Event Report: Glee 2024
Glee’s 50th anniversary show energises the future
of garden retail Glee 2024 wrapped up with a bang, celebrating 50 years as the UK’s largest garden and outdoor living trade event. Held at the NEC Birmingham on 10th – 12th September, this year’s exhibition was more vibrant and dynamic than ever, as the garden retail and horticulture sector came together to mark this milestone. With buzzing aisles, inspiring new products, and a palpable sense of optimism, Glee 2024 proved once again why it’s the beating heart of the industry.
W
ith over 400 exhibitors and 130 new brands the quality of products at Glee 2024 was
unmatched! And with the New Product Showcase, Glee First, Talent Store and Future Plants displays, the show was home to ground-breaking products you won’t find anywhere else. The move to a September event has clearly struck the right chord, with industry leaders hailing the timing as a game-changer for the buying cycle. Attendee numbers were up year- on-year, with an increased presence of owner/ operators, category buyers and buying teams, buying groups and retailers eager to place orders, and discover the latest trends - fuelled by an infectious atmosphere of discovery and opportunity. One marked change was the number of ‘new’ visitors to Glee, demonstrative of the perceived value of gardening from not just the garden centre market but from the wider retail landscape. As gardening thrives, more retailers are looking to benefit from this profit opportunity, with the likes of Dunelm, Robert Dyas, John Lewis, B&Q, QVC joining Blue Diamond, British Garden Centres, Dobbies, Hilliers, Tillington, Choice and dozens more garden centres in the quest to source new supply partners. Glee Event Director, Matthew Mein captured
the excitement perfectly, saying: “From the second we cut the ribbon to officially open the show, the energy was electric. One exhibitor summarised it perfectly by saying ‘the buzz is well and truly back in the aisles’, and that is all due
GCU Autumn 2024
to the enthusiasm and willingness of our visitors and exhibitors. Glee has become the ultimate platform for growth and innovation, opening dialogue on those opportunities and challenges shaping our industry, and this September this role felt more relevant than ever. The passion and optimism that filled the aisles and exhibition stands, and a bulging floorplan for the 2025 show, marks an exciting tipping point for both Glee and the wider garden retail sector.”
Celebrating garden retail With hundreds of new and returning brands in the spotlight, Glee 2024 was a true celebration of all things garden, home, leisure, and lifestyle.
Innovation was everywhere, and buyers responded in kind, placing substantial orders and fuelling an atmosphere of growth and excitement. Sponsors from both within and beyond the
gardening sector added to the excitement, underscoring the growing reach and impact of the garden retail industry, including big names brands such as eBay, Shark Ninja, plus Gardena, The AMES Companies and Westland. The sponsorship mix reflected the diversity and strength of a sector that continues to grow across omnichannel platforms, as well as within the realms of traditional bricks-and- mortar trading.
www.gardencentreupdate.com | 7
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56
