Products for Glee’s hotly contended feature, the Shop Window, designed to find next year’s most innovative products from around the show, have been decided following a rigorous judging day.
The dozens of chosen products from across eight garden retail categories will be revealed in a special Glee Shop Window display in Hall 4 at the show.
With more than 270 products from over 130 companies submitted for consideration, the Shop Window has clearly proven to be in instant hit with exhibitors.
With so many products to choose from, the panel of independent expert judges - made up of HTA Director General, Carol Paris; CEO Hillview Garden Centre & Garden Re-Leaf founder Boyd Douglas Davies; John Connel from The Gardenworks; John Little, of Poplars Garden Centres; Scotsdale’s Caroline Owen; Trevor Pfeiffer from Garden Trade News and Tamsin Westhorpe of The English Garden magazine – had their work cut out deciding which products would make it onto the final product showcase at the show.
Rating each entry against a range of exacting commercial, practical and environmental criteria, products were also judged on their innovation, design and originality, as well as how well consumer needs are met. Unique features or technologies setting the product apart were also considered.
In addition packaging, point-of-sale and supporting marketing campaigns helped some products stand out from the crowd to secure one of the coveted places within the Shop Window.
Glee event director, Nick Davison, explains: “The introduction of the Shop Window marks an exciting new chapter for Glee. Our aim is to create a product showcase that is a true representation of what’s new, innovative or simply great within the industry.
“The judging day was a particularly interesting day - not only were we blown away by number of products that were submitted, but also by the quality and variety on offer. From essential garden care products and innovative landscape solutions, to stylish gift ideas and new seed varieties, our judges had some tough decisions to make, but I believe they have chosen a superb showcase of the best that industry has to offer. I’m looking forward to seeing the products in-situ at the show, and hope that the display will help retailers find the next bestsellers that will boost profits in 2013 and beyond.”
In total, 112 products from across Glee’s eight categories – Garden Care, Garden Design, Garden Leisure, Home & Gift, Retail Support, Nursery & Planteria, Pet, and Catering & Speciality Foods – were hand selected to be displayed in the Shop Window.
Each product has been awarded one of three special titles – Top Pick, Shortlisted or Highly Commended - depending on how much they impressed the judges. In addition, those products that really stood out from the rest within their category will also be awarded the Special Award.
Products with exacting green credentials or deep-seated roots within UK manufacturing are also eligible to scoop the Green Innovation or Best of British Award respectively.
Nick added: “We want the Shop Window to very much be a ‘living, breathing feature’, in that products can be added throughout the show. We’ll have a large screen within the Shop Window where images of other products that have caught the judges’ eye whilst walking the show can also be displayed - the Shop Window really cannot and should not be missed!”
