BHETA and GIMA have confirmed a Meet the Buyer event on Tuesday, 17 October at a hotel in or near to Barnstaple with Home Hardware South West.
Home Hardware has over 450 retail members including independent hardware retailers, homewares and cook shops, ironmongers and garden centres. Home Hardware has a central buying function based at its head office in North Devon and operates out of two warehouses located in Barnstable and Bedford. Members are supported via a series of initiatives such as six seasonal promotional leaflets, catalogues, trade shows and four business development managers.
Home Hardware are looking for suppliers of products to feature in their key 2018 Home and Garden Brochure and Summer Leisure Brochure that will be distributed to over 1.2 million homes during 2018. The objective is for the catalogue to feature new and innovative products offering outstanding value as a number of chosen lines will, subject to performance over the promotional period, be stocked ongoing in both their warehouses and form part of the core product offering to its 450 plus members. This initiative offers suppliers the opportunity to support and target new independent retail channels while reinforcing their commitment to the independent sector. 

Participants will be allocated a 20-minute appointment time with relevant buyers and the team will be headed up on the day by Jim Chadwick.
A maximum of two people from each supplier company will be allowed and suppliers are urged to use the time available to concentrate on the features and benefits of the products they have to offer supported by cost price proposals. 
There will be a limit to the number of people that can be accommodated on the day and the event will need to be carefully organised and planned.
Buyers from all the main garden categories will be participating including: chemicals, gifts, accessories, solar lighting, wild bird food & accessories, hand and power tools,
lawn mowers, propagation, storage, outdoor living & barbeques.

To offset the cost of the day, there will be a charge of £99.00+VAT for GIMA members and £199+VAT for non-members. Nominated product categories and payment should be submitted no later than Friday, September 22.