Events and Show

Exhibitors at second Glee at Spring Fair report high levels of orders as buyers from retail powerhouses and independents flock to NEC to do business

Business was booming at the second annual Glee at Spring Fair, with upbeat exhibitors reporting strong levels of orders and new leads at a key point in the spring sales season.

Buyers from retail powerhouses such as Amazon, John Lewis and Robert Dyas, as well as representatives from garden centres, summer festivals and public events, flocked to Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre (NEC) on 3-7th February – helping exhibitors…

As the second annual ‘Glee at Spring Fair’ gets ever closer, the show’s Event Director, Matthew Mein, provides an update on what the industry can expect, and why garden retailers should make the event a ‘must attend’ part of their spring 2019 plans. 

Why Glee at Spring Fair – how does it differ to the September show?

Glee at Spring Fair was introduced in 2018 for one simple reason - Spring Fair is the UK’s number one Home and Gift Fair, with an audience which is already engaged and ready and willing to do business. The exhibition already welcomes a strong…

GARDEN centre staff from across the country who attend the GCA's annual conference (January 20 until 23, 2019) can learn how they can become a game changer from guest speaker John Stanley.

The conference will take place at Luton Hoo Hotel, Luton…

With just weeks to go until the second annual Glee at Spring Fair event (3rd – 7th February, NEC Birmingham) the show’s exhibitors reveal what garden and gift buyers can expect to see from this thriving section of the exhibition.  

Woodlodge, the UK’s leading supplier of garden planters and containers, will be using the show as a second opportunity to showcase its expanded Rustic Garden and Feather ranges of pots and planters. 

Drawing influence from current trends, including the ‘Modern Farmhouse’ trend – considered by Houzz as the biggest interior trend of the last few…

Following the success of last year’s show, Fordingbridge, the leading specialist design and build contractors of inspiring canopy, walkway and building solutions, will be returning to Glee (10th – 12th September, NEC Birmingham) to demonstrate the benefits of its robust and hardwearing designs to suit a wide range of garden retail environments.

With over 50 years’ experience of building aesthetically pleasing and durable structures for garden centres across the country, Fordingbridge’s sales team will be on hand at the show to give expert advice on bespoke building solutions that…

Introduced ahead of the 2018 show, Glee’s new guided Discovery Tours will provide a fresh insight into the show’s extensive catalogue of content, features, educational seminars and inspirational retail displays. With spaces filling up fast for the daily tours, interested parties are urged to sign up now to avoid missing out.  

Offering a unique and bespoke visitor experience, the walking tours will take in the unmissable feature areas of the show including the New Product Showcase, Green Heart and the newly enhanced and dedicated pet sector - Pets at Glee. Each ‘stop’ on the tour…

Garden centre group Haskins has launched its very own Bulb Market, which takes place from Monday August 20 to Monday November 19 across all four of its centres.

More than 250 bulb varieties will be available at Haskins’ Bulb Market, as well as a showcase of rare and unusual bulbs. The festival will also have a special focus on British-grown bulbs, with 24 varieties on sale that are UK-grown.

Lisa Looker, brand director at Haskins Garden Centres, commented: “We’re delighted to announce the return of our popular Bulb Market, with a special focus on embracing and supporting UK…

The gardening and horticultural industry have seen some innovative new products throughout 2019, while the tried and tested brands continue to develop and keep pace with consumer demand. For great networking, buying and training opportunities, whether you're an exhibitor, a buyer or both, check out our pick of the best trade shows…

• Solex, July 9 - 11 2019, NEC Birmingham

The Summer Outdoor Living Exhibition promises to be bigger, better and more enticing than ever before in 2019. Traders can see…

Haskins Garden Centres are encouraging children to get outside and connect with nature by celebrating Nationals Children’s Gardening Week (May 26 – June 3).

Presented by the Horticultural Trade Association, National Children’s Gardening Week celebrates the fun that gardens hold for kids. Haskins shares these values and is supporting young gardeners in their centres and online with activities for children and parents to enjoy.

Children will be able to learn how to encourage wildlife into their gardens,…

ONE of the UK’s leading nurseries will be providing a selection of plants to The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) for its first-ever garden trade stand at The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Malvern Spring Flower Show (May, 2018).

Wyevale Nurseries in Hereford will be loaning 22* different plant varieties, including Lomandra ‘White Sands’, Veronica ‘Tissington White’ and Pittosporum ten. ‘Variegata’ to BALI for the show, which will open to the public on May 10.

Adam Dunnett, Sales and Marketing Director at Wyevale Nurserie…

THE GARDEN Centre Association (GCA) is hosting its third annual GCA Plant Area Forum for plant area managers and plant buyers at Ball Colegrave in July (July 25, 2018). 

The event on Wednesday, July 25 will once again be facilitated by GCA inspector, Roger Crookes, who believes that plants are still the core business for garden centres.

He said:

“Our past Plant Area Forum events have been a huge success and this year’s promises to be just as inspiring and motivational for all who come along. This year we are responding to feedback from delegates who attended…