The Garden Industry Trade Association Manufacturers Association (GIMA) held its annual awards event last night, announcing 16 winners from across the garden industry at the event.

This year, Primeur with its Tierra Verde Recycled Rubber Planters, walked with the coveted GIMA Sword of Excellence, whilst Smart Garden Products scooped the GCA Supplier of the Year accolade.

Smart Garden Products had another reason to celebrate, as it was also awarded the Gardenex Export Achievement Award. Treadstone Products, Vitax, Westland, Hozelock, Gardena, E P Barrus, Chesneys Ltd, Farplants, Forest Garden, and RSW International Limited complete the line-up of winners for 2019.

GIMA director, Vicky Nuttall commented: “I would like to be the first to extend my congratulations to all of the winners.  This year we have a really exciting and varied selection of winners, including some new and emerging brands, together showcasing the best innovation, products and services available to the garden retail market today.  It’s great to see so much variety, and I’m sure you will agree when I say that the calibre of winners has far exceeded expectations, with each highly deserving of their award.”

This year, the GIMA judging panel was made up of Klondyke Group head of buying Andy Smith, Millbrook Garden Company managing director Tammy Woodhouse, B&Q outdoor category manager Christopher Ray, Sunday People and Woman's Weekly gardening editor & columnist Adrienne Wild, Tong Garden Centre commercial director Sharon McNair, BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine editor Lucy Hall, Garden Trade News editor Neil Pope, Blue Diamond head of product development Stuart Whalley, and QVC home and seasonal buyer Mary Bunting.

Ms Nuttall added: “As always a huge thank you to all our judges for volunteering their time. Their input, keen eye and industry knowledge has helped to create a highly-deserving list of winners, which was no mean feat when you consider the standard and breadth of products on offer.

“Finally, I’d like to extend my thanks to all those that have entered the awards in 2019, as well as all of our sponsors, without whom we would not be able to put on an event such as this.”

Below is a full list of this year’s winners:

GIMA Sword of Excellence
Winner: Primeur - Tierra Verde Recycled Rubber, Self Watering Planters
What the judges said: “With this range based around recycled materials being used to deliver stylish, practical and commercial products, we believe the Tierra Verde Recycled Rubber Planters represents everything we as an industry should be striving for.” 

GCA Supplier of the Year
Winner: Smart Garden Products
Finalists: Woodlodge Products, Meadow View Stone
What the judges said: “Smart Garden Products are always a pleasure to deal with. The company offers meaningful innovation, is quick to respond, offer accurate deliveries and paperwork, and a flexible approach. The team is also made up of friendly and personable people.”

Gardenex Export Achievement Award
Winner: Smart Garden Products
Finalists: Tildenet Gardenware, Trimetals Ltd
About the winners: By employing a French Sales Manager, in country support and an expanded network of agents, their sales in France have increased by just under 10% in the first five months of 2019. The sales push in 2018 resulted in Smart Garden being awarded the prestigious ‘Jardin Plus Supplier of the Year Award’ for lighting, the first UK company to receive such a recognition.

PRODUCT AWARDS

Garden Care
Winner: Hozelock - Pure BioMix
Finalists: Vitax - Acer Feed, Block Blitz - Block Blitz Shield
About the winner: BioMix is the eco-friendly way to effectively fertilise your plants and prevent plant diseases, protecting children and wildlife in the garden. Pioneering sustainable gardening and the move away from disposable plastic is now essential to the industry; BioMix fulfils the demands of the growing numbers of environmentally conscious consumers.
What the judges said: “'Great product encouraging recycling and promoting natural plant food and insecticide - ticks lots of boxes!”

Growing, Planting Equipment and Sundries
Winner: Gardena - Metal Hose Trolley
Finalists: Gardena - Textile Hose Range – Liano, The Juliana Group - City Greenhouse, Itip Handles Ltd - Itip Handles
About the winner: This hose trolley has a stable one-piece metal drum, with a high-quality aluminium handle for maximum durability. The patented foldable metal crank handle with soft component, together with the hose guide, make for comfortable and ergonomic winding, whilst the kick and stand function provides maximum stability during use.
What the judges said: “Excellent quality, love the adjustable stand to give extra stability - a great feature!”

Decorative Garden Pots & Planters
Winner: Primeur - Tierra Verde Recycled Rubber Planters
Finalist: Apta - RHS Interiors Pot Covers, Woodlodge Products - Tudor Terracotta Pots
About the winner: Although there are frost resistant pots readily available, no other planter can endure the same extreme temperatures or wear and tear without breakage.  Eco-friendly made from recycled rubber and includes integral self-watering chamber
What the judges said: “Eco-friendly, stylish and at a good price. A sustainable and commercial product in a competitive marketplace.”

Garden Tools, Machinery and Implements
Winner: E P Barrus - Wilkinson Sword Ultralight Digging Spade
Finalists:  Darlac - Heavy Duty Geared Lopper, Burgon & Ball - Corona Convertible Branch and Stem Pruner, Gardena - Smart SILENO Life – Robotic Lawn Mower
About the winner: This Ultralight spade is up to 40% lighter than a traditional digging spade but still maintains the quality, and comes with a 10-year guarantee. It features a rust resistant stainless-steel head and enhanced blade face with serrated teeth to cut through roots with ease, and a pointed spade to ease entry into the soil. It has an ergonomically designed soft D grip handle, designed to sit comfortably in the hand. The handle is also tapered to support the digging action.
What the judges said: “Simple, effective and very lightweight.  A great quality product.”

Outdoor Leisure
Winner: Chesneys Ltd - Chesneys Heat & Grill
Finalists: La Hacienda - Santana Black Metal Firebasket, La Hacienda - Icarus Oxidised Firepit, Zest 4 Leisure - Noah's Arbour
About the winner:  The only truly dual-purpose outdoor heater and barbecue at an affordable price point for both uses. Controllable temperature within the sealed unit ensures food is kept succulent and tender, and when cooking is finished the baffle plate can be lifted up to enjoy the full heat output and aesthetic beauty of the wood burning stove
What the judges said: “Stand out product in this category, Looks stylish, sleek and contemporary. Dual purpose has all year-round use.”

Plants, Seeds and Bulbs
Winner: Farplants - Spiraea ‘Walberton’s Plumtastic’
Finalists: Suttons - Suttons Pollinators...and Predators Seeds, Mr Fothergill’s Seeds - Children in Need Range
About the winner:  Plumtastic is from world leading British plant breeder, David Tristram. Its neat, compact habit is perfect for smaller, modern gardens. The rich plum-purple of the young foliage in March is unique for Spiraea. In June it develops striking cerise flowers, and in autumn the foliage transforms into a vibrant orange.
What the judges said: “Stunning colour, full foliage offering beauty in spring, summer and autumn.”

Garden Landscaping
Winner: Forest Garden - Victorian Walkaround Greenhouse
Finalists: BJA Trading Ltd - Fence Mate DuraPost Fence System, The Juliana Group - The Halls Qube Greenhouse
About the winner: This innovative design offers a completely new take on a greenhouse, letting the gardener access their plants without going inside. It is supplied with four doors that can be hung as desired around any of the sides, allowing maximum flexibility and letting the user position it anywhere in the garden.
What the judges said: “Unique, compact and multi-entry growhouse.  Quirky design adds style in a smaller garden.”

Garden Clothing & Gifts
Winner: Treadstone Products - ClipGlove
Finalists: E P Barrus - Mastergrip Glove Range, Fallen Fruits - Terrarium Set
About the winner: Combining PPE expertise with a co-ordinated fashionable colour palette and durable fibres and coatings.  Each product has been designed with a specific range of tasks in mind, with clear features and benefits on the product labels and the supporting merchandising unit - and don't forget that clever clip!
What the judges said: “A breakthrough in garden gloves - functional and on-trend with some great designs.”

Pet Care, Aquatics and Wild Bird Care Products
Winner: RSW International - Smart Choice Dog Ball Launcher (THE STOMPER)
Finalists: Marriages Specialist Foods - Heavy Duty Feeders, Smart Garden Products - Peacock Glass Birdbath
About the winners: The Smart Choice Ball launcher differs to other ball products on the market in many ways. It gives ease to owners with shoulder and arm injuries, it's easily (foot) activated, and it has a durable design to name a few.
What the judges said: “A great fun product that will really sell.”

Garden Lighting, Water Features & Ornamentation
Winner: Smart Garden Products Limited – Bug Lights
Finalist: Smart Garden Products - Firefly Balloon, Smart Garden Products - Oak Leaf Wind Spinner
About the winner: Completely new decorative solar designs and at an amazing price point.
What the judges said: “A hanging bug light with firefly lights! Who would have thought this would be such a sell out every week!”

MARKETING AWARDS

Best Point of Sale Material
Winner: Treadstone Products - ClipGlove merchandising stand
Finalists: Smart Garden Products - Solar Cool Flame Hard Wired Stand, Woodlodge Products - Consumer Engagement Boards
About the winner:  This merchandising stand combines high impact colours and graphics with genuinely useful consumer information, space efficient merchandising and the unique hook and clip system that ensures gloves stay neatly merchandised no matter how fast the spinner is spun!
What the judges said: “Bright, tall, interactive, eye-catching and very informative.”

Best Consumer Product Packaging
Winner: Vitax - Plant Guard
Finalists: Burgon & Ball - RHS Gifts for Gardeners ‘British Bloom’ boxed tool gift sets, Durston Garden Products - Multi-purpose Compost with John Innes
About the winner: Developed to help organic and environmentally conscious gardeners make a natural choice when it comes to protecting plants from bugs and diseases.  Available as a ready-to-use spray or concentrate, the bottle clearly communicates it is non-toxic to bees, organic and safe to use around children and pets.
What the judges said: “The right message for our time: ‘Protect not kill’. Packaging has a natural feel about it which is a great representation of the organic story.”

Best Marketing Communication & Social Media Award
Winner: Westland - New Horizon Launch Campaign
Finalists: Westland Horticulture – Peckish - Love Every Bird Campaign, Elho - 'The Beauty of Waste' TV campaign
About the winner: Creative targeting of both trade and key influencers. Trade activity focused on encouraging garden centres to Glee, through continued communication throughout the sell in period. The influencer campaign resulted in positive free media mentions and independent trials backing up our findings. Both campaigns were supplemented with modern media mix.
What the judges said: “A memorable campaign, giving appealing and compelling reasons why consumers should change.”