association comment A winning formula
GIMA members discuss how the GIMAAwards has provided the ultimate platform to celebrate innovation that will drive sales in 2020
The move away from disposable plastic and take-up of sustainable gardening was recognised in the Garden Care category, with Hozelock’s Pure BioMix – an eco-friendly way to fertilise plants and prevent diseases – taking the top accolade. A Hozelock spokeswoman said: “We were so excited to win. It’s a recognition of the growing demand for natural and sustainable gardening methods. It demonstrates the importance of this developing category to garden retailers, who are keen to be in tune with their customers.”
GIMA at Glee
The 39th annual GIMA Awards, held at the exclusive Celtic Manor Resort in South Wales, saw a double success for Treadstone Products, with its ClipGlove triumphing in the Garden Clothing & Giſts category, while the company’s ClipGlove merchandising stand won the award for Best Point of Sale Material. Treadstone’s head of brands, Dean Winters, said: “We were proud to win two GIMA awards for our innovative new ClipGlove range. I hope our awards, alongside other less known names, will reassure retailers that even during times of industry change, there are still plenty of alternative options for new products that excite their customers. We will be proudly displaying the trophies at Glee alongside many new initiatives for 2020, showing how Treadstone "dares to be different".
GIMA is gearing-up to run Buyer Connect events across all three days of the UK’s leading garden industry trade show, Glee. Now an established highlight of Glee, the highly anticipated events offer a unique opportunity to put suppliers directly in front of buyers from key retailers. Controlled, timed appointments are priceless for networking, allowing suppliers to present their products to key buyers from the UK garden retail market and showcase innovation with the potential to thrive in a fast-changing market place. GIMA is also looking forward to welcoming new and existing members in the GIMA Lounge at Glee.
• For further information please contact GIMA on (01959) 564947 or
info@gima.org.uk
The greatest showroom
The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) sees garden centre sales increase during a turbulent summer period.
Despite a period of more unsettled weather this July garden centre sales continued to experience significant growth. The HTA garden retail monitor shows that garden centres are 11% up year to date and 17% up compared with July last year. Houseplants continue to be a key growth category with sales reported to be 22% ahead for the year and 45% up on July 2018. There has also been strong growth in categories such as hardy plants, growing media and garden care. As part of building a picture of the makeup of UK gardeners the HTA Market Insight team has been investigating where people tend to get ideas to improve their garden or outdoor space. For the over 45’s gardening TV programmes and garden centre websites and staff are popular sources – likely due to their keener interest in gardening as a hobby. For under 45’s, the online channels are the widely held choice for inspiration. Meanwhile, for one quarter of Brits of all ages, family and friends provide ideas and inspiration.
Of course, consumers are also looking for inspiration when they come into garden centres and the more memorable an experience they have the more likely they are to make a return visit. The theme of this year’s Retail Lab feature at Glee (10-12 September), which the HTA are involved
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www.gardencentreupdate.com
with once again, is The Greatest Showroom. This feature focusses on garden centres entertaining and engaging their customers through their retail environments. Be inspired by retail environments that engage your customers by building and playing around with a variety of in-store concepts. Sub themes range from Garden planning, the Do Nothing Garden and The Scent Room to Garden Therapy, Services that Serve and Urban Green City. Retail Lab’s creative director, Romeo Sommers,
will lead Retail Lab tours to give visitors explanations and further knowledge into the key insights and trends being showcased on the Retail Lab feature in 2019. Throughout the tours, which take place daily at 11am, 1pm and 3pm Romeo will also provide top tips on how retailer and merchandisers can implement the trends within their own stores with quick and easy ‘takeaway’ advice.
• To find out more visit
https://www.gleebirmingham.com/visit/retail-lab- at-glee#/
HTA members are reminded that the AGM takes place at Glee on the morning of Wednesday 11 September. Further information about this can be found
www.hta.org.uk/agm2019
GCU August/September 2019
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