Meet-the-Buyers Events

A great chance for British suppliers to hold one-to-one meetings with international garden trade buyers seeking new products from the UK!

Gardenex holds regular Meet-the-Buyers events at our offices in Brasted, near Sevenoaks, Kent.  These are an invaluable and cost-effective opportunity for UK-based suppliers to have one-to-one meetings with international garden trade buyers.  Our speed-dating format allows UK suppliers the chance to promote their products and services in 25 minute meeting slots, and start the foundations for an excellent working partnership.  Buyers taking part include garden centre retailers, importers/distributors/wholesalers, mail-order and online stores from Europe and occasionally further afield.

Our next event will be held on Wednesday, 25 March 2020 at our offices in Brasted, near Sevenoaks, Kent.  The buyers taking part are from the leading importer/distributor/wholesaler businesses in Sweden and Finland.  For full details of the buyers and an online application form, please click on the tabs above.  If you would like more information, please contact Eleanor, Charlie, Katie or Lydia at the Gardenex office on 01959 565 995.

We have reluctantly taken the decision to postpone our Wednesday, 25 March event due to the corona virus.  New dates will be publicised as soon as possible.

We have attended a number of these events and have always found them to be a very useful tool for our export market. In general they are very informative and have repaid the time, effort and expense many times over.

- A happy supplier!

Buyers taking part in our 25 March event are as follows:

Econova – www.econova.com and www.weibulls.com

Founded in 1959, Econova produces environmentally-friendly soils, bark mulch and composts by recycling waste/by-products from the forest and energy industries and local authorities. It is also one of Sweden’s largest independent suppliers of biofuel. In addition, Econova is Sweden’s leading importer/distributor of garden products, a position strengthened with its takeover of competitor Weibull Trädgård AB in 2008. Econova offers a broad range of practical garden products from seeds to plant protection, tools, gloves and all types of practical gardening accessories, along with garden pest repellents. Their products are mainly sold under the own brand: Weibulls. The company also represents several well-known brands, such as Substral, Round-Up and Felco.

Econova supplies DIY chains, super/hypermarket chains and independent garden centres across Sweden, Denmark, and also in Norway where it acquired importer/distributor Grönn Industri in 2019. Econova’s headquarters are in Åby, near Norrköping. Its annual turnover is SEK 500 million (around £40 million) and it employs 140 people across Scandinavia.

Econova’s focus for the 2021 season will be cultivation, a wide range of growers’ accessories including lighting for seeds and hydroponic cultivation along with tools. Other specific themes of interest for 2021 are ‘grow your balcony’ and children’s gardening items. The buyer is particularly looking for suppliers of products which fit into these categories. Their aim is also generally to source goods which are environmentally-friendly.

Schetelig Oy – www.schetelig.com (select Koti & Puutarha, then Tuotteet to see the retail range)

The Schetelig Group is a Finnish importer/wholesaler which traditionally supplied horticultural goods mainly to the professional garden sector. It is a fifth generation family business with subsidiaries in Russia and Slovakia. Its Slovakian company also operates in Hungary and the Czech Republic. Annual turnover is around €60 million. In 2011 the Schetelig Group took over Tarha-Tuote Oy, a company which focused on supplying the garden retail sector. At the beginning of 2017 Tarha-Tuote Oy merged with Schetelig Group subsidiary Schetelig Oy. The managing director of Tarha-Tuote Oy, who is taking part in our event, is now Sales & Purchasing Director, responsible for Schetelig’s Home & Garden division.

Schetelig’s Home & Garden division imports/distributes quality, practical and decorative garden products and supplies garden centres, hardware stores, supermarkets and department stores all over Finland. They are now looking for further new, innovative practical gardening equipment and accessories, along with garden decoration, to complement the existing range. They are also particularly looking for biodegradable garden products such as fabric ground cover/mats.

I am really pleased with the incredible service offered by Gardenex & PetQuip. This was the second time that I had participated in a Meet-the-Buyers event and literally, just a few days earlier, I had received an order along with an order forecast from the buyer I met at the previous Meet-the-Buyers event.

- A happy supplier!

Meet-the-Buyers sessions start from around 09h00 and, in 25 minute meeting slots, you have the opportunity to present your company and products to the buyers and to hand over brochures, information and/or product samples.

Refreshments are available throughout the day.  The meetings conclude at around 16h30.

On receipt of the online application form, Gardenex will invoice applicants for the meetings requested.  Invoices must be settled in advance of the event.  Payment can be made by credit card over the telephone, BACS or cheque.

The Gardenex Meet-the-Suppliers events are better than five days at a trade show!

- A happy buyer!

If you would like to take part in our Meet the Buyers event on Wednesday 25 March, please complete the application form below by 27 February.