Nine, ground-breaking new garden products have been confirmed as the winners of the coveted Glee New Product Awards 2014.
Selected from more than 270 entries on the afternoon before Glee opened (14th – 16th September, NEC Birmingham), 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.
Buyers visiting Glee can see all of the winning and highly commended products, as well as the hundreds of other entries, on convenient display in the ‘Visitor Hub’ area of the show from 14th – 16th September (Hall 20, stand G10).
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.
One further award – the Retailers Choice Award – will be announced on the third day of Glee. Retailers visiting the Glee New Product display are invited to vote for their favourite product after viewing the entries on display.
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.”
Find out more
More news from Glee 2014 will be available soon. To find out more log onto www.gleebirmingham.com. For details on exhibiting at Glee 2015, call 0203 033 2160
