Glee is as much a part of the gardening calendar as pruning, the first cut of the lawn and cold crisp mornings that accompany the first trips to the greenhouse. But unlike these annual milestones, Glee is changing; it’s growing and developing for the greater good of garden retailing. Jana Silver reports.
As garden retailing continues to look at ways to adapt to changing consumer spending habits, as well as attracting a new pool of customers, so must Glee look at what it offers to the industry it represents. This year, visitors to the show will find a bigger, fresher and bolder Glee – full of innovative feature content, tangible business advice and the strongest collection of brands ready and willing to forge relationships with retailers.
Matthew Mein, Glee’s Event Director, told The Landscaper: “Glee 2017 is the start of an exciting new chapter for the show. We’ll still be offering the core elements that are the main reason why retailers attend, but we’re also building additional content that will add real value, and provide our visitors with inspiration and valuable advice that will help them to future proof their businesses. All of this will be underpinned by our new look, that we believe is demonstrative of the changes that our industry is undertaking, through adopting more innovative and contemporary approaches to retailing.
“We are confident that the changes we have made means that Glee is now, more than ever, an event for all aspects of garden retailing – from sourcing new products, to gathering information on how to tap into a younger consumer demographic, inspirational merchandising advice, future-facing business concepts and the freshest trend information. Glee is an event for everyone from the category buyers to the chief executives. We guarantee that a day at Glee is a day well spent.”
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Some of the exhibitors we will be checking out…
A.T. Industries – Greenacres is a division of A.T. Industries and a leading supplier of artificial grass for sports and landscaping.
www.atindustries.co.uk
African Creations recycle metal sculptures and stone carvings from Zimbabwe.
www.africancreations.co.uk
Aggregare manufacture Pine bark mulch and coloured wood chips from Latvia.
www.aggregare.eu/gb
Agralan has developed a product range that allows any type of grower to grow crops with minimal use of pesticides.
www.agralan.co.uk
Ailsa Wood Products hand manufacture garden planters and water features made from used oak from recycled whisky barrels.
www.ailsawoodproducts.com
Albany Shed manufacture sheds, summerhouses, log cabins and timber garden buildings for the trade.
www.albanysheds.co.uk
Algon Organic help to restore the natural colour of virtually any surface the organic way and without scrubbing or rinsing.
www.algonorganics.co.uk
Anglo Aquatic Plants are leading wholesale suppliers of over 300 varieties of quality aquatic plants.
www.angloaquatic.co.uk
Artform are distributors of stonecast garden ornaments.
www.artformuk.co.uk
Azpects specialize in hard landscaping product that ‘make life easy’.
www.azpects.co.uk
Bathgate Silica Sand are producers of high quality silica sand, top dressing and root zone mixes throughout the UK.
www.bathgatesilica.co.uk
Blakeway Stone manufacture finely handmade, quality, decorative garden stoneware.
www.blakewaystoneukltd.co.uk
Block Blitz Paving Treatment is a dynamic mineral and plant based barrier detergent.
www.blockblitz.co.uk
Bord na Móna is one of the largest and most respected suppliers of peat-free and peat-reduced growing media, soil improvers, fertilisers and sustainable winter and summer fuels
www.bordnamona.ie
BYKO-LAT is one of the largest and most efficient leading timber exporters in Latvia.
www.byko.lv/en/
Castle Composites distribute rubber products including playground tiles, gym mats and ladder mats.
www.castlecomposites.co.uk
Composite Wood Company has decking, fencing and garden rooms covered.
www.compositewoodcompany.co.uk
Craigmarloch Nurseries are premier horticultural wholesalers and cash & carry, specialising in sourcing and stocking an extensive range of products at competitive prices.
www.craigmarloch.co.uk
Decock Plants produces about 50 million youngplants for the European market.
www.decockplants.be/en/#
Deco-pak are garden landscaping specialist, who produce, supply and deliver a wide range of garden, landscaping products and trade aggregates to garden retailers.
www.deco-pak.co.uk
Devonshire Stone creates high quality, reconstituted, magical stone statues for the home & garden.
www.devonshirestone.co.uk
Evergreen Horticulture is the leading manufacturer of horticultural peat and compost products.
www.evergreenpeat.co.uk
Fortress Building Products focus on the growing segments of the deck, railing, fence, pergola and outdoor living markets.
www.fortressbp.com
Greenedge specialise in ecologic and efficient seed pellet technology, lawn repair, new lawn, flower meadows and vegetables.
www.green-edge.de
Harrod Horticultural are a distinctive collection of high quality arches, obelisks, trellis, plant supports and planters that will suit garden centres.
www.harrodhorticultural.com
Hawkesmill Nurseries grow an extensive range of perennials, herbs, wildflowers, alpines, vegetables, ferns and grasses.
www.hawkesmillnurseries.co.uk
Hygeia manufactures agricultural, garden and veterinary products in Galway and market them throughout Ireland.
www.hygeia.ie
I-GLO provide a maintenance-free light source that glow all night after naturally charging in daylight.
www.i-glo.co.uk
IndoorOutdoors.co.uk have grown to include log storage baskets, decorative garden features, concrete tools, a fully-automatic powder coating line, CNC laser cutting and fully automated steel folding.
www.indooroutdoors.co.uk
Irrigatia weather responsive solar automatic irrigation system can be used in a variety of ways in your garden and greenhouse.
www.irrigatia.com
Karcher are now the world’s leading expert in cleaning, both inside the home and out. Kärcher’s products include pressure washers, portable outdoor cleaners and watering tools.
www.kaercher.com/uk/
Lonstone are your complete Stoneware Supplier, manufacturing a range of planters, bird baths and paving.
www.lonstone.co.uk
Lumena Bright Innovation supplies innovative energy efficient outdoor lighting and other lighting products.
www.lumenalights.com
M&M Timber has built its reputation on the manufacture and supply of quality timber products. It’s ‘Unilog Pro’ landscaping timbers have been the No. 1 choice for landscaping professionals.
www.mmtimber.co.uk
Melmar Stone are one of the UK’s leading trade suppliers of cast stone garden ornaments. Their name is synonymous with quality and originality.
www.melmarstone.co.uk
REGISTER TODAY
Entry to Glee is free of charge to all pre-registered visitors. Simply register via the Glee website www.gleebirmingham.com/register. All pre-registered visitors will save £20 on the door, as well as receiving the Glee show preview if requested before the show to help plan their visit.
Glee 2017 takes place at the NEC, Birmingham, from Monday 11th to Wednesday 13th September and opens between 9.00am and 6:00pm (Monday & Tuesday) and 4:00pm (Wednesday). To find out the latest news and to register for free entry, please visitwww.gleebirmingham.com. For details on exhibiting at Glee, call 0203 033 2160.
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