feature: glee show preview
BUSINESS LOUNGE & VILLAGE
PETQUIP BUSINESS VILLAGE
INTERNATIONAL BUYERS’ CENTRE & BUSINESS THEATRE
PRESS OFFICE
Workshops Seminars & Café Emergency Exit
HALL 19 Entrance
HALL 17 Entrance
HALL 18 Entrance
ATRIUM
HALL 20 Entrance
GARDEN CARE GARDEN DESIGN & LANDSCAPING GARDEN LEISURE HOME, GIFTS & CLOTHING
MEDIA ZONE
RETAIL SERVICES
Glee innovators zone
Launched in 2009, the Glee innovators zone, according to statistics released by the event, has helped more than 150 companies break into the garden retail market. The area is designed to nurture grass-roots product development, as well as oneoff design ideas. At the same time, it is aimed at ‘bridging the gap’ between marketready new product launches from established companies, and pre-commercial product ideas. Organisers are expecting more than 30 new companies this year.
Entry to Glee is free to all pre-registered visitors, with a charge of £20 being levied on those who turn up on the day. For more information, visit www.gleebirmingham.com/register.
Getting there
Glee takes place at the NEC in
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Garden Centre Retail September 2015
GCR Sep15 P53-62 Glee Preview.indd 54
FOOD & CATERING
EXPERTS CONNECT
highlight the wants and needs of younger gardeners and the key hooks for getting them into gardens and garden centres.
Register
VIP LOUNGE
PLANTS & NURSERY
PET
GIMA business village
The GIMA business village is home to a large selection of up-and-coming companies, exhibiting with the support of GIMA. This year there will also be the GIMA business lounge, where visitors can take a break, arrange meetings and visit with key suppliers. The ‘buyers connect’ speed networking sessions, meanwhile, will see selected exhibitors meet with show visitors for 10-minute slots.
International buyers centre International visitors will find the UKTI international buyers centre (IBC), which will be operated in partnership with Gardenex, a useful resource. Located in Hall 18, the IBC will be led by the Gardenex team,
Birmingham, from Monday 14 to Wednesday 16 September. It is open between 9am and 6pm on the Monday and Tuesday, and from 9am to 4pm on the Wednesday. If you are arriving by car follow regional signs to the NEC, where visitor car parking is plentiful and free. A free shuttle bus service is available from car
who will be on hand to provide support and advice as well as translation services. The IBC will also be home to ‘international buyers connect’, a special speednetworking event. A Glee spokesperson said: “To really find out how you can export to build your business just head for the UKTI stand, where international trade advisers will be on hand to discuss every aspect of what it means to export, where and how. “There will also be case studies from businesses that have already succeeded, and you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and discover more about the options available. “A range of seminars from UKTI and UK businesses will also be hosted on the stand.”
parks to the halls. The nearest railway station is Birmingham International railway station, which is located on the NEC site. Birmingham International Airport is linked to the NEC by the free ‘SkyRail’, which departs every few minutes and takes 90 seconds to travel between the two locations.
www.gardencentreretail.com
27/08/2015 09:51