The countdown has begun for the GIMA Awards 2017, to be held on July 13 at Celtic Manor. As the trade association issues a call to action for entries, it has also revealed who will be making up its judging panel this year.
Taking on the challenge of deciding the best of the best from the entries will be:
- Wilko Retail head of trading seasonal and stationery Julie Burrell
- Homebase garden category manager Sarah Coldrake
- Ferndale Garden Centre managing director Neil Grant
- Halls Gardensite’s Robert Hall
- Suttons Consumer Products garden products buyer James Hollingworth
- Wyevale Garden Centres buying manager Nick Liszka
- Garden Trade News’ Neil Pope
- Home & Garden Group commercial trading manager Andy Schofield
- The Klondyke Group senior buyer Allan Wilson
This year the judges will be deciding the winners for the nine product awards that feature within the GIMA Awards. Product categories will celebrate the best from Garden Care, Growing, Planting Equipment and Sundries, Garden Tools, Machinery and Implements, Outdoor Leisure, Plants, Seeds and Bulbs, Garden Landscaping, Pet Care, Aquatics and Wild Bird Care Products, Gardening Clothing & Gifts, and Garden Lighting, Water Features & Ornamentation categories.
Best Point of Sale, Consumer Product Packaging, and Marketing Communication awards will also be celebrated alongside the coveted Sword of Excellence, GCA Supplier of the Year, Gardenex Export Achievement Award and PetQuip Export Achievement Award.
GIMA director Vicky Nuttall said: “I’d like to extend my thanks to all of those that have agreed to join us on our GIMA Awards 2017 judging panel. I’ve no doubt that they’ll have their work cut out as the level of entries for the awards is continuing to grow and impress year on year. I look forward to learning what products they select – I’m sure it’s set to be another amazing year for the awards!”
Entries to the GIMA Awards can be submitted via the dedicated online entry form, found at www.gima.org.uk/gima-awards/. Deadline for entries is May 26. The judging panel will then deliberate and consider all entries during the judging day on June 27 at Warwick Racecourse.
