The first GIMA meeting of the year providing some fascinating insights from some of the most influential people in the garden centre industry. The overall message was one of cautious optimism, which may seem strange, coming as it does at a time when we are reeling from recent snowfalls and the credit crunch. As we look for a silver lining among the clouds, we should consider the strong euro and dollar, which will see many stay at home to enjoy the garden this summer. The first speaker of the day was Caroline Owen managing director of one of the UK's largest garden centres, Scotsdale "In times of austerity, suppliers are the key to a garden centre's success," she said. "We need trusted market-leading brands that we can work together to promote."