Recent years have demonstrated that Glee is not afraid of change. This theme will continue in the year ahead as the organisers of the annual exhibition for the garden retail industry confirms its exciting plans for the 2018 show – including a bigger exhibition space and brand new products.
Next year, Glee will be relocating to NEC Halls 6,7,8, 19-20, providing the show with a much bigger footprint, and an even larger and more exciting exhibition. Exhibitors will be able to relocate, whilst visitors will be walking an updated floorplan; discovering new products and companies at every turn. The overall effect will be a refreshed, revitalised event, as Matthew Mein, Glee Event Director explains: “Glee has been growing at a significant rate – for example, we had over 200 new brands join us at the 2017 event – and that means we’ve outgrown our current home. Glee has successfully relocated before, and we hope that this next move will be received with the same level of industry support. Not only will the exhibition be able to better accommodate more exhibitors and visitors, but its refreshed layout will breathe new life into the show. This move is inspired by the way that retailers keep their store interesting for customers by constantly revising the layout. This way customers discover more, and ultimately spend more – something we know our exhibitors and visitors want to replicate during their time at Glee.”
Building more content to help support the continuous growth of gardening in the UK will be a key theme of the 2018 event. Garden retailing is continuing to buck the trend that other retailers have fallen foul of, with growth for both garden retailers and suppliers continuing to grab the headlines. At Glee 2018 look out for more features, seminar sessions and year-round information relating to trends, merchandising and practical advice on ways to build a better business, whilst also tackling the most burning issue – how to attract millennials into the garden centre.
The Retail Lab, launched to critical acclaim in 2017, will be returning to the heart of the exhibition, showcasing even more inspirational trend information, interactive content and retail best practice. Get set to see even more leading brands and industry experts putting their weight behind this must-see part of Glee.
With a larger central boulevard, Glee 2018 will be an impressive sight, with even more space for its ever-popular show features including the New Product Showcase, Innovators Zone and GIMA Business Village. The show’s dedicated pet section – including the PetQuip Business Village – will also be given additional room to expand, helping, even more, pet product suppliers to get their ranges seen by core garden centre pet buyers. All of this will be supported by Glee’s refreshed and contemporary branding that was launched to the market in early 2017.
Find out more
Glee is the UK’s leading garden and outdoor living trade retail show, focussing on building year-round profits within core product categories including Garden Care, Landscaping & Garden Decoration, Outdoor Entertainment, Pet Products, Speciality Food and Catering, Home, Gift and Clothing, Plants and a dedicated Retail Experiences section. Each year the show attracts thousands of buyers from top retailers, such as leading UK garden centres, builders’ merchants, multiple retailers, and DIY stores. To keep up-to-date on all the latest news log onto www.gleebirmingham.com or call 020 3033 2160 to find out about exhibiting.
