HARROD HORTICULTURAL AT THE GARDEN PRESS EVENT
With over 70 companies exhibiting and 215 gardening journalists attending the 2011 show, the Garden Press Event is fast gaining the reputation as the venue to be at for journalists, editors and garden writers, reports horticulturist Martin Fiddes.
The 2012 version took place on Thursday February 2nd at RHS Lawrence Hall, Greycoat Street in London's SW1 with our Harrod Horticultural team - exhibiting for the third year in succession - occupying stand H56.
And with the Lowestoft-based garden product supplier and manufacturer unveiling their new innovative Slot and Lock range of connectors and braces, the garden media made the Harrod stand their first port of call.
Not only did the Slot and Lock range - which attracted the attention of Gardener's World editor Adam Pasco and is guaranteed not to let aluminium tubing slip out or turn once secured in place - give the journalists plenty to write about but fellow debutants the Steel Pyramid and Round Column obelisks also had them scribbling frantically in their notepads.
Also proving popular were the associated Slot and Lock pea and bean support frames with Barbara Segall (Garden Media Guild Editor) showing a particular interest; so much so that she requested samples of the frames, Slot Together Compost Bin and universally acclaimed Micro Manger. Barbara intends to plant up the small but perfectly formed manger and feature the product in the Herb Society magazine.
The eye-catching garden structures were complimented by the Beepol Bumble Bee Garden Hive and much awaited Wax Moth Kit, provided by Harrod pest control expert Julian Ives. With the weather favouring wax moths last year, many bumblee hives were lost and the introductioon of the simple, screw-on door kit should prevent wax moth adults from entering hives and wreaking havoc.
Other notable visitors to the Harrod Horticultural stand were Kitchen Garden editor Steve Ott, Chris Young (RHS The Garden Editor), Grow Your Own duo Sara Cork and Teresa Tudge, Stephanie Donaldson (Country Living and Blog writer), Evening Standard garden writer Pattie Barron and Harriet Lane Fox (Freelance and Daily Telegraph). Special thanks must go to the Daily Telegraph's Helen Yemm as she kindly suggested instruction and packing improvements after recently trialing one of the manger planters.
The task of pulling the Harrod Horticultural display together went to company marketing assistant Victoria Myhill and she explained just how important the show is to the mail order business.
“The Garden Press Event marks the beginning of the show calendar for Harrod Horticultural and gives us an invaluable opportunity to show key garden writers the new products we have been working hard to bring to fruition.
"Many of the writers will have visited our Kitchen Garden Press Day last summer to feedback on product prototype ideas and contribute to the design process and seeing the products in full production demonstrates fully how much we appreciate their comments.
"The time spent at the show with journalists on a one-to-one basis is a seasonal highlight for us and meeting face to face to demonstrate the key selling points of a product is something no other show offers the opportunity to do,” said Victoria.
The Garden Press Event is an ideal opportunity to highlight your plants, products and range early in the season and network directly with the leading writers from the National and Trade Press, Garden and Home Interest Magazines and TV and Radio Garden Broadcasters.
The event also raises funds for Greenfingers, a national charity dedicated to creating magical gardens for children’s hospices around the UK.
