GLEE hails visitor uplift to 13,000

Garden centre trade show Glee says it attracted more garden centre visitors, more builders merchants, more multiples, more furniture buyers and more DIY retailers than in 2009 to the 35th Glee exhibition (20-22 September, NEC Birmingham).
Around 650 suppliers, up from 600 in 2009, including 150 brand new exhibitors, hosted representatives from Dobbies, Scotsdales, Bents, Webbs, Blue Diamond, Travis Perkins, Wickes, Asda, John Lewis, B&Q, Homebase, House of Fraser, Marks & Spencer, Next, Wilkinsons, Co-Op, Kingfisher, Aldi, Halfords, Pets at Home, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Amazon, BHS, Argos and Tesco.

Glee marketing manager, David Langrish said: "We have been really pleased with the industry’s response to the show. The aisles and stands were packed with the right kind of visitors, ready to do business. We’ve spoken to exhibitors who took bigger orders at Glee than at any other trade show this year, as well as others who have taken significant enquiries and forged profitable new business relationships. Clearly both buyers and suppliers felt their time was very well spent."

Some 13,050 people attended Glee from 55 countries, including five per cent more garden centres, as well as seven per cent more builders’ merchants and 25 per cent more DIY superstore buyers.

Last year’s visitor numbers were 14,000.

Source : Matthew Appleby - Horticulture Week