GES 2010

With fifty per cent more stands than last year, a series of fascinating seminars hosted by Debra Templar, awards, a fusion showcase of all the new to 2010 plants and products the expo was jam-packed.
The whole Outdoor Design Source team had a thoroughly enjoyable show and 42 ODS trade directories went like hot cakes from the ODS stall. We also gave away free copies of consumer magazines - Backyard & Garden Design Ideas; Good Garden Design; Outdoor Rooms; Green Living; and.Green Garden & Home.

Mike Skegg, CEO NGINA was overwhelmed by the success.
“Thank you to the stallholders who invested in GES. The standard of display was extremely high,” Mike said. “Our attendance was up twenty percent on last year which is great. It was good to see a real cross-section of retail, Councils and landscapers in attendance. And of course this event would not be possible without the support of our sponsors so thanks to all of them.”

GES showcased some amazing new products such as the ward winning new dwarf citrus, the Pipsqueak and Yates’ iPphone application offering gardening solutions. The adoption of new communication technology at GES in general was highly commended.
“Our industry is slow to develop new technology and adapt,” Mike explains. “So GES is a great opportunity to showcase great new technology.”

Hot on the heels of the success of the 2010 expo, the GES team are all ready planning GES 2011.
“The seminar programme was very well received and next year we hope to bring fewer speakers but longer seminars,” Mike said. “One of the big challenges for 2011 is to get retailers out of their comfort zone and get them to attend."

“If retailers want to remain relevant to the consumer they constantly need to present new products to the market which they’ll find showcased at GES," Mike commented. "Often retailers don’t feel they can attend as they don’t want to leave their premises. This leaves the door open for Bunnings and Woolworths. Next year we’re planning to open later and finish later, at 8pm, on the first day. That way they’ll have no excuse not to attend!”

Awards at GES 2010
Exhibitors’ stands and the Fusion Showcase exhibits were judged by a panel of three industry personalities: Julie O’Connor of Better Homes & Gardens TV, Richard Muller of the Green Gold Nursery Group and Sean O’Brien, the Horticultural Manager of Hunter Valley Gardens.
Stands - Green Life
-Best in Show – Traden Tubes
-Gold – Kenthurst Nursery
-Silver – Engall’s Nursery
-Bronze – Merriwa Nursery & Irrigation
Stands – Non-Green Life
• Gold – Yates Australia –iPhone applications for consumer advice
• Debco P/L – introducing cooking on the stand
• Transplant Systems – good use of technology
Media Stand Award- Kenthurst Nursery
Fusion Showcase Awards
Green Life
-Gold – Eyles Citrus – Pipsqueak®
- Silver - Oasis Horticulture – Tomato Pink Pearl™
- Bronze – Solomon’s Wholesale Nursery – Syzygium paniculata ‘Backyard Bliss
Non Green-Life
- Gold -Ramm Botanicals – Pot ‘n All – coconut fibre and latex pots as environmentally acceptable alternative to plastic pots
- Silver - Scotts Australia – Osmocote Plus Organics - new generation of slow release fertilisers
- Bronze - Garden City Plastics – Bamboo Cane Caps – simple yet effective and safe way to protect injuries from bamboo canes
- Bronze - Whirly Windmills – Flying Flags
- Bronze – Yates Australia – Buffalo Pro –lawn care product
Media Fusion Showcase Awards
Green Life: Eyles Citrus – Pipsqueak®
Non-Green-Life: Ramm Botanicals – Pot ‘n All

People’s Choice Awards
Green Life: Eyles Citrus - Pipsqueak®
Non – Green-Life: Ramm Botanicals – Pot ‘n All
GES sponsors:
Brunnings Gardman, Grange Growing Solutions, Ramm Botanicals,Eyles Citrus, Oasis, Swanes Nurseries, Colourwave, Kenthurst Nursery, Debco, Yates, Tumbleweed, Norwood, Amgrow &Sprint Horticulture

Don’t miss GES 2011, mark August 24/25 2011 in your diaries now!
For more information on GES 2011 and the Nursery & Garden Industry NSW & ACT Ltd(NGINA) visit www.ngina.com.au

Photos: ODS Stall; Award Winners Ramm Botanicals; sponsors Colourwave; Sprint Horticulture.