As if the ample compliments were not enough… Now all the team's hard work has been formally recognised with the Briers stand receiving one of the coveted RHS Tradestand Awards. What an accolade! What a surprise!
Arriving bright and early on Tuesday morning, it was a rather pleasant shock to be greeted by three gold stars glinting back at the team through the dappled sunshine on their stand.
After gasps of "What's this?", "Oh wow!", "I can't believe it!" and "YES!!!", it was hugs and high fives all round!
This surprise certainly put added bounce into steps and huge smiles onto faces, as well as an extra sense of pride and achievement in a job well done. It's certainly not easy to "just do" to Chelsea and present yourself to the gardening great and good, without a lot of planning and prep work, plus constant juggling through potential set-backs (such as stands delayed in the US for instance!), and for some luck that it will actually be alright on the day. So after all that, what a way to start the day at Chelsea by proudly showing off an award from the doyennes of British gardening themselves - the Royal Horticultural Society.
After a fashionably long absence of almost a decade away from this, the crowning glory of the gardening calendar, receiving this award, also a first for the company, has marked a well-deserved welcome back for Briers to this world-famous event - "the greatest flower show on earth".
Recognition by the RHS Chelsea judging panel in awarding a Three Star Tradestand Award confirms the high standards achieved by the Briers team. Their aim was simple yet passionate - to literally bring the products to life through uncomplicated creativity, artistic planting and stylish product positioning. Well... it's all so beautifully Briers, isn't it!
Having overheard a few snippets from yesterday's judging panel, the novel aesthetics achieved with Buxus planted mugs, string tins, bags and wellies from the William Morris Collection, balanced by traditional pots, certainly appeared to be appreciated. Once again, our thanks to Whitehall Garden Centre Lacock for their help and support in lending us the plants and pots.
Jackie Eades, Briers managing director, could not be more pleased with the result: "Wow, I am over the moon! I could not be more proud of Mike and the team in their amazing efforts to get us to Chelsea and get Briers this award. A great team, great products and a great stand too! My thanks to them all".
Finally, a huge, huge thank you goes to the RHS for recognising the Briers passion for artistic display and a dream to delight at this year's Chelsea. A job very well done indeed!
See more Chelsea pitures in the GTN Xtra gallery - link here
