Who's who in the Retail Lab @ Glee 2018

The Retail Lab @ Glee was introduced in 2017, in association with the HTA, to showcase the latest trends within the garden industry, whilst also providing retailers with hands on advice and inspirational content that they can take back to their own stores to drive sales in 2018 and beyond.  Now, with two months to go until the doors open on the 44th annual Glee exhibition (10th – 12th September, NEC Birmingham), we look at the key partners of the 2018 Retail Lab who will help bring the feature to life.

Woodlodge

Woodlodge is the UK's leading supplier of garden pots, with a reputation for excellence and expertise in the design and distribution of gardenware.   They exhibited in the Retail Lab in 2017 and demonstrated to retailers how garden centres can harness the trend of being a destination that offers the consumer a genuine experience with nature, whilst promoting linked sales between garden pots and plants.  This year they will be bringing new products based on upcoming retail trends and fresh, innovative ideas in the home and garden sectors.

Hozelock

With over half a century's horticultural experience, Hozelock's horticultural expertise coupled with its continual innovation aims to help as many people as possible get the most out of gardening. Their products such as innovative automatic watering systems, and natural gardening, as well as initiatives in sustainability, wild life protection and bee health make them perfect partners for the Retail Lab and will help retailers to participate and engage with the nation's gardeners.

Scheurich

Another new partner in the Retail Lab is Scheurich, a leading manufacturer in indoor and outdoor pots, as well as an array of gardening accessories that include pot waterers, watering cans, plant stake, all perfect for today's garden and home.  Scheurich will set new trends and bring products with a clear focus on consumer needs to this year's feature.

Capi Europe BV

Capi Europe creates unusual planters for indoors and out. Its products are known for their light weight and unique design, in all shapes and sizes, as well as being known for being resistant to frost, UV and moisture. The company also prides itself on offering long warranties and affordability. Each Capi Europe product is unique: recognisable by the high level of finish and the natural allure. The brands plastic flower pots are indistinguishable from real pottery. This is the first year that Capi Europe will feature in the Retail Lab.

Elho

Also returning this September is Elho, the leading innovator in the synthetic, recycled pottery market for more than 53 years. Their purpose is to bring more nature into people's daily lives through their colourful, on trend range of planters.  Elho will once again showcasing the latest innovations in grow your own, outdoor, indoor and designer pots in the Retail Lab with bold merchandising displays to excite and inspire visitors to Glee and improve how they do business.

Kaemingk

The Belgium based Kaemingk will be making its debut within the Retail Lab in 2018. As one of the leading importers and exporters of seasonal decorations, the industry often looks to the company to set the latest trends. The current Kaemingk collection covers more than 20,000 decorative items for the home and garden, together sold in over 80 countries worldwide.

PTMD

With a boundless love for innovation and craftsmanship, PTMD is one of the new exhibitors to both Glee and the Retail Lab.  The PTMD Collection is designed and developed carefully and skilfully in its own design studio, meaning that every product is rough, daring and sophisticated. Originality, creativity and craftsmanship are the most crucial ingredients in the collection. PTMD will be showcase its dazzling collection of products designed to enhance indoor and outdoor living which include pots, glassware, furniture, textiles, artificial flowers and wall decorations.   PTMD constantly endeavours to design innovative and creative products which are sure to provide retailers with inspiration on how to bring gardening into people's homes and gardens.

Ivyline

Amongst the supplier partners is Ivyline, a supplier of seasonal planters for the home and garden, ranging from cutting edge design through to timeless classics.  They participated in the Retail Lab last year and inspired customers to build innovative displays in store with their indoor plant trend driven collections, as well as launching new outdoor planter concepts.

Meadow View Stone

Meadow View Stone is the UK's leading supplier of decorative aggregates and landscaping stone to the garden centre industry.   Their unique and contemporary products place consumer trends at the heart of their product development process and can change the look, feel and ambience of the garden spaces.  This is their second time in the Retail Lab, having showcased their products in the Re-Wilding and Wellbeing sections last year where they provided retailers with inspirational ideas on how to merchandise their products to complement and create the look for different outdoor spaces.

Key Essentials Limited

Making their debut within the Retail Lab in 2018 is Key Essentials, one of the UK's leading providers of air plants ((tillandsias), having supplied the garden retail market for over 25 years. Key Essentials' air plants are nursery grown and depending on the varieties, are selected from various nurseries and suppliers located throughout Central & South America and beyond.

Gardena

Based in Ulm, Germany, Gardena is the preferred brand for millions of home and garden owners worldwide when it comes to garden care. That is because the company offers a complete range of everything needed in the garden, from watering systems and pumps, to lawn care, tree and shrub care, garden tools, or soil cultivation. Today Gardena is one of the leading brand for high-quality garden tools in Europe and is represented in more than 80 countries all over the world.

Air So Pure

Returning to the Retail Lab for the second year is plant supplier, Air So Pure.   With the growing interest in the physical and mental health benefits of plants, Air So Pure supply plants that have been scientifically proven to purify the air around us by converting carbon dioxide to oxygen.  Their selection of plants ranges from Kentias to Calatheas and Dracaenas to Spathiphyllums, all with proven benefits that include healthier and more comfortable environments, as well as improving the moisture content of the air.

Happy Gardening comes to the Retail Lab @ Glee 2018

This year the Retail Lab will have the theme “Happy Gardening”.  This trend builds on much of the content showcased within the 2017 Retail Lab but will dig a little deeper into the many ways that gardening can enhance our lives.

Focussing on consumer purchasing patterns, this year's offering will be split into five key areas, giving retailers and suppliers inspiration and take-home ideas for their own business.

• Grow Your Own
• Happy Gardening
• Play
• Pets
• Easy Gardening

The aim of Happy Gardening is to embrace nature no matter what size plot you have, encourage us to get dirt under our nails, make mistakes, try something new, and celebrate the act of interacting with gardens, plants and the great outdoors.

The Retail Lab @ Glee will be created in partnership with a panel of industry experts, led by Creative Director, Romeo Sommers of ByRomeo, with Paula Parker of PP8 Marketing heading up the day-to-day management of this pivotal show feature. Lisa White, Head and Creative Director of WGSN Lifestyle & Interiors, has once again shared her wealth of industry and trend insight to help shape the Retail Lab content in 2018, whilst GES has also been confirmed as the 2018 stand contractors, helping to bring the Retail Lab concepts to life.