The Gardenex export federation has a major involvement in two important international garden and leisure exhibitions that attract buyers from around the world during September.  

The Federation is organising the British pavilion at spoga+gafa in Cologne, Germany and a week later is hosting the International Buyers’ Centre at Glee in Birmingham.  Both of these events will involve Gardenex and UK suppliers in productive discussions with a wide range of overseas buyers, with the aim of increasing Britain’s exports of garden, leisure and pet products.

In the lead-up to the shows, with the date of Brexit next year looming, the Federation’s team is working hard to help British companies plan ahead and to be prepared as much as possible for the potential changes in trading that may result.

“Brexit Day on 29th March 2019 is only a matter of months away, so the Federation of Garden & Leisure Manufacturers Ltd is working hard on your behalf to gather as much tangible information about the possible implications of the deal’s outcome as possible,” says Amanda Sizer Barrett, the Federation’s Director General in the latest newsletter to members.” Once the EU and UK stance becomes clear, in the early New Year we will be assembling a programme of practical help, support and advice in which we will be inviting you and your colleagues across the industry to participate.

“In the meantime, Gardenex has assembled a list of some of the business areas that may be affected by Brexit that you need to start making plans for.  It’s not an exhaustive list but a prompt to consider in the light of your own business which you can use to identify the main areas where you can begin to prepare for the outcome, whatever shape Brexit actually takes.  It seems a Herculean task but broken down into separate areas, this exercise will help you and your teams find some clarity as to the potential paths ahead.”

For more detailed information, member companies are invited to visit the Gardenex team at spoga + gafa or Glee, where they will receive advice and guidance regarding several key areas including the potential impact of Brexit on customers, data protection, contractual terms, tariffs and customs, environmental law and intellectual property.

Continues Amanda: ”Following on from the work involved in implementing the new GDPR regulations, companies will understandably feel beleaguered and that in Brexit planning, more precious resources are being directed yet again away from new investment, sales and innovation: but it’s a truism that forewarned is forearmed: and our teams are happy to help our member companies and to welcome new companies into membership who want the benefit of this kind of pragmatic advice.”

The Federation will be playing its part in tracking the progress of the twists and turns of the tortuous negotiations.  As well as producing a packed day of help and advice at the Federation’s not-to-be-missed Future for International Trade conference in early 2019, in the interim the teams will be offering its member companies an on-line Brexit Impact Analysis that will guide you along the appropriate channels of action to consider to help ensure you are prepared for the springboard of Brexit Day itself and the transitional agreement beyond.

“Most importantly, businesses need to hold their nerve because it holds more evident than ever that firms that trade internationally are more resilient and more profitable,” concludes Amanda “Now is the time to keep close to your international customers and reassure them of your continued commitment to international trade.”