Features
What will customers be buying next season? Which new plant introductions have the potential to become tomorrow's bestsellers? And how can retailers stay ahead of changing consumer trends?
Those questions will all be answered when Mr Plant Geek's Future Plants Tours return to Glee 2026, giving visitors an exclusive insight into the innovations set to shape the future of garden retail.
Led by renowned plantsman, broadcaster and trend forecaster Michael Perry, better known as Mr Plant Geek, the ever-popular sessions offer retailers a unique opportunity to explore the newest plant…
One of the standout moments of SOLEX 26 took place after the exhibition halls closed, as exhibitors, retailers and industry colleagues came together for the ever-popular SOLEX World Cup Awards Evening.
Now, one month on, we're looking back at an evening filled with celebration, entertainment and great company.
The Awards Evening has become a much-loved part of the SOLEX experience, offering the perfect opportunity to unwind after a busy day at the exhibition, catch up with industry friends, make new connections and celebrate another successful show.
With a fantastic atmosphere…
Can you believe it's already been a month since SOLEX 26 opened its doors?
It feels like only yesterday that the NEC Birmingham welcomed thousands of visitors from across the outdoor living industry for three unforgettable days of innovation, inspiration and connection.
From exciting product launches and beautifully designed exhibition stands to valuable business conversations and the latest trends shaping our industry, SOLEX 26 once again demonstrated why it remains the UK's leading outdoor living trade exhibition.
The exhibition brought together manufacturers, suppliers, retailers and…
Garden trade supplier Burton McCall has added the below items to its garden, lifestyle and home ranges available to retailers.
ALPEN Pilatus 200 Hedge Shear
Designed for gardeners who value precision and durability, this hedge shear combines forged Japanese carbon steel blades with lightweight aluminium handles for effortless shaping and trimming.
The sharp, heavy-duty blades make light work of hedges and shrubs, delivering clean cuts and a neat finish. Soft grip handles and integrated shock absorbers enhance comfort during prolonged use, helping reduce fatigue while maintaining…
Garland Products is launching over 40 new products at Glee 2026.
In addition to its popular and diverse ranges of garden and hardware items the company’s exhibition stand (19D40-E41) will be displaying 16 additions to its Propagation Ranges, which ensures that the company remains the largest single supplier and manufacturer of propagation products.
Included are four new Seed Tray Racks, two at 80cm (31in) wide and two at 1m (39in) wide. The base models include 9 or 12 seed trays, and there are upper models that include water trays to ensure the plants stay well-watered…
With fewer than two weeks until Harrogate Fashion Week returns from 2nd-4th August, all four halls are now full and completely sold out, bringing together over 250 brands for SS27 buying.
For buyers, it means more choice, discovering new names and completing all your buying under one roof.
Across womenswear, footwear, accessories, jewellery, occasion-wear, lingerie and swimwear, buyers can explore hundreds of collections in one place, making it easier to compare brands, discover new suppliers and build a well-considered collection without the time and expense of travelling between multiple…
As hosepipe bans begin to affect parts of the UK, Grass Gains is reassuring retailers that lawn care sales don't have to become another casualty of prolonged dry weather.
With water restrictions often leading consumers to delay or abandon lawn maintenance, the company has developed practical solutions designed to keep products moving through the tills while helping gardeners comply with the rules.
Recognising that hosepipe bans are likely to become an increasingly regular feature of British summers, Grass Gains has focused on making application as simple as possible.
Its One Shot Wonder…
With less than a month to go until Harrogate Fashion Week returns from 2nd-4th August, buyers from across the UK and Ireland are preparing for three days of buying and networking in the heart of the beautiful spa town of Harrogate.
As the UK's leading womenswear trade show, HFW brings together over 250 brands across womenswear, footwear, accessories, jewellery, occasionwear, lingerie and swimwear, giving retailers the opportunity to complete all their buying for the season ahead in just one trip.
Time is valuable, so having the ability to compare collections, discover new brands, catch up…
Few categories have shifted more obviously over the last decade than outdoor living. Buyers across the trade already know customers no longer arrive looking for a six-seater dining set and a parasol. The harder question for 2027 ranging decisions is which parts of the category will keep growing, which are reaching a plateau, and where the traditional anchors are evolving into something more sophisticated. Walking the show floor at SOLEX or Glee this year, the patterns worth tracking ahead of the next buying cycle are starting to come into focus.
Outdoor cooking moves further from the kettle…
For Garden Centres, Plant Retailers, and Horticultural Buyers, the Four Oaks Trade Show remains a key date in the horticultural calendar.
Set across a 23 acre nursery site near to the Jodrell Bank Space Observatory, the show delivers an unrivalled opportunity to see and inspect next season’s plants, products, and innovations close up. It is the UK’s Premier Show for the Horticulture Trade.
Alongside plants, you will find substrates, pots and packaging, irrigation, technology, and retail ready product ranges from UK specialists and a strong contingent of European exhibitors, bring- ing the…
Kingsley Smythe has introduced a new Plasteak® outdoor furniture range following growing demand from councils, schools and hospitality venues for low-maintenance outdoor seating, particularly in commercial settings such as public spaces, managed gardens and heritage sites.
The range offers a practical alternative alongside the company’s established teak collections, giving customers another option where durability is important.
“We’re regularly approached by councils, schools and hotels that want the longevity of teak, but don’t necessarily want the maintenance,” explains Laura Clark…
Bridge Greenhouses has announced a strategic partnership with Netherlands based Smiemans Projecten, bringing its custom-made, environmentally-controlled botanical glasshouses to the UK market.
David Summerfield, Managing Director of Bridge Greenhouses, hailed the new agreement.
He said: “Combining our horticultural expertise with Smiemans’ international experience in high-end greenhouse design and engineering now enables us to create spaces that are both visually-striking and climate-controlled.
"This means our botanical structures…
It’s not too late to secure your place at the upcoming KETTLER Trade Show, taking place onsite at the Redditch showroom throughout June.
Open across the entire month, the showroom will be available to explore at a time that suits you, and KETTLER look forward to welcoming both new and familiar faces.
This is your chance to experience the latest collections up close and gain first-hand insight into our exciting plans for 2027.
From innovative product developments to fresh ideas for the season ahead, there will be plenty to discover and discuss.
Designed to be…
The Loving Outdoor Living area is the beating heart of SOLEX 26, where the show floor spills outside into a relaxed, open air space filled with great food and glowing fire pits.
Here, our BBQ and outdoor cooking brands step out of the exhibition hall to show what their products can really do, turning live flame, shared plates and easy conversation into a true garden party atmosphere.
Open 11am–5pm on Tuesday, July 7 and Wednesday, July 8, and 11am–2pm on Thursday, July 9, it is the place where visitors naturally gather to unwind, connect and experience outdoor living in action.
Our BBQ…
For many garden centres, fashion, footwear, and accessories are already a key offering – and for those looking to increase footfall through other revenue streams, this could be an exciting route.
Curating the perfect collections is an important part of the job, which is why Harrogate Fashion Week has become a go-to date in the diary for so many buyers!
Returning from 2nd-4th August 2026, the three-day event continues to attract buyers from across the UK and beyond, and brings together over 300 brands - making it easy to see everything in one place, from best-loved names to new and emerging…
Honeyfields®, the trailblazing wild bird food brand from WHM Pet, has unveiled a major rebrand designed to boost shelf appeal, simplify shopper navigation and drive stronger performance for retailers in the growing wild bird category.
Developed through extensive market research into consumer motivations and purchasing behaviour, the relaunch centres on putting bird health first, to ‘Rewild Your World.’ The positioning reframes feeding birds as more than a daily task, encouraging consumers to reconnect with nature while actively supporting bird health.
For…