Event Report: Glee 2024
A key feature of Glee 2024’s success was the
support of top trade associations, including the HTA, GCA, Gardenex, and GIMA. GIMA’s ‘Meet the Buyer’ events were a huge highlight, with over 150 sessions fostering valuable new retail partnerships that will shape the future of the sector.
New Product Showcase Sixteen fantastic new garden and pet product innovations have been confirmed as the winners of this year’s highly coveted Glee New Product Showcase. The winning products were announced at a special award presentation during the show. Several hundred entries were received
across the 13 product categories, plus ‘best of’ awards, with suppliers from within the garden retail sector, eager to showcase the innovation that has kept gardeners coming back for more throughout the past 12 months.
These eager teams all took to ‘The Stage’, Glee’s dedicated seminar hub in hall 10 to
pitch to the judges, highlighting the features and benefits of their latest products in the hope of being crowned this year’s winners. It was then the work of the panel of judges to carefully deliberate the merits of each entry, before crowning the individual category winners and three ‘champion of champions’ awards at today’s official Glee New Product Showcase ceremony. All the shortlisted entries and winners can be found on the Glee website at
www.gleebirmingham.com/news-and- views/new-product-awards-2024-winners.
Glee’s 50-year heroes As Glee marked its monumental 50th anniversary, its 50-year heroes have been revealed. Voted for by Glee’s retailer and supplier audience, these ‘heroes’ represent the most iconic figures, products, and innovations that have shaped the sector over the past five decades.
This milestone anniversary presented a unique opportunity to reflect on the people, products, and plants that have made an
indelible mark on the garden retail industry, and with four categories to vote for there was plenty of debate and discussion as people voted for their favourite. Visit www.
gleebirmingham.com/highlights for the full list of Glee’s 50-year heroes.
Charitable highlight The final day of Glee saw a heart-warming display of solidarity and generosity, as the Floral Thursday fundraising initiative took centre stage. In partnership with the Greenfingers Charity, the garden retail community raised over £3,000 to help the charity create even more therapeutic gardens at children’s hospices across the country, with visitors donning floral shirts, dresses, and suits in every colour imaginable. It was a fitting end to a show that was not only about business but also about giving back. Looking ahead, Glee 2025 is already generating excitement about the 2025 season. A staggering 60% of the 2025 floorplan was snapped up during the show, with equates to 77% of 2024 floorspace – a significant increase of 40% when compared to 2023 data – racing to secure their spot for what promises to be another unmissable year. Many of the event’s bellwether brands led the charge, setting the stage for Glee 2025 to build on this year’s remarkable momentum. As the countdown to 2025 begins, all eyes
are on Glee to continue leading the charge in garden retail innovation. The 2025 event will be marked with a new hall layout – halls 8-12 – that will provide more opportunity for expansion. The date for diaries is Tuesday 16th- Thursday 18th September.
Find out more Glee connects the garden industry to inspire change, drive growth, and promote innovation. To find out more or to register your interest in exhibiting please visit
www.gleebirmingham.com or call 0203 3545 9752.
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www.gardencentreupdate.com GCU Autumn 2024
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