Now in its seventh year, the GIMA Innovators Seed Corn Fund has helped to bring to market a series of brands, many of which are considered key players helping to drive growth and diversification of the garden retail sector. This year’s winner – Pot-mate™ – is set to be an exciting addition to the garden retail sector, helping to provide a solution to an age-old problem whilst offering retailers with a great volume-driven, add-on sales opportunity. 

Pot-mate™ is a simple yet highly efficient solution to a common problem associated with container gardening. So often pots, whether on a patio or deck, suffer from drainage issues or leave unsightly marks and rings where dirt and mould has been able to go undetected underneath the pot. With Pot-mate™’s innovative, UK-manufactured design these issues are a thing of the past. Made from 100% recycled polymer, the Pot-mate™ is a simple tripod ‘ring’ that lifts pots off the ground, allowing for better air flow and drainage to the base of the pot, as well as allowing for better manoeuvrability of pots. Pot-mate™ will be made available in three sizes to suit containers with base diameters up to 36cm and will be supported by recycled material waterproof labelling and video instructions available via a QR code.

Talking about being awarded the 2021 GISCF, Pot-mate™’s creator, Phil Wilson said; “The Pot-mate™ is the result of 10 long months of product development as well as a significant personal investment, so to be recognised by such a valued industry award is truly amazing.

“I am so humbled and honoured to follow in the footsteps of previous winners and have no doubt that the GIMA Innovators Seed Corn Fund will help spread the word of Pot-mate™. I am excited for the future.”

Beating off stiff competition and judged by a panel made up of both Glee and GIMA representatives, Pot-mate™ – as the winners - will receive support up to the value of £6,000 to help with development and marketing costs associated with entering the UK garden retail market, including a year’s full GIMA membership, and a wide range of business support tools.

GIMA Director, Vicky Nuttall said: “We’re incredibly pleased to confirm that Pot-mate™ is the 2021 winner of the GIMA Innovators’ Seed Corn Fund. The pot market has continued to grow rapidly in recent years, and Pot-mate™ offers a unique growth opportunity for retailers to drive up the average customer spend through impulse and add-on sales. Consumers will also love the simplicity of the product, whilst the recycled material and UK design and manufacturing aspects will increase Pot-mate™’s appeal even further. A truly worthy winner.” 

In addition to choosing a winner, the panel also selected two shortlisted companies – Ergrownomics and Willsow.

Ergrownomics is a father-and-son team determined to break the mould of the gardening sector, offering quality, built-to-last products manufactured entirely within the UK. The Ergrownomics planter system is designed to make home-growing simple, comfortable, reliable & productive – requiring minimal maintenance and no prior gardening experience. The planters are all equipped with excellent functionality, including irrigation, filter-drainage and a patented plant-training system, and are available at a range of four possible heights, with a class-leading 10-year warranty.

Dragon’s Den backed, Willsow, has created the world's first plantable children's book. With 5 books in the range, each book contains the seeds of the main character embedded into the front and back pages. Once they've finished reading the story you can plant the back page to meet the main character.

As the winner, Pot-mate™ is now set to receive funding and help with the development and marketing of their product, together with support from experts within the industry.

To find out more about the GIMA Innovators’ Seed Corn Fund please join GIMA on-stand at Glee 2021, Hall 6 stand F20-G21.

The Pot-mate™ team can also be found at Glee within hall 8, stand A57.