A recently launched online garden business in Dubai is the latest company to accept an invitation from the Gardenex export association to participate in its next popular ‘Meet the Buyers’ event.

Other influential buyers taking part will be from Ireland, Norway and Sweden.  The event will be held at the association's head office in Brasted, Kent on 15th March 2017.

The event is the latest in a series of highly successful ‘Meet the Buyers’ initiatives that provide UK suppliers with the opportunity of meeting overseas buyers on a one-to-one basis.  The invited buyers have already expressed an interest in the product areas to be presented to them, and the format of the event has proved to be highly successful for both suppliers and buyers over a number of years.

The international garden product buyers travelling to the UK to meet with British suppliers are:

• A Dubai online garden company and distributor that is a newly-launched sister company of a leading pet food and accessories distributor.  The latter already supplies customers throughout the Gulf region and sources from over 35 international suppliers, including from some members of Gardenex' sister association, PetQuip.  The new company’s key product categories comprise indoor and balcony, outdoor and gardening, and children’s gardening.  The main sub categories within these sectors include pots and planters, gardening tools, soils and fertilisers, watering systems, seeds, decorative items, chicken-keeping, footwear, clothing and wild bird products.  In addition to sales direct to consumers, the company provides a distribution service to other retailers, landscapers and interior designers.  The buyer will be looking for quality garden products suitable for the UAE market.

• An Irish wholesaler supplying hardware stores, decorators' and builders’ merchants, garden centres and lifestyle stores across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.  The company’s garden range includes garden chemicals and organic solutions, insect repellents and pest control, watering/spraying equipment, tools, incinerators, planters and hanging-baskets, as well as outdoor grills and accessories.  The buyers are looking to expand their range.

• A Norwegian online store selling quality products for garden and home.  The company’s product range includes greenhouses, sheds, garden storage, children’s outdoor play equipment, planters, furniture, outdoor lighting and cooking accessories.  The buyer is looking for all type of products for house and garden that activate grandparents, parents and children to take part in healthy activities.  The company is also seeking any products that will add attraction to the house and garden environment.

• A Swedish online store selling direct to the general public, as well as acting as importer/distributor for several UK companies.  The product range includes all types of practical equipment and accessories from tools, pots and plant protection to hydroponics and irrigation; greenhouses and accessories; pond liners, pumps, lighting and fountains; garden decoration, gazebos and pergolas; and wild-bird items.   The buyer is looking for grow-your-own accessories and equipment, plant care and garden maintenance items, as well as landscaping and garden decoration.  The company is also seeking a new supplier of products for garden ponds/water in the garden.

To ensure that you don’t miss out on the opportunity to apply for 25 minute one-to-one meetings with any of the buyers on 15 March, or to find out more about future ‘Meet the Buyers’ events for both the garden and pet sectors, contact theresa@gardenex.com as soon as possible.

Further Gardenex/PetQuip ‘Meet the Buyers’ events in 2017 are to be held on 7 June and 20 June. The meetings will be held in Brasted, Kent.  Two leading German mail order buyers are already confirmed for the 7 June meeting, and a Canadian mail order and retailer buyer will be attending the 20 June meeting.