Welcome to the 2022 Autumn Edition of the GIMA New Product Digest.

After another interesting year, it looks as though we are heading back towards a sense of normality. 

The heady days of the 20/21 season inevitably ran out of steam and normal trading patterns resumed as the world opened up to us once again, with weather extremes attempting to hinder any further growth before it even had chance to begin. 

On top of this, macro-economic factors have also continued to cause challenges and wrinkles in the supply chain remain problematic. It’s a lot to take in but it’s certainly not all doom and gloom. Far from it in fact! 

Many businesses are still trading up on 2019 and we have every reason to remain optimistic about what the future holds for our industry. Gardening and garden centres are continuing to benefit from are naissance as amateur and experienced gardeners continue to wax lyrical about the wealth of benefits that gardening has to offer, with the home and garden continuing to be a sanctuary for many.

As we look ahead to 2023, we have teamed up with Glee and Potting Shed Press once again to get our members’ new product news out to as many retailers as possible, so please take a look through this online publication to find out what’s on offer for next season.

With the new dateline for the annual Glee exhibition, I’m sure many retailers will still be using this time to source new products and innovations to stock in the coming season, and that’s exactly what our New Product Digest can inspire you with. I’m pleased to see that GIMA members have continued to invest in R&D, and once again come up trumps. In this newsletter, you’ll find lots of new sustainable solutions, inspired packaging ideas and brilliant merchandising for your stores.

We were pleased to be able to bring back our Innovators Seed Corn Fund this year, and you’ll find this year’s winner Qwickhose from Rivendale Products featured.

On behalf of GIMA and all its members may I thank you for your continued support and we look forward to working with as many of you as possible next year.

Jenny Douthwaite

GIMA President 2022/23