With almost 50% of the UK now owning a pet - and this number set to increase in the coming years - the additional revenue potential that pet products can offer garden retailers is unrivalled by any other product category.
Recognising this the organisers of Glee – the UK’s leading annual exhibition for the garden retail industry - have confirmed that 2018 is set to mark an exciting year of development for pet products at the show, with several exciting enhancements being added to Glee’s dedicated pet sector – ‘Pets at Glee’.
Bigger and better than ever before, this thriving section of Glee will make it even easier for garden centre pet buyers to directly source 2019 ranges, whilst also benefitting from unrivalled networking and educational content.
A new ‘Pets at Glee’ entrance will drive retailers right into the heart of the pet area, whilst a special pet care seminar stage will also be making its debut at the show. Marking a significant investment for this new era of Pets at Glee, the seminar stage will offer grooming demonstrations and interactive content that can be implemented instore to boost pet care within the garden retail environment.
The new look ‘Pets at Glee’ will also be a hub of information, innovative new products and business advice that will enable those 70% of garden retailers who currently offer pet products to boost their business in the year ahead, helping them to take a slice of the £5billion** spent on pet products, food and accessories annually in the UK.
PetQuip – the leading international trade association for manufacturers and suppliers of pet care goods and services - has also confirmed that it will be continuing its support for the PetQuip Business Village.
The garden centre market offers great potential growth for pet suppliers. Garden centres usually have a larger footprint than most High Street independents, which aids effective product displays, and also being able to supply a wider range of products instore. Customer loyalty and repeat visitors is also the cornerstone of garden centre business, and pet ranges – especially pet food – are a proven way of achieving this, offering profitability for both the retailer and the supplier.
Pet suppliers exhibiting in the PetQuip Business Village at Glee will benefit from a variety of unique opportunities. Firstly, the brand exposure to a captive audience of garden retailers. Secondly, they can tap into PetQuip’s expertise which provides a wealth of information and support to help develop their businesses.
Matthew Mein, Glee Event Director, said: “Pet care suppliers who exhibit at Glee are in a unique position. Not only can they communicate with pet retailers who visit the show, but they can access a world of cross-over selling opportunities with garden centre buyers from the UK and abroad. The fact that Glee captures an audience across all UK garden centres and garden centre buying groups, including 98% of all GCA members – not to mention top name multiple, high street and on-line retailers – means that pet care suppliers can have direct access to the key decision makers that could help take their business to the next level.
“The enhancements we are putting in place for the 2018 show will help pets to take centre stage, and we know that the industry will get behind these changes to help to make the 2018 exhibition an extremely profitable proposition.”
Find out more
Glee is the UK’s leading garden retail show, focussing on building year-round profits for buyers and suppliers within the core gardening and outdoor leisure product categories. To keep up-to-date on the latest Glee news visit www.gleebirmingham.com. To enquire about exhibiting at Glee 2018 call 020 3033 2160.
Pictured: Pet accessory Mud Daddy won a New Product Award at Glee last year.
