Two weeks to GLAS 2018 – Here’s what to expect
With something for every division of the horticulture trade; GLAS 2018 will be Ireland's largest horticulture trade show — be sure not to miss out.
2 July 2018
It is now only two weeks until Ireland’s largest horticulture trade show – GLAS. The Garden Landscaping and Amenity Sportsturf trade show will return once again to the Citywest events centre and hotel in Saggart, Co Dublin, on Thursday, July 19, from 9am to 5pm.
In 2017 the event, which showcased a sold-out show of 145 exhibitors, focused on its core value of bringing together market and industry leading professionals with just under 1,000 people attending the show from all areas of the business-to-business horticulture trade industry.
Best in Show Awards
Best New Plant, Best New Product, Best in Show Trade Supplier, and Best in Show Horticulture awards will all return looking to celebrate the very best in the industry today.
Changes have been made to incorporate the Best in Show Awards winners directly into the main entrance, so everyone who attends the event will first be greeted by the GLAS 2018 successful winners’ plant and product – proudly showcasing them to the entire trade sector.
The GLAS 2018 New Plant, New Product awards presentation will take place in Theatre 1 at 11am, on the day.
Check out last year’s winners and finalists here.
Learning Theatre
At GLAS 2018, the Learning Theatre will expand to two theatres for the first time ever – increasing capacity for the trade show’s attendees, as well as providing greater knowledge and insight into the issues facing the horticulture world.
Learning Theatre 1 will be proudly sponsored by Bord Bia and Learning Theatre 2 will be proudly sponsored by Teagasc.
The high quality of speakers at GLAS 2017 have driven the need for an expanded Learning Theatre offering at GLAS 2018 and the GLAS team, together with Bord Bia and Teagasc, are delighted to provide the increased offering.
The Learning Theatre at GLAS 2018 will once again bring the very best from the expanded horticulture world to provide key, focused discussions and presentations on the pressing issues, and solutions, that face the industry today.
The seasonal buyer at John Lewis, Dan Cooper, will talk about what it’s like working on Christmas all year, finding time to blog about his love of gardening, and how he comes up with new ideas.
Andy McIndoe, will discuss what makes the customer buy a plant. Whether it’s the retailer or gardener, what makes a plant an attractive proposition? An outstanding plantsman and former MD of Hillier Nurseries, Andrew McIndoe has designed 25 Gold medal-winning gardens at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
John Mulhern of Teagasc will promote and highlight the wide range of Horticultural Appreticeships on offer through Teagasc.
Donall Flanagan, also of Teagasc, will discuss the issues that affect the industry, including updates from EPA on water abstraction. Donall Flanagan is the Nursery Stock and Ornamentals specialised advisor for Teagasc.
This is just a sample of the wide range of presentations and discussions that will be available at the GLAS Learning Theatre so be sure to click the link below and check out all of the discussions on offer – all of which qualify for IASIS points.
Guarantee yourself a seat by pre-registering your interest to attend a particular presentation here.
Bord Bia
Supporters of GLAS, Bord Bia will be showcasing at GLAS so be sure to make the most of Bord Bia’s Insight and Innovation services at their state-of-the-art Thinking House pavilion.
The Thinking House gives Ireland’s horticulture industry unrestricted access to the latest global trends, research, consumer insights, and industry innovations.
The creative space includes a “Trends Zone” to highlight the latest innovations from around the world, and a “Packaging and Branding” gallery to promote best in class design and to showcase Bord Bia’s recent work with Irish producers.
The “Living Room” and its adjacent viewing room, allows Bord Bia to conduct qualitative focus and discussion groups, while the library presents invaluable access to a wide range of databases and reports that would heretofore have been financially prohibitive to source for many small to medium-sized companies working in the industry.
Bord Bia’s Insight and Innovation services are open to all Irish producers, and a number of nurseries have utilised its brand development programme over recent years, with two projects currently in progress.
Retail Merchandising Showcase
The GLAS 2018 Retail Merchandising Showcase, in association with Shop Equipment Limited, will show off the best from the retail merchandising world.
Quality retail merchandising is essential to drive strong growth in sales and profit margins.
If you wish to kick-start your retail merchandising plans but don’t know where or how to begin, be sure to make use of the Shop Equipment Limited experts on-hand at GLAS 2018 who will be able to provide you with invaluable information and guidance in beginning a retail merchandising campaign.
Don’t forget to also check out the very latest in Point-Of-Sale and merchandising displays systems available on the market for your brand or retail outlet, as well as a free advice clinic.
Sportsturf Village and Machinery Park
Along with its core focus on amenity horticulture, GLAS continues its expansion into sports surfaces, grounds maintenance, and related industries.
The Irish Institute of Sports Surfaces Sportsturf Village is now an established feature of the event, connecting suppliers and specialists in this sector to a targeted list of invited sportsturf and parkland professionals.
If this is your particular area of interest, don’t miss GLAS 2018 for an expanded area featuring:
- Mowing equipment.
- Aeration equipment.
- Fertilisation supplies.
- Drainage systems and techniques.
- Line-marking, setting out equipment for GAA, FAI, and IRFU pitches.
- Training and educational staff requirements.
- Seek advice on your sprayer testing and compliance.
- Meet the Irish Institute of Sports Surfaces for expert advice on your project.
Some companies listed to exhibit to-date include: Artificial Grass Company,
CAFRE Greenmount, Design By Nature, Dublin Grass Machinery, Etesia, Groundwater Dynamics, Irish Grass Machinery, Irish Institute of Sports Surfaces, NAD Sports, Unichem, and many, many more. Check out the full list of Sportsturf Village and Machinery Park exhibitors here.
E-ticketing
This year, as GLAS strives to continuously improve and innovate, e-ticketing will now be an option available to attendees. GLAS is a free-to-enter trade event. While attendees can register at the door, it can get busy, so save time by bringing your already completed visitor registration form. Click here to access the registration form.
Organise Meetings
Another key feature available to attendees is the facility to setup and organise meetings with the exhibitors that you want to meet and discuss business with.
The ability to plan and organise meetings now benefits both attendee and exhibitor. From an attendee’s perspective, the ability to secure a business meeting while attending a trade show is of immeasurable importance.
From the exhibitor’s point of view they will now be able to dedicate time to an interested party when it suits them.
A major problem at trade shows can be the inability to dedicate time to one potential customer without losing out on time with another potential customer.
With this service now debuting for GLAS 2018, exhibitors will be able to comfortably set aside a portion of their day at GLAS to meet with those interested in their business and to not miss out on others.
Be sure to make the most of the service available to all at GLAS 2018. The entire exhibitor list is now live, listed A-Z, and beside each exhibitor’s name is the ability to schedule a meeting with them. Simply select “Meeting Request” and fill out your details. You will find the full exhibitor list here.
Your next newsletter will go out on the morning of GLAS — Thursday, July 19 — announcing the New Product, New Plant Awards shortlist, with a presentation of the winners taking place in Learning Theatre 1 on the show floor at 11am.
If you haven’t already registered for GLAS then now is your time to do it. Don’t be the one left out of Ireland’s largest horticulture trade event of the year.
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