Inspirational seminar speakers lined up for the show
Botanist, presenter and obsessive foodie grower James Wong will open the seminar programme at this year’s show.
During his seminar, sponsored by Suttons Seeds, which takes place at 10 am on Tuesday 25 June, visitors will hear James’ unique take on the future for Grow Your Own.
He’ll offer ideas for retailers to inspire a new wave of excitement in this product area that has generated so much interest over recent years. Using his own hands-on experience in growing a wide range of unusual plants, James could have the key to tapping into the next generation.
The second seminar, which takes place at 3pm on Tuesday 25 June, will be given by Michael Marriott, Technical Manager at David Austin Roses.
Working for nearly 30 years with what is probably the best-known brand in plants, Michael will share his views on how to capture the imagination of your customers, how to build and promote a brand, how to sell a dream - not just a plant – and how to grow sales in the plantarea.
It all comes from knowing what your customers want and giving it to them! Sounds simple but Michael (below left) will explain how you can actually make it happen.
Adam Pasco is the former editor of BBC Gardener’s World magazine, now running his own media and consultancy company, and will present his plant-focused views on what the public will be looking for from their gardens and garden centres in the year ahead.
Adam (above right) will review the trends we’ve seen over recent years and where he sees these going for 2014 and beyond. What do garden centres need to do to get customers buying more plants? What role can the media play and how best can retailers reach out to people still to buy plants and see their garden reach its potential? These are all questions that Adam will tackle, leaving you with plenty of inspirational ideas for your own business.
