Visitors to this year’s show have revealed that the event – which takes place on Wednesday 1 October 2013 at The Matford Centre in Exeter, Devon – is considered to be one of the foremost business-to-business environments for the commercial horticulture industry.
David Jackson, Chairman of the show said : “The quality and number of visitors at any show is critical to its ongoing success. Providing exhibitors with buyers and ensuring that those visitors have buying power are the two critical elements that made last year’s show stand out. At the outset, we aimed to develop the event as a show for growers, run by growers; this has certainly helped in positioning it as an excellent business forum. We wish all our exhibitors and visitors a successful 2014 show.”
This year’s show will include a designated display area for new products and new plant introductions; judges will include John Whetman from The Chartered Institute of Horticulture and Kevin Croucher of Thornhayes Nursery will frequent the area during the show and determine a winner for the show’s Best New Plant Introduction, Best New Non-Plant Product or Service and Best Nursery Stand Awards.
Following on from the success of the workshops over the last few years, visitors will again be offered the opportunity to take part in free workshops and seminars on a wide variety of subjects.
The workshops – 2 in total – will be delivered by Neville Stein from Ovation Business Coaching and Consultancy and cover the industry hot topics :
- How to optimise profit on the plant area by selling more plants;
- How to optimise profit on the plant area by reducing wastage, buying better and improving stock turn.
Neville began his horticultural career in the 1970s working at a small retail mail order nursery. After gaining an OND in Nursery Practices at Pershore College of Horticulture in 1981 he worked within ornamental horticulture before joining Notcutts Nurseries as a sales executive. After 4 years Neville became sales manager for the company, leaving in 1994 to set up his own consultancy.
The show will also welcome David Arnold from The Garden Industry Marketing Board who will be talking about the new consumer initiative Love the Plot You’ve Got – the brand new consumer promotion for the garden trade. The campaign – officially launched at GLEE – aims to support the needs of the whole UK gardening industry, with focus on the supply chain, from manufacturers to growers retailers.
David concluded : “We can’t wait for the show to kick off! We’d particularly like to welcome new exhibitors – testimony to the show’s excellent reputation – including Just Must Perennials, IML Labels & Software Ltd and Gedney Bulb Company, as well as some exhibitors who are joining us again after a break of a few years.”
Firmly established as one of the leading trade shows for commercial horticulture, the event is aimed at growers and plant buyers – ranging from garden centres and retail outlets to local authorities and the landscaping industry – it brings together key growers and suppliers of specialist horticultural equipment and services.
The event’s committee comprises of Chairman David Jackson from Jackson & Son, East Devon’s plug and pot plant specialist; Andrew Spilsbury from award winning Whetman Pinks, the UK’s main grower of perfumed pinks since 1936; Mark Taylor, business development manager of Cornwall-based young plant producer Kernock Park Plants; Adam Powell from family-run nursery Talaton Plants; Les Lane of XL Horticulture and Samantha Wallis and Bill Finch of Somerset-based WeeTree Wholesale Nurseries.
Admission is free to this trade only event.
For more information:
South West Growers Show Ltd
Exmouth Road, West Hill
Ottery St Mary
Devon, EX11 1JZ
United Kingdom
T: +44 01404 821982
Email: admin@swgs.co.uk
www.swgs.co.uk