GIMA Director, Vicky Nuttall, comments on Thursday’s event. “I would like to be the first to extend my congratulations to all of the winners.  It’s been another tough year of judging, due to the incredibly high standard of entries.  In fact the quality has been so high this year that we have actually introduced an additional award in order to accommodate excellence across the board.  My sincerest congratulations to all our winners, who are truly 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.  Thanks must also be given to all of those companies that entered and sponsored the awards, without them this event would not take place, so we are extremely grateful for their ongoing support.”

GIMA AWARDS 2015 – THE WINNERS

GIMA Sword of Excellence

Winner: Burgon & Ball – Weed Slice

About the winner: “The amazing new 'Sheffield made' wonder weeder is set to revolutionise weeding in borders, vegetable gardens, gravel driveways and paths.  The key to Weed Slice's performance lies in its uniquely designed head. The sharpened front edge and point allows it to skim just under the surface of the soil, slicing through weeds. The two points on the back of the head cut through soil, meaning it can be used it in both directions, cutting weeding time in half!

The judges have also awarded Eden Greenhouses with a GIMA Sword of Excellence Special Commendation for its Zero Threshold Birdlip Greenhouse.  Eliciting a strong response from all judges thanks to the simplicity of design, this award representing the first time a special commendation has been added to the Sword of Excellence award roster.

GCA Supplier of the Year

Winner: Smart Garden Products

Finalists: Woodlodge Products, Westland Horticulture, Elho B.V., Hozelock Ltd

What the judges said: Smart Garden Products was praised by the judges for its ability to listen to what both retailers and consumers need, and acting accordingly. Smart Garden Products is a company which you can rely on to deliver lots of new product development, reliable stock availability, good margins, and unrivalled customer service levels. Together this means that retailers have confidence in the company, something that pays dividends for both all parties.

 
Gardenex Export Achievement Award

Winner: Eden Hall Greenhouses

What the judges said: The judges selected Eden Halls due to its well planned and executed strategy of overseas expansion, which included the ongoing consultation of the UKTI through its Passport to Export programme. In the last 12 months Eden has set up new distributor relationships in Poland, New Zealand, USA and Ireland, with export sales growing from £1.12m in 2013 to £2.0m in 2014.

When it came to the export category the judges were inundated with entries from both garden and pet suppliers, with pet supplier entries matching garden suppliers entry for entry. As a result the 2015 GIMA Awards included a newly introduced PetQuip Export Achievement Award.  The winner of this award in its inaugural year was Beco Pets. 

What the judges said: The judges selected Beco Pets due to its belief in building strong relationships with distributors, and its unrelenting hard work resulting in worldwide distribution in 43 countries. In the last year, the company has visited Canada, America, China, Australia and Europe, helping export sales to now account for 68% of the company’s annual turnover.

Garden Care

Winner: William Sinclair - The GrowQube

Finalists: Westland Horticulture – Resolva Liquid Shots; Westland Horticulture – Gro-Sure Tomato Easy Feed

About the winner: Growbags sell in excess of four million units per year, however they are still heavy, unwieldy, and often too shallow for tomato plants. William Sinclair thinks there is a better way – introducing the GrowQube - a handy carry home, ready to use pack, which contains a special mix of compost and nutrients giving up to 50% more tomatoes than a growbag.

Growing, Planting Equipment and Sundries

Winner: Combipots A/S - PotatoPot

Finalists: Burgon & Ball – The Essential Tools Range; Elho B.V. – Corsica Easy Hanger Trio

About the winner: PotatoPot – easy, clean, delicious! Designed to make it even easier to grow potatoes at home. The unique design means that after harvesting the first new potatoes the plant will continue to produce new potatoes.Currently exclusively distributed in the UK by Chelsea award winners, Agralan.

Garden Tools, Machinery and Implements

Winner: Burgon & Ball – Weed Slice

Finalists: Wolf Garten – Telescopic Bypass Tree Loppers; Burgon & Ball – RHS Endorsed Culti Rake; Batavia – Multi-Shifter

About the winner: Made out of hardened and tempered high carbon steel with a polished FSC Ash handle, the Weed Slice is an attractive looking tool, which is also supported with strong marketing and a highly visual display system for maximum retail impact.

Outdoor Leisure

Winner: Zest 4 Leisure – Cheltenham Arbour

Finalists: Zest 4 Leisure – Hampshire Arbour; Forest Garden – Sleeper Bench Furniture

About the winner: The Cheltenham Arbour is designed to comfortably seat two and has an eye-catching roof line with its bowed facia curves. Not only is it visually striking the Cheltenham's roof is sturdy and provides sheltered seating come rain or shine. With its handy large under seat storage it makes for a versatile piece of outdoor furniture ready to add style to any garden.

Plants, Seeds and Bulbs

Winner: Mr Fothergill’s Seeds – GroBox Gardens

Finalists: Johnsons Lawn Seed – ‘The One’; Mr Fothergill’s Seeds – RSPB ‘Let’s Make Wildlife Welcome’

About the winner: GroBox Gardens is a simple idea aimed at the absolute novice gardener, who want to grow something from seed. Each of the four GroBox variants is available as a takeaway pizza sized cardboard box containing four varieties of seed in a growing medium. To grow, simply remove the outer film and printed wrap, plant the box flat just below the soil surface in open ground or a suitable container and water.

Garden Landscaping

Winner: Eden Hall Greenhouses – Zero Threshold Birdlip Greenhouse

Finalists: Kelkay – Granite Cobble Mat Sets; Kelkay – 2.4m Abbey Circle Patio Kit

About the winner: Representing a rare development within the aluminium frame greenhouse market for many years, is the new Eden Birdlip Greenhouse from Eden Halls Greenhouses.  Aimed at consumers with small gardens who want to enjoy the superior technical benefits and build quality generally associated with larger footprint garden buildings. This four-foot Eden Birdlip boasts a whole series of game changing design breakthroughs, which the company claims will transform greenhouse gardening even in a small outdoor space, including the revolutionary patent pending Eden Zero Threshold Sliding Door System, which offers users 'no trip' access for added safety and convenience.

Garden Clothing & Gifts

Winner: Burgon & Ball – Love the Glove

Finalists: Fallen Fruits – Nature Print Collection; Town & Country – Fleecy Cloggies; Briers – Gruffalo Garden Tool Bag

About the winner: Gardening gloves with a striking difference! The concept of the Love the Glove range is about bringing style and fashion into gardening gloves through colour, pattern and materials. Twelve stylish designs - each available in two sizes, and also machine washable.

Pet Care, Aquatics and Wild Bird Care Products

Winner: Gardman – Ernest Charles range of dog foods

Finalists: Wildlife World – The Urban range; Deco-Pak – Bayside Beach Hut Birdhouses

About the winner: All feeds in the range are hypoallergenic and free from wheat, dairy and artificial flavourings, making them ideal for dogs with skin or digestive sensitivities. Made in the UK from responsible sources, the range includes Turkey & Rice, and Salmon & Potato flavours, and is suitable for dogs at all stages of development. 

Garden Lighting, Water Features & Ornamentation – NEW FOR 2015

Winner: Smart Garden Products – Cornish Jar Lantern

Finalists: Gardman – Cole & Bright Solar Powered Motion Sensor Black Nickle Wall and Post Lights; Smart Garden Products – Ollie (owl rattan ornament)

About the winner: The Cornish Jar Lantern features a traditional rope handle perfect for hanging on border hooks or tree. Easy to use as there is no mains wiring required, but are charged in direct sunlight. This stunning lantern automatically turns on at night and will create ambient lighting for any garden or patio.

Best Point of Sale Material

Winner: Burgon & Ball – Love the Glove mobile display stand

Finalists: Burgon & Ball – Weed-Slice display system; Briers – Gruffalo range merchandising stand

About the winner: The Love the Glove mobile display stand is simple yet effective. It highlights the product with strong, informative POS, a cute potting shed aesthetic and is totally flexible. It is also fitted with castors which makes it easy to move within the store at any time. It is compact at only 46cm wide and deep and delivers an incredible £1,435 on just a single stock turn.

Best Consumer Product Packaging

Winner: Burgon & Ball – Essential Tools packaging

Finalists: Briers – Kids range packaging; Briers – Digital Weather Station

About the winner: The Essential Tools packaging is presented to appeal to not only the gardener but also to those looking for a gardening gift. The packaging increases the perceived value of the product, whilst the colours and bold retro aesthetic are eye-catching, modern and are designed to appeal to both the male and female market. Cleverly designed to be able to hang or stand independently on a table top, these products can easily be merchandised on specially designed stands, on clip strips or on tables as part of a collaborative display of associated products.

Best Marketing Communication Award

Winner: Westland Horticulture – Resolva Liquid Shots launch campaign

Finalists: Ronseal – Garden paint launch campaign; The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company – launch of the new Weedol Power Sprayer