A new feature this year will be an exhibition area adjacent to the International Buyers’ Centre which will be hosted by the PetQuip association, the division of The Federation that helps pet care firms increase their international business.   The PetQuip Business Village will be open to all suppliers of pet care products. There visitors can also learn more about how PetQuip helps firms increase their business internationally on the PetQuip information stand (17N66),

The ‘International Buyers Connect’ meetings that were introduced at the show in 2014 will be held again this year on the first two days of the show. The 10-minute introductory exchanges between exhibitors and overseas buyers open up the possibility of more extensive meetings on the exhibitors’ stands during the show.  To date, nine buyers have confirmed their participation in timed sessions on Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 September. These include two German mail order / internet sales companies, a US wholesaler and mail order company, an Austrian internet sales company, a Swedish distributor, an importer / distributor and a wholesaler from Finland, a Swiss distributor and a distributor from The Netherlands. Exhibitors can contact theresa@gardenex.com or theresa@petquip.com for further details and for appointments.

Commenting on the show’s export facilities this year, the director general of Gardenex and PetQuip, Amanda Sizer Barrett, confirmed: “Glee 2015 will provide a wide range of opportunities to help existing and aspiring exporters of garden, leisure and pet products to open up and expand sales to overseas markets.  In addition to the popular and beneficial business facilities available to international buyers in the International Buyers’ Centre, we will be distributing the latest Gardenex Directory of British Garden & Leisure Products and the PetQuip Buyers’ Guide to buyers visiting the exhibition.  

"The two multi-lingual publications are definitive directories of major UK suppliers of garden, leisure and pet products who are ready to export. These publications are used extensively by buyers in markets across the world to identify appropriate British suppliers with whom to work.

"In addition to distributing the directories to international buyers and distributors at various international garden and pet trade shows during the year, the Federation mails copies of the directory to its extensive database of overseas buyers, international press and to commercial staff at British Embassies and Consulates throughout the world, generating business leads throughout the year. 

“UK Trade & Investment will add further support at Glee by inviting regional and international trade advisers to meet with exhibitors. The Gardenex federation will also be presenting some of the export related seminars being organised by UKTI.  We look forward to meeting with suppliers of garden and pet products at Glee who are seriously contemplating exporting and encouraging them to take advantage of the many export opportunities on offer at Glee this year.”

The Gardenex and PetQuip teams will be present on the International Buyers’ Centre and the PetQuip Business Village throughout the show and they look forward to meeting both member and non-member companies at either location.  The Federation will also outline its comprehensive programmes of garden, leisure and pet sector initiatives for 2016 and firms can sign up for its next ‘Meet the Buyers’ event on 21 October 2015.

Companies wishing to apply for membership and access to the export sales leads, expert advice, market information and practical export support that the Federation offers, should come and meet the team. 

Appointments can be made during Glee (where a discount on membership is being offered) or after the show ends. The Federation of Garden and Leisure Manufacturers can be contacted on: telephone:  +44 (0) 44 1959 565995  or  fax:  +44 (0) 1959 565885; e-mail:  info@gardenex.com  or visit the Gardenex website on www.gardenex.com