Well presented, well attended and reflecting a mood of positivity, the new-look Glee 2014 has been widely welcomed as the beginning an exciting next chapter for both the exhibition and the wider garden retail industry, says event organiser Matthew Mein.

i2i Events, organisers of the annual Glee trade show, had promised a show that would be revitalised, re-energised and delivering something different.  Initial feedback from both exhibitors and visitors indicated this promise was delivered.

Featuring a new location and layout within the NEC, plus a raft of value-added features and an unrivalled, international mix of more than 500 major brands and specialist suppliers from across the garden, landscaping, home, pet and leisure sectors, Glee offered buyers and suppliers the market’s strongest business-building and networking opportunity for several years.

Strong attendance: Despite overall buying consolidation across the industry, the show delivered an audience of 7,066* visitors, with revisits boosting overall footfall equal to 8,085* - equaling 2013’s footfall figures - across the three days. 

Longer visits: Early data also shows that people were not only staying at Glee for longer – often attending the entire duration of the show in order to maximise the wealth of new products and innovation on offer – but the quality of visitors was noteworthy too.   

More top buyers: This year’s Glee attracted more visitors from top retailers, such as leading UK garden centres, builders’ merchants, multiple retailers, and DIY stores, with many sending large sales teams to the show to ensure no stone was left unturned.

More decision makers: Glee also saw more key decision makers attending the show.  With direct buying power and company strategy at the forefront of their minds, these visitors came to Glee ready and willing to do business – and they certainly didn’t disappoint, as Glee’s event manager Matthew Mein explains: “This year Glee was very much about delivering an audience of quality; one that was dedicated to optimising the sales and profit opportunity that the exhibition offers.  For many suppliers, the 2014 exhibition was one of the busiest on record, with sale targets being smashed, order books running out and new product launches drawing more attention than ever before.” 

More top brands than ever before: This year’s Glee delivered even more exhibitors, with over 500 brands filling the show.  Key names included Westland, Gardman, Scotts, Kelkay, Petface, Smart Garden, Deco-Pak, Handy Distribution, Forest Garden, Kaemingk, Elho, Johnsons Lawn Seed, Pattimax, Woodlodge, Burgon and Ball, Briers and Apta. There were also 219 companies that had never before exhibited or were making their return to Glee during 2014. 

Rebooking surge sees Glee 2015 already 56% full: Matthew Mein also shared some exciting news regarding Glee 2015.  He said: “The feedback we’ve had from exhibitors and visitors alike has been superb.  It’s clear to see that the changes that have taken place have helped move the industry towards the 2015 season on an incredibly positive and profitable note.  Feedback has in fact been so great, that we have already rebooked over 56% of the 2015 floorplan.  Our onsite sales team were inundated with booking forms, as exhibitors scrambled to secure their place at next year’s show.  This is by far the strongest response we’ve experienced to our rebooking programme, so much so that Glee present booking status is equal with where we were in January of this year.  This means we’re in a fantastic position to grow Glee beyond the 12% growth that we achieved in 2014. It’s an extremely exciting prospect.”

Finally Matthew Mein would like to extend his thanks to this year’s partners and sponsors GIMA, the HTA, Gardenex, Garden Centre Association, UK Trade & Investment, Garden Trade News, Garden Connect, Garden Trade Specialist, Horticulture Connected, and FCL Global, this year’s logistics partner, and 2014 Food & Catering Hub partners Blue Cap Coffee and Catering Design Group.

Nine, ground-breaking new garden products were confirmed as the winners of the coveted Glee New Product Awards 2014.

Selected from more than 270 entries on the afternoon before Glee opened, the winning products were chosen by an expert panel of judges representing independent and multiple retailers, the media and international suppliers.

Entries were submitted into nine key garden retail categories, comprising Garden Care – Accessories; Garden Care – Chemicals; Fertilisers & Composts; Leisure Products; Machinery & Tools; Home, Gift & Clothing; Landscape & Construction; Plants, Seeds & Bulbs; Pet & Wildlife Products; and Catering & Speciality Foods. Relevant entries from each category were also considered for the additional Best of British, and Green awards.

Judges considered each entry on a challenging range of criteria, including innovation, design, quality, environmental credentials, pricing and retail potential – resulting in some hot debates and close Highly Commended in a number of categories.

On the judging panel were:
Allan Wilson, Group Sundries Buyer at Klondyke Group
Sharon McNair, Group Buyer at Armitage Garden Centre
Moira Peterson, Commercial Manager for Greenfingers.com
Rachel Doyle, from Arboretum Garden Centres and President of the IGCA
Carlos Bisbe from Digebis, Barcelona
Trevor Pfeiffer, MD of The Garden Communication and Media Company
Simon McDaniel, Garden Sundries Buyer at The Range
Roger Wale, general manager at Palmers Garden Centre.

Winners’ round-up (in alphabetical order of categories)

Catering & Speciality Foods

Winner:                        Retro Collection, by Bon Bon’s (Wholesale) Ltd

Judges’ comments:    Sharon McNair said: “Fabulous gift idea for everyone! Brings back childhood memories.”

Garden Care – Accessories

Winner:                        Haxnicks – EasyPath

Highly Commended:   Garland Products – Jumbo Kneeling Pad

Judges’ comments:    Moira Peterson said: “This is a truly innovative product, which can be easily packed away, and with a good price point.”

Garden Care – Chemicals, Fertilisers & Composts

Winner:                        Westland – Gro-Sure Tomato

Highly Commended:   Bord-Na-Mona - Chelsea Mix Compost

Judges’ comments:    Roger Wale said: “A great, innovative product for the new gardener.”

Garden Leisure

Winner:                        La Hacienda – Bakerstone Pizza Box Pizza Oven

Highly Commended:   Nest for Nature – Birch Candles (indoor & outdoor)

Judges’ comments:    Rachel Doyle said: “Can’t wait to buy this one! It is a great product that is well priced.”

Home, Gift & Clothing

Winner:                        Briers – Historic Palaces garden accessory range of wellies and gloves

Highly Commended:   Burgon & Ball – Sophie Conran Raspberry Collection

Judges’ comments:    Sharon McNair said: “This is a really nice product, well-designed and good quality. It would certainly tell a story on the shopfloor.  It’s also got great gift potential.”

Landscaping & Construction

Winner:                        Apta – GlazeLite Planters

Highly Commended:   Woodlodge – National Trust range of pots

Judges’ comments:    Trevor Pfeiffer said: “Apta GlazeLite might be lightweight but will be a heavyweight garden centre bestseller – provided it is merchandised in a way that accentuates its lightweight design.  Customers will love that they look just like ceramic.”

Machinery & Tools

Winner:                        Burgon & Ball – RHS Cutting Tools

Highly Commended:   Burgon & Ball – Weed Slice

Judges’ comments:    Sharon McNair said:  “This is a really comprehensive range, which features good packaging, and is offered at a good price point too.”

Pet & Wildlife Products

Winner:                        Wildlife World – Bee & Bug Biome

Highly Commended:   Wildlife World – Bee Mug

Judges’ comments:    Roger Wale said:  “This is an on-trend product, that is well-priced and has great gift potential.”

Plants, Seeds & Bulbs

Winner:                        Garden On a Roll – Garden On a Roll Gift Box

Highly Commended:   Channel Island Plants (UK) Ltd – Petunia Happy Magic Black Charcoal

Judges’ comments:    Trevor Pfeiffer said: “This would make a great border or basket plant, a real ‘thriller’.”

Best of British

Winner:                        Apta - Glazelite Planters

Highly Commended:   Burgon & Ball – RHS endorsed cutting tools

Judges’ comments:    Trevor Pfeiffer said: “A brilliant British design and functionality.  At last we have a lightweight pot that really looks and feels like a glazed terracotta pot. Top of the pots for sure.”

Green Award

Winner:                        Nest for Nature – Birch Candles (indoor & outdoor)

Highly Commended:   Funky Laundry – Funky Laundry Bags

Judges’ comments:    Rachel Doyle said: “I love these natural looking candles. A great product.”

The Glee Award 2014

This award is given to the product that stood out from all the others; the best of the best. Glee is proud to confirm that this year the award goes to Briers, with the Historic Palaces Garden Accessory range.

i2i’s Matthew Mein, Glee event manager confirmed: “We were delighted that so many superb, new products were entered for this year’s Glee New Products, and offer many congratulations to the worthy winners.  Our thanks also go to the judges who so kindly lent their valuable time and expertise.”

Bringing together some of the biggest and most respected brands, the Green Heart was the place to view 2015 plant ranges, as well as to access exclusive, show-only deals from UK growers.

Housed in the glass-roofed, Atrium area outside Glee’s new location, this exciting new area brought plants right back into the heart of the show. 

Every single visitor upon entry to Glee was exposed to a truly eye-catching display of everything from herbs and bedding plants, to trees, shrubs, alpines and even houseplants.

Key names featured in this area included Gardeners Kitchen, New Leaf Plants, Kilworth Conifers, Gedney Bulbs, Golden Grove Nurseries, John Woods Nurseries, Lovania Nurseries, Hawkesmill Nurseries, Garden Centre Fresh, Chapel Cottage Plants, Chamberlin Nurseries, Viking Nurseries, Morley Nurseries, Beaver Plants, Whartons Roses and Darby Nurseries.

Special thanks goes also to Woodlodge who kindly supplied the stunning display benches.

Since 2012, the Food & Catering Zone at Glee has become a ‘must-see’ feature for those thinking of setting up a catering facility from scratch, or in need of ideas to reinvigorate an existing one.  

In its short existence so far, it has become renowned as a central hub providing advice, information and inspiration for retailers to take their concept to the next level, as well as offering visitors an unrivalled selection of food and catering-related products to suit all budgets. 

i2i Events were delighted to announce two major brands as the main 2014 sponsors for the area; Catering Design Group, one of the UK’s leading restaurant and commercial catering design companies and Blue Cap Coffee, a recognised supplier of the Lavazza BLUE Concept, an exclusive system which enables garden centre cafés and restaurants to offer an authentic Italian coffee experience.  

Blue Cap Coffee’s Managing Director, John Williams, a speaker on How Garden Centres win the Coffee Shop War, hailed this year’s workshops as “a great platform for experts in the industry to address key issues and arm caterers, whether seasoned or new to the industry, with invaluable insight”.  

Steve Hutchings, Director at Catering Design Group, also a partner of the Food & Catering Zone, shared his thoughts on the show. He said: “This is our second year of visiting the show and our first as partners of the Food & Catering Zone. For us, Glee is all about showcasing the breadth of our offering across design and build for front and back of house. We set out to give visitors a better understanding of what we’re about and to inspire operators with the use of creativity, insight and current trends to illustrate what can be achieved within their own catering space.  Glee provides a great platform in the industry for us to be able to do this.” 

Mark Robson, Managing Director of Red Mist Leisure was another keynote speaker, who focused his insight to visitors on sourcing local produce for customers and unlocking revenue streams. Having operated five very successful pubs throughout Surrey and Hampshire for 10 years,’ Mark is in an enviable position to deliver a compelling story on Red Mist’s success, which he says is built on an ethos of “fresh, local and seasonal produce”. 

“For us, engagement with the local community and understanding what is good produce has been key to our success” explained Mark who acquired his company’s first pub in 2004. “It’s imperative that the passion for fresh food – ‘farm and field’ – is communicated through everything we do, right to the plate”.  He cites his first appearance at the show as “giving my business a new dimension” and adds that he’s “impressed with what I have seen so far”. 

If that didn’t whet the appetite, Patrick Fairweather, Owner of Fairweathers Garden Centre’s session certainly did with his Grow your own: Maximising your land for your restaurant profits and credibility workshop.  Fairweathers, situated in the New Forest, cultivated ‘Patrick’s Patch’ to be used as a source of home-grown fruit and vegetables for its in-house restaurant, Steff’s Kitchen.  Known as ‘Beaulieu’s hidden gem’, the garden is free to enter and supported by a loyal group of volunteers and Primary school children who regularly visit to learn gardening skills and understand where its food comes from. Since opening during the evenings for its renowned Supper Club in 2012, it now attracts interest from Michelin-starred chefs. 

“We decided in 2008 to expand the café as public interest in food sourcing grew, which was a key decision in our business”, explains Patrick. “There are so many ways for catering facilities to be self-sufficient nowadays. We’ve hopefully proved it’s not just a ’trendy concept’ and there are many ways to get the community involved in your business, which can mutually benefit everyone.” 

Finally the Food & Catering area was also home to another new addition – the stunning Farmers Market. Reminiscent of artisan food markets favored by culinary connoisseurs across the country, this new area was home to passionate suppliers of delicious foods and beverages. 

Gardman's impressive stand at Glee was one of the busiest throughout Glee with all of their brands creating a lot of interest with visiting buyers. CEO Stewart Hainsworth said he was pleased with the reaction to the company's products, and praised marketing director Sarah Downing and her team for creating such a striking stand...

Gardman have invested heavily this year in the top-selling Cole & Bright solar lighting range, with significant new features and 10 new products. Key objectives for 2015 are more choice and differentiation in the category. The new lines include features like motion sensors with increased night-time visibility, Colour Select and Set, allowing users to choose a single colour from the light’s changing rainbow spectrum, and Dual Power, which has a back-up battery so the lights can be enjoyed all year round. Merchandisers promoting the theme of ‘Bright Ideas for Nights Outside’ are also offered.

Another host of new lines is evident in the new season’s line-up for Gardman’s Moulton Mill premium tools range. The brand offers competitively-priced stainless steel, heritage-styled tools with a 15-year guarantee. New lines include forks, spades, lawn rake, long-handled hand tools, hand tools and cutting tools, offered in merchandised wall stands or island stands if required.

Gardman has developed specialist wild bird care brand The Ernest Charles Co to offer retailers and consumers a greater depth of choice within the category. Dedicated to providing quality products, The Ernest Charles Co will soon offer its specialist blends in 2kg and 12.55kg sizes, in premium re-sealable packaging. Furthermore, a range of four premium bird tables has been launched with immediate availability, allowing Gardman’s retail partners to capitalise on spring trading. To demonstrate the brand’s commitment to design and quality each table carries a unique 15 year guarantee, is handcrafted in the UK from FSC-pine with a long lasting rot-protection treatment.  Each has a slate effect roof and an embossed plaque as a marque of brand authority. Fully assembled stems and full colour packaging for the table heads provide a practical, impactful shop-floor solution for retailers as well as easy transportation for consumers.

Blacksmith Hanging Garden is a new brand from Gardman promising guaranteed quality and style in a top-selling category. The strong, hand-crafted twist design is hand-forged in heavy duty wrought iron with a powder coated finish and comes with a five-year guarantee. There are two designs of hanging basket in sizes from 30cm to 45cm, wall mangers and wall troughs and curved floor-standing planters. All are of premium quality built to last. Hooks, brackets and coco-fibre liners complete the range.

A further range extension to the Garden & Home Co. proposition will offer consumers a choice of products that will span popular garden living categories such as wall art, clocks and candle hardware, inspired by emerging high street fashions and reflect current trends in garden and home décor. Offered at attractive mid-price points, this mass appeal product ramge will be ideal for both impulse purchae and gift ranges. Lifestyle themed merchandising displays and coordinating packaging has been developed for maximum shelf appeal, and to encourage link sales accross varying categories to increase basket spend. This backed with a targeted consumer marketing plan will drive footfall to store.

Pictured: Gardman CEO Stewart Hainsworth and marketing director Sarah Downing near The Ernest Charles Co range.

One of many success stories for Kelkay at Glee 2014 was their large water feature offer. Retailing at £2,500 each with a 10% off Glee offer,

Sales Director Richard Pyrah thought "we'd sell a couple, but by the middle of Tuesday we'd sold enough to be bringing two container loads, ready for delivery into centres in January/February 2015. If any centres missed our stand at Glee and want to order one, they will have to be quick."

Other Kelkay success stories, reported to Glee Daily News, include:  

• Gabions and Gravel Pave, which are both retailing at 'just the right price' according to garden centre buyers.  
• The new paving kit displays have proved to be a big hit, taking less space and with POS that encourages other related link sales.
• BuildMate now has over 500 retailers with many more signed up at Glee.
• Twit Twoo is a novel owl indoor water being delivered in the 1st week of October, ideal for Christmas gift sales.  "We hope we've ordered enough."

Kelkay MD Anthony Harker added: "Our £500 carriage paid order service, from products across the whole range, is proving a big hit with all types of garden centre retailers."

"I'm also proud of our service levels.  Our transport team have been here on the stand at Glee and have received plenty of 'pats on the back' from very satisfied customers."

For more information, visit http://www.kelkay.co.uk/ and see the picture gallery below.

Kelkay, the market leading manufacturer and distributor of aggregates, launched new lines to its core product range at Glee 2014.

These include the Mediterranean aggregates collection comprising of premium products in materials sourced from across Europe. Spanish Corn, Italian Rose, Swiss Glacier and French Pearl, named after their origins, add a new twist of colours and styles to the market leading aggregates range.  

To help retailers maximise the launch opportunity, the Mediterranean collection comes with new dynamic packaging and specially designed point of sale boards that fits within Kelkay's aggregate modular merchandising system. The POS boards promote impulse buys increasing sales

The Kelkay Mediterranean aggregates, with a recommended retail price (RRP) of £7.99 each or 2 for £15.00, sees this type of product made available at garden centres for the first time. These products are also available in Bulk Bags for Home Delivery.

Anthony Harker, managing director at Kelkay said: "Kelkay works hard to maintain its reputation for supplying top quality aggregates. We're delighted to be reinforcing our market-leading position in this sector and giving retailers new revenue sources and sales opportunities."

Kelkay's brand portfolio includes Gardenstone®, Borderstone®, Build Mate, easyfountain® and Henri® providing retailers with single source of supply for a wide range of garden products.

By promoting aggregates, paving and fountains with eye-catching point of sale, merchandising units and display stands, garden retailers have seen sales grow in these categories.

For more information, visit http://www.kelkay.co.uk/.

The Deco-Pak team lit the candles on their 10th anniversary to celebrate a decade of amazing growth and to mark a highly successful Glee. Chairman Mike Hall was also celebrating being made a GIMA Leader of Change.

"I've been in the business for a long time and it's great to mark the 10th anniversary of Deco-Pak at Glee," said Mike. "And to be awarded Leaders of Change status is beyond my wildest dreams."

Deco-Pak has released two new gravel products in celebration of 10 years – both in the industry and exhibiting at Glee.

The new additions, Champagne Gold and Strawberry & Cream have been designed for retailers looking to provide consumers with more exciting, eye catching product offerings for use on garden paths, driveways, planters and borders.

A new range of  planters in a unique lightweight material that replicates the look of glazed ceramics earned Apta (19C12) two coveted Glee New Product Awards.

It was judged best launch in the landscaping and construction category and went on to win the Best of British award for best British product at Glee.

The planters attracted the attention of visitors from the moment the show opened, impressing buyers with their authentic look and stylish finish.

Trevor Pfeiffer, MD of The Garden Communication & Media Company (publishers of Garden Trade News and GTN Xtra), who was one of the awards judges, said: “Apta GlazeLite might be lightweight but will be a heavyweight garden centre bestseller – provided it is merchandised in a way that accentuates its lightweight design.  Customers will love that they look just like ceramic.”

These planters, in two designs and four colours, are almost impossible to distinguish from traditional products when planted up, whilst also being ultra lightweight, robust and environmentally friendly. The material is a combination of clay and re-cycled plastic.

SRPs are £14.99 to £16.99.

GlazeLite also scooped a second award - the Best of British

Three interesting days at Glee on the Whitefurze stand kept the team very busy.

The expansion to their watering range, launched last year has meant they have seen lots of existing customers as well as many new enquiries.

Extension to the water butt range have been a particular talking point and combines well with many existing Whitefurze products that are staples in many garden centre stock ranges.

Sophie McCarthy, sales and marketing coordinator, has also been pleasantly surprised by the level of interest in the new flexible tubs range, “in addition to many of our usual garden centre customers, or new ranges have seemed to strike a note with builders merchants and even those dealing with the equine industry”.

Whitefurze pride themselves on the level of their customer service and have a nationwide team ready to support both new and established customers.

Find out more at www.whitefurze.net.

The latest all-round grass seed from the world renowned experts at Johnsons Lawn Seed, is the first off the mark when it comes to speed of germination and establishment, thanks to a brand new variety of grass seed.

‘The 1’ is a new addition to the current fleet of quality lawn seed products from Johnsons that include ‘Any Time’, ‘Luxury Lawn’ and ‘Tuffgrass’. Featuring unique branding and packaging, ‘The 1’ will be available in two sizes – 500g and 1.5kg boxes – with prices ranging from RRP £7.99 - £17.99. 

Another ground breaking development in grass seed technology from Johnsons’ dedicated research laboratories, ‘The 1’ features a hardy, quick growing new strain of lawn perennial ryegrass that has a unique point of difference.

Johnsons Lawn Seed expert Guy Jenkins explains the benefits for consumers: “The seeds themselves are a great deal larger than normal, allowing them to draw far more energy and nutrients - meaning quicker and more successful germination rates. The time between sowing and mowing has never been shorter, ensuring luscious lawns are easier to obtain than ever before.”

‘The 1’ is not just quick off the mark, it also has greater endurance and drought resistance – essential for well used family lawns, and for withstanding dry spells in the summer. 

Find out more

To find out more about ‘The 1’ and all of Johnsons other high quality lawn seed products, visit www.johnsonslawnseed.com or telephone (01386) 791113. From the website, consumers can also access the easy to use ‘Product Selector’ to find the exact blend of seed for their soil and situation.

Formula 1 Racing at Glee!

To celebrate the launch of ‘The 1’, the Johnsons Lawn Seed/DLF stand in Hall 18 hosted an immersive F1 racing competition.  Visitors were able to hop inside a real F1 car and attempt to get the fastest lap on the racing simulator. Whoever had the fastest lap each day won a special prize.

And the winner is...

For Sunday 14th September, the winner was: Rick from Hellyers. Time of 1min 26 seconds.  Congratulations Rick.

A common lawn complaint will be no more thanks to the latest product innovation from the UK’s leading lawn seed brand, Johnsons Lawn Seed.  Introducing After Moss. 

Unlike anything else on the market today, and completely unique to Johnsons Lawn Seed, After Moss Lawn Seed has been designed to deter the return of moss.  Utilising an innovative anti-moss seed coating made from calcium carbonate, After Moss can be sown on lawns where moss has been removed.  The calcium carbonate gently raises the pH level of the soil, creating an inhospitable environment for moss, allowing new grass to grow unhindered.

Guy Jenkins from Johnsons Lawn Seed said: “Moss has the ability to significantly impact the performance and overall look of a lawn.  Until now there has only ever been a handful of products designed to remove moss from a lawn, such as scarifiers or chemical based products, but nothing that addresses the long-term development of the lawn after the moss has been eradicated.  After Moss is unique in that it combines a 100% amenity dwarf perennial ryegrass mix with a specially formulated anti-moss coating, to deter moss whilst also establishing new grass growth.  Consumers are often very receptive to ‘all in one’ products and we’re extremely pleased to be able to offer retailers one unlike anything that has come before it.  We’ve no doubt of the profit and sales opportunity that After Moss will offer.”

After Moss – which will be available in 1kg cartons for just RRP £9.99 - will further bolster the existing Johnsons Lawn Seed product portfolio.  Like all products in the range, it will be supported with market-leading packaging, which will feature clear and concise information, including usage, establishment rate, and suitability for different types of lawn, plus easy to follow advice on how to sow a new lawn. 

To see After Moss Lawn Seed for yourself, and to find out more about the other exciting innovations being launched by Johnsons Lawn Seed at Glee, please visit the company on-stand in the new location of Hall 18, stand H26-K25.

Find out more

To find out more about Johnsons Lawn Seed, please visit www.johnsonslawnseed.com

If you've enjoyed receiving The Glee Daily News and found it useful, follow these links to our other regular weekly e-mail newsletters:



GTN Xtra:  http://tgcmc.newsweaver.co.uk/gtnxtra

GTN Food Xtra:  http://tgcmc.newsweaver.co.uk/gtnfoodxtra

Pet Trade Xtra:  http://pettradextra.newsweaver.com/Newsletter/

Mr Forthergill's unveiled two new ranges going by the name of Grobox and Gromat - both are aimed at new, novice and young gardeners.

They have bright, fun packaging and are very easy to use. They are a great way to introduce gardening to children and get anyone into the joys of growing.

Grobox is a pre-seeded 'take away pizza' stayle box also containing a growing medium. The whole box is simply planted in the ground or container, covered with a thin layer of soil and watered. The box bio-degrades in the soil adding organic matter and retaining moisture.

Gromat works on the same easy-to-use premise. Each Gromat pack contains a 2m x 0.48m pre-sown paper m,at that is roled out flat over cleared ground, covered with a thin layer of soil and watered.

"Our best GLEE in 20 years," a bold claim, but truly the case for Jonart Design. Arthur Fenwick, Managing Director, who has been a stalwart exhibitor at the show, cannot believe the reaction to their range of wind sculptures.

“We have had times when customers have been filling in the order sheets themselves to reduce the queue and our office had to work late into the evenings to keep up with the level of demand. That’s a first for us."

The wind sculptures have certainly been given a high profile recently, the product featuring in a recent edition of the TV show Grand Designs featuring a cliff-top home. On seeing the product, many visitors have made the connection which has also prompted interest.

A quality engineered product, but still well priced, many garden centres have identified it as a good Christmas line, and certainly a gift option that will stand out from the crowd.

“Why do the most fertile parts of the garden have no plants?”

A strange question, but the observation of innovator Australian Greg Hales when he looked at his compost heap. “It's full of nutrients, but not in a place where any plant can take advantage of them as its normally tucked in a corner."

His solution, Composting Cannon, brings “the compost bin into the garden”, where the worms themselves are already located. The clever design, consisting of a series of ventilated tubes that can be buried unobtrusively in the garden, allow for the soil to be naturally fertilised and aerated through the natural worm activity. There is no need for an untidy compost heap in the corner of the garden either.

Already available in Australia, Greg is at the GLEE show to introduce the product to the UK and to develop distribution.

An easy to use product, easy to install and capable of processing over 20kg of organic waste in a 3-4 month period, this seems to be a convenient solution and something applicable for even the smallest garden. The kit contains 3 ‘cannon’ tubes, mesh lids to prevent vermin entry and a special plunger to use the space to its maximum.

Compost Cannon is in the Innovator Zone Hall 20 G47, and more details are available on their website www.compostingcannon.com.au

Now a popular event in the garden centre calendar, businesses have an additional way in which they can help launch the next Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf day.

Centres are being strongly encouraged to stock a special rose, ‘Rosy Cheeks’. Sales of each plant will generate a donation of £1.20 direct to the charity.  A superb new floribunda variety with deep pink/ soft pink , growing up to 1m tall,  sales will help the charity build new gardens in children’s hospices around the country.

Available through Whartons roses, there are plans for major press coverage of this variety immediately prior to Garden Re-Leaf day, raising the public’s awareness not only of these plants, but also the fact they can expect events at local centres too.  The Greenfingers team would love as many customers as possible to take a small supply so that the plants are readily available for any customer who wishes to help out with this good cause.

Further details on obtaining stocks of this variety for the March launch can be obtained from Whartons Nurseries www.whartons.co.uk

Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf day is 27^th March 2015

Find out more about Greenfingers and Garden Re-Leaf day at: www.greenfingerscharity.org.uk

Following a day that saw them win the Glee New Products Garden Leisure Awards, as well as feeding the masses at Sunday’s well-attended Glee Garden Party, La Hacienda is continuing to ‘cook with gas’.

The BakerStone Pizza Box is the company’s newest innovation, and is set to revolutionise the way in which pizzas are cooked as part of the al fresco dining experience. Reducing the average cooking time to just 2-3 minutes makes experiencing ‘a taste of Italy’ easier than ever before! 

Visitors to Glee had the opportunity to enter a prize draw to win a full day’s design consultancy courtesy of Catering Design Group.

Catering Design Group is one of the UK’s leading restaurant and commercial catering design companies, and the winner will enjoy a day with either a kitchen or interiors specialist, with a site survey, design layout and mood board included.

Catering Design Group’s principal Interior design consultant Abi Perry-Jones was at Glee in the Food & Catering zone, sharing the latest design trends and giving advice on how to transform a café or restaurant space.

Red Mist managing director Mark Robson was also at the show offering advice on how to deliver a fresh, seasonal and local experience for customers.

Phillip Howard, managing director of Catering Deign Group, said: “We were delighted to return to Glee and it was great to take along our team of experts to give visitors advice and answer any questions.” 

Champagne winners included Andrew Porwal and Verity Blowers of Sapcote Garden Centre in Leicestershire.

The Barrow of Booze raffle is a time-honoured feature of Glee and is responsible for raising valuable funds for the Greenfingers charity to help their work in providing gardens and outdoor facilities at UK children’s hospices.

Glee visitors and exhibitors will almost certainly have come across the Greenfingers team as they wheel this year’s booze – in a trolley these days, rather than a barrow – around the show, selling tickets. The on-board raffle booty on the first day this year was Champagne, courtesy of Woodlodge Products, who have generously supported the raffle with booze, staff and equipment since it started.

For one winner, Colin Higgs of Grantham-based toy and games suppliers Blasts, the result couldn’t have been more timely. His girlfriend Kathryn celebrates a ‘big birthday’ next month and the bubbly will come in handy for the party!

Pictured: Colin Higgs (centre) with Briony and Janine from Greenfingers and Richard Newton of Woodlodge.

Don’t for one minute believe that the new telescopic loppers on the Darlac stand are like any other. They have unique features that should give them distinct market appeal.

The loppers employ a brand new double compound action that greatly increases its cutting power, making pruning easier. The bypass cantilever allows for an ultra-clean cut.

The telescopic handles extend to 76cm, more than enough for good leverage but less unwieldy for some users than Darlac’s full-length models.

The high-strength aluminium handles ensure the loppers weigh in at little more than a kilo, making them easy to handle.

They are supplied in blister packs with euro slots for display on a Darlac mix-and-match stand or a retailer’s own unit.

Also new from Darlac is the Expert Topiary Shear, made from nylon and fibreglass with replaceable razor-sharp blades, ideal for jobs like topiary and deadheading.

Pictured: MD Peter Darban demonstrates the double compound action of the new telescopic lopper.

Grange used Glee for the official launch of their new consumer ordering website – grangegardensdirect, which offers benefits to end-users as well as participating stockists.

Retailers who stock a modest minimum range of Grange products can take part in the scheme, which allows consumers to check out the products at their local garden centre, order it from the website in the comfort of their own home and have it delivered to their door by Grange.

“It means the retailer does not have to hold a lot of stock of our bulky items, but the sale still goes through his books,” product manager Rob Giles told Glee Daily News. “We want to grow with the digital age but keep faith with our stockists.”

Grange believe the service will help garden centres to compete with online retailers.

Gardeners who struggle to get their plant spacing right – especially when using the increasingly popular ‘square foot gardening’ approach – have been offered a solution.

New Glee exhibitors Green Jeeves launched the Plantspacer, a PVC sheet with planting holes punched at pre-determined spacings, allowing users to get it right first time without guesswork or pieces of string.

They come in packs of three, each one with a different spacing. There are also packs designed to encourage children to get growing, with coloured sheets and fun graphics.

Milton Keynes-based Green Jeeves is a brand new start-up, run by Will Jeeves as managing director, with Natalie Bunker as business development manager.

“Even my Grandad uses them,” Natalie Told Glee Daily News, “and he’s a piece-of-string enthusiast!”

Wot…a folding pot? It’s true. SlotPot was designed by 3D-designer Tim Leyshon after he failed to find what he was looking for in his local garden centre.

“Some of the traditional pots I saw were damaged and I got to thinking there must be better ways of transporting flower pots,” he told Glee Daily News,  “so I used my 3D design experience to devise something different.”

The result was the SlotPot, illustrated here, which, with its inner mesh planting bag, folds flat for packing into a shallow box – ideal for mail order sales as well as merchandising stacks in the garden centre. It comes in several bright modern colours.

Amazon were among the customers signing up today after admiring the design on the New Products display.

Town & Country reported an enthusiastic reception for their new Polka Dot colour-theme promotion on Master Gardener Gloves, Cloggies and Knee Pads.

The free mixed merchandiser flags up substantial discounts on normal SRPs.

There’s also a promotion on Gloves and Secateurs Sets in pink – with a retail price of £10.99, a saving of £9 on the full SRP.

Totally new to the Town & Country range is a range of candles in three sizes at SRPs from £4.99 to £9.99, designed to offer top-quality fragrant  candles with longer burning at highly competitive prices.

New from Wildlife World is the Urban range of Bird and insect boxes, which bring a touch of chic to a normally rustic category.

Managing director Norman Sellers believes city dwellers and townies will appreciate the relatively slick designs, and appeal to consumers with contemporary rather than traditional tastes.

Wildlife World’s new educational products were also on display at Glee. These give retailers he opportunity to create their own plant displays whilst promoting Wildlife World product sales.

The company is planning to forger closer links with schools to encourage children to learn about birds and wildlife at an early age.

Earlier this year the Garden Industry Manufacturers’ Association (GIMA) launched a £5,000 seed corn fund to encourage new businesses, designers and innovators to enter the market.

The competition drew entries from all corners of the UK, with over 20 entries being submitted from a wide range of designers and innovators.  One company however stood out from the rest – introducing the winners of the inaugural GIMA Innovators’ Seed Corn Fund, SteadyPost.

Suppliers of the innovative FenceFin™, SteadyPost are revolutionising the way that we erect fences, one fence post at a time, and it is this approach to delivering a simple solution to a common problem that appealed to the GIMA Seed Corn panel of judges.

The FenceFin™ is an easy-to-use alternative to spikes or concrete, usually employed to anchor wooden fence posts in the ground. Installation is quick and easy, and a firm fence fixing is ensured, whilst no heavy labour or special equipment is needed.  

GIMA Director, Vicky Nuttall (pictured presenting the award) said: “We’re incredibly pleased to announce that SteadyPost has been awarded the first ever GIMA Innovators’ Seed Corn Fund.  The company, and its product, really stood out for a number of reasons.  The first is that the FenceFin™ tackles a common problem head on in the most innovative yet simple way; and the second is that the team at SteadyPost have already managed to successfully manufacture and retail their product.  But I believe what most attracted us was the volume sale opportunity it offers retailers. We’ve no doubt that the exposure that SteadyPost’s FenceFins™ will receive following this ‘win’ will mean that it will be no time at all before we see the product stocked in garden centres, sheds and multiple retailers across the country. It really is that good!”

The company exhibited in Glee's Innovators Zone.

Forest Garden have launched new digital assets in the form of a whole host of new videos via its YouTube channel, to ensure garden centres are armed with a wide range of retail tools to drive sales, as well as offering consumers access to valuable information to help them throughout the buying process 

Digital assets  launched at Glee  featured lifestyle and inspirational content combined with product focussed videos for Forest’s entire range including sheds, trellis, arches and arbours, pergolas and fencing.

The new videos ensure that retailers can provide consumers with the information they need to help them buy in confidence, plus information on post-purchase maintenance and optional extras to encourage add-on sales. Each video will be  available for retailers to embed as part of their own website content, as well as for use within any in store digital merchandisers.  They are hosted on Forest Garden’s YouTube channel, which has had more than three-quarters of a million views.

Andrew Bendall, Forest Garden’s Marketing Manager, said: “Retailers are all under pressure to provide more content for their websites and social media marketing, yet many have neither the time nor facilities to put this into effect.  By increasing our selection of digital assets we hope to help provide our customers with useful content that reflects in improved sales, whether in store or online.” 

Forest’s most popular video is currently ‘How to Build a Shed Base’ with over 200,000 views, followed by ‘How to replace a damaged or rotten fence post’ with over 150,000 views to date.  Andrew added: “This not only demonstrates the popularity of our content, but the demand for specific advice that suppliers such as ourselves are best placed to provide in order to fully assist our retail partners.”

Forest’s YouTube account: www.youtube.com/forestgarden2011.  For other information about ‘Forest TV’, Forest Connect, or for technical information such as how to embed the videos, please contact Forest Garden direct via telephone: 0333 321 3135, fax: 0333 777 7081, or email info@forestgarden.co.uk.

G Plants, innovative suppliers of flower and vegetable seeds, bulbs, grass seed, and now garden ornaments and growing gifts,  have added 80 new lines, including new varieties within the ever popular Italian seed brand, Bavicchi.

G Plants already offers retailers one of the widest and most comprehensive quality seed and bulb collections. At Glee  the company showcased updates to its bestselling lines.  Products such as the Ultra Basket™ has two new seed varieties, whilst G Plants’ Bumper Packs were re-launched in a new full-colour printed, reusable (PP) woven bag.  The Bumper Bags will now be available in Lily Oriental Mix, and Dahlia Collarette and Pompon Mix, making them the perfect option for Mother’s Day gift lines.

Elsewhere G Plants’ 6-in-1 seed multi-packs saw the introduction of four new varieties, bringing the range to12 mixtures. The flower additions include Easy Grow, and Butterfly & Bee, whilst new vegetable seeds include Companion Planting and Patio Vegetables.

Fifteen new Seed Starter Kits were  introduced, featuring flowers, vegetables and hanging baskets, well suited to grow-your-own beginners. There were also new Patio Flavours, including Grow Bucket and hanging basket mixes.

First look: newly branded Bavicchi Seeds

As exclusive UK distributors of Bavicchi, the historic Italian seed brand, G Plants also gave Glee visitors their first glimpse of the newly branded Bavicchi Italian Gourmet vegetable, pea and bean seed packets, now available in a store ready mixed display stand. 

 Dedicated to point-of-sale

A wide selection of updated point-of-sale is now available. The Easy Gardening range is boosted with a new full-colour cardboard display stand, perfect for showcasing seed discs and the popular Shake’n’Rake™ collection.  The display packs a lot into a  small footprint.

Premium Flower Seeds  also benefits from two new display stands, each holding up to 24 different varieties.

Other new point-of-sale includes a  Shake’n’Rake™ retail stand, a multi-pack display stand that can showcase four varieties in one.  The company’s grass seed ranges will also benefit from improvements to its point-of-sale, including a much larger design.

Alex Reihl, director of G Plants, said: “We’ve had a great year and therefore we’ve been able to really invest in our overall offering, from new products, to updated bestsellers and vital sales support tools.  We’re in a great position to start the 2015 season, and believe that this is something we can pass onto our customers to help them benefit too.”

For more information call 01254 202 897 or visit www.gplants.com

For Neil Biltcliffe of  IT and epos providers G7 Swan, Glee 2014 was the 28^th he had attended in a row…and his last, because he’s retiring at the end of 2014. A steady stream of visiting customers and fellow Glee exhibitors wished him a long and happy retirement.

Visitors to Glee were given an  opportunity to enter a prize draw to win a full day’s design consultancy, courtesy of Catering Design Group.

CDG is one of the UK’s leading restaurant and commercial catering design companies. The winner will enjoy a day with either a kitchen or interiors specialist, with a site survey, design layout and mood board included.

The group’s principal Interior design consultant Abi Perry-Jones attended Glee in the Food & Catering zone to sharie news of the latest design trends and give advice on how to transform a café or restaurant space.

At another session, Red Mist managing director Mark Robson offered advice on how to deliver a fresh, seasonal and local experience for customers.

Winner of full day’s design consultancy: David Tucker, Westcountry Water Gardens (Crediton, Devon).

The winners of a bottle of Champagne in CDG's daily draw at the show were:,David Wilson, Hetland Garden Centre (Dumfries), Darren Sanders, Garden King  (Newhall) and Andrew Porwol, Sapcote Garden Centre (Sapcote, Leicester).

Technical waterproof clothing brand DexShell were at Glee with a range of 100% waterproof, windproof and breathable hats, socks and gloves ideal for gardeners and nursery workers alike.

Made with a three-layer construction, a durable outer protects a waterproof and breathable membrane, while a comfortable liner helps to wick moisture away from the body. Products look and feel like normal accessories.

Mark Press, managing director of Fordville, UK distributors for DexShell, aid: “By focussing solely on hats, socks and gloves, the engineering team has crafted a range that will protect the most vulnerable parts of the body in cold, wet and windy weather – something we know  keen gardeners have to face on a regular basis. Rigorously tested and precision made, no other products come close to offering the same level of comfort and protection offered by DexShell.”

DexShell socks are dust-proof and suitable to be worn with sandals, shoes, trainers and boots; they’re available in a range of lengths and weights. The layered construction also helps to prevent rubbing and blisters.

DexShell waterproof gloves stretch lengthways and widthways, offering a close and comfortable fit with excellent dexterity. The palms feature rubberised anti-slip dots to aid grip in wet weather and are completely dust proof. The breathable membrane ensures hands stay dry and warm.

The uniquely constructed waterproof hats are the first of their kind without a bag lining. As a result, they feel like a normal cotton beanie, with virtually no rustle when worn over the ears. There are four styles in a variety of colours, including a version with dropped ears and one with a peak.

Mark Press added: “We are committed to ensuring the success of the DexShell brand within the horticulture and outdoor market, and have a full programme of marketing activity planned along with excellent retailer support packages. While there are similar products on the market, DexShell waterproof accessories have been engineered with the latest global-patent-pending technology, offering superior performance and fit. The products are also competitively priced to appeal to a wider range of wearers. In short, we have the best product at the best price.”

SRPs start at £18.95.

The most powerful and fastest recharging battery powered range of garden products in the world were launched at Glee under the EGO brand.

The company say they go head-to-head with petrol models for performance. With a promise that they are as powerful as petrol equivalents but without the noise, fuss or fumes, EGO  unveiled its 56-volt lithium-ion battery powered lawnmower, hedge cutter, line trimmer, chain saw and blower, taking cordless technology to a higher level.

In less than six months, sales in the United States have established EGO as one of the fastest selling cordless garden product brands in the country and now the 56-volt lithium ion powered range will be available to UK users. EGO is ideal for all UK garden conditions, regardless of size, location and weather.

The 4.0Ah battery, when used with the lawnmower, has an average operating time of 45 minutes, enough time to cover 800m2, and is fully recharged from empty in just 30 minutes. With two batteries – one in use and the other on charge – EGO offers limitless and effortless gardening. The same battery and charger powers all the products across the entire EGO range.

Running costs are approximately one tenth of that for petrol powered equivalents which,allied to reduced noise, vibration and an absence of operating emissions, is a compelling environmental argument in favour of EGO.

“We describe EGO as ‘Power Beyond Belief’ and it really does have to be experienced to fully appreciate what we are saying,” says EGO Europe’s ,arketing director, Steve Roskell.  “This is a direct challenge to petrol, electric and existing cordless garden products.  We have re written the powered garden products rule book.

“It is the first ever range of cordless outdoor powered equipment capable of matching or surpassing the performance of petrol powered machines without any of the noise, fuss or fumes.  EGO products are powerful, quiet and easy to use,” he adds.

The lawnmower is sold complete with battery and charger whilst the other products in the range are sold without them (although they can be purchased separately) which means really attractive retail prices.

EGO dealers will be offered full technical training in addition to full support.

Information www.egopowerplus.com

Home2Garden were at Glee with a range of wind spinners, wind chimes, hand-blown glass and innovative solar lights...

Home2Garden work with a number of European and USA customers, including mayor mail order and TV companies.

They are happy to work on exclusive designs for specific market needs.

With the Food & Catering Zone making its third consecutive appearance at this year’s show, Glee welcomed  Blue Cap Coffee as one of the official sponsors.

The presence of this internationally acclaimed brand gave garden retailers an unrivalled opportunity to gather best practice examples, advice, contacts and products to help them initiate or improve their catering offering.  We caught up MD John Williams to find out more.

Can you give us a short overview of your business?

Blue Cap Coffee is a recognised supplier of the Lavazza BLUE Concept, an exclusive system which enables garden centre cafes and restaurants to offer an authentic Italian coffee experience.  Lavazza BLUE consists of a series of machines and capsules, both created from Lavazza’s century of passion for espresso. The innovative extraction method and sealed single-dose capsules guarantee a real Italian espresso anytime, anywhere to deliver creamy, fragrant perfection.

What did visitors learn from you during the show?

Over the past year, we’ve increased the number of garden centres we supply. We’ve discovered that the capsule concept is particularly successful in an environment that doesn’t require a specialist barista but still demands a quality offering. There’s already significant interest in the Blue Cap offering which we’re hoping to build on. Feedback from our first, Hillview Garden Centre Group, has been overwhelmingly positive and our experience with other garden centres means we should be able to generate even more interest.  

At Glee we had our machines on display and one machine producing coffee in the Food & Catering Zone. I gave a presentation on “How Garden Centres win the Coffee Shop War” .

What words of advice do you have for any garden retailers wanting to add catering and or a coffee shop?

In speaking to our existing customers, the two words that crop up time and time again are quality and consistency. There are a myriad of factors that contribute to success – friendly staff, comfortable seating and good décor, for example. Regular customers like to feel ‘ownership’ of their favourite coffee shop – the space should reflect the same qualities that they value in their garden centre. Great, healthy looking plants, guaranteed quality and professional advice easily translate to food and drink that is attractive, consistently good quality and service from helpful people.

What are the biggest challenges for retailers adding a coffee shop to their business? What are the common mistakes made?

Firstly, make sure you choose the location carefully – the space should be attractive, easily accessible, light and welcoming. Don’t spend so much on construction and décor that there’s nothing left when it comes to stocking quality drinks and food.

Secondly, if you are anticipating young families visiting, it may be worth having a seating area with a selection of toys or a books area to make your coffee shop family friendly, without alienating other customers who may prefer a quieter, child-free experience.

Thirdly, establish how many customers per hour you want to serve at your top capacity – then check that your staff and coffee machines are able to manage that.

Fourthly, hire staff that have the right approach to customer service, are enthusiastic, willing and able to be trained.

I’d also suggest using a number of part-time workers so you can offer flexible job shifts to tie in with busy times in the café. On an added note, don’t have long, very complicated menus. Keep it simpler by focusing on quality and consistency of products.    

Are there any particular trends that you’ve noticed regarding coffee shops within garden centres? Fair trade or locally sourced for example?

In terms of ethically sourced products, these are expected as standard by customers nowadays, who also expect a great taste and quality of coffee served quickly and consistently. This however isn’t always the case and is often an area of concern for both restaurant managers and customers.  

It’s fair to say that the trend for coffee shops in garden centres in general has dramatically shifted over the past few years. Garden centres are now becoming destinations and leisure attractions in their own right for old and young consumers alike – it’s not just a place to purchase plants from anymore. Typically, just 40% of floor space is now dedicated to plants and garden related items, with successful cafes and restaurants contributing up to 50% of turnover. Allegra forecasts the total UK coffee shop market will exceed 20,500 outlets with a turnover of £8.7 billion by 2018, with 4.5% annual outlet growth over the five-year period. That’s incredible!  

Norfolk Leisure provided a touch of glitter and sparkle amongst the garden leisure stands at Glee.

Their partnership with the National Tree Company has opened up access to an exceptional artificial tree range. This year for the first time, Glee visitors could walk through a selection of finely crafted trees and order for immediate delivery.

“It was the best opportunity garden centres and other outlets could have had to test the well-known National Tree Company brand” said MD Nick Anderson. “We invited customers to come along and just see the quality and maybe try a selection for Christmas 2014.”

Norfolk Leisure also had the adjacent stand full of  favourite and new items from their other brands, including the popular LOTUS parasol (pictured below), which enjoyed such a positive reaction at its launch earlier in the year.

Information: www.norfolkleisure.co.uk

Burgon & Ball showed a totally new design of garden rake on their Glee stand.

The Culti Rake was developed in collaboration with RHS head gardeners and looks set, they say, to become one of the most used tools at RHS Wisley Gardens

Designed as a hybrid between a rake and a cultivator, the tool clears the ground as well as creating a surface tilth. The narrow (18.5cm wide) head makes it ideal for working between rows or in tightly planted borders.

The outer tines are double strength, useful for dealing with individual weeds and scraping ground right up to the edges of beds and borders.

With a head made from stainless steel and handle in FSC polished ash, overall length is 105.5cm. SRP is £27.95.

Also on the stand were the latest additions to the company’s RHS-endorsed range – a selection of cutting tools, including hedge and grass shears, telescopic-handled by-pass, anvil and ratchet loppers, and a heavy-duty pruning saw. Five of the new tools have compound action levers that dramatically increase cutting power (thus reducing the amount of effort required in use).

Garden wholesalers Stax Trade Centres launched a range of new products from their Ambassador brand.

Returning to Glee for the third consecutive year, they showcased new garden tools, bird feeders and garden netting and offered exclusive, profit-boosting stock-and-stand deals.

The ash handle hand tools are made from FSC certified wood and are available with stainless steel or carbon steel heads.

The Ambassador range of bird care items includes a comprehensive choice of feeders and feeding stations, as well as a range of high-energy bird food such as nuts and seeds - suitable for use all year round.

Stax are also official distributors of Pergoda garden furniture.

Simon Wright, purchase director, said: “The Ambassador brand represents quality, and in response to demand we have expanded the range. The products we launched at Glee proved extremely popular.”

Visitors benefited from extra discounts on pre season composite deals on top brands including; Bayer, Scotts, Vitax, Town and Country and STV, delivered by the end of February 2015 with payment not due until the end of April 2015.

HOTMAX High Heat Logs, made from compacted natural renewable British timber, meet the growing demand for this sustainable source of fuel.

HOTMAX is made in three production plants in Northumberland, Nottinghamshire and Hampshire, in both 10kg and 20kg bags, and is now available throughout the UK. The company were at Glee for the first time.

High Heat Logs generate high heat levels fast, are competitively priced and readily available year round in both bag sizes.  HOTMAX is harder than most other bagged briquettes; it is attractive and less uniform than machine cut uniform heat logs. Clean and easy to use, it burns with a strong, bright flame, giving low emissions and producing low levels of fine ash. These fuel logs are one of the most environmentally sustainable sources of heat for the home.

There has been substantial recent growth within the UK heat log market and HOTMAX is now recognised as a national brand. It’s available on pallets and through UK-wide wholesale distribution. It is not available to purchase online.

Information 01668 213 467, email info@hotmax.co.uk or www.hotmax.co.uk.

Kärcher launched their watering range with a promise of “intelligent watering solutions”...

Using insights gained from in-depth consumer research, the products are supported by eye-catching displays and promotional units that aim to engage, inspire and support consumer understanding.

While 69% of UK gardeners say they are interested in gardening 50% of those questioned view gardening as a chore. Gardeners in the UK are engaged consumers who are open to new time-saving and labour-saving solutions, say Karcher.

The launch is supported by a media and PR campaign.

Among the products aere a Compact Hose Box, including a 10-metre hose, small and lightweight for convenient storage solutions. It comes complete with two Aqua Stops, a spray nozzle and a connector suitable for inside the house. All hoses are phthalate free

The Hose Reel Kit contains a spacious storage box for the included 20-metre hose and space for all connectors and adapters. The kit also comes with two hose connectors, one Aqua Stop and a spray nozzle.

Unique to the market, the Oscillating Sprinkler allows you to conveniently water the breadth of your garden, to a maximum area of 320 square metres with 20 watering jets. An innovative splash guard means you can reposition it without getting wet.

The range also offers easy-to-use spray guns, including a Premium Metal Spray Gun with adjustable spray options from mist to jet, and  a Premium Multifunctional Spray Gun with four spray options. Both have practical one-handed designs with continious water flow regulation and a quick and easy lock system.

The Premium Spray Lance has a telescopic lance that can be extended to just over a metre and features six spray patterns.

The 20m Hose Trolley comes with a 20m half-inch PrimoFlex hose, spray nozzle, tap adaptor and three hose connectors. There’s no assembly required and it folds down easily for storage, with a retractable handle for ease of use. The wireless ST6 SensoTimer TM is quick and simple to set-up and provides water only when the garden needs it via a specially created moisture stick. The patented sensor technology starts and stops the irrigation process at the correct time according to moisture levels and the timings set by the user.

Information: contact Danny Adamson (danny.adamson@karcher.co.uk) 07921 409014.

Afterplant Evergreen, a bio-active fertiliser with rootgrowTM mycorrhizal fungi and beneficial bacteria extends the Empathy Afterplant range for the new season.

A targeted plant food tailored to the needs of evergreen garden plants, it provides bnefitsd for the first 3-5 years whilst their root system and fungal partners develop.  It is designed for use with all pot-grown and garden plants to maintain lush foliage all year round.

Two more new products were launched at Glee - Basket Starter and Tomato Starter.

The Emapthy range of products are scientifically formulated to increase the amount of plant available nutrients used in gardening, through a careful selection of nutrients and the inclusion of active biology that is able to break down and transport these resources to the treated plant.

Rootgrow packs carry the RHS logo.

Smart Solar relaunched as Smart Garden Products at Glee, with more than 350 new products to tempt the trade.

The ‘Smart Solar’ brand has been refreshed and is being retained for solar products. Another new brand, ‘Smart Garden’, is also being launched to reflect the company’s diversification into several new categories of garden products.

Designed to offer garden centres a broad product choice backed by an established provider, the 350 new products are part of a product development programme that will continue to unfold in the coming months.

Three key categories were unveiled at Glee. Kent &Stowe is a brand new range of top end crafted quality garden tools. Designed in the U.K. they are unashamedly traditional to reflect a British heritage and engender a sense of pride of ownerership. The range comprises digging, cutting and hand tools in stainless steel and carbon steel. The stainless steel range will be engraved with the Kent & Stowe name. The cutting tools are a premium range of secateurs, loppers, shears and pruning saws with tempered steel blades.

Finally, Plantpak by Crest is a joint venture between Desch Plantpak and Crest Garden aimed at revitalising the grow your own retail propagation market.

Nick said: “We are creating brands designed to add genuine value for money and grow business for our customers. Our investors have the power and expertise in the industry which will ensure that the brands are strongly marketed through advertising, PR and dynamic point of sale displays."

Westland Horticulture launched their new 2015 range at Glee.

Highlights of the new range include the Gro-Sure Easy Containers Compost - with water storing pockets and six months’ feed – and Resolva Liquid Shots – pre-dosed with the right amount of weedkiller for a 10L watering can, it guarantees the right dose every time.

Westland also launched the Gro-Sure Tomato Gro-Pack and Easy Feed – ideal for first time growers, each Gro-Pack is designed for one plant and comes with six weeks’ feed to guarantee success. The Easy Feed contains easy to use sticks that sit either side of the plant; giving them enough feed for the whole season with no measuring or mess necessary.

Here were the highlights from the Westland stand:

• Gro-Sure Easy Containers Compost – Unique water storing pockets, enriched with Westland’s unique West+ and 6 months feed make it easy to get great results in pots and containers
• Resolva Liquid Shots – Pre-dosed with just the right amount of weedkiller for a 10L watering can, it gives you the perfect dose every time – guaranteed
• Resolva 24H Power Pump – With 5 minutes continual spray, a dual action trigger and an easy store wand and hose, it makes weed-killing even easier!
• Jack’s Magic Garden Fertiliser – Building on the popularity of its compost, Jack’s Magic is introducing a nutrient rich garden fertiliser to its range in 2015
• Gro-Sure Tomato Gro-Pack – Ideal for first time growers who often only have a small patio or balcony, each Gro-Pack is designed for one plant. Featuring an extra deep design to promote strong roots, plus includes 6 weeks feed to help guarantee success
• Gro-Sure Tomato Easy Feed – Contains easy to handle sticks, just push 1 either side of the plant to feed for the whole season. No measuring, no mess, no fuss.
• Seramis Orchid Care range – Europe’s leading orchid range is coming to the UK. The range includes Seramis Orchid Potting Mix with a unique blend of Seramis granules and pine bark which absorb and release water and nutrients exactly where the orchid needs it.
• Gro-Sure Lawn Seed rebrand – Featuring a bespoke built-in seed applicator and clever bird repellent coating to guarantee results!

In addition to all this, Gro-Sure Planting Magic will be back on TV screens for 2015 with increased investment of a £1.5 million communications campaign.

Melanie Livingston and Alicia Goodier from The Greatest Award winning Fron Goch Garden Centre plant team were just one of almost 100 garden centres who have signed up to "Go Wild with Peckish" for the October half term holidays on the Westland Horticulture stand at Glee 2014.

"Go Wild with Peckish" is a package of activities for familes and children to take place in garden centres across the UK.  "It's all about getting kids off their digital devices and interested in wildlife," explained Senior Brand Manager Rachael Dickinson.  

Westland Sales Rep Andrew Potter added: "All that centres' such as Fron Goch have to do is sign up on the stand here at Glee or e-mail: joingowild@gardenhealth.com and they will be sent a pack of activities, including cartoon birds that can be located around a centre for bird spotting trails."

That all sounds like a great initiative, but it gets even better when you add in the PR and media activity that supports "Go Wild with Peckish".  Emma Rodgers, Westland PR Manager, told Glee Daily News: " The "Go Wild" consumer website goes live on October 1st and it will include lists of all the garden centres signed up to take part."

"We are advertising in Primary Times magazine and using Mumsnet on a national and local level to drive families towards centres holding "Go Wild with Peckish" events."

Find out more on the Westland at Glee 2014 Stand 19G20-21 or e-mail: joingowild@gardenhealth.com

Town & Country’s experience over the three days of Glee echoed the show’s positive message.

Kept firmly under wraps until the doors opened, their collection of ‘see-through’ macs created a stir in the aisles – with the help of some stunning models.

The company has specialised in waterproof footwear for many years, so the clear macs, designed to appeal to style-conscious consumers with an eye on quality and value, are a natural progression.

PVC wellingtons in navy and raspberry to match the trims and spots on the macs complete the collection. A free stand and mannequin is available. 

Visitors to the new-look, ‘shop-window’ style stand also got a first glimpse of  additions to the gloves, footwear and accessories ranges. They include:

• Spring 2015 Colour Concept –  polka-dot Master Gardener Gloves, padded kneepads and lightweight slip-on cloggies in lime or pink, on triangular displays.
• Luxury scented candles offering year-round gift purchase potential and available in three sizes and four garden-inspired scents.   A patented thicker wick design means a larger flame, no smoke and longer burn time.  
• Sturdy re-usable shopping bags with matching pouches in five colours and offered with a free merchandising display unit.  

Information 01530 830990, townandco.com

The Buyer Connect speed networking sessions held at this year’s Glee were heralded as a great success by all those that took part.

Exhibitors were invited to request short introductory meetings with 16 key garden retailers who agreed to take part in the event. With high profile names such as Wyevale Garden Centre, Blue Diamond Group and Homebase, to name but a few, the slots were quickly booked up in advance of the show. 

Run by GIMA in their business lounge, more than 160, strictly timed 10 minute appointments took place over the two sessions.

As a first time exhibitor in the Innovators Zone, Mandy Bailey of Plant-n-Grow took part and found Buyer Connect a great opportunity to present their new products and receive feedback on key elements of their proposition and market research.

Vicky Nuttall, GIMA director said: ”We see one of our key roles as bringing suppliers and retailers together, and Buyer Connect is a perfect opportunity for us to put this into practice. We were delighted to be asked to run this event again but on a larger scale than last year. We have plans to hold more such events in the future, and hopefully at Glee again.”

The Garden Connect stand was very busy as the company introduced the GardenDeal app: an effective and affordable solution to give your garden centre the loyal customers it needs.

GardenDeal is a generic App available at iOS, Google Play and for Windows Mobile from September 2014. Consumers can download the app free of charge. After downloading they can register themselves and select their local garden centre. The app shows them current coupons available for use at the garden centre. Garden centres can login and add their own coupons to the app. Customers visiting the garden centre will see even more coupons upon arrival.

Founder of Garden Connect Edwin Meijer: “We’re using iBeacons to show customers instore coupons. Retailers can change these coupons any time of the day, so they can play ball and change offers for example if the weather is changing. Instore promotions are very effective to generate more impulsive sales.”

Apart from the coupons, customers visiting the garden centre will get a digital stamp in the app. “Every 5^thstamp will generate an extra coupon. Unlike the old fashion stamp cards, we can send out coupons based on the number of visits. Bigger rewards should be given to customers who visit your garden centre more often.” explains Edwin Meijer.

The app combines smartphones and e-mail communication. After visiting the garden centre, customers will be sent an e-mail to say thanks and invited to write a review. If someone hasn’t visited the garden centre for certain periods of time, another e-mail can be sent out. “Is it your customers birthday, then why not send out an e-mail with a special coupon? Our system automates this communication. The e-mail is sent on your customers birthday and the birthday coupon will be visible in the app for just a few days. Garden centres can setup their own e-mail scheme and all e-mails are sent based on the data we automatically retrieve from the customers behavior.”

The GardenDeal app doesn’t require any integration with epos systems. For example: “A voucher of £6 off by post every quarter is outdated and expensive. We’re offering garden centres to communicate instantly with their customers and as frequently as they want. With traditional loyalty schemes you give a reward at the check-out, just a minute before they leave the centre! Using the iBeacons, we can give them a reward whilst they are shopping. With the Garden Deal app you can generate more sales today, keep in touch with your customers and get them back more frequently.”

Costs are based on a monthly charge per user. For 250 users the costs are just £0.12 per user, per a month including an unlimited number of coupons and e-mails. The monthly charge for the iBeacon is £15 which includes free replacements.

In 2015, more iBeacons will become available to add more flexible instore promotion: “Customers who are in the centre for over 30 minutes, but who haven’t visited the restaurant might get thirsty. You have the opportunity to  automatically send them a second-coffee-free voucher to get them in your restaurant. We just started this development and there are many opportunities for retailers. Customers aged 50 & older are rapidly adapting new technologies so no doubt smart retailers want to benefit from it as soon as possible. With the use of this revolutionary app, we can also start to attract the next generation of garden centre customers who are already mobile app savvy.”

For more information please go to www.gardendeal.co.uk.

Westland Horticulture will have Resolva back on TV in Spring 2015, and with two new product innovations.

Resolva Liquid Shots have been specifically developed to offer gardeners an easier way to apply concentrated weedkiller and Resolva 24H Power Pump is the ideal product for controlling large areas of troublesome weeds.

For liquid shots the Westland team have implmented the Car Parking System to help consumers work out what area they need to treat. The six "shots" in each pack will cover a total area equivalent of 26 parking spaces (264 sq metres.)

Reslova 24H Power Pump and refill is available in 5 litre formats, showing results in 24 hours, as well as having the ability to kill weeds deep at the root.

You’ve got to hand it to Globus… they’re demonstrating Showa gloves with performance features that make a real difference.

For example, their 281 Termes gloves, like all Showa products, are made from 100% virgin materials for strength and longer life, and are not only totally waterproof but totally breathable, wicking moisture away from the skin to leave hands perspiration-free. They’ll prove it to you on the stand but putting a glove on a wet hand and withdrawing it a few seconds later as dry as a bone.

There are eight different Showa lines in all, to meet a host of end user needs, with all gloves made in factories owned by Showa themselves.

Bespoke retail and POS solutions are available.

The VegTrug stand exhibited a wide range of new products building on their success and reputation.

Newly added are a special kids planter, designed to be the perfect working height for younger participants, this is complemented by a kids workbench, with space to store their own compost or tools. Both are manufactured from FSC timber.

The colourful Poppy range has also seen additions, most notably the Poppy Flower with special side planting pockets-ideal for trailing plants.

The colour continues with the introduction of a vertical garden system- making the most of walls. The beauty of this system is the modular design allowing for adjustment of planter height on the frame and of course a choice of colours allowing the gardener to customise the look.

The team feel there is a strong future for these planters for either herbs or for cascading ornamental plants and no doubt sales will benefit from in-store demonstrations.

US manufacturers Panacea Products launched more than 600 decorative garden products new to the UK market.

Panacea are one of the best-known brands in the category back in their native US, and have now set up a UK company to market products new to this country – including a magnificent forged range.

You’ll find hanging basket brackets, shepherd hooks, hanging baskets, plants stands and metal fencing products in a huge range of attractively different designs.

Panaceas are committed to a rolling programme of some 75 new products every season – so creative director Bernie Paniccia, the founder’s son, suggests you watch this space…

Pictured: Bernie Paniccia with Panacea’s unique hanging ‘Welcome log basket’

New research suggesrts that one in three people would visit a garden centre more often if the quality of coffee was better.

The survey of 1,100 UK consumers by Glee exhibitors  UCC Coffee UK & Ireland (17T53), found that quality is also the most important factor for consumers when deciding whether or not to buy coffee at a garden centre. After quality, the coffee shop environment, speed of service, price and ethical accreditations influence people’s decision to purchase the most.

The results showed that a good café or coffee shop is key to getting consumers through the doors, with 32% of consumers visiting a garden centre to both browse and visit a coffee shop on their last visit.

Grabbing a coffee at a garden centre is becoming increasingly popular, with 25% of people saying they purchased a coffee there in the last three to four weeks. In fact, one in ten said they only went to visit the coffee shop or café.

Phil Smith, UCC’s category manager, says coffee now makes up 87% of all hot beverage sales in garden centres. “Our research has revealed that it is more important to the consumers’ experience at garden centres than any other leisure destination, including art galleries, museums farm shops and visitor attractions,” he said. Four out of ten consumers now expected great quality coffee in garden centres, giving operators a huge opportunity to drive revenue and repeat business.

Other results showed that the primary reason for buying a hot beverage is “functional”, with 26% of coffee consumers needing a refreshment. But, almost half (49%) of hot beverage purchases at garden centres are indulgences – relaxation (22%), taking a break from shopping (21%) and meeting friends (15%).

When it comes to the most popular coffees, cappuccino comes out on top (23%) with latte (21%) and americano (17%) completing the top three.

The research of 1,100 coffee drinking consumers was commissioned by UCC Coffee UK & and conducted by Allegra Insight in August 2014. UCC Coffee UK & Ireland surveys consumers each quarter to keep its customers up-to-date with the latest market trends and provide insight to add value to their customers’ businesses.

Tilnar Art made their Glee debut to promote their range of Fair Trade sculptures made from recycled metals, including giraffes...

The company took part in the UK leg of the Tour this summer, sporting big yellow signs supporting Chris Froome, alongside their recycled metal giraffes (see above).

The giraffes had come all the way from Africa to support the Kenyan born British defending champion Chris Froome.

As you might have guessed, the Tilnar Art team are great cycling fans – as a fair trade, ethical and ecological company, they fully support any form of transport that reduces our carbon footprints.

The giraffe sculptures are hand-made by a group of artists from Zimbabwe who are widely regarded as producing the highest quality metal available from Africa. Customers are invariably impressed by the quality and finish.

All sculptures are marked with the artists' logo and come with a colour product tag with pictures of the artists. The products help provide a stable income and good standard of living for the artists and their families.

Information www.tilnarart.co.uk or 01277 362815

Nordic Garden Buildings launched a range of three Pergoda buildings, all making their debut at Glee. 

They follow the 2013 success of buildings like the unique uPVC double glazed greenhouse and the award winning Melbourne Pavilion, which won the New Products ‘Retailers Choice Award’ at Glee 2013.

The Pergodas – an octagonal panelled, ocatgonal open and square open – combine Scandinavian chic with low maintenance, value for money, and the appeal of flexible space. With a uPVC frame with internal steel reinforcement, the new buildings are much easier to maintain than traditional wood and aluminium.

Tested to the extremes of Scandinavian weather, Nordic’s garden buildings can withstand heavy snow loads and storm force winds and the polycarbonate roofs protect from strong sun.  Made in Wales, the Pergodas are designed to be enjoyed all year round.

Retailers can secure exclusive territories within the Nordic Dealer Network, which benefits from dedicated account managers, online and offline direct marketing support, sales training and installation support as well as sales incentives

Information: 07717 710 062 or

justin@nordicgarden.co.uk

  

Mondays and Tuesdays Champagne winners, having been spotted by the Glee Daily News team sporting a Catering Design Group pink sticker, are David Wilson and Mark Bean of Hetland Garden Centre and Gerald Ingrams and Darren Sanders from Garden King Garden Centre.

Visitors to Glee also had the opportunity to enter a prize draw to win a full day’s design consultancy courtesy of Catering Design Group (Hall 17, Stand U26-V25).

Catering Design Group is one of the UK’s leading restaurant and commercial catering design companies, and the winner will enjoy a day with either a kitchen or interiors specialist, with a site survey, design layout and mood board included.

Catering Design Group’s principal Interior design consultant Abi Perry-Jones was at Glee in the Food & Catering zone on September 14, sharing the latest design trends and giving advice on how to transform a café or restaurant space.

The following day, Red Mist managing director Mark Robson offered advice on how to deliver a fresh, seasonal and local experience for customers.

Phillip Howard, managing director of Catering Deign Group said: “We’ve been delighted to be back at Glee and our team of experts have given visitors advice and answers to many catering design related questions.” 

The Tildenet stand included some exciting new products from their new partnership with Haxnicks.

The Glee new product award-winning ‘EasyPath’ generated significant interest. This plastic path re-enforced with mesh provides an easy and practical alternative to the planks and scraps of wood often seen on allotments. Like many Haxnicks products, it is innovative, easily portable and well priced.

Similarly, their new Large Sunbubble, is a neat solution, easy to pack away, and has its own carry bag. In addition to its horticultural uses, it can dopuble as an an impromptu play environment on a chilly day, as its developer Damien Cardozo can testify.

Damien says Haxnicks and Tildenet are a good fit, as both have a similar culture, and the products mesh well. The new organisation gives the strength and infrastructure to provide high levels of customer service to garden centres but still with the capacity to develop more products to solve real gardening problems. 

Information 0117 966 9684

tildenet.co.uk

Inside the SunBubble.

Tildenet at Glee 2014. Stand 20L16.

Visitors to Glee have had the exclusive opportunity to be the first to view the stunning new range of wood-burning stoves from Stovey, the industry’s most exciting new contenders, as their new brand was officially launched at Glee 2014.

Culminating months of careful design and production, Stovey lifted the veil off their collection of contemporary and uniquely designed stoves to the home and garden market.

Supported by television’s Julia Kendell who is best known for her interior design expertise, Stovey is set to shake up the traditional conception of wood burning stoves.

Julia comments: “Contemporary in their look and environmentally conscious in their approach, Stovey provides home owners with a lot more than just a great looking stove. Designed in the UK, the Stovey collection has been developed with a young and modern audience in mind."

"Supplied in an urban colour pallet to compliment the interior of any city home or apartment, the freestanding or inset stoves are slick to say the least. Simple to use and maintain, Stovey is the first port of call for anyone looking to add the warmth and beauty of a wood-burning stove to their home without compromising on cutting-edge design and look.”

Stovey has recently announced their partnership with national charity Trees for Cities. Committed to sustaining the UK’s trees, Stovey have pledged their support to the work of the Charity that aims to beautify the UK’s cities through tree planting. Generating funds through the sale of each Stovey, the new partnership between Stovey and Trees for Cities will see new tree saplings being planted in the UK’s urban areas that need it the most.

As unique in its product range as it is in its approach to wood-burning stove sales, Stovey are specifically looking to engage with Garden Centres at Glee to endorse the opportunities that becoming a Stovey Partner will offer. Providing a new way for customers to view and purchase a wood-burning stove, whilst offering Garden Centres the many benefits of displaying the Stovey range within their store, Stovey is an exciting prospect in more ways than one.

For further information on Stovey, log onto www.stovey.com

A big hit with visitors to Glee, the new Vital Earth Chelsea Mix all purpose compost looks set for a strong future. Building on their successful link with the acclaimed Chelsea Flower Show gardens of Harry and David Rich in the past few years, this new blend aims to provide a premium all purpose compost to a discerning gardening public.

Steve Harper from Bord Na Mona explains, “the Chelsea Flower show is the pinnacle of the gardening year and probably the most well known in gardening. This product allows the garden centre to link to this premium event, and is a name known by even the newcomer”.

This peat free product has performed extremely well in tests and fulfils the need of the gardener for a high performance product- this being the primary message of the product. The aim is for Chelsea Mix to be the best product in the market.

Orders are being taken for deliveries in March “close enough to raise awareness from the ‘main event’”,  packaging is bright and simple, preventing complication of the message in the customers’ eyes.  There is a Chelsea garden planned for 2015, the team hope that both the garden and the compost strike gold.

Vital Earth Chelsea Mix can be found on the Bord Na Mona stand Hall 18 K16.

This year’s new product awards had an array of highly competitive entries. With the winners announced, we caught up with some of the highly commended products and the businesses behind these new arrivals.  

Funky Laundry was set up seven months ago by Nyall Avery and since then the company has gone from strength to strength. The bags, made from 80% recycled material, feature high clarity photographs taken by team members themselves and retail at £6.99. With eight designs ranging from beach pebbles to meadow scenery, the bags offer storage solutions that can be openly displayed in any room.

“There’s no need to hide away our bags because their attractive designs make them ideal for displaying anywhere in the home.” Owner Nyall Avery said. “With seasonal designs, consumers often end up buying more to add to their collections.”

Latvian company Prodeko won the highly commended and green award for their range of Nest 4 Nature indoor and outdoor candles. Made from birch sourced from owner Edijis Ozols’ property, the candles use recycled wax and have a burning time of seven hours. 

Garland impressed with their Jumbo Kneeling Pad, developed as a direct result of customer demand for an even larger kneeling pad following the launch of the XL version.  “We had customers putting two XL Kneeling Pads together and asking, ‘Why not make one this big?’, so we did!” said Operations Director Tony Dedman. The Jumbo Kneeling Pad allows users to work five feet without having to adjust the mat, and retails for £9.99

Channel Island Plants scooped the highly commended award for their Petunia Happy Magic Charcoal. A good mixer plant, it flowers non-stop from April and is compact semi upright – ideal for baskets. Petunia Happy Magic Charcoal will be available next year.

Brushware specialists Charles Bentley are cleaning up with their with their new range of premium brushes and brooms developed in collaboration with the National Trust.

The brushes have been designed from the ground up to appeal to discriminating end users who appreciate the ultimate in quality, distinctive design detail and user benefits at an affordable price.

Account manager Glynn Abbott says there are brushes to suit every job around the home and garden, offering quality, performance and durability not found elsewhere. They cost only marginally more than some mid-market alternatives.

Details like sculpted wooden stocks, castellated bristles, double-locking handle brackets and lime-green handles with soft grips will give this new plenty of impact at point of sale.

Left: Glynn Abbot demonstrates the new Charles Bentley National Trust platform brush.

Winners of the Glee new product award for plants seeds and bulbs, the Garden On A Roll team were extremely pleased with the reception to their gift box concept.

The gift pack contains everything that would be needed to plant a complete new border plus something special ‘goodies ‘ to treat the recipient now- chocolates, luxury biscuits or even Champagne.

The team explain, " the concept itself is quite simple, a bio-degradable roll already marked with spacings for the chosen garden design,  instructional dvd and basic planting tools".  The ‘package’ includes the pre-purchase of the plants too, which will only be delivered when the customer is ready, allowing time for the happy couple to get back from honeymoon or prepare the garden if newly moved in.

The gift box concept extends the reach of the gardening season and provides a garden related gift solution that is applicable all year round. Garden On A Roll are in Hall 19G58.

Gardenonaroll have been successfully working with Homebase delivering borders nationwide since 2013. As well as working in partnership with Digswell nurseries, a community project, who provide training and work-based skills for vulnerable people. Many of the plants supplied are grown by Gardenonaroll and in other UK based nurseries.

NEW PRODUCTS for 2015

This year we have been testing our 2 new additions to the range…

1. The Gift Box - This enables anyone to give a gift of a garden border at any time of the year ! Gardenonaroll have designed an attractive, easy to give box containing all the usual Gardenonaroll ingredients apart from the plants. When the recipient of the gift is ready to plant, they just choose the garden style they like, contact Gardenonaroll to order their plants and to arrange delivery (which is included in the gift price), then the plants are delivered to their door. Perfect as a Wedding or Anniversary gift so the happy couple can get the plants when they are ready!

2. Gardenonaroll paper impregnated with organic feed  - Gardenonaroll have been testing this new product and are pleased to announce that they now have organic feed impregnated into the paper. It still acts as a planting guide and weed suppressant but now has the added benefit of releasing nutrients as the paper bio-degrades!

Natural gardening brand Neudorff  launched three new products consisting of pure mycorrhizal fungi, which dramatically stimulate plant root development..

 The formulas include a general-purpose option for all plant types, which is available in both soluble and non soluble, plus a version for ericaceous plants.

 Neudorff has been producing products containing mycorrhiza for more than 20 years within its solid fertiliser range; this brand new range is their first selection of ‘pure’ products.

 Highly effective and permanent, they boost the surface area of the rootball by up to 150 times, allowing plants to draw even more essential nutrients and water, which the plants turn into valuable carbohydrates in the form of sugar, encouraging vigorous and healthy growt.  Treated plants are more resilient to disease, frost, drought and unfavourable pH values.

 Jude Beharall, Neudorff’s UK & ROI sales director, said: “The aim of the new range is to offer gardeners a simple and highly effective solution for achieving fantastic growing results. We already have a number of products that contain Mycorrhiza fungi, these have proved very successful and the benefits of this natural ingredient are fantastic.”

SRP £6.99  (treats about 25 plants in pots)

Pictured: Jude Beharall and Neudorf press manager Katrin Rütt launch the new mycorrhiza range.

First-time Glee exhibitors Sgaravatti Trend from Italy offered a world first – the patented KalaMitica magnetic pot...

The product’s unique feature is its integrated magnet, which allows the pot to be attached to any metal surface, enabling the creation of fascinating plant displays on furniture surfaces, work tops and so on. An optional range of metal plates are also offered in various shapes – and there is even a ‘picture frame’ style product with built-in LED light, making a truly original wall display.

The range has been a popular success in Europe since its launch three years ago, particularly in France, where it is stocked by Jardilands, Botanic and Truffaut.

UK agent Mark Smith is on the stand to demonstrate the system, which can be supplied complete with soil-free air plants.

Above: Laura Creuso and Matteo Menin of Sgaravatti with items from the KalaMitica range, including feature frames on the wall.

Specialist laurel nursery Laurica Plants have reported a period of sustained sales growth (assisted by a good growing season) during 2014.

Glee provided an opportunity to promote sales of their red and green pots for this year's festive season.

The distinctive nature of the Flemisch Baytree is becoming more recognized throughout Europe. Laurica Plants are one of several  growers from Flanders who grow this range of Laurus nobilis for the professional landscape trade. They are pot-grown and kept in greenhouses during the winter. A minimum of five years cultivation is required to produce these specimens before certification is awarded. Only then can the official label be issued.

Currently only 11 nurseries in Belgium are members of the Flemisch Baytree Association.

Information 0032 5081 1743. www.laurica.be

Wyevale Garden Centres has further strengthened its executive management team with the addition of Tim Patten as Multi-Channel Director.

Kevin Bradshaw, Chief Executive of Wyevale Garden Centres, said: "Wyevale Garden Centres aspires to give our customers a shopping experience that reflects the way they want to shop. Online research and commerce are playing an increasingly important role in garden product retailing and Tim’s appointment is the first step on our journey to become a truly multi-channel retailer.

"Tim’s industry-leading expertise in developing multi-channel and e-commerce businesses will help us to bring the joy of the garden to life online as well as in our garden centres.”

Tim Patten joins Wyevale Garden Centres from Morrisons Non Food where he was the Marketing and E-Commerce Director.

Tim has held a number of e-commerce, multi-channel and marketing director roles for large retail businesses including Space NK and Mothercare.

He spent several years at Jack Wills where he was initially the Multi-Channel Director for the UK; he then took on a larger scope and was responsible for the international development of Jack Wills USA and Jack Wills Hong Kong’s multi-channel strategies.

‘Love the Plot You’ve Got’, the industry wide campaign to get 30-45 year olds enjoying their outdoor space, received a fantastic reception from suppliers and retailers at Glee with many pledging further support for the initiative.

Initiated by the Garden Industry Marketing Board (GIMB) the stand at Glee comprised a ‘before and after’ garden installation, designed by the Edible Bus Stop. Typical of the size of 14 million gardens in the UK the feature showed what could be done through simple planting and decoration transforming it into a usable and relaxing outdoor space. The gardens provide inspiration and ideas for suppliers and retailers on how best to reach out to this group of consumers that have an outdoor space but don’t know what to do with it or where to start. This is based on insight from consumer research carried out earlier in the year.

A key part of the campaign, which launches to consumers in 2015, will be the ‘Love the Plot You’ve Got’ roadshow which will be visiting a number of events, shows and festivals across  the UK.  Importantly the roadshow, which will include the Glee installation plus two further themed gardens, will help to show consumers of all ages and experience how an outdoor space can be transformed with limited time, expertise and expense. Westland Horticulture has kindly agreed to transport the gardens on their journey across the UK in spring and summer next year as part of their contribution to the campaign.

Keith Nicholson, Marketing Director for Westland Horticulture said: “This is a really worthwhile initiative that Westland is delighted to support and help to get off the ground.  There have been several months of work between the HTA and the wider industry to create a platform that will promote gardening to widest possible audience, and the moveable gardens is just the first project of many”. 

Campaign Manager David Arnold comments: “Glee provided the perfect opportunity for us to unveil ‘Love the Plot You’ve Got’ in a visual way to the trade. Over the three days of the show we had some great engagement and commitment from suppliers and retailers alike and our reception event on the Monday evening was really well attended. We would like to thank Westland Horticulture for their immense contribution which will literally help get this campaign the road!”

David Arnold will be talking about ‘Love the Plot You’ve Got’ at the HTA Garden Futures Conference which takes place on 15 October at the Royal Institute of British Architects in London – see www.gardenfutures.org.uk for further details.

All participating members will be able to access campaign support materials via www.loveyourplot.com.  This campaign website is currently live with a trade login, which allows members to download logos and brand guidelines.  This section will soon include additional collateral including photography and PR tool kits for use in 2015. 

A consumer facing website is under construction and will be live in time for launch in January. This will provide helpful and easy to understand blog and video content - such as how to transform your garden on a low budget and planting & growing for beginners.  

Glee 2014 has been hailed a success by the garden retail industry, and organisers i2i Events have already booked over 50% of the stand space for the 2015 event.

i2i Events had promised a show that would be revitalised, re-energised and delivering something different. Initial feedback from both exhibitors and visitors indicated this promise was delivered.  Featuring a new location and layout within the NEC, plus a raft of value-added features and an unrivalled, international mix of more than 500 major brands and specialist suppliers from across the garden, landscaping, home, pet and leisure sectors, Glee offered buyers and suppliers the market’s strongest business-building and networking opportunity for several years.

Strong attendance: Despite overall buying consolidation across the industry, the show delivered an audience of 7,066 visitors, with revisits boosting overall footfall equal to 8,085 - equaling 2013’s footfall figures - across the three days. 

Longer visits: Early data also shows that people were not only staying at Glee for longer – often attending the entire duration of the show in order to maximise the wealth of new products and innovation on offer – but the quality of visitors was noteworthy too.   

More top buyers: This year’s Glee attracted more visitors from top retailers, such as leading UK garden centres, builders’ merchants, multiple retailers, and DIY stores, with many sending large sales teams to the show to ensure no stone was left unturned.

More decision makers: Glee also saw more key decision makers attending the show.  With direct buying power and company strategy at the forefront of their minds, these visitors came to Glee ready and willing to do business – and they certainly didn’t disappoint, as Glee’s event manager Matthew Mein explains: “This year Glee was very much about delivering an audience of quality; one that was dedicated to optimising the sales and profit opportunity that the exhibition offers.  For many suppliers, the 2014 exhibition was one of the busiest on record, with sale targets being smashed, order books running out and new product launches drawing more attention than ever before.” 

More top brands than ever before: This year’s Glee delivered even more exhibitors, with over 500 brands filling the show.  Key names included Westland, Gardman, Scotts, Kelkay, Petface, Smart Garden, Deco-Pak, Handy Distribution, Forest Garden, Kaemingk, Elho, Johnsons Lawn Seed, Pattimax, Woodlodge, Burgon and Ball, Briers and Apta. There were also 219 companies that had never before exhibited or were making their return to Glee during 2014. 

Rebooking surge sees Glee 2015 already 56% full: Matthew Mein also shared some exciting news regarding Glee 2015.  He said: “The feedback we’ve had from exhibitors and visitors alike has been superb.  It’s clear to see that the changes that have taken place have helped move the industry towards the 2015 season on an incredibly positive and profitable note.  Feedback has in fact been so great, that we have already rebooked over 56% of the 2015 floorplan.  Our onsite sales team were inundated with booking forms, as exhibitors scrambled to secure their place at next year’s show.  This is by far the strongest response we’ve experienced to our rebooking programme, so much so that Glee present booking status is equal with where we were in January of this year.  This means we’re in a fantastic position to grow Glee beyond the 12% growth that we achieved in 2014. It’s an extremely exciting prospect.”

Finally Matthew Mein extended his thanks to this year’s partners and sponsors GIMA, the HTA, Gardenex, Garden Centre Association, UK Trade & Investment, Garden Trade News, Garden Connect, Garden Trade Specialist, Horticulture Connected, and FCL Global, this year’s logistics partner, and 2014 Food & Catering Hub partners Blue Cap Coffee and Catering Design Group.