Walker took to the skies strapped to the roof of a vintage bi-plane for a flight none of them will forget.

They raised a staggering £10,000.

Pet industry marketing expert Peter Johnson has joined Smart Garden Products to head up its newly-created Pet Division that will launch at Glee under the brand name of Zöon brand. Pronounced ‘Zow-On’, it is the Greek word for ‘Pet’.

“When the company offered me this role, I was delighted to accept.” Peter said. “I am really looking forward to working with Paris Natar, Jonathan Stobart and their amazing team to bring this exciting new project to market.”

Rainer Schubert has been appointed as Burgon & Ball UK Managing Director. Rainer was most recently UK and ROI Sales Director at Scotts Miracle-Gro for six years (now Evergreen Garden Care UK). Before Scotts he held a number of commercial roles at Akzo Nobel over an eleven-year period.

5

Record temperatures in July were matched with record garden centre total sales for the month.

Analysis of garden centre Epos data for GTN Bestsellers showed July 2019 was 22% up on 2018, 1% up on the previous July high set in 2015 and 6% higher than the 9 year average for the month. After July’s record performance, garden centre sales for the year to date were 3.6% up on last year and 1.1% up on 2017.

Full versions of these reports first appeared in GTN Xtra, our weekly e-newsletter mailed direct to registered email addresses to keep readers in touch with industry news as it happens. To register, send your email address to: trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk and put ‘GTN Xtra’ in the subject line.

54 September 2019

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Vitax is delighted to announce the appointment of a new area sales manager to cover customers across Avon, Wilts, Hants and Dorset following the retirement of Julian Goodhand earlier this year.

David Beech joins from Woodlodge Products where he has spent the last five years leading a team of merchandisers working with garden centres and retail outlets throughout the UK.

VIEWPOINT

Dealing with sustainability Associate editor Mike Wyatt says the number one question that visitors to Glee will be asking this year is: What are you doing about the environment?

A buyer who doesn’t feel a tingle as he/she walks through the doors at Glee is probably in the wrong job – or already dreading the inevitable onset of ‘buyer’s foot’.

The role of retail buyer at trade events like Glee and Spring Fair is never for the fainthearted but the anticipation of being the first to discover (exclusively, naturally) the next big thing is surely a great kick-start for the adrenaline pump.

Elsewhere in this issue, retailers, exhibitors and consultants make it abundantly clear how important a re-invigorated Glee has become in their bid to put more cash in the till.

But this year in particular, one message above all others is breaking through the noise. The number one question buyers will be asking is: What are you doing about the environment?

Sustainability and environmental credentials have been central to the garden industry’s conversations for some time. Any exhibitor at Glee 2019 who has not prepared

56 September 2019

a strategy to deal with these issues looks to be in for a testing time.

As I have noted on these pages before, soaring numbers of consumers want to play an active part in tackling our environmental crisis through better-informed retail choices.

Retailers and suppliers are increasingly aware that there is no option but to follow their example. If the advance PR from Glee exhibitors is anything to go by, next year’s garden centre shelves could reflect a more intense shade of ‘green’ than we have seen up to now.

I believe few will now challenge the notion that the garden industry has a major role to play in helping us to live sustainable future lives. There is an opportunity to show that we care enough about soil health, water conservation, biodiversity and the overarching ecology of land and ocean to ensure that every move we make has a beneficial impact, whether it’s speeding up the transition to peat-free growing media or cutting out single-use plastic.

The major brands will no doubt be hoping to grab headlines rather than dreadlines at Glee and their stands will understandably be ‘must see’ for most visitors.

For example, Westland promises a strong focus on sustainability and the environment, with new developments for New Horizon, a fresh approach for Growing Success and a Gardman wildlife gardening initiative, as well as the re-invented Gardman Crest business.

And Evergreen says it will unveil moves to satisfy the increasing interest in more natural and sustainable gardening.

But while the big fish with their R&D and marketing budgets are crucial players, we should never overlook the minnows.

Sometimes, the treasure hides in places like Glee’s Innovators Zone, where audacious entrepreneurs get an opportunity to put

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their concepts in front of a knowledgeable and experienced audience of buyers (not to mention established suppliers looking for range extension). It’s in the nooks and crannies where you can pick up small but perfect products that could give you a distinctive point of difference. With so many former Wyevales now back in independent hands, these budding businesses of tomorrow should benefit from increased buyer attention this year.

I recently received a press release highlighting the success of so-called ‘challenger brands’ in established markets where major players are cutting their advertising spends. OceanSaver topped the list as the best eco-friendly cleaning product supplier with its concentrated water-soluble pods, encouraging consumers to go plasticfree in July with a discounts offer on social media. Apparently, the brand has huge ambitions to compete against the likes of Procter & Gamble and Reckitt Benckiser.

There are challenger brands in gardening – Neudorff and ecofective are recent UK examples, both of which have broadened the demand for eco-friendly garden care solutions, giving the market leaders food for thought.

At Glee this year, then, keeping a weather eye open for the less-than-obvious innovation could pay good dividends.

So, too, could taking part in Glee’s ‘Power of One’ initiative (as employed at its Spring Fair sister show earlier this year), which seeks to show how a combination of small individual changes can contribute to a sustainable future for all. You pledge to make a change to reduce your impact on the environment and the world we live in and share it on social media.

Doing your bit, however, small, is important – and it shows you care.

WATER GARDENING

Major companies exhibiting at AQUA

Visitors to AQUA 2019 in October can expect a busy and exciting show as the exhibition hall at Telford International Centre will be packed with companies showcasing new products.

Show organiser Annie Foord said: “I’m happy to report that the UK’s major companies are again heading for Telford and we will be welcoming an impressive number of international businesses, who regard AQUA as their major platform to showcase products to UK buyers.”

Visitors can expect a warm welcome from companies like AQUA One, Beaver Plants, CASCO Pet, Evolution Aqua, Fish Science, Gordon Low, Hozelock, Interpet, Lotus, Neil Hardy Aquatica, Norwood Aquarium, NT Laboratories, OASE, Red Sea, Seneye, Tetra and Tropical Marine Centre.

A strong international presence at the twoday exhibition at Telford International Centre on October 16-17 will be represented

by Aquadip and Velda (The Netherlands), and Tropica Aquarium Plants (Denmark).

A full list of exhibitors is on the AQUA website www.aquatelford.co.uk.

AQUA One’s Managing Director Mark Winter summed up why the exhibition has become such an important event in the aquatics and watergardening industry. “We always look forward to an AQUA

58 September 2019

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year. It is the one time we can get together with customers.

The timing of show is also ideal for some major range launches we have planned. Aqua 2017 was big for us as a business – 2019 could just be even bigger.”

Gordon Low Products are a regular exhibitor to AQUA, as director Ruth Low explained: “We are looking forward to this year’s show. We are quite a small company so this bi-annual opportunity to see all our lovely customers under one roof and have a fab night out with them, is just great.”

The New Product Showcase, sponsored by pbwnews, is one of the most popular features at the event as visiting buyers welcome the chance to view all the latest launches in one dedicated area.

More than 100 new products were showcased in 2017 when AQUA was last staged, and a higher number is expected this year. All the items will be entered into the New Product Awards, which will be judged by a team of independent retailers on the opening morning of the show.

As well as getting to see all the new products to be launched on to the market, visitors will be well looked-after during their stay, and retailers and buyers will also be invited to join exhibitors at the AQUA dinner, which takes place on the first evening of the exhibition.

DATE FOR THE DIARY AQUA 2019, October 16-17, Telford International Centre

PETS

PATS Telford gears up for biggest show ever The excitement is building as the pet industry gears up for one of its biggest events of the year…PATS Telford on Sunday and Monday, September 22-23.

All the latest innovations, exciting new product launches, unrivalled networking opportunities and future trends come together to create the industry’s most thriving exhibition.

Visitors can expect to see more than 300 brands being exhibited at PATS Telford with the industry’s leading companies, plus a growing number of new businesses, ready to showcase their products and services.

Show organiser Annie Foord said: “I’m happy to report that the major pet companies are heading for Telford, as well as a host of new exhibitors, and we will also be welcoming an impressive number of overseas businesses. They obviously regard PATS as their major platform to showcase products to UK buyers.”

This year’s show has attracted: 4Unrivalled number of pet product exhibitors 4Biggest showcase of new products 4Unbeatable show offers and competitions 4Top groomers for insightful demos 4Informative seminars PATS Telford is the ideal venue for visiting retailers to discover what’s new in the market and an ideal opportunity to talk to manufacturers and suppliers.

The New Product Showcase, sponsored by pbwnews, is a great way for visitors to see and touch the new products they will be stocking. The Showcase has been given a prime position, acknowledging its importance to both exhibitors and visitors, and all items entered by manufacturers will be put forward for the New Product Awards judged by a panel of pet retailers.

As well as seeing an unrivalled array of new pet products and speaking to top suppliers

and manufacturers, visitors will also be able to witness demonstrations from the country’s leading dog groomers and listen to talks from prominent industry figures.

Parking is free at the Telford International Centre, and everyone will receive free tea and coffee, and a free show catalogue.

With good catering facilities and plenty of seating areas taken care of, visitors can concentrate fully on the main business of the day – seeing top-class products

PATS Case Study: Dobbies Garden Centres Dobbies is now the biggest garden centre group in the UK and the company views the pet sector as an important growth opportunity. Here Sean Kelley, Head of Pets at Dobbies Garden Centres, reveals why PATS is the best place to source new pet products.

What’s the attraction of visiting a PATS show?

I have visited the PATS show for the past several years.

I always find it’s a great opportunity to catch up with all of the key suppliers from the industry under one roof.

Do you see all the products you need to help you stock your pet department?

There’s always a lot to see and the show certainly inspires me to fill the Dobbies pet department.

60 September 2019

It’s always interesting to see the new product innovation manufacturers are bringing to the market.

How important is the pet sector to your business?

The Dobbies brand is constantly broadening its offer across all departments. I feel for pets, there is a particular important growth opportunity with a key focus for development.

Do you prefer to see everything under one roof?

Yes, absolutely!

Would you say it’s a friendly show?

Extremely friendly, from both exhibitors and attendees – it’s what makes the PATS exhibitions so enjoyable.

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from the biggest range of suppliers and manufacturers…all under one roof.

4A full list of exhibitors is available on the website www.patshow.co.uk together with information on how to reach the venue and regularly updated show news.

Opening times Sunday, 22 September: 9.30am-5.00pm Monday, 23 September: 9.30am-4.00pm

VIEWPOINT

Raising the bar and setting new standards in garden retail VICKY NUTTALL DIRECTOR OF GIMA

It’s that time of year when we realise we’ve barely come up for air. Good weather, strong trading and a continual cycle of events, exhibitions and consumer shows, has made the first half of 2019 disappear in the blink of an eye.

With Glee on the horizon, and the end of the year approaching, now is the perfect time to regroup, assess recent successes and look at ways to keep raising the bar in regards to product development, and business service standards.

It’s well known that suppliers that work to stay one step ahead of the latest trends successfully secure the longevity of their business, with consumers and retailers looking to them to view the ‘next big thing’. At GIMA, we are constantly looking at new ways to support our members in all aspects of their business. We were particularly pleased with the take-up and response to our recently launched workshop, ‘Trends for the Garden Industry’, led by consumer and design trend intelligence agency, Scarlet Opus.

The workshop, held at Dobbies

Garden Centre in Milton Keynes, provided delegates with a fascinating insight into how consumer behaviour is tipped to evolve over the next two to three years – with a strong focus on how shifts in global fashions will drive demand for the garden products of tomorrow.

Such insight provided suppliers and manufacturers with the confidence to plan ahead in the short and long term, ensuring that the next generation of products will be precisely tailored to the demands of consumers.

The level of bespoke information provided exclusively for GIMA members drew praise from delegates, who were impressed by the depth of content and how Scarlet Opus pinpointed key trends and drilled down into their predicted evolution, while forecasting how consumer needs will change over the coming years.

Elsewhere, the wider GIMA programme of events is designed to arm our members with real tangible advice that can be quickly implemented

within their businesses, whilst also providing futureproof consumer focused advice that can help create ‘stand-out’ in a crowded marketplace. The latter part of 2019 will benefit from a workshop-rich schedule under the GIMA Knowledge Exchange banner. These workshops will focus on skills and businessrelated advice, as well as industry-wide content, and will be led by leading experts in their field. From refreshing skillsbased learnings, to focusing on product development, and team advancement, an afternoon spent in one of the Knowledge Exchange workshops can open eyes and revitalise a workforce.

From the way we live, to the impact we have upon the world around is, sustainability is a global issue, and one that is certainly affecting change in businesses throughout the garden retail sector. At the forthcoming Cultivating Retail event (19th November, East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham), held in partnership with the HTA, sustainability will take centre stage. The

programme will include the latest consumer attitudes and thoughts on what sustainability means for the garden industry including key topics such as biosecurity, growing media, plastics, labour/ skills, water and pesticides – perfect for any business that wants to take the next step in creating a truly sustainable future for their brand.

But before all that, we do of course have Glee! The home of new product launches and the latest showcase of exciting new innovation for the coming season, Glee is all about raising the bar and getting excited about the year ahead. I for one am intrigued to see what will be on display, and am confident that the wide range of suppliers exhibiting will not disappoint.

So, here’s to raising the bar and setting new standards!

4GIMA is here to hear the thoughts and experiences of its members, and would also love to hear from non-members also. Please share your experiences by emailing info@gima.org.uk

Fund provides vital business support The winner of the GIMA Innovators’ Seed Corn Fund for 2019, which will be announced at Glee, will receive a £6,000 grant plus unrivalled developmental and marketing support to help them break into the garden retail market.

We spoke to last year’s winners – Bloomin Amazing from West Country Soil Development – to see how the fund had helped grown the business.

How did winning the award help your business?

As a start-up enterprise with limited resources, winning the GIMA Innovators Seed Corn Fund really helped us make our modest resources work much more effectively. It raised our profile during Glee thanks to the great PR coverage, and then the

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fund allowed us to continue to invest in promoting our product all through the season.

How has your business grown in the last 12 months?

Sales of Bloomin Amazing have more than doubled in the last year and we have now invested in and installed a second screw press system which will allow us to double our production output. We’ve recently moved to the use of euro pallets which allows us to increase loading to cope with our all-time peak in daily output.

What’s next for Bloomin’ Amazing?

We are embarking on the next phase of our growth plans and aim to double our retail listings in the next few months. Next month we are back at Glee in the GIMA

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

village on a larger stand (6R80) where we are looking forward to meeting current and new customers, including those being introduced to us for the first time by our new agents for different areas. Also, we are now in discussion with potential partners who are developing the use of Bloomin Amazing in blended growing media – something which is being strongly driven by the trend away from the use of peat.