Team HWPR was fortunate enough to attend the glittering GIMA Awards this week, where the tuxes, gowns, champagne and garden industry were out in full force. The glamorous event was held at Celtic Manor Resort, Newport and hosted by TV actor Stephen Mangan. (Dan, Dan, Dan, Daaaaaaaaaan! – if you’re an Alan Partridge fan as we all are!)
The GIMA Awards is a key industry event for Team HWPR in terms of meeting new contacts, catching up with clients and old industry friends. It is also the day of the annual Hornby Whitefoot Crazy Golf Championship, a winner takes all tournament that all our clients fear look forward to with great anticipation!
This year was no different with a Girls v Boys competition taking on nine holes that included a dragon’s lair, a Celtic raft across the water and some of the most famous golf courses – St Andrews, Pebble Beach and Augusta, but in miniature! After a tense afternoon of water calamities, fluke drop balls and holes in one, the boys reigned victorious whilst the girls really did put the ‘crazy’ in ‘crazy golf.
The awards took place in the evening with HWPR proud to be the Winner’s Champagne sponsors once again. We were treated to a drinks reception on arrival which was great for networking and catching up with familiar faces in the industry.
The GIMA Awards are voted by a team of experts in the garden industry and recognise excellence in new products, marketing support and export achievements. With nearly 400 people in attendance, the awards brought together manufacturers, retailers, members of the press and industry figures.
And didn’t our clients have a good night? Woodlodge scooped the GCA Supplier of the Year for the first time, with the judges saying; “They continue to deliver a great service and GCA members often remark that they go beyond what they would expect from one of their suppliers. The team at Woodlodge always work really hard for customers and genuinely help drive their businesses. The company also offers great stock, a reliable and efficient service, all managed by a great team, made up of knowledgeable people.”
Deco-Pak triumphed in the Pet Care, Aquatics and Wild Bird Care Products category with its Quintessentially British Range which includes bird houses in the style of the Garden Shed, the London Underground, a Wine Rack and 10 Downing Street. Judges praised the quirky range for being: “Whimsical and charming – a fantastic take on the traditional bird house.”
Smart Garden’s Eureka! Firefly lantern impressed with the judges, winning the Garden Lighting, Water Features & Ornamentation award. The versatile product using Smart’s innovative Eureka lightbulb can be hung or used as a table top or floor lantern to light up any outdoor space, with the judges calling it “A very commercial product sure to drive huge sales.”
Not only did HWPR’s clients have a triple whammy of prestigious award wins in one day, many also were well deserved finalists. Smart Garden was shortlisted in the Gardenex Export Achievement award, Growing, Planting Equipment and Sundries category as well as Pet Care, Aquatics and Wild Bird Care Products.
Briers had two products shortlisted in the Garden Clothing & Gifts category, with Aidan’s Gloves and the Julie Dodsworth Lavender Garden Collection making it as finalists. Johnsons Lawn Seed was also a finalist in the Plants, Seeds and Bulbs category with the UK’s leading grass seed supplier’s latest innovation Lawn Thickener.
Congratulations to everyone that won!
Our inhouse vlogger extraordinaire Robbie was on hand to capture it all and you can view the video of the GIMA Awards best bits on our You Tube channel very soon.