EVENT REVIEW: GLEE 2021


that the business has made in preparation for 2022. Zest is already looking forward to returning to Glee in June next year.” MNP Plants – winners of the Glee New Product Award 2021: Plant, Seed & Bulbs: “Glee was just brilliant. We’ve missed attending shows and Glee is such a great event to come to and to kickstart the season and the return of events. Glee is great for both plant suppliers and buyers, and we’d like to thank Glee for having us – we’ll be back next year!” Kamado Joe – winner of the Glee New Product Garden Leisure and Entertaining award: “We’re over the moon to win best new product for our Kettle Joe. Glee New Product Awards is always extremely competitive, with a staggering number of entries from many of the well-known brands across the UK. Our team of engineers are passionate about designing innovative products that inspire people to grill all year round. The awards recognise our hard work, dedication, love and care that each and every one of our team contributes to making our products.”


No substitute for face-to-face Simon Bourne – Perrywood Garden Centre: “I loved being back at Glee and did lots of great business. It felt just as busy as normal and there was a really good vibe amongst exhibitors and visitors. There were a few people that should have been there, and I hope they will be back another year. Those that were there went to great lengths to be back at a trade show and it really was appreciated.” Woodstone Plant Centre – Emma and Stephen Emmerson: “We spent a lot of money at Glee! We expected to spend money but not maybe as much as we have. It is so great to see, touch and feel product again. And, also to see nice, friendly faces; to talk to and meet up with people we know – it has been so nice to be back at live events again.”


Speaking on day two of the exhibition, Dan Kirby of British Garden Centres, said: “It’s


really


good to be back at the show and we’re here for all three days – we have 58 stores, so there’s a lot to do! I’m looking for everything across the whole landscaping category, and sustainability is something we’re looking at options for. There are some very good lines coming through that are made from recycled materials. We will also use our time at the show to start developing relationships with new suppliers.” Michelle de Lavis-Trafford


trade, learn, collaborate and flourish. “We’ve been working hard pruning and cultivating our look, to bring you a lighter, fresher version of Glee, as we usher in a new mood for a new era. As the light at the end of the tunnel grows ever brighter, we’re buzzing with excitement to reconnect and facilitate face-to-face trade and networking once again.”


Glee 2022: a new chapter for the leading garden retail exhibition Whilst the doors may have closed on the 2021 event, the momentum keeps moving and the sector is already gearing up for Glee 2022, which will represent the biggest change to ever take place at the exhibition. In 2022, Glee will take place from


spend time with the exhibitors. It really was so good to be back” Sue Allen, Millbrook Garden Centre & Greenfingers Charity Chairman: “I have not attended Glee for eight years and had feared it would now be too small to justify one, never mind two or three days. I was glad to be proved wrong! From Greenfingers point of view it gave us a great opportunity to reconnect with our already committed supporters and to meet some who did not know of our work. We were able to get the message over that we are now able to push on with creating new children’s hospice gardens and to build up our new ‘makeover’ programme. The need for this has become more apparent following the pandemic and the enforced restrictions on volunteers in the hospices. From Millbrook’s perspective I know the team thought it was two days well spent, and we all appreciated the value of, at last, being face to face with real people and seeing and touching the products. All the zooming in the world can’t make up for that.”


Trade associations back the positive return of Glee YPHA: “As


an association that


represents young people who work within horticulture, we view Glee as a key event, as it enables us to tell more people about the work we do, gain more sponsorship and grow our membership.”


–


Choice Marketing: “We really enjoyed Glee, it was great to re-connect with the industry and to


14 DIY WEEK SEPTEMBER 2021


Amanda Sizer Barrett, Director General of Gardenex and PetQuip: “It was great to see so many in our industry at Glee. Face-to-face contact in business has been sadly missed by suppliers and buyers, so the three show days were really welcomed. We’d like to congratulate the Glee show team for putting together a strong showing of exhibitors this year in testing circumstances. We are looking forward to working with the


team on planning the next Glee event on its new dates in June 2022.” Vicky Nuttall, Director of GIMA: “It was a joy to be back at Glee this year, and well done to Matthew Mein and all the team at Hyve for bringing it all together. GIMA members were there in force and we were very pleased to host around 200 introductory meetings with key retailers as part of our Buyer Connect event at the show.


On a personal


note, it was so great to reconnect with all those fantastic people that make the UK garden retail sector such a great industry to work in. Lovely to see so many new faces too, many of which we hope will be joining GIMA in the not-too-distant future.” Martin Simmons, Director of Membership at the HTA: “It was a real pleasure to be back at Glee this year. The show was buzzing, and it was great to see so many of our members there. HTA’s involvement in


the seminar programme and


Leaders for Change Lunch provided the perfect platform for us to talk about some of the challenges and opportunities the industry is facing post covid and the EU exit. We’re in a good position to take advantage of those opportunities and help meet the challenges of climate change and health and wellbeing.”


Bira (British Independent Retailers Association: “It’s time to grow together. After two years apart, Glee finally returned to the NEC Birmingham this September, as we reopen our doors to the garden industry. Last year created some real challenges, but it was also a year full of opportunity. With the addition of over three million budding gardeners entering the industry, gardening as a pastime has well and truly blossomed. As we look ahead, to 2021 and beyond, now is the time to build on that momentum; it’s time to solidify our community and re-establish our roots as we come back together to


Tuesday 28 June to Thursday 30 June. This move, reflective of the changing buying cycle, has been well received by the industry with exhibitors keen to secure their place on the 2022 floorplan. During the 2021 event, more than 65 per cent of the 2022 floorplan was secured by a host of big brands, as well as emerging innovators and many companies making their return to Glee after a short break, as the value of the show became too hard to ignore! Talking about the 2022 event, Matthew Mein added: “As a hub for the industry, it is our responsibility to move with the times and to create an exhibition that works best for all those involved. After much consultation with key stakeholders, it became apparent that a move to a June dateline would be the most logical development for Glee as it aligns better with the buying cycle. This significant development has been met with huge positivity from across the industry, and to see so much buzz building around the 2022 event has been heartening. We look forward to delivering yet another valuable event; one which we hope will help facilitate the further growth of our industry.”


Find out more…


Glee is the UK’s leading garden retail show, focussing on building year- round profits within core product categories


outdoor entertaining,


and garden design, pet, home, gift and clothing, and plants. Each year the show attracts thousands of buyers from top retailers. You can also


gleebirmingham.com/news-and- views to see all the news from the 2021 event, including the winners of the Glee New Product Awards and Buyers Power List. To keep up to date on all the latest news visit www. gleebirmingham.com or call 0203 3545 9752 to find out about exhibiting.


www.diyweek.net


including garden care, landscaping


visit www.


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