There is nothing more valuable than finding new buying and selling opportunities to help drive business growth and profitability. So with hundreds of exhibitors showing thousands of new garden, landscaping, home and leisure products – and key buyers from a range of garden retail outlets expected to attend – this year’s Glee exhibition is a must-visit event for every retailer who is looking to build their business in 2013 and beyond.
Now in its 37th year, Glee is the UK’s most valued annual garden retail show featuring a huge range of leading brands and smaller enterprises from the UK and abroad. As well as sourcing new products and suppliers, retailers will also be able to take advantage of a range of special features designed to help them add value to their bottom line by understanding the latest market trends, discovering fresh merchandising inspiration and seeing the experts’ top product picks. Glee show director Nick Davison says the show is specifically designed to enable both retailers and suppliers to optimise every possible business-building opportunity. “From their first pre-planning visit to our website to their last on-stand meeting, every Glee visitor will leave having gained new ideas, new contacts and helpful business guidance,” he confirms. “Retailers who spend time visiting Glee will achieve far more than they could from weeks on the phone, out on the road – or staying on the shop floor. Glee really is time well spent.”
WHAT’S IN STORE
Whether you are looking to source the latest innovations or core products for the year ahead, Glee will be home to it all. Encompassing eight unique product sectors, Glee is the leading annual showcase for the whole of the garden industry and the first stop for any garden retailer.
Glee Garden Care (Hall 5) features everything from growing media, compost, fertilisers, and GYO products to garden machinery, garden tools and accessories. One of the most bustling sections of the show, expect to see big name brands side by side with niche manufacturers, together bringing the widest selection of new product launches and innovation.
Key exhibitors for Glee Garden Care include Bermuda, Bord Na Mona Fuels, Bosmere, Briers, Burgon & Ball, Cuprinol, DLF Trifolium (Johnsons Lawn Seed), Draper Tools, Elho International, Fallen Fruits, Fiskars, Gardman, Garland, Haws Watering Cans, Kapiteyn B.V, Mr Fothergill Seeds, Scheurich, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, Spear & Jackson, Stewarts, STV International, Sutton Seeds, Taylor Bulbs, Town & Country, Vital Earth, Vitax and Westland Unwins.
Glee Garden Leisure (Hall 5) is the place to source products that bring the garden to life. The dedicated outdoor living area showcases the best from the industry’s leading companies, making it the ideal proposition for buyers looking to source next year’s ranges.
Showing everything from garden furniture, barbeques, parasols to chimineas, conservatory and indoor furniture, play equipment and camping essentials will be Adobe, Flexiload, Grand Hall UK, La Hacienda, Moseley Trading Co, Norfolk Leisure, Premier Decorations, Suntime and Wolf Steel (UK).
Glee Nursery & Planteria (Hall 4) provides a showcase for future trends from UK and international growers. The Glee Planteria is also home to nursery stock, bedding plants, house plants, cut flowers, trees and shrubs, herbs and florist sundries.
Key exhibitors confirmed for Glee Nursery & Planteria include A.Jakins Christmas Trees, Cadeby Tree Trust, Floramedia, SP Trading (Scotland) Ltd, Vanucci Piante and Darby Nursery Stock.
Glee Landscaping & Garden Design (Hall 4) provides an unrivalled showcase of influential brands and leaders in design. Featuring stunning displays, Glee Landscaping & Garden Design is a must-see section of the show, and is perfect for demonstrating how to cross-sell products in situ.
From hard landscaping and aggregates to fencing, garden buildings and structures, soft landscaping, statuary, water features and timber supplies, Glee Landscaping & Garden Design has everything to maximise those products that create the framework of the garden.
Exhibitors confirmed include: Albany Shed Company, Border Stone, Deco-pak, Dutch Imports, Eden Greenhouses, Forest Garden, Global Stone, Grange Fencing, Hamac Trading Company, Hutton Garden Products, JCB, Kelkay, Lafarge Cement, M & M Timber, Natural Paving Products, Rowlinson Garden Products, Strata Stones, Swallow (GB), Vivid Arts, Woodlodge and Yorkshire Flowerpots.
Glee Home, Gift & Clothing (Hall 5) is the place to explore additional profit-making opportunities. As the garden retail gift market continues to grow Glee Home, Gift & Clothing is the place to source those products that will make your gift offering stand out from the rest. Added to this, the section also features other added value lines such as clothing, picnicware, seasonal decorations plus games, toys and books.
Exhibitors confirmed for Glee Home, Gift & Clothing include Global Journey Ltd, Kaemingk, Regatta, Sincere UK Ltd, Tayberry, The Great British Card Company and Tobar Group Trading Ltd.
Catering & Speciality Food (Hall 5) will also take centre stage at Glee 2012, particularly with the introduction of the show’s new Food & Catering Zone, in partnership with Vision Commercial Kitchens. Exhibitors who will be bringing a wide range of delicious foods, drinks, catering expertise and accessories will include Vision Commercial Kitchens, Euro Food Brands Ltd, Field-Fare and Choc-Affair.
Glee Retail Support (Hall 5), is one not to be missed by anyone wanting to maximise the profitability and efficiency of their own store. Packed full of the latest innovations and essential equipment for retailers, such as EPoS, shop fitting and display stands, software solutions and garden centre design, Glee Retail Support is an essential part of Glee.
Exhibitors confirmed for Glee Retail Support include Brother UK, Container Centralen, Derco Horticulture, G7 Computer Services, National Structures, Salepoint, Stagecraft Display and Timber Displays.
Manufacturers of pet products and accessories can also be found at Glee 2012. For the first time pet product suppliers will be integrated into the main Glee exhibition within Hall 5. This move has been designed to offer greater convenience for garden retailers seeking exciting new ranges for their petcare sections. Pet exhibitors confirmed for 2012 include Bartholomews Agri Foods, cdVet Naturprodukte GmbH and Johnston and Jeff.
SPECIAL SHOW FEATURES FOR 2012
NEW – Glee Guided Tours
To help make sense of hundreds of exhibitors, the host of features and raft of hidden opportunities at Glee, visitors can make sure they are getting maximum value from the show by joining one of the free Guided Tours. Find out more at www.gleebirmingham.com.
NEW: Shop Window
Chosen by a cross-section of industry experts and retailers, the Glee Shop Window is designed to provide a unique snapshot of the best products from around the show. Featuring the pick of the new products and innovations from across Glee’s many sectors; the Shop Window can help you be the first to disco
ver next year’s best seller!
NEW: Trend Tunnel
This new area is designed to give you an insight into future trends, courtesy of WGSN, and how you can translate them into effective merchandising ideas, product ranges and point of sale displays. Collating inspiration from a range of media including mood boards, case studies and product displays, the Trend Tunnel will help you stay ahead of the game and keep your customers spending!
NEW: Knowledge Hub, in association with The HTA
Business guidance is at the heart of this new feature for Glee 2012, with a raft of seminars and workshops designed to help you improve and grow your business for the year ahead. For more details, keep an eye on the Glee website www.gleebirmingham.com.
Topics will include:
- Garden Industry Question Time: Making the social/local connection, led by The HTA
- John Stanley’s Garden Centre 2013 and beyond
- Visual Matters – Learn how to unlock the potential of your store through the expertise of Visual Merchandising
- eCommerce: Start selling online in less than 30 minutes
NEW: Food & Catering Zone in partnership with Vision Commercial Kitchens
Whether you’re thinking of introducing a café in your shop or reinvigorating an existing one, The Food & Catering Zone, in partnership with Vision Commercial Kitchens will give you all the advice, information and inspiration you need to take the next step.
Topics will include:
- Achieving Energy Efficiency whilst still delivering great food and service to your customers
- Turning Plates into Profit, addressing every stage involved in the planning, design and delivery of a catering operation.
NEW: Glee Buyers Guide
The Glee Buyers Guide will help you to get the very best value from the show via a range of pre-planning tools, themed content and expert advice from industry experts and fellow retailers. Start planning your visit today at www.gleebirmingham.com.
REGISTER TODAY
Entry to Glee is free of charge to all pre-registered visitors. Simply register via the Glee website www.gleebirmingham.com/register. As well as saving £20 on the door, all pre-registered visitors will receive the Glee Buyers Guide before the show to help plan their visit.
Glee 2012 takes place at the NEC, Birmingham, from Monday 17th to Wednesday 19thSeptember and opens between 9.00am and 6:00pm (4:00pm on the final day). To find out the latest news and to register for free entry please visit www.gleebirmingham.com. For details on exhibiting at Glee, call 0207 728 4623.
