Vernon Kay, star of TV and radio, hosted the 39th annual The Garden Industry Manufacturer’s Association (GIMA) Awards.
Below are the listed winners:
GIMA Sword of Excellence
Winner: Primeur – Tierra Verde Recycled Rubber, Self Watering Planters
What the judges said: “With this range based around recycled materials being used to deliver stylish, practical and commercial products, we believe the Tierra Verde Recycled Rubber Planters represents everything we as an industry should be striving for.”
GCA Supplier of the Year
Winner: Smart Garden Products;
Finalists: Woodlodge Products, Meadow View Stone
What the judges said: “Smart Garden Products are always a pleasure to deal with. The company offers meaningful innovation, is quick to respond, offer accurate deliveries and paperwork, and a flexible approach. The team is also made up of friendly and personable people.”
Gardenex Export Achievement Award Winner: Smart Garden Products
Finalists: Tildenet Gardenware, Trimetals Ltd
About the winners: By employing a French Sales Manager, in country support and an expanded network of agents, their sales in France have increased by just under 10% in the first five months of 2019. The sales push in 2018 resulted in Smart Garden being awarded the prestigious ‘Jardin Plus Supplier of the Year Award’ for lighting, the first UK company to receive such a recognition.
GIMA AWARDS 2019 – PRODUCT AWARDS
Garden Care
Winner: Hozelock – Pure BioMix
Finalists: Vitax – Acer Feed, Block Blitz – Block Blitz Shield
About the winner: BioMix is the eco-friendly way to effectively fertilise your plants and prevent plant diseases, protecting children and wildlife in the garden. Pioneering sustainable gardening and the move away from disposable plastic is now essential to the industry; BioMix fulfils the demands of the growing numbers of environmentally conscious consumers.
What the judges said: “’Great product encouraging recycling and promoting natural plant food and insecticide – ticks lots of boxes!”
Growing, Planting Equipment and Sundries
Winner: Gardena – Metal Hose Trolley
Finalists: Gardena – Textile Hose Range – Liano, The Juliana Group – City Greenhouse, Itip Handles Ltd – Itip Handles
About the winner: This hose trolley has a stable one-piece metal drum, with a high-quality aluminium handle for maximum durability. The patented foldable metal crank handle with soft component, together with the hose guide, make for comfortable and ergonomic winding, whilst the kick and stand function provides maximum stability during use.
What the judges said: “Excellent quality, love the adjustable stand to give extra stability – a great feature!”
Decorative Garden Pots & Planters
Winner: Primeur – Tierra Verde Recycled Rubber Planters
Finalist: Apta – RHS Interiors Pot Covers, Woodlodge Products – Tudor Terracotta Pots
About the winner: Although there are frost resistant pots readily available, no other planter can endure the same extreme temperatures or wear and tear without breakage. Eco-friendly made from recycled rubber and includes integral self-watering chamber
What the judges said: “Eco-friendly, stylish and at a good price. A sustainable and commercial product in a competitive marketplace.”
Garden Tools, Machinery and Implements
Winner: E P Barrus – Wilkinson Sword Ultralight Digging Spade
Finalists: Darlac – Heavy Duty Geared Lopper, Burgon & Ball – Corona Convertible Branch and Stem Pruner, Gardena – Smart SILENO Life – Robotic Lawn Mower
About the winner: This Ultralight spade is up to 40% lighter than a traditional digging spade but still maintains the quality, and comes with a 10-year guarantee. It features a rust resistant stainless-steel head and enhanced blade face with serrated teeth to cut through roots with ease, and a pointed spade to ease entry into the soil. It has an ergonomically designed soft D grip handle, designed to sit comfortably in the hand. The handle is also tapered to support the digging action.
What the judges said: “Simple, effective and very lightweight. A great quality product.”
Outdoor Leisure
Winner: Chesneys Ltd – Chesneys Heat & Grill
Finalists: La Hacienda – Santana Black Metal Firebasket, La Hacienda – Icarus Oxidised Firepit, Zest 4 Leisure – Noah’s Arbour
About the winner: The only truly dual-purpose outdoor heater and barbecue at an affordable price point for both uses. Controllable temperature within the sealed unit ensures food is kept succulent and tender, and when cooking is finished the baffle plate can be lifted up to enjoy the full heat output and aesthetic beauty of the wood burning stove
What the judges said: “Stand out product in this category, Looks stylish, sleek and contemporary. Dual purpose has all year-round use.”
Plants, Seeds and Bulbs
Winner: Farplants – Spiraea ‘Walberton’s Plumtastic’
Finalists: Suttons – Suttons Pollinators…and Predators Seeds, Mr Fothergill’s Seeds – Children in Need Range
About the winner: Plumtastic is from world leading British plant breeder, David Tristram. Its neat, compact habit is perfect for smaller, modern gardens. The rich plum-purple of the young foliage in March is unique for Spiraea. In June it develops striking cerise flowers, and in autumn the foliage transforms into a vibrant orange.
What the judges said: “Stunning colour, full foliage offering beauty in spring, summer and autumn.”
Garden Landscaping
Winner: Forest Garden – Victorian Walkaround Greenhouse
Finalists: BJA Trading Ltd – Fence Mate DuraPost Fence System, The Juliana Group – The Halls Qube Greenhouse
About the winner: This innovative design offers a completely new take on a greenhouse, letting the gardener access their plants without going inside. It is supplied with four doors that can be hung as desired around any of the sides, allowing maximum flexibility and letting the user position it anywhere in the garden.
What the judges said: “Unique, compact and multi-entry growhouse. Quirky design adds style in a smaller garden.”
Garden Clothing & Gifts
Winner: Treadstone Products – ClipGlove
Finalists: E P Barrus – Mastergrip Glove Range, Fallen Fruits – Terrarium Set
About the winner: Combining PPE expertise with a co-ordinated fashionable colour palette and durable fibres and coatings. Each product has been designed with a specific range of tasks in mind, with clear features and benefits on the product labels and the supporting merchandising unit – and don’t forget that clever clip!
What the judges said: “A breakthrough in garden gloves – functional and on-trend with some great designs.”
Pet Care, Aquatics and Wild Bird Care ProductsWinner: RSW International – Smart Choice Dog Ball Launcher (THE STOMPER)
Finalists: Marriages Specialist Foods – Heavy Duty Feeders, Smart Garden Products – Peacock Glass Birdbath
About the winners: The Smart Choice Ball launcher differs to other ball products on the market in many ways. It gives ease to owners with shoulder and arm injuries, it’s easily (foot) activated, and it has a durable design to name a few.
What the judges said: “A great fun product that will really sell.”
Garden Lighting, Water Features & Ornamentation Winner: Smart Garden Products Limited – Bug Lights
Finalist: Smart Garden Products – Firefly Balloon, Smart Garden Products – Oak Leaf Wind Spinner
About the winner: Completely new decorative solar designs and at an amazing price point.
What the judges said: “A hanging bug light with firefly lights! Who would have thought this would be such a sell out every week!”
GIMA AWARDS 2019 – MARKETING AWARDS
Best Point of Sale MaterialWinner: Treadstone Products – ClipGlove merchandising stand
Finalists: Smart Garden Products – Solar Cool Flame Hard Wired Stand, Woodlodge Products – Consumer Engagement Boards
About the winner: This merchandising stand combines high impact colours and graphics with genuinely useful consumer information, space efficient merchandising and the unique hook and clip system that ensures gloves stay neatly merchandised no matter how fast the spinner is spun!
What the judges said: “Bright, tall, interactive, eye-catching and very informative.”
Best Consumer Product Packaging
Winner: Vitax – Plant Guard
Finalists: Burgon & Ball – RHS Gifts for Gardeners ‘British Bloom’ boxed tool gift sets, Durston Garden Products – Multi-purpose Compost with John Innes
About the winner: Developed to help organic and environmentally conscious gardeners make a natural choice when it comes to protecting plants from bugs and diseases. Available as a ready-to-use spray or concentrate, the bottle clearly communicates it is non-toxic to bees, organic and safe to use around children and pets.
What the judges said: “The right message for our time: ‘Protect not kill’. Packaging has a natural feel about it which is a great representation of the organic story.”
Best Marketing Communication & Social Media AwardWinner: Westland – New Horizon Launch Campaign
Finalists: Westland Horticulture – Peckish – Love Every Bird Campaign, Elho – ‘The Beauty of Waste’ TV campaign
About the winner: Creative targeting of both trade and key influencers. Trade activity focused on encouraging garden centres to Glee, through continued communication throughout the sell in period. The influencer campaign resulted in positive free media mentions and independent trials backing up our findings. Both campaigns were supplemented with modern media mix.
What the judges said: “A memorable campaign, giving appealing and compelling reasons why consumers should change.”