‘Revitalised’, ‘refreshed’ and ‘energised' are just three of the words to describe the success of Glee 2014, says event organiser Matthew Mein, who revealed he had been inundated with positive feedback during three days of extensive business activity.

“What a show it has been," added Matthew.

"Going into this year’s Glee we felt confident that the changes we had made would be right for the industry, but little did we know just how positive the response would be. 

"Since the opening of the show, I have been inundated with feedback from suppliers and retailers, all telling me just how successful they feel these changes have been. 

"Phrases such as ‘revitalised’, ‘refreshed’ and ‘energised’ have been mentioned by many of those that I have spoken to. We’ve also seen a significant re-engagement between retailers and suppliers, with meetings, orders and leads far exceeding expectations for many.

“The quality of visitor this year has also been high, with top retailers – from garden centres, builders’ merchants, multiple retailers, and DIY stores – sending large sales teams to the show to source the latest product innovations that the industry has to offer.  

"Monday and Tuesday in particular have seen the aisles packed with visitors, all ready and willing to do business.  I’ve no doubt that as we head into the final hours of the 2014 show that there will still be many valuable conversations taking place.

“Looking ahead to the days following this year’s show we have lots of work to do. Rebookings at the show have been strong, and we’ll be continuing to build on this momentum. 

"Our aim is to create a show that offers more for both those that visit and those that exhibit; creating a platform for growth and profit-building. 

"We’ve no doubt that the future for Glee is looking bright, and hope that the industry continues to work in partnership with i2i and our supporting trade associations the HTA and GIMA, to strengthen our 2015 offering. It is an exciting time.”

One of many success stories for Kelkay at Glee 2014 has been 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 today (Tuesday) we've now sold enough to be bringing 2 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."

Kelkay have been exhibiting on stands 19A10-C11 and 20F06-E07 and they also showcased their new products in the entrance to Hall 19, with Gabions, new aggregates and new paving on display.

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

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.

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

One of the busiest stands at GLEE, (and not just for the change to attempt the fastest lap in the racing car), the DLF Trifolium team are pleased with the response with the reception to new additions to their Johnson’s Lawn Seed range.

Guy Jenkins from Johnsons Lawn Seed has been particularly impressed with the response to their new After Moss Lawn Seed. “The vast majority of our existing customers are extremely keen on adding it into their portfolio, plus it has been a point of difference which has brought many new enquiries onto the stand, both from the UK and overseas”.

After Moss is designed for use to re-sow areas what have been recently treated for moss and has a special coating to help deter moss re—growth. Guy explains “ it is often the missing link for many gardeners, the moss treatment leaves dead patches but without additional help the moss will simply re-colonise”.

Timing of the product is aimed ready for delivery in the spring “just in time for the lawn moss-killing season to start”.

The team have also showcased “The One” fastest formula grass seed, again a valuable addition the range and filling in a niche for those where speed is of the essence.

The extra demand for Johnson’s Lawn seed has also meant an expansion to the sales team; ensuring effective coverage across the country.

Find out more

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

DLF Trifolium - Johnsons Lawn Seeds at Glee 2014. Stand 18H26-K25

Three interesting days at GLEE on the Whitefurze stand have 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.

Winning two Glee New Product Awards meant Glee got off to a great start for Apta, but it's been even better since as visitors have flocked to the stand to find out more about the GlazeLite range of planters in a unique lightweight material that replicates the look of glazed ceramics.

Sales Director James Hoad told Glee Daily News: "We're pleased our GlazeLite display is right in the middle of our stand, it really has been an unexpected highlight and orders have exceeded expectations."

"Our expanded range of RHS pots, including larger sizes and RHS Terracotta have aslo been a huge success with ticks of approval from all of our customers."

Garden Centre buyers were also pleased to see the new range of RHS Indoor Pot covers "The pink and grey designs will sell particularly well" commented Lesley from New Hopetoun Gardens.

Earlier at Glee, the Apta GlazeLite range 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

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 have 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 t.v. 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. “Its 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 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

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

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.

A brand new range of watering products is being marketed exclusively by Crest in the UK under their newly-created Flopro brand. Manufactured by one of Europe’s highest quality producers, it comprises hoses and fittings, an aluminium folding hose cart with fittings, four types of sprinkler, spray guns and a lance. The hoses come with either a 15 or 25 year guarantee depending on model. The two tone colourway has strong visual impact at point of sale.

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."

The Deco-Pak team lit the candles on their 10th anniversary today 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.

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.

  

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.” 

A new location for the show, a new location for plant suppliers; the atrium has provided a light environment- perfect for showing plants off to their full potential, and right in front of all visitors on their way into the halls. With the weather still pulling customers in the garden centres, the show has proved a good time to showcase its ‘Green Heart’, giving the opportunities for centres to be prepared for next spring as well as finding good impulse items for additional sales now.

A wide choice of product has been on view at the show a few highlights being:

Key Essentials: Under the ‘Love Tillys’ brand, this company  has revamped the presentation and retailing of airplants- an ideal opportunity for many garden centres. The range is targeted at specific customer sectors- with ‘air plant monsters’, ideal for a child to start their own collection, through to stylish gift ideas  set at key price points and bringing a modern feel to a well known product.

Lovania Nurseries have been represented, bringing along a good display of  ‘ready now’ alpines. In addition, production has been extended into impulse shrubs and herbaceous lines. The team explains, “it is difficult for many retailers to take complete load of alpines at all points in the season, the addition of other items will help make orders possible- ensuring benches are full of fresh, saleable stock  just right as pick up lines”. The team continue “ this point in the year gentians are in full flower ( and are of excellent quality), this mixed approach allows centres to take advantage of this without overstocking”.

The Gardeners Kitchen team, long established exhibitors at GLEE, have showcased 1 litre herbs to add to their extensive range of young veg and herb plants. As regular customers will know, the nursery take additional care in the management of the growth of their young plants; conditioning them to maximise nutrients and therefore shelf life in the centre.

Extremely pleased with the response to their GLEE New Product award-winning Petunia, the Channel Islands Plants stand is probably the most colourful. Showcasing a range of new and established flowering plants aimed at the bedding and patio markets. Paul Jackson on the stand reports lots of interest and enquiries for the 2015 bedding season.

Other highlights include a strong display from NewLeaf Plants, who are still providing well-furnished climbers in flower, ready for late impulse sales.  Customers in 2015 will see the introduction of new plant pictures, helping the sell plants over a long season.

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.