The winners of the GIMA awards 2017 were announced at a gala dinner at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, South Wales on Thursday July 13. The event brought together manufacturers, retailers, members of the press and industry figures, to celebrate the 16 highly-deserving winners.
This year Westland Horticulture was the proud winner of the GIMA Sword of Excellence, whilst Smart Garden Products has scooped the GCA Supplier of the Year, and Briers take home the Gardenex Export Achievement Award. Elho, Burgon & Ball, Hutton Garden and Landscaping Products, Hawkesmill Nurseries, Forest Garden, Horticulture Trade Association, Fallen Fruits, and Gardman complete the winners roster in 2017.
GIMA director Vicky Nuttall commented: “I would like to be the first to extend my congratulations to all of the winners. Each year we say that the calibre of entries could not be exceeded, and each year we are proven wrong! This year saw not only a record number of entries, but the quality of these entries was the best yet. Our judges really did have their work cut out. I think we can agree though, that the winners are highly deserving of their awards. Each of them have created a product or service that really stands out in this hectic industry we work within. This level of ‘standout’ has to be celebrated, and it’s fantastic to be able to provide this platform for celebration and recognition.”
This year, the GIMA judging panel was made up of Wilko Retail head of trading seasonal and stationery Julie Burrell, Bunnings & Homebase garden tools and watering buyer Tony Kersey, Ferndale Garden Centre managing director Neil Grant, Halls GardenSite senior partner Robert Hall, Suttons Consumer Products garden products manager James Hollingworth, Wyevale Garden Centres buying manager Nick Liszka, Garden Trade News editor Neil Pope, Home & Garden Group commercial trading manager Andy Schofield and The Klondyke Group senior buyer Allan Wilson.
Vicky added: “My thanks also have to go to the panel of dedicated judges who gave up their valuable time to take part in this year’s judging process. Their combined expertise and market knowledge has been invaluable throughout the judging process, and has helped to create a particularly strong list of winners.
“Finally, I extend my thanks to all those that have entered the awards in 2017, as well as our sponsors, without whom we would not be able to put on an event of this scale.”
GIMA AWARDS 2017 – THE WINNERS
GIMA Sword of Excellence
Winner: Westland Horticulture – Westland SafeLawn
GCA Supplier of the Year
Winner: Smart Garden Products
Finalists: Decco, Woodlodge
Gardenex Export Achievement Award
Winner: Briers
Finalists: Smart Garden Products, Crest Garden
GIMA AWARDS 2017 – PRODUCT AWARDS
Garden Care
Winner: Westland Horticulture – Westland SafeLawn
Finalists: Round Up – Round Up Telescopic Weeding Wand, SBM Life Science Ltd – Baby Bio® Feed & Mist for Orchids, Sipcam UK – Ecofective range
Growing, Planting Equipment and Sundries
Winner: Elho b.v. – Elho Corsica Door Stopper
Finalists: Hozelock Ltd – Superhoze 30m & 15m, FITT SpA – YOYO 2017, Elho – Super XXL Grow Table and Lid
Garden Tools, Machinery and Implements
Winner: Burgon & Ball – Ergo Deadheader
Finalists: Spear and Jackson – Select Stainless Allotment Hoe, Scotts Miracle-Gro Company – Evergreen Wizz Year-Round Spreader, Hozelock Ltd – Pico Power, Pico Power Home, Burgon & Ball – FloraBrite range
Outdoor Leisure
Winner: Hutton Garden and Landscaping Products – Melrose Dining Set
Finalists: Woodlodge Products – Mendip Fire Pit, CPL Distribution Limited – Homefire Olive Briquettes, Fallen Fruits – Dachshund Bench
Plants, Seeds and Bulbs
Winner: Hawkesmill Nurseries – Salvia Microphylla ‘Jeremy’ or Salvia ‘Pink Lips’
Finalists: Westland Horticulture – Unwins Sensational Sweet Peas range, Mr Fothergill’s Seeds Ltd – Optigrow vegetable seeds, Hawkesmill Nurseries – Victorian Viola range
Garden Landscaping
Winner: Forest Garden – Decibel Noise Reduction Panel
Finalists: Grange Fencing Ltd – Adjustable Garden Screen, Deco-Pak Ltd – Milano Porcelain Paving, Ronseal – Garden Paint New Colours, Forest Garden – Whitby Arch & Arbour Range
Garden Clothing & Gifts
Winner: Horticultural Trades Association – National Gift Card
Finalists: Crest Garden – Kent & Stowe Gardener’s Clothing/Gift, Burgon & Ball – FloraBrite range, Crest Garden – Kent & Stowe Garden Gift
Pet Care, Aquatics and Wild Bird Care Products
Winner: Fallen Fruits – Best for Birds Range
Finalists: Cadix UK – Outdoor Statue Birdbath, Gardman – Butterfly Glass Bird Bath, Wildlife World – Dewdrop Wildbird Window Feeder
Garden Lighting, Water Features & Ornamentation
Winner: Smart Garden Products Limited – Eureka! Retro Solar Lightbulb
Finalist: Smart Garden Products – Illumina Silhouette Table, The Solar Centre – Lumify USB Solar Festoon Lights, Smart Garden Products – The Elvedon Collection
GIMA AWARDS 2017 – MARKETING AWARDS
Best Point of Sale Material
Winner: Briers Ltd – Kids Range New Display Concept
Finalists: Kelkay Ltd – Collections, Smart Garden Products – Doormat displays, Westland Horticulture – Smart Cover Mega Pallet
Best Consumer Product Packaging
Winner: Westland Horticulture – Westland Safelawn
Finalists: Wildlife World – Floral Gift range, Burgon & Ball – Brie Harrison range, Hozelock – Superhoze Packaging
Best Marketing Communication Award
Winner: Gardman Ltd – The Royal British Legion Charity Campaign
Finalists: Westland Horticulture – Westland SafeLawn, Hozelock – Bizzi Marketing Campaign, Wagner System GmbH – Out of Black Forest video
