In This Issue
Three months on from Glee 2022 - Here is the Glee Daily News Omnibus Issue
Glee organisers promise 2023 event will be 'bigger, better and brighter than ever'
Key trends as Glee has June 2023 in its sights
Watch the first episode of Glee TV
Award-winning product features on Glee TV
Save the date for Glee 2023
Sustainability is at heart of everything Westland does
Solar Centre experiences fantastic Glee where it showcased the Rosalind Solar Floor Lamp
Patio Black Spot - The complete garden stonework restoration system
A Greenfingers greeting from Woodmansterne!
Meadow View Stone wowed customers with a flagship display of premium quality products and merchandising solutions at this year’s Glee
Clever pots helps gardeners grow tomatoes and potatoes
Mower Edge Border leads Primeur’s launches
Evergreen Garden Care launches refill stations
New Tiered Planters from EKJU
New Campingaz Barbecue models made in Italy
Bestselling Bloomin Amazing established as UK’s leading organic soil enricher
Technological advances in DIY pest control
LAVA-LITE collection has everything covered
NEW Water Features range unveiled by Altico
Growing greener with Apsley Farms’ Natural Plant Food
Eliza Tinsley present Greenman Garden Tools
Ready – Set – Revive
Houseplant care collection from LAVA-LITE
Organic Plantfood bolsters DJ Turfcare’s offering
World renowned V&A Museum collaborates with Bulldog Tools Pedigree Garden Range
Primus adds to its stunning Wallace & Gromit collection
New additions to Henry Bell's Wild Bird Table range
Fire, water and earth: Apta and La Hacienda set trends
Durstons answers calls for greener growing media
elho brings nature to Glee
Be part of a joyful tea revolution!
Wood Splitter Kindling Cracker comes to UK
Yorkshire Flowerpots showcase range of British made terracotta planters
Barrus launched over 60 new products to market at Glee
Take a trip to the theatre with Deco-Pak
Woodlodge strengthens its presence in container sector
See quality products from Flat Pack Sheds
Retailers praise The Real Soil Company’s latest launch
New BBQ fuel burns brightly
Red Gorilla showcases Garden Companion Set
Tildenet makes big impact
Zest launches products focussed on sustainability, lifestyle and convenience
Time to get smart with Link2Home
Wide range of popular products from Handy
UK Greetings caters for all consumers
Burgon & Ball's eye-catching displays drive sales
Standalone PoS makes it ‘EASY’ for garden centres
Introducing Soilworx – a new natural organic fertiliser
Happy plants, happy planet with Sipcam Home & Garden
New innovative bird feeders from Honeyfield’s
Recyclable packaging for specialist feeds
Michelin-starred chef heaps praise on new Norfolk Grills
Glee goes Floral Thursday for Greenfingers
Glee New Product Awards - Winners revealed
Glee New Product Awards shortlisted products
Glee Buyers Power List Winners Revealed
Qwickhose crowned 2022 GIMA Innovators Seed Corn Fund winners  
Happy Plants win Green Heart best display award
Glee 2022 Show Guide available online
Get your copy of GTN Xtra
Westland stand tour inspires this year's Rising Stars hopefuls
Kink Out - a new idea to 'rescue' kinked hoses
Visitors experience barbecuing Tramontina-style
Hydria kit transforms plant pots into fountains
Ex-chef cooks up new career in garden ornaments
Glee New Products Directory and Judges' eye view exclusive in GTN September issue, on-line now
Making peat free work for everyone - watch video discussion from the Glee studio
Send us your news and great ideas

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Key trends as Glee has June 2023 in its sights

 

Glee's organising team looks at key trends emerging from this year’s show and ahead to 27th-29th June 2023 for an early glimpse of what’s in store for the UK’s most important garden centre trade exhibition.

 

If one key message emerged from the superb content programme offered at Glee 2022, it was that despite the huge economic challenges our country is facing, the gardening industry is better placed than almost any other to not just survive but thrive. Always strong on content, Glee pulled out all the stops with a host of expert commentators who were united in their belief that the future is bright for gardening. Retail consultant, Alan O'Neil, who helped grow the fortunes of Selfridges, Fenwick and Harrods amongst others, put it this way: “Gardening is one of the lucky sectors coming out of the pandemic, in a time where we see the pace, complexity and volume of change accelerating.” 

 

As retailers adjust their business models and learn new skills to keep up with consumer shifts, the trade event that serves them has also changed with the times. This has already seen Glee shift from its historic September date to a late June timeframe which better suits the buying patterns of garden centers and other outdoor living specialists.

 

Commenting on the new June date, GCA Chairman and Managing Director of Millbrook Garden Centres, Tammy Woodhouse, said: “In the long-term, I think the new slot will help us make buying decisions earlier and allow us to have a summer sale and clear through old stock to make way for new ranges for next year,” whilst British Garden Centres’ Joint Managing Director, Charles Stubbs added: “It was great to see Glee back and in such good health! The level of commitment to the industry from suppliers was obvious through their NPD and investment in existing stock. I was particularly impressed by the number of new exhibitors; every one of them relevant to our industry.”

 

Robin Mercer, the owner of Belfast-based Hillmount Garden Centres and recipient of the coveted Best Independent Award in this year’s Buyer’s Power List, also shared his thoughts on the show, saying:  “We need to go to shows to see what is new, and the stand quality here is very, very good, the layout is great, it’s spacious and easy to get around. People have gone to a lot of effort to make their stands look nice and decorate them well with nice features. We also make a point of visiting the New Product Showcase while we’re here. We have placed a few orders already but there are many more suppliers we still want to see”.

 

Robin and his retail colleagues were truly spoilt for choice at this year’s Glee, where exhibitor levels were back to pre-pandemic numbers, 170 new brands – never-before seen at the event – showcased their latest innovations and international exhibitors from 22 countries came out in force. Exhibitors were in agreement that the quality of retailers in attendance was also very high, with all the major garden centre groups sending buying teams and a wealth of independents from around the UK turning out to support the industry’s prime new product launchpad.

 

Lauren O'Neil of Stratford Garden Centre concurred with the positive sentiment, saying: "It’s been good, very strong. We picked up a few new suppliers; more of the smaller people we noticed as we went round and thought ‘they look good’.”

 

 

Driving Innovation and Celebrating Newness

Newness, of course, is the name of the game when it comes to inspiring buying and Glee had so much to offer in the way of product innovation, especially in the all-important realm of sustainability, which is firmly at the top of all buying agendas and consumer wish lists. This newness will be amplified at next year’s event, when the show will extend from four to five halls of the NEC, enabling key sectors to expand and opening up new growth areas for Glee.

 

After an exceptionally strong 2022 showing, which saw buyers turning up in droves to place orders ahead of Christmas, the Home, Gift & Clothing sector at Glee will be transformed into a dedicated village for trend-driven garden home and giftware.  A new DIY sector will also debut at the 2023 show, whilst the International Sourcing sector – new for 2023 – will help make Glee an important destination for major wholesale buyers and procurement experts in the years to come.

 

Outdoor Entertaining – a booming category as Brits give a unanimous thumb’s up to home entertaining – is also set to grow for next year’s event, as demand for outdoor entertainment products remains high. During his fascinating seminar on opportunities for growth in the current economic climate, HTA Head of Research, David Denny, pointed out that:

 

“Even before the pandemic, outdoor living was on an upwards trajectory, but over the last 12-18 months it has accelerated in growth, and few would disagree that garden retail has benefitted from this positive trend. The question now on the garden industry’s mind is how does it continue to engage with this new consumer group, and can this continuous growth be maintained?”

 

 

Glee is here to help meet that challenge, with a host of exciting plans for the development of this vital sector at next year’s show, with the outdoor demonstration zone, Fire, Grill & Chill, playing an important part in this expansion. (Finger’s crossed for some summer sun!).

 

Glee Event Director, Matthew Mein, said; “We are incredibly excited about the continuing evolution of Glee at such a pivotal time of growth and change for the gardening industry. Through the support of innovation and by driving newness in every market sector, inspiring buyers and helping to inform their purchasing decisions in a rapidly changing environment, Glee has a vital role to play. We are more than ready to meet the challenges and help our customers to make the most of opportunities, facilitated by our new June date which opens up Glee to the most important buying cycle for trade.”

 

Find out more

Glee is the UK’s leading garden retail show, focussing on building year-round profits for buyers and suppliers within the core gardening and outdoor leisure product categories.  To keep up to date on the latest Glee news visit www.gleebirmingham.com.  To enquire about exhibiting at Glee 2023 which will take place June 27th – 29th, please call +44 (0)203 3545 9752.

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