With just a few days to go until the doors open on a refreshed and revitalised Glee 2014, the show’s organisers, i2i Events, give Glee Daily News a ‘first look’ at what you can expect to see in the new showcase for UK growers – the Green Heart of Glee.

Bringing together some of the biggest and most respected brands, Green Heart will be the place to view 2015 plant ranges, as well as accessing exclusive, show-only deals from UK growers. Housed in the Atrium area outside of Glee’s new location within NEC halls 17 to 20, this exciting new area will be bringing plants right back into the heart of the show. Every single visitor to Glee will be exposed to a truly eye-catching display of everything from herbs and bedding plants, to trees, shrubs, alpines and even houseplants, upon arrival to the show.

Key names set to help launch the Green Heart include Gardeners Kitchen, New Leaf Plants, Kilworth Conifers, Gedney Bulbs, Golden Grove Nurseries, John Woods Nurseries, Lovania Nurseries, Hawkesmill Nurseries, Garden Centre Fresh, Chapel Cottage Plants, Chamberlin Nurseries, Viking Nurseries, Morley Nurseries, Beaver Plants, Whartons Roses and Darby Nurseries. Joining this incredible list will be the recently confirmed Oakgate Nurseries, Tamata, Piccoplant, The Anglia Group, John Richards Nurseries, KinderGarden Plants, Laurica, and Quantil.

Javado will also be making their home there. Having launched at Glee back in 2011, scooping the Glee New Product Plant Award in the process, Javado have had a remarkable journey. This year look out for the company’s stunning ‘living statues’.

Another company with some exciting plans to reveal include Anglo Aquatic Plants who will be using the Green Heart to showcase a new range of ‘grab and go’ water garden plants.

Neil Gow, Glee’s special project manager, said: “The response to the Green Heart of Glee has far exceeded our expectations, and I’ve no doubt that those exhibiting in this area will create a truly inspiring showcase. Plants are the cornerstone of the garden retail industry, so it’s great to know that this year they’ll be taking pride of place at the front of the show.”

How the Industry has responded

David Higginson, sales manager at New Leaf Plants: “When Neil first talked to me about the idea of The Green Heart it seemed a bit of a no-brainer to be able to get our plants in front of so many key buyers and at minimal cost, so we booked our plot straight away.”

Helen Boers, sales director at Gardeners Kitchen Nurseries: “We have always found Glee one of the most successful shows we do because we can get to speak to the business owners and senior managers as well as the plant buyers from right across the country. The Green Heart concept seems just brilliant to us and being able to show off our production in good light conditions to so many key retailers means we did not need to do too much thinking before we booked up. The low cost, with so much done for us by way of benches and signage, will make this a very cost effective event for us.”

Peter Burks, general manager of Trelawney Garden Leisure: “I am a big fan of Glee and I think it is essential the industry has one big trade show that attracts as many businesses from all areas of the industry as possible. To do this it needs to have significant representation from all key areas of business, and plants is the number one. Whilst I also believe it is quite right that each sector has its own show, e.g. plants, furniture, pets etc, the overriding need for all is one major show covering everything. So I think pulling a good selection of growers back to Glee is a great move and it will certainly make it a much more enjoyable show for me as a result.”

Many Glee visitors will be making a beeline for the New Product Showcase in the Hub. They will be looking to source the latest innovative products for 2015 – so if you’re a supplier who has already entered products, make a point of delivering them to the Hub at the earliest opportunity to ensure your space on the display.

If you haven’t entered yet, contact Glee’s special projects manager Neil Gow (0781 203 1281, email: neil.gow@i2ieventsgroup.com) as soon as possible to register your entry.

The winners of the New Product Showcase will be announced on Sunday, the opening day, at 10am.

The display will create an exclusive edit of close to 300 new products submitted by brands from across the whole show, all displayed in one very convenient central showcase. This is where buyers will discover exciting new best-sellers among the latest inventions, innovations and designs.

The products submitted will be judged by a panel of industry experts. Each product will be in with the chance to win a prestigious Glee award.

Visitors will also get the chance to have their say. The Retailers Choice Awards, in association with the HTA, give buyers an opportunity on Sunday and Monday to nominate their Best New Product of Glee 2014. The winners will be announced on Tuesday, the final day, at 10am.



Above: Helen Boers of Gardeners Kitchen receives a New Product Award at Glee 2013.

Kelkay a market leading manufacturer and distributor of aggregates and paving will be unveiling their biggest ever new product launch at Glee 2014. With over 100 new products, customers will see additions across all categories. Kelkays brands include Borderstone®, Buildmate®, easy fountain® and Henri®, providing retailers with a single source for a wide range of garden products.

Much of the focus this year is on hard landscaping, with new and expanded ranges of aggregates, paving and rockery stones. Also being launched is the new generation concept of merchandising aimed to promote and increase sales of feature patio kits.

The “see it used patio display kit”  will give greater flexibility to merchandise, promoting lifestyle selling displays and creating better opportunities for linked sales.

Kelkay are completely re-branding their current Gardenstone® range to Borderstone®  this with the addition of the Borderstone® paving which includes patio kits, stepping stones, edgings and walling’s will be launched at Glee 2014. The clean, contemporary branding will feature on all existing and new lines added to the range. 

Looking forward to the show, Antony Harker, managing director at Kelkay said: “This year’s launch is part of our biggest ever unveiling of new products at Glee. We’re excited to be giving retailers a huge range of new sales opportunities in the run up to Christmas and beyond.”

By promoting aggregates, paving and fountains with eye-catching point of sale, merchandising units and display stands, garden retailers have continued to see sales growth within these categories.

Kelkay is exhibiting on stands 19A10-C11 and 20F06-E07.

For more information, visit http://www.kelkay.co.uk/.

With catering and food sales continuing to offer major add-on profit opportunities for garden centres, leading garden trade show Glee (14 – 16 September, NEC Birmingham) organised by i2i Events Group, will be offering retailers extensive inspiration at a more prominent Food & Catering Zone this year. Sponsored by experts, Catering Design Group and Blue Cap Coffee (Lavazza), this area gives garden retailers an unrivalled opportunity to gather best practice examples, advice, contacts and products to help them initiate or improve their catering offering.

Now in its third year, the Food & Catering Zone will be bigger than ever, and will be a rich resource for any retailer wanting to expand their catering facilities.  In addition to the wide range of catering services, confectionary, kitchen equipment, kitchenware and café/restaurant design consultancy specialists that have made their home within this dedicated area in recent years, retailers will also find additional inspiration to explore within the newly introduced Farmers Market.  Home to artisan suppliers, the Farmers Market will be packed with everything from locally sourced brands to specialist produce as well as delicious food and drinks from an exciting mix of catering innovators.

The Food & Catering Zone will also address key issues with an unrivalled workshop programme.  This year topics up for discussion include seasonal events and marketing strategies to attract customers year-round, how garden centres can win the coffee shop ‘wars’, attracting younger customers to your on-site catering, supply chain efficiency and much more. Speakers will include Helen MacDonald, owner of Merryhatton Garden Centre, Iain Wylie, Chief Executive of The Garden Centre Association, Tracey Fletcher, owner of Kitchen Garden, Will Armitage, MD of Armitages Garden and Home, Helen Pyttlik, garden centre manager, Bicester Avenue Garden Centre, and John Williams, director of Blue Cap Coffee. 

Another name to add to the already impressive ‘who’s who’ list of experts is Unilever Food Solutions, one of the world’s leading food companies that owns many well-known brands such as Knorr, Hellman’s, Colman’s, Flora and Stork. Its passion for understanding what people want and need from food make its brands a trusted part of people’s lives. Unilever will undoubtedly play a significant part at this year’s show, as it will be addressing the changes to the Food Labelling and Allergen Legislation which are due to come into force in December.

With more exhibitors than ever before the Food & Catering Zone will be an exciting showcase.  Key brands to look out for include Cafeology, Belvoir Fruit Farms, GMS Expresso, Vision Commercial Kitchens, Bon Bon (Wholesale) Ltd, English Garden Tea, eXpresso Plus, Horti Catering Equipment, Moonshine Drinks, NBTY Europe, The Victorian Kitchen, Tudor Tea & Coffee and UCC Coffee.

Phillip Howard, Managing Director, Catering Design Group, one of the area’s 2014 sponsors comments: “We’re delighted to be returning to Glee and proud to be one of the partners of the Food & Catering Zone in 2014. We’ll be bringing along our great team of experts across design, kitchen planning and project management to give visitors advice and answer any questions they may have. We’ll also be sharing an abundance of hints, tips, trends and insights to enable visitors to create a destination catering space.”

i2i’s Matthew Mein, Glee event manager added: “This year’s Food & Catering Zone is set to be the best yet! The area will not only be bigger and packed full of even more exhibitors than ever before, but with the guidance of our new sponsors and with the hugely valuable feedback of the recent Food & Catering Steering Group, we have been able to develop a programme that is as targeted and hard working as possible.”

Over the last 12 months Johnsons Lawn Seed has been busy raising money for the Greenfingers Rosy Cheeks Appeal.  This Glee, a representative from the company will be handing over the much needed funds to the charity.

To show its ongoing support the company has confirmed that a donation from all sales of its General Purpose 500g Lawn Seed cartons will be given direct to the charity.  The company is pleased to confirm that they have raised a grand total of £2,960.20, helping to bolster the appeal’s £750,000 target. 

Guy Jenkins from Johnsons Lawn Seed said: “Last year at Glee 2013 we confirmed that Johnsons Lawn Seed will be supporting the Rosy Cheeks Appeal, so it’s great to be back one year later with a cheque for the Greenfingers team.   Greenfingers is very much the garden retail industry’s ‘charity’ and the Rosy Cheeks appeal is yet another amazing demonstration of the charity’s commitment to bringing magical gardens to children’s hospices throughout the UK.  We hope that our contribution will help Greenfingers to reach their target, whilst also encouraging other suppliers and manufacturers to get involved.  In doing so we will be able to promote the charity across a number of levels, from the manufacturer to the retailer and eventually to the end user – helping the charity’s profile to grow and ultimately benefit from a greater following and support system.” 

Briony Markham from Greenfingers added: “We are delighted that DLF Trifolium has shown its continued support of the Greenfingers Rosy Cheeks Appeal.  The money they have provided us will help us create even more amazing outdoor spaces for children suffering from life limiting or life threatening conditions and their families to enjoy. On behalf of Greenfingers and all the children and families who will benefit from the creation of these new gardens, I would like to extend our sincerest thanks to the team at DLF Trifolium.”

Greenfingers is presently halfway through its two year Rosy Cheeks campaign, and has currently raised £400,000 of its £750,000 total.  The campaign’s first recipient of a Rosy Cheeks garden was Chestnut Tree House Hospice in Sussex, with another nearing completion at Little Haven Hospice in Essex.  More hospices set to receive inspiring gardens via the Rosy Cheeks appeal, includes the Forget-Me-Not Children’s Hospice in Huddersfield, EllenorLions Hospice in Kent, Grace House Hospice in Sunderland, Alexander Devine Hospice in Berkshire and Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice in Barnet.

Available to retailers via wholesalers throughout the 2015 season, and showcased at DLF Trifolium’s Glee stand (Hall 18, stand H26-K25), the 500g General Purpose Lawn Seed has been selected  as it offers retailers strong impulse-buy opportunity as well as excellent linked sales potential.

To find out more about DLF Trifolium and its many brands, including the UK’s favourite, Johnsons Lawn Seed, please visit www.dlf.co.uk or www.johnsonslawnseed.com

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

Tildenet Gardenware supplies the widest and most comprehensive range of garden sundries to the independent market including the innovative and versatile Haxnicks and Mainframe ranges which will be showcased together on their impressive stand (20L16) for the first time at GLEE this year.

New products will include a new-to-the market concept in garden structures from Tildenet  - the first opportunity for retailers to offer the option of an arch or a pergola in one very simple and easy POS unit to maximize demand and sales. Manufactured to the Tildenet’s usual high quality and coated with a patented UV protective polymer these modular structures are built to last and come in a choice of three elegant styles.

A recent addition to the Tildenet Group, the increasingly popular Mainframe simple modular system, will also be on display offering the ultimate flexibility in crop protection allowing customers to design and build frames to their own size and requirements to suit a variety of needs.

Since launching their partnership with Tildenet earlier this year, Haxnicks have been developing exciting new products to further expand their market leading range.  The eye catching 'Sunbubble' will be on display at the show, offering a portable way of extending the growing season to complement their popular range of cloches and growing systems.

Powerful new packaging design, stylish, streamline new display systems and impactful new POS will all be available  for visitors to see on the stand along with versatile and high quality new products selected to maximise the potential sale for garden centres and choice for consumers. 

Look out for both Tildenet and Haxnicks in the New Product Awards and meet the team on stand 20L16  - you can't miss it - it's 150 foot long!

Tildenet at Glee 2014. Stand 20L16.

Apta is unveiling several new additions to its best selling Royal Horticultural Society range at Glee.

In addition to the best-selling glazed vase and bowl, an elegant cylinder planter is being launched. Like the existing shapes the cylinder is available in a variety of colours and sizes. In addition, an extra large RHS vase is being introduced due to customer requests.

There will also be a new RHS terracotta range for 2015, available as both a vase and bowl. The terracotta items carry the same 10 year guarantee as the glazed items.

Managing Director Paul Sykes comments: “It’s especially pleasing that the RHS range expansion has been driven by our customers. The new large cone planter (51cm) came from work with Andy McIndoe (Hillier MD) for Chelsea flower show, and we’ve had so many requests for an RHS pot cover range that it was impossible for us to ignore."

A new RHS pot cover range is available from Glee. In addition to the classic RHS design, a plain pot with an RHS logo, there is a range of patterned products featuring original designs inspired by the RHS. All items retail for £7.99.

The new RHS pot covers are available to order at Glee, and for a limited period only every purchase of four cases of RHS pot covers will receive an additional case free of charge. 

Paul says: “It is important to us that we always bring something new to a market when we launch a new product, and that we add value to the category.

"With the RHS pot cover range we’re confident that this is exactly what we’ve done. Our products are distinct from everything else on the market, and we expect them to generate healthy sales for our customers, by giving consumers a new and distinctive choice."

Apta at Glee 2014, Stand 19C12

Gardenonaroll, invented by plantsman and TV gardener Antony Henn back in 2008, are launching two new products – The Gift Box and Gardenonaroll paper impregnated with organic feed.

Antony Henn came up with the idea of Gardenonaroll while thinking of ways to help children and beginners share in his love of nature and gardening.

Since then Gardenonaroll has become a household name with the help of 6 years of happy customers and various accolades and celebrity endorsements.

Demonstrated by Alan Titchmarsh and Joe Swift on the Alan Titchmarsh Show in 2012, Joe and Alan showed how the Bio-degradable paper plantemplate makes planting and spacing of a new border as simple as ABC.

Everything you need is delivered to your door including all the lettered plants, the Bio-degradable paper or weed control membrane template, with letters marked on to show where to plant, ground pegs, a trowel, a pair of gloves, fertilizer and a instructional DVD – IT’S A BORDER IN A BOX!

Gardenonaroll have been successfully working with Homebase delivering borders nationwide since 2013. As well as working in partnership with Digswell nurseries, a community project, who provide training and work-based skills for vulnerable people. Many of the plants supplied are grown by Gardenonaroll and in other UK based nurseries.

NEW PRODUCTS for 2015

This year we have been testing our 2 new additions to the range…

1. The Gift Box - This enables anyone to give a gift of a garden border at any time of the year ! Gardenonaroll have designed an attractive, easy to give box containing all the usual Gardenonaroll ingredients apart from the plants. When the recipient of the gift is ready to plant, they just choose the garden style they like, contact Gardenonaroll to order their plants and to arrange delivery (which is included in the gift price), then the plants are delivered to their door. Perfect as a Wedding or Anniversary gift so the happy couple can get the plants when they are ready!

2. Gardenonaroll paper impregnated with organic feed  - Gardenonaroll have been testing this new product and are pleased to announce that they now have organic feed impregnated into the paper. It still acts as a planting guide and weed suppressant but now has the added benefit of releasing nutrients as the paper bio-degrades!

Gardenonaroll is on Stand 19G58.

Leading wild bird care supplier, 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.  Prices range from £59.99 to £149.99.  

Marketing Director, Sarah Downing explained: “Our specific goal is to ensure that the brand offers an effective way to trade up customers and tempt them towards higher quality products – boosting sales and profits.  We spotted a gap in the market for a premium wild bird care proposition and have therefore taken great care to get every element right.  

"Heritage is at the heart of the brand, with its roots stemming back to 1844. Our tables have been handmade and manufactured in the UK and our feeds have been selected, blended and packed locally.  The quality of the packaging is as important to us as the product to ensure maximum stand out in store.”

Gardman is now developing innovative themed POS that will express The Ernest Charles Co’s brand ethics and engage the consumer in the category.

To complement the new bird table range, Gardman has launched a 12.55kg Robin Blend  – unique to the market and with a strong RRP of £17.99. To ensure the tables get off to a flying start, they are also giving away a free bag of Robin Blend with selected tables ordered before the end of March. Pallet wraps and tent cards that highlight the USPs of the new blend are available. 

The Bird Table range comprises:

• The Chatsworth Bird Table (RRP £149.99), which has a solid pine hexagonal table and can be used with a wide range of feeds including seed mixes and blends, peanuts, fat balls, suet treats and dried mealworms. 
• Wilton Bird Table (£119.99) is a solid pine square table with a slate effect roof.  It too can be used with a wide range of feeds.
• Osborne Bird Table (£89.99) is a solid pine table with slate effect roof and an integrated nut feeder. 
• Warwick Bird Table (£59.99) is a solid pine table with a slate effect roof. 

The Ernest Charles Co has almost 170 years of unrivalled expertise in sourcing, cleaning and blending seeds.

Retailers wishing to order the new tables should contact their local agent on 01406 372237. 

You can find Gardman at Glee on stand 19E30-G31, 20D50

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.

Champagne Gold is a great addition to any outdoor space, and ideal for customers looking for the latest in contemporary landscaping features. A vibrant blend of white and gold – this decorative gravel mixture will even sparkle like its namesake. RRP £4.49.

Strawberry & Cream is a combination of subtle cream and crimson reds. This mixture is ideal for driveways, paths and general landscaping; complementing brick or lighter stone walls. RRP 4.49.

Deco-Pak’s General Manager Rod Slater said: “With more and more retailers switching to us for the service and products we have made our name with, we have decided to celebrate with two new additions to our core range.   We come to Glee after 10 years of providing quality decorative aggregates, with two completely fresh ideas that compound our philosophy going forward: to continue to introduce new and exciting products whilst retaining traditional quality.”

Deco-Pak’s market leading aggregate & paving ranges

Over 90% of Deco-Pak’s offering is sourced within the UK, and features a wide mix of traditional and contemporary styles. Products include:

• Decorative Aggregates such as Golden Gravel, Red Flame, Moonstone & Lytag
• Easybuild DIY products – Sand, Cement, Post Mix, Mixed Ballast, Concrete Mix, Patio & Slab Mix
• Slate, Paddlestones and Cobbles
• Paving and Patio Accessories
• Boulders and Rocks for creating rockeries
• Playpit Sand, Coloured Play Sand and Bark
• Ground and Weed Control Fabric
• Alpine Grit, Spar and Pot Toppings suitable for finishing touches
• Aquatic Gravels
• Crystal Glass

To learn more about Deco-Pak’s range of decorative aggregates visit www.deco-pak.co.uk/decorative-aggregates

Champagne & Strawberry Reception

Join the Deco-Pak team's 10th anniversary celebrations on stand G26-H27 every day of the show from 9am.

Brushware and household cleaning product suppliers Charles Bentley & Son (Hall 18, Stand J53A) are to launch a premium range of garden tools and brushware at Glee 2014. 

The Masterclass range is the result of extensive research that showed garden enthusiasts wanted products to last and meet their demands. 

Produced using FSC certified wood with sealed timber stocks, the products are sustainable and long lasting. They feature a unique combination of natural and synthetic bristle fillings, as well as a unique double-locking bracket, ensuring extra durability and robustness.

Production in the UK ensuries control over quality.

Charles Bentley at Glee 2014. Stand 18J53A

Many garden centres struggle to make their loyalty scheme effective. Apart from giving away points as a credit, most retailers do nothing to get the most out of it. Garden Connect is introducing 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^th stamp 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.

Garden Connect at Glee 2014.  Stand 18N60 &18N62

                                                 

Visitors to Glee will have 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 will be 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 will be at the show offering advice on how to deliver a fresh, seasonal and local experience for customers.

Phillip Howard, managing director of Catering Deign Group said: “We’re delighted to be returning to Glee and will be bringing along our team of experts to give visitors advice and answer any questions they may have.”  

Lawn product specialists DJ Turfcare will make their GLEE debut with their award-winning organic lawn fertiliser and moss eliminating MO Bacter.

Now stocked in more than 60 garden centres across the UK, garden centres found MO Bacter flying off the shelves this year after the wettest winter on record and a warm spring – ideal conditions for moss development in lawns.

Holder of the Turf Professional Magazine ‘Best Turf Product’ title, MO Bacter - in bright, attractive packaging - is proving a best-seller in garden centres and through direct sales.

There is no need for raking, as moss goes brown and disappears. The slow-release granular fertiliser not only eradicates moss, but also feeds grass and improves the soil. Moss dies as a result of excess potassium and leaves no black debris

DJ Turfcare managing director David Jenkins says: “MO Bacter has proved one of our most successful lawncare products. We have had a great deal of repeat business from satisfied users and Garden centres stocking MO Bacter have reported great success.”

DJ Turfcare at Glee 2014 Stand 19E66.

Garden Wholesaler Stax Trade Centres (Stand 19F54) will launch a range of new products from its Ambassador brand at Glee. 

Returning to Glee for the third consecutive year, Stax will showcase new products including garden tools, bird feeders and garden netting. Visitors to the stand will also benefit from exclusive, profit-boosting stock-and-stand deals.

The ash handle hand tools are made from FSC certified wood and are available with stainless steel or carbon steel heads.

The Ambassador range of bird care items includes a comprehensive choice of feeders and feeding stations, as well as a range of high-energy bird food such as nuts and seeds - suitable for use all year round.

Stax are also official distributors of Pergoda garden furniture, and information on the 2015 range can be found at the stand.

Simon Wright, Purchase Director, said: “The Ambassador brand represents quality, and in response to demand we have expanded the range. I think the products we’re launching at Glee will prove extremely popular.”

Visitors to the stand can also benefit from extra discounts on pre season composite deals on top brands including; Bayer, Scotts, Vitax, Town and Country and STV to name a few with orders delivered by the end of February 2015 and payment not due until the end of April 2015.

Visit Stax stand 19F54 to take advantage of these great offers at Glee.

The HTA has joined up with Paskett Public Relations to offer its members a professional PR service at a significantly reduced price as part of its CRoP programme.

Paskett PR are known for handling familiar garden centre brands such as Expert Books and Mr Fothergill’s Seeds. Working closely with the HTA, it has developed two PR and marketing packages, aimed specifically at smaller garden centres.

The packages are designed to help garden centres raise awareness of their business within local media, boost footfall and increase dwell time.

For a fee of £333 + VAT per month, garden centres can benefit from the Platinum Package, which includes 10 tailor-made press releases and assistance with two promotions per year. The Gold package is available at £194.25 a month, and offers six press releases a year and help with one promotion.

Graham Paskett, Managing Director of Paskett PR said: “The two marketing and PR packages we have developed will help get your business into the local media and consequently more shoppers to your garden centre.”

Tim Bell, the HTA’s commercial manager, comments “All of the bigger garden centres utilise public relations successfully to help drive sales.  These new packages from the HTA and Paskett PR mean our smaller members can now have access to the same service and take advantage of the same benefits.”

For further information about these packages and how Paskett PR can help your business grow, please call Graham Paskett on 01332 258 335 or email grahampaskett@paskett.co.uk. 

HTA CRoP Scheme at Glee 2014, Stand 20F10-G11

G Plants, suppliers of flower and vegetable seeds, bulbs, grass seed, and now garden ornaments and growing gifts, are gearing up for a busy Glee (Hall 18, Stand N11).

Additions to the Easy Gardening range, which covers seed discs and the popular Shake’n’Rake™ collection, include new seed blends that tap into the increasingly popular trend for attracting bees and butterflies to the garden.  In trials at Myerscough Horticultural College, Preston, the Wildlife’s Garden mixtures proved their ability to attract higher volumes of wildlife. A video screen on the stand will highlight the benefits.

G Plants are also to re-launch the Rooster organic fertiliser brand.  Additions will include Bulb Booster and Rooster Booster Mini-Crumb Lawn Fertiliser, as used by many top golf courses.

Glee will also see the launch of a new solar lighting collection called the ‘Secret Garden’, featuring fairies, birds and other woodland creations.

The bestselling Ultra Basket™ range will welcome two new seed varieties, whilst G Plants’ Bumper Packs will be re-launched in a new full-colour printed, reusable (PP) woven bag. Bumper Bags will now be available in Lily Oriental Mix, and Dahlia Collarette and Pompon Mix, ideal as Mother’s Day gifts.

There are four new varieties  of G Plants’ 6-in-1 seed multi-packs, bringing the total offering to 12 mixtures.  The additions include Easy Grow and Butterfly & Bee, whilst new vegetable seeds include Companion Planting and Patio Vegetables.

As exclusive UK distributors of the historic Italian seed brand Bavicchi, G Plants confirm that Glee will be the first opportunity to see the newly branded Bavicchi Italian Gourmet Vegetable, Pea and Bean seed packets, now available in a store-ready mixed display stand.

Information: 01254 202 897

To celebrate their 50^th birthday, Garland (Hall/Stand 18H10-K11) have added 50 new products to the Garland/Worth gardening range, and will showcase them at Glee.

Products featured in the new range include Value grow bag trays, small trug planters and an easy-to-go kit for watering plants during periods away from home – all honing in on the popularity of ‘grow your own’.

A variety of lawn care products are also launched – including a heavy-duty lawn spiker and a hollow tine aerator.

Other new products for the garden and hardware trade are an Aqua brush for cleaning Wellington or walking boots and a new range of log stores.  The stores are available in 1m and 2m widths and with or without covers.  Two replacement covers and a fireside log store are included within this group of products.

Belstane (Stand 17Q32), UK distributors of The Original Muck Boots, are offering visitors to Glee the chance to win a pair! The competition will run for the duration of the show, and to enter visitors simply have to drop off their business card at the stand.

The winner will be announced at the end of the show. 

Visitors to the Forst Garden stand (Hall 19, C10) will find extra value in a year that saw the manufacturer acquire M&M Timber and a win a POS accolade at the GIMA Awards.

There will be all-new summerhouses and additions to the contemporary sleeper bench collection, launched to great acclaim last year. New log store and planter designs will also be on show for the first time.

Forest’s ‘Take Me to the Till’ merchandiser, which was judged ‘Best Point of Sale Material’  in the GIMA Awards, has been upgraded for 2015, allowing retailers to display summerhouses, arbours, pergolas, sheds and other garden timber products in a single attractive space saving merchandiser.

Forest have invested heavily in retail support services during the year and will demonstrate their greatly expanded library of digital assets.  How-to videos and other POS will be on the stand, to help retailers looking to educate their customers whilst reducing shop floor time.

Glee marks the first opportunity since the acquisition of M&M Timber to see how the incorporated company’s portfolio complements Forest’s existing ranges.  M&M Timber’s plant staging, merchandising, benches and tables will feature at the show, ensuring more choice and added value.

La Hacienda (Hall 17, Stand V26) brought more than 135 new SKUs to market in 2013 and celebrate their 25th year in business this year with even more. They will also unveil an updated logo, refreshed packaging and a relaunched website.

Spearheading the Innovations will be the new Bakerstone Box, a product that has already achieved considerable success in the USA and Canada. Pizzeria quality pizza can be cooked in minutes using conductive, convective and radiant heat from a gas or charcoal grill.

Other new products include a colourful range of enamelled firepits, a traditional Mexican pizza oven, new decorative metal garden ornaments and additions to their range of mirrors and lanterns.

Visitors can also learn about a new use for a raw material that is allowing the company to manufacture firebowls weighing 50% less than similar looking stone or clay.

Glee will give retailers to see La Hacienda’s updated logo and packaging. Brand manager Jamie Cox says the idea is to keep things fresh without deviating too much from the trusted La Hacienda brand image. “We are at a stage where more and more people are finding out about us, noticing our point of difference in terms of craftsmanship and value for money, and with a new logo, website and packaging, we feel we can further reinforce these qualities,” he said.

There will be show-only deals for new and existing customers. Visitors are encouraged to ask on the stand sales for more information.

Nordic Garden Buildings (Hall 20, C30-D31) have launched a range of three Pergoda buildings, all making their debut at Glee.  They follow the 2013 success of buildings like the unique uPVC double glazed greenhouse and the award winning Melbourne Pavilion, which won the New Products ‘Retailers Choice Award’ at Glee 2013.

The Pergodas – an octagonal panelled, ocatgonal open and square open – combine Scandinavian chic with low maintenance, value for money, and the appeal of flexible space. With a uPVC frame with internal steel reinforcement, the new buildings are much easier to maintain than traditional wood and aluminium.

Tested to the extremes of Scandinavian weather, Nordic’s garden buildings can withstand heavy snow loads and storm force winds and the polycarbonate roofs protect from strong sun.  Made in Wales, the Pergodas are designed to be enjoyed all year round.

Retailers can secure exclusive territories within the Nordic Dealer Network, which benefits from dedicated account managers, online and offline direct marketing support, sales training and installation support as well as sales incentives

Information: 07717 710 062 or

justin@nordicgarden.co.uk

Bowland Stone have broadened their aggregates range with a selection of horticultural products positioned as ‘Essentials’

They include sands and ballasts, aggregates, cementitious and pipe beddings designed to enable retailers to sell all the products the consumer needs to complete a garden feature. 

The horticultural range includes horticultural grade grit and sand, silver sand, bark and topsoil, all of which can be used to aerate general garden soil or for lining pots and containers to assist drainage. The products can be sold in bulk bags or large pacs, where the SRP ranges from £3.99 to £4.49 per pack.

All Bowland’s products benefit from striking and helpful in-store displays.  Bold POS boards are colour coded to aid product selection.

Information: 0117 955 7530

www.bowlandstone.com.

Following the 2013 launch of their colourful foldaway derivative, the VegTrug Poppy, Glee will see three new Poppy products. The Poppy two-tier and three-tier plus the Poppy greenhouse frame and covers make their debut (Hall 17, Stand Q30-R31).

They will be available in red, pale blue, lime green and purple, as well as grey and black, and build on the original Poppy concept of a felt liner in a foldable metal frame.

The VegTrug V-shaped design maximises cropping and ease of access. They are ideal for growing anything from herbs to strawberries and salads to root crops, including carrots. All Poppy products can be folded away out of season.

Retailers can also stock replacement felt liners for repeat sales opportunities, as well as the new Flower Poppy felt.

SRPs: two-tier £59.99, three-tier £89.99.

Veg Trug say the range has been extended because of the popularity of the original Poppy, which has a new SRP of £39.99.

Black Country Metal Works will take the wraps off their new fireside range at Glee.

They offer a POS display that includes 56 items ranging from contemporary and traditional cast iron, brass and black iron in varying styles to designs that can create a beautiful traditional feel or a more contemporary look.

For exclusivity, only 20 fireside collections are available. Each with a small footprint and high margin (approx. £3000), allowing stockists to differentiate their offer whileproviding high quality, value for money.

The fireside collection will be launched alongside Black Country Metal Works Retail Theatre 2015 range. Retail theatre is a current hot topic in the industry, so Black Country has worked closely with customers to develop ranges and displays that help garden centres to create their own retail theatre.

You can meet the new team will be in Hall 18, Stand L60.

The Fireside collection is available for pre order at a trade price of £1,250.

Seed mat specialists BeeMat have announced two new ranges, both of which they will show at Glee (Hall 19, Stand H60).

EcoMat Companion Planting mats complement BeeMat’s existing pre-seeded, biodegradeable growing mats, which currently include BeeMat™, Butterfly Mat™ and Bird Mat. Using the proven companion planting approach, EcoMat features two salad varieties — Oriental and Mediterranean — and a vegetable mat, which includes carrots, sage and spring onions.  Each mat uses marigolds and other herbs as companion planting to deter aphid and slug damage.

Like the existing ranges, EcoMat range will be supported by informative point of sale.  Holding 108 mats and featuring a video screen, the display stand has already proved popular with UK retailers.  An additional counter display will be supplied free with orders of 36 mats or more, boosting the ranges’ gift and impulse purchase potential.

The unique new Living Tiles range offers ready-planted sedum trays for instant garden colour as edgings for paths or flower beds.  The product will appeal to architects, contractors, developers and garden designers as well as plant retailers.

BeeMat’s Nigel Clarke says more than 150 new independent garden centre customers have signed up since the launch at Glee 2013, in addition to new business from mail order, supermarkets and multiple retailers. “We are looking to build on this, and develop even more retailer relationships for 2015 and beyond,” he added.

The BeeMat was designed in response to the dramatic decline in the UK bee population. A pre-seeded, biodegradable growing mat that also controls weeds, BeeMat™ enables gardeners to bring bee-favourite wild flowers to pots, beds, troughs or allotments.

ButterflyMat and Bird Mat are designed to either attract or control insects and pests.

During trials BeeMat™ has been shown to improve plant establishment number by 90 per cent compared to direct seeded plots and to increase the number of flowers per plant by 40 per cent.

Information: beemat.com Or call 01476 530374

Swedish company Bergo Flooring (Hall 20, Stand 30B) are to exhibit their new Eco Unique range of flooring at Glee.

Made using recycled Polypropylene, the free draining, interlocking tiles can be recycled multiple times.

The tiles can be installed simply by using a rubber mallet – no glue or other fixings required – and come in a range of muted colours ideal for a garden setting.

Bergo Flooring will be exhibiting with distribution partners Tact Enviro Ltd at GLEE.

The Garden Centre Association are taking a stand at Glee (Hall 20, G38). GCA chairman Will Armitage (right) is hoping as many members as possible will drop by to catch up with fellow members.

“We are also looking forward to chatting to anyone who would like to find out more about the association and will have an information pack available for garden centres and suppliers interested in membership.”

Information: 0118 930 8918

 Forestry wear specialists Cutter (Hall 19, Stand A69) are to exhibit a range of products at Glee.

Cutter will be exhibiting its range of high quality gloves - from chainsaw gloves to gardening gloves - and will introduce its new anti vibration glove. The latter features a thumb protection pad in addition to the usual palm and finger protection. As professional tree surgeons, Cutter developed the glove based on personal experiences.

Paul Masters, founder of Cutter said: “We found that when using strimmers and trimmers, there was a lot of pressure placed on the thumb and the ball of the hand. We ensured our gloves protect that area.” The result is “the only glove on the market that does this”.

American doormat company Entryways (Hall 17, Stand V50) are to take on the European market and will use Glee to launch its campaign.

Two specific collections will be unveiled – The Handmade Collection and Sweet Home. Combining popular appeal and durability, the Handmade Collection mats are hand painted and hand woven from 100% coir. The Sweet Home collection mats feature non-slip backing with distinctive designs, also made from high quality coir.

Entryways already have customers in the UK and have tested the mats in a European market to determine which ones have the most widespread appeal.

“There is simply nothing comparable to our mats and we are very excited about launching in Europe,” says Entryways owner Eirini Kalafatides. “We see a mat as a canvas for a work of art created by both American and European artists.”

 Garden ornaments manufacturers Haddonstone (Hall 20, Stand E10) are to announce a number of new pallet deals at Glee.

The company – with worldwide distributors and more than 100 garden centre stockists across the UK – will also display a selection from the standard range, featuring statues and fountains. The main feature will be the Dauphin Fountain – a fine, self-circulating wall fountain.

Other highlights include the popular summer and autumn statues from the Seasons Collection, the bestselling Clarence urn, and birdbath designs such as the Baluster and Arcadian.

With Haddonstone offering a variety of architectural designs such as balustrades, follies and pier caps, the products also appeal to professional designers and landscapers.

A full colour catalogue will also be available from the exhibit.

Wildlife World (Hall 18, Stand L50), among the leaders in wildlife conservation products, are to launch an Urban/City range of bird boxes and feeders at the show.

The full range, designed to suit all urban environments, will be on display. Wildlife World managing director, Norman Sellers says: “This is a very exciting move for us and takes us into new territory.”

Wildlife World’s new educational products will also be on display, including the ‘Birdy Bites’ kit, designed to encourage children’s interest in bird life.

Also to be launched is a new bee and butterfly display, which allows retailers to create their own plant displays whilst promoting the Wildlife World range.

Cornwall-based children’s toy distributor Marbel (Hall 18, Stand N54) will showcase a variety of their brands’ new ranges.

Among them are wooden toy manufacturers BRIO and Hape, Japanese micro-sized block range Nanoblock and Australian accessory brand Pink Poppy. New products from Bullyland’s Disney Planes 2 and the latest playground craze OiDroids will also be on display.

Nanoblock are set to launch a Titanic ship with more than 1800 blocks – a sample of which will feature at the show – as well as a Christmas line with festive figures.

New to the Pink Poppy range for the coming season is a collection of ‘I Love London’ handbags and luggage along with new hair accessories, bracelets and bangle designs.

BRIO are launching a new wooden Rollercoaster Rail set, a Travel Ferry set and a Gantry Crane set.

Outdoor-focused charity The Conservation Volunteers – in partnership with Mind Candy – are to launch a range of branded Moshi Monster tools and seeds at Glee (Hall 19, stand H77).

Moshi Monsters is the biggest online children’s game in the UK with more than 20 million members, and key to the game is planting and growing.

Highlights of the range include hands tools and wheelbarrows, as well as more than 20 varieties of seeds – allowing children to plant seeds all year round.

Aimed at children aged five to 10, prices range from £1.49 to £8.99. 

With over 500 leading UK and international wholesale garden suppliers attending this year’s show, Glee provides one of the best industry platforms in the UK for thousands of products produced worldwide, which all heavily rely on an efficient, cost-effective route to market. The show's organisers, i2i Events, are pleased to announce its new logistics partner for Glee 2014 will be FCL Global Forwarding, a multi-model logistics provider specialising in moving products for customers by sea, air, road or rail.

Matthew Mein, event manager for Glee, who warmly welcomes the partnership said: “We’ll relish the opportunity of working with FCL Global, a business at the forefront of the logistics sector, as we believe they offer a truly unique proposition.”

As Glee gets underway we catch up with FCL Global’s Paul O’Malley (pictured), to get the lowdown on Glee’s newest sponsor.

How did you first hear of Glee?
We heard of Glee through our partnership with the Garden Industry Manufacturers Association (GIMA). It provided a fantastic opportunity to be involved with such a prolific trade show that we couldn’t say no to.

Can you tell us a little bit about your business?
FCL Global is a logistics business specialising in the movement of goods by various means – that could be by sea, air or road – and providing complete solutions. We’re also huge believers in delivering a personalised service to make this happen, while at the same time applying a high degree of knowledge, customer service and communication.

How important is the garden retail industry to your business? How do you hope this might change through your brand visibility at Glee 2014?
There’s no denying that the garden retail industry plays an important part in our business. We currently work in partnership with a number of companies operating within this sector. We’ve spent a great deal of time getting to grips with the challenges that companies in the garden retail industry face, particularly those involved in importing from the Far East.

We’ve designed and implemented complete solutions to solve these problems – it’s no longer about logistics in today's globalised economy being "just logistics". We hope that by raising the profile of the FCL Global brand at Glee we will get the opportunity to consult with many more companies and demonstrate how we can save them time and money through our personalised logistics solutions.

Our support of Glee will give us some great exposure, both online and of course at the show itself. Besides our logo on the Glee website, we’ll be featured on various social media platforms including Facebook and Twitter during the event. Visitors and exhibitors will be able to spot our branding on the show’s registration desks and on the 5,000 show bags being given out over the three days, containing information on our price-efficient logistics services for the industry’s global suppliers that rely on safe, swift delivery to the UK as well as anywhere else in the world.

Meet FCL Global at Glee 2014
FCL Global will be exhibiting at this year’s show, where you can visit them in Hall 17, Stand U66. Alternatively you can find out more by visiting www.fclgf.com or by calling 0845 222 5555.

Westland Horticulture (Hall/Stand 19G20-H21) will launch their new 2015 range at Glee this Sunday.

Highlights of the new range include the Gro-Sure Easy Containers Compost - with water storing pockets and six months’ feed – and Resolva Liquid Shots – pre-dosed with the right amount of weedkiller for a 10L watering can, it guarantees the right dose every time.

Westland will also launch the Gro-Sure Tomato Gro-Pack and Easy Feed – ideal for first time growers, each Gro-Pack is designed for one plant and comes with six weeks’ feed to guarantee success. The Easy Feed contains easy to use sticks that sit either side of the plant; giving them enough feed for the whole season with no measuring or mess necessary.

The Westland Team are looking forward to showing buyers around the new range in detail on Stand 19G20-H21

• Gro-Sure Easy Containers Compost – Unique water storing pockets, enriched with Westland’s unique West+ and 6 months feed make it easy to get great results in pots and containers
• Resolva Liquid Shots – Pre-dosed with just the right amount of weedkiller for a 10L watering can, it gives you the perfect dose every time – guaranteed
• Resolva 24H Power Pump – With 5 minutes continual spray, a dual action trigger and an easy store wand and hose, it makes weed-killing even easier!
• Jack’s Magic Garden Fertiliser – Building on the popularity of its compost, Jack’s Magic is introducing a nutrient rich garden fertiliser to its range in 2015
• Gro-Sure Tomato Gro-Pack – Ideal for first time growers who often only have a small patio or balcony, each Gro-Pack is designed for one plant. Featuring an extra deep design to promote strong roots, plus includes 6 weeks feed to help guarantee success
• Gro-Sure Tomato Easy Feed – Contains easy to handle sticks, just push 1 either side of the plant to feed for the whole season. No measuring, no mess, no fuss.
• Seramis Orchid Care range – Europe’s leading orchid range is coming to the UK. The range includes Seramis Orchid Potting Mix with a unique blend of Seramis granules and pine bark which absorb and release water and nutrients exactly where the orchid needs it.
• Gro-Sure Lawn Seed rebrand – Featuring a bespoke built-in seed applicator and clever bird repellent coating to guarantee results!

In addition to all this, Gro-Sure Planting Magic will be back on TV screens for 2015 with increased investment of a £1.5 million communications campaign.

Westland at Glee 2014 Stand 19G20-21.

Woodlodge Products have announced a partnership with the National Trust, combining ethical and environmental standards to create and produce a new range of flower pots.

Each product is obtained from sustainable sources and proceeds go towards the National Trust, helping support its many heritage sites.

Inspiration for these products has been taken from National Trust;

-        Inspired range using text from the founder Octavia Hill

-        Flora range using silhouettes of flowers found in the gardens

-        British range manufactured in Britain inspired by the chimneys of Lacock Abbey

-        Forge range using the intricate metal work found at Hardman House

CSY Retail Systems and Joy of Plants are delighted to announce a collaboration that will link the Joy of Plants plant information services to CSY’s Vector EPOS system. Joy of Plants services are based on their library of descriptions and photos of over 9,800 UK plants – the library is continuing to grow month by month.

Early benefits to CSY’s clients will include the ability to send plant care information by email to loyalty scheme members when they purchase plants, as well as the ability to print plant care cards from the till. Using Joy of Plants plant information will make it easier for Garden Centres to set up their plant list in a CSY Vector system, as well as keep existing Garden Centres systems up to date with new plants as they arrive on the market.

For more information, visit the CSY Retail Systems stand at Glee Hall 17 Stand U59.

Ross Pierrepont, Managing Director of CSY Retail Systems said: “As CSY continue to extend their reach into the Garden Centre sector, we really want to offer them the best tools available to run their business. Joy of Plants are an innovative provider of information to the sector and working with them to build functionality straight into Vector has been great. I know our customers are going to see a real benefit in both customer service and improved operations.”

Terri Jones Managing Director of Joy of Plants commented: “We’re really excited to be working with CSY Retail so their clients can use our plant library and services, linked into their current business systems. We’re continually adding to our database and toolset and see a big future in linking this centralised resource to other systems that use our data in new and innovative ways. CSY Retail Systems are a great team for us to collaborate with to make that vision a reality.”

CSY Retail Systems have been providing great IT systems to retailers for over 25 years. They are the leading provider of EPOS systems to Garden Centres and Nurseries in the UK. They have developed a great understanding of how Garden Centres and Nurseries work which means that they can help you implement and use EPOS in the most efficient way.

Their Garden Centre focused EPOS system is designed to handle all that a busy Garden Centre can throw at it! Vector EPOS will help you with all the things that matter from serving customers quickly at the point-of-sale to helping you with supplier orders.

CSY have more than 60 Garden Centres and Nurseries using Vector EPOS. These range in size from small nurseries to the Blue Diamond Group with 14 sites across the UK.

Joy of Plants and its founders have been creating and publishing plant information for the last 20 years.They deliver plant information services including Bed Card printing, image and text licensing, mobile plant apps and a website Plant Finder plug-in.

Joy of Plants provide services to over 40 Garden Centres, Nurseries and Horticulture Colleges in the UK and Ireland. Clients include Longacres and Garsons in Surrey, Scotsdales in Cambridge, Van Hage in Hertfordshire, Barton Grange in Lancashire, Pennells in Lincolnshire, Podington in Northamptonshire, and Brechin Castle in Angus among others.

The Joy of Plants library contains full details and photos for EVERY plant. It contains over 9,800 plants including outdoor plants, houseplants and bedding; popular plants suitable for gardens and homes in the UK & Ireland. All the plant photos and details are created by a professional gardener with over 20 years of experience.

There will be more preview issues of The Glee Daily News this year, plus three "Live" from the show issues, and an Omnibus issue two weeks after Glee.

Glee Daily News 2014 Media Rate Card

REMEMBER TO COLLECT YOUR FREE GLEE SHOW CATALOGUE AT THE ENTRANCES.

Crest Garden, the new supplier set up by Nick Davies with backing from Westland Horticulture, makes its frormal debut at Glee, with new tools, watering equipment and propagation products.

Nick Davies says Crest is focussing on ranges with a real point of difference to make them stand out from the competition. “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,” he added.

Three key categories will be 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 (see separate story).

See the new Crest Garden ranges in Hall 19, Stand H23.

* An in-depth interview with Nick Davies appears in the September issue of Garden Trade News.

Smart Solar will re-launch as Smart Garden Products at Glee, with more than 350 new products to tempt the trade.

The ‘Smart Solar’ brand has been refreshed and is being retained for solar products. Another new brand, ‘Smart Garden’, is also being launched to reflect the company’s diversification into several new categories of garden products.

Designed to offer garden centres a broad product choice backed by an established provider, the 350 new products are part of a product development programme that will continue to unfold in the coming months.

Panacea Products, a new UK-based enterprise to be launched at Glee this month, will offer retailers more than 600 products new to the UK in the patio and garden market.

Family-owned Panacea, founded in 1967, is one of the best-known and most successful gardening brands in the United States, specialising in high-quality, fashion forward metal products for garden centres.

“We believe the time is right and the UK market is ready for the beautiful and functional products we offer,” said Bernie Paniccia, creative director and son of the founder of the family firm. He says Panacea’s unique designs guarantee the brand will stand out in a highly competitive market place and generate good margins. “We are intensely focused on the retailer’s profitability,” Mr Paniccia added.

Panacea ranges embrace three key garden centre sectors:

Hanging baskets, and other metal and natural planters, liners and brackets

Patio lifestyle products, including plant stands and plant pot caddies

Trellis, fence, obelisks, plant supports and bird care

All products are made in the company’s own factories either in the US or the Far East, giving the company total control over quality and logistics. A number of products at Glee will be not have been seen in the UK before – for example, easy to install sectional fencing, made with triple toughcoated tubular steel with an interior galvanized layer for long life.

Mr Paniccia says Panacea’s products mesh with the contemporary trend towards using the garden for fun and entertainment. “We task ourselves how we can make a product more fun, more useful and more beautiful. It’s easy to make functionality - but we also try to make things that give pleasure in the garden.”

UK prices will be competitive in all categories.

Following its sponsorship of the Vital Earth The Night Sky Garden which won a silver gilt medal at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show, Bord na Móna UK is launching its Chelsea Mix enriched all purpose compost. 

To date Chelsea Mix has been exclusively available to garden designers Harry and David Rich, the youngest ever team to create a full scale Chelsea show garden. It will now be marketed to consumers under the Vital Earth brand and will be unveiled formally at Glee.

Decorative garden structures and fencing suppliers Grange have launched a bin and garden store for concealing garden bins and recycling boxes in an attractive wooden ‘cupboard’ area.

It  would be equally effective for a number of other functions, including log storage or a secure home for bikes, garden tools and lawn mowers. It can be free-standing or supplied minus its back panel for location against an outside wall.

Made from pressure treated beech which will retain its colour for years without additional maintenance, it is shipped flat-packed, with an SRP of £219.

Grange marketing manager Richard Bennett says the product represents ethos for the future –  “well thought through product development with aesthetic and utilitarian appeal at a price that’s attractive and achievable for consumers”.

Grange offer an eight working day delivery service on most products.

The product will be on the Grange stand at Glee (Hall 20, Stand D04-E05).