After over 37 years in the gardening and leisure industry (over 23 years of which have been at Gardenex), Charlie Parker will be retiring on 25th May. 

Charlie has stepped back from attending trade shows over the past year and has been working part-time for the past few months and although he will miss the camaraderie of the member companies and buyers, he is looking forward to relaxing and enjoying his hobbies of birdwatching, country walks and caring for his family’s rescue dogs and five cats!

Over the past couple of months, Charlie has been working with the Director General and Research Manager Eleanor Wigram to introduce a new service exclusive to member companies, a technical export email ‘helpline’.

As part of their annual subscription, Gardenex, PetQuip and CHA member companies will now have access to a dedicated email service which will provide exporters with valuable technical advice and information from a range of experts in exporting worldwide.

“Charlie has always shown real enthusiasm for the gardening and pet sectors and for exporting and his commercial experience from working previously at Hozelock and then Halls has been used to great effect in his support for member companies,” says Director General Amanda Sizer Barrett. “On behalf of myself and everyone within the Federation and its member companies, we would like to thank Charlie for everything he has done to help and support UK suppliers during his many years’ service to exporters.”