After winning two categories at the GIMA Awards, tools and equipment  suppliers Burgon & Ball sealed a triple triumph by taking the coveted GIMA Sword of Excellence last night.

They had victories in the garden tools, machinery and implements category with their Japanese Razor Hoe and the garden related retail products category with their RHS Gardeners Gift Collection. The hoe’s ease of use and quality of build impressed the judges, who also praised the RHS gifts range for its superb use of floral designs selected from the RHS Lindley Library.

Awarding the RHS-endorsed gifts the overall Sword of Excellence honour, the judges said it effortlessly combined functionality with stunning design in a range that offered retailers an ongoing bestseller thanks to its gift purchase potential.

There were also product category wins for Popadome, Hozelock, DLF Trifolium (Johnsons Lawn Seed), Westland, Kelkay and Elho, and marketing wins for Forest Garden, Hozelock and Scotts Miracle-Gro.

Taylors Bulbs were voted Supplier of the Year in a category sponsored and voted for by Garden Centre Association members, while Smart Solar won the Export Achievment Award sponsored by Gardenex.

The awards were presented at the prestigious Celtic Manor Resort at Newport in a ceremony hosted by comedian and TV presenter Russell Kane.

GIMA Director Vicky Nuttall, said: “Tthose walking away with trophies tonight really are deserving of the accolade given to them. They have all demonstrated exceptional qualities, from cutting edge design to inspirational retail support.

“My thanks also go to the panel of dedicated judges who gave up their time to take part in this year’s judging process.  Their expertise and knowledge has been invaluable, and we are grateful for their assistance.

Full results

GIMA Sword of Excellence: Burgon & Ball – RHS Gardeners Gift Collection

Gardenex Export Achievement Award: winner – Smart Solar; finalists – Pet Revolution, STV International

The judges said: In the last 12 months Smart Solar has been blazing a trail within the international market, and it was this dedication that appealed to the judges.  From achieving a major presence within the French garden market, to a new sales team including invaluable multi-lingual members, an ongoing presence at international trade shows and unrivalled commitment to Glee, Smart Solar has gone over and above with the results to prove its passion.

GCA Supplier of the Year: winner – Taylors Bulbs; finalists: Sutton Seeds, Briers

The judges said: Taylors offer a complete service to customers.  Key highlights that helped them to stand out include small carriage paid orders, well packaged goods at competitive retails, and good bespoke promotions. A Taylors Bulbs customer summed it up with the comment: “Consistent year after year, they always deliver the goods and are a true pleasure to do business with.”

Garden Care: Winner: Popadome – All-In-One Fruit & Vegetable Protection System; finalists: Holiday Plant Saver with the Holiday Plant Saver; Doff Portland with Doff Crack & Crevice Ant Powder

Judges were impressed by the ease of assembly, high quality materials and potential long life span of the product, as well as the ‘green’ approach to a common problem.

Growing and Planting Equipment and Sundries: Winner: Hozelock – Pico Reel; finalists: Elho - Brussels Herbs Station; Forest Garden - Tall Wall Greenhouse

One judge said: ‘It’s the plug-in watering can of the future’!

Garden Tools, Machinery and Implements: winner: Burgon & Ball - Japanese Razor Hoe - Left Handed and Long Handled; finalists: Fiskars - SmartFit Hedge Shear & SmartFit Lopper; Burgon & Ball - RHS Stainless Steel Long Handled Bulb Planter

The judges were impressed by its ease of use, and quality of build.

Outdoor Leisure, Garden Structures and Features: winner: Johnsons Lawn Seed – Grass Graffiti; finalists: Grange Fencing - Universal Work Potting Bench; Zest 4 Leisure - Worcester Arbour with Storage Box seat; Smart Solar - Metal Silhouette Globe Stake Lights

Judges Praised the winner for its uniqueness, ease of use and endless possibilities – from entertaining the kids during the summer holidays to marking out new flower bed borders.

Plants, Seeds and Bulbs: winner: Westland Horticulture - Nature's Haven Easy Wildflowers; finalists: Sutton Seeds - Suttons James Wong Indigo Rose Tomato Plant; Thompson & Morgan - Start-a-Garden Seed Range

Judges were impressed by the simplicity of Easy Wildflowers, combining an all-in-one mix of seeds and granular compost.

Garden Landscaping: Winner: Kelkay – Build Mate; finalists: The Solar Centre - Edinburgh Solar Deck Lights; Kelkay – Chunkies

Featuring 16 specialist products for garden and at-home construction projects, the Build Mate concept impressed the judges by its simplicity and the efforts to strengthen the overall retail offering.

Garden Retail Related Products: winner: Burgon & Ball – RHS Gardeners Gift Collection; finalists: Briers – Jersey Triple Packs; Hozelock - AquaDéco Watering Globes; Burgon & Ball - Sophie Conran Gardeners Accessories

The judges remarked on the stunning floral designs and noted the strong gift and impulse buy potential created  by combining functionality with style and beautiful design and packaging.

Pet Care, Aquatics and Wild Bird Care Products: winner: Elho – Corsica Bird Garden; finalists: Gardman - Heavy Duty Ground Feeding Haven; Wildlife World - Igloo Hedgehog Home

Combining bird houses with plants, the Corsica Bird Garden took the award for its ‘self-selling, touchable packaging’, tapping into an exciting ‘up and coming’ trend within the wild bird care market.

Best Point of Sale Material: winner: Forest Garden – Take Me To The Till; finalists: Town & Country - Ditsy Gloves Clip Strip Promotion; Sutton Seeds - Suttons Chilli Fiesta POS

Summarised as ‘silent sales aid for garden centres’, Forest Garden topped this category as the judges because of its impactful stand and simple three step process for purchasing products.

Best Consumer Product Packaging: winner: Hozelock - Pico Reel; finalists: Vitax – new bottle packaging; Kelkay – Build Mate packaging

The judges said the packaging had been specifically designed to allow consumers to hold and examine the product, whilst creating minimal card wastage. Key benefits were clearly illustrated on the reverse, whilst the inclusion of hose reel attachments were clearly stated.

Best Marketing Communication Award: winner: The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company - Miracle-Gro'wers Learning Journey; finalists: Westland Horticulture - Gro-Sure Planting Magic marketing campaign; Hozelock –Wonderweeder marketing campaign

The judges were impressed by the campaign’s fantastic commitment to engaging children and parents, and felt it was a brilliant start to developing a whole gardening curriculum.

Key to image gallery below: The awards were presented by Russell Kane (right), the category sponsor where appropriate and GIMA director Vicky Nuttall (left). The images are in the order listed above, except for the Garden Care category, whose winner, Popadome, could not be present.