SOLEX, this year’s premier outdoor and leisure trade show, is all set for a spectacular show with the industry's top suppliers ready to unveil their latest product lines at Birmingham's NEC tomorrow (Tuesday).

Show organiser Phil Gibbs says: "It promises to be a fantastic SOLEX. Everything is now ready and all the preparations are complete so I would urge those people planning to visit on any of the three days to register for free entry now if they already haven't done so. There is still time."

Now in its 11^th year, SOLEX is an annual 3-day trade event attracting national and international retail/contract purchasing directors and managers.  It brings together all the leading manufacturers of garden products – furniture, barbecues, gazebos, parasols, outdoor lighting– and provides a showcase for new developments in design and manufacturing.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TO ATTEND

As temperatures soar across the UK, the arrival of La Hacienda’s new product offering at SOLEX this week is perfectly timed to boost sales also!

Visitors to La Hacienda’s stand (120) will get an exclusive first look at their stylish new range of perforated and suspended firepits and chimeneas from La Hacienda’s ever-growing outdoor heating range. The new products embrace the trend of indoor/outdoor living, creating a seamless transition from the home to an outdoor space with a classic and sophisticated perforated design that will never date, or go out of fashion.

A completely unique double-sided fireplace, the ‘Camacha’ (pictured above) is a visually stunning centrepiece and will be a hot pick for next season’s outdoor heating trends.

Similarly, the ‘Santana’ chimenea (pictured above) provides considerable heat distribution with an attractive 360-degree view of the fire.

Innovative, striking and practical, the new range of perforated outdoor heating products from La Hacienda is certain to greatly enhance your offering and impress your customers.

Other new La Hacienda products to look out for include:

• ‘Brava’ Firepit - a substantial firebowl with an eye-catching bold banded design
• New ‘Plancha’ firepits with grill and plancha cooking surface
• ‘Aruba’ Two Way Electric Heater allowing heat from a vertical or horizontal position
• Plus, plenty more on show for the first time on Stand 120

With sales of outdoor entertaining and living products continuing an upward trend, a visit to the La Hacienda Stand (120) is an absolute must for anyone wanting to discover the latest trends and to help maximise further growth in this sector.

Information: www.lahacienda.co.uk | 01285 762 060 | sales@lahacienda.co.uk

One of the certainties on the Norfolk Leisure stand is the innovation. The LIFE brand epitomises luxury and innovation in garden furniture. The 2019 collections are a must see.

Functionality, comfort and durability is seen in every single model offered, and the selection presented at Solex is no exception. 

The full range includes contemporary designs in a mix of materials including weave, aluminium and teak, sometimes cleverly combined for beautiful results.

Every single model has unique features and always an eye-catching design. LIFE is an aspirational brand which is now well established and proven in the UK market. Every model features the LIFE ALL WEATHER cushions, unique to the LIFE brand. This exceptional cushion retains its shape, colour and unique features for the whole life of your furniture and does not deteriorate as many other ‘waterproof’ cushions do.

Norfolk Leisure are one of the first companies to achieve LOFAssured certification, which included an exceptional result on the LIFE cushions when tested by FIRA - another testament to the quality - giving full assurance to our customers.

30 different models from LIFE will be on display at SOLEX, incredible choice from an amazing luxury brand.

We recommend looking at the key styles for the coming season including the TIMBER range with an adjustable height aluminium and textilene table, the jaw dropping NEVADA. New models such as the Shade and Boston should also not be missed.

Norfolk Leisure has trialled a clever SHOP-IN-SHOP concept in 2018 and will be offering out to more centres following the success and resulting growth in sales.

This allows stores to create the best look at feel for the LIFE collections with plenty of free point of sale and the option to purchase a full range of sets without restrictive MOQ’s. A full SHOP-IN-SHOP display can be seen in the centre of the Norfolk Leisure stand – all you need to do is imagine how this would enhance your own furniture offer and the team from Norfolk Leisure will do the rest.

There is no charge for the display, no contract just a requirement  to display a variation of LIFE models, the better your sales – the happier we all are.

SOLEX 2018 Stand No. 210

Norfolk Leisure Lifestyle Limited

Garden Furniture Global has launched a new range of beautifully crafted outdoor kitchens and high quality gas fired barbeques from US designers, Mont Alpi for season 2019.

MB600 stainless steel 6 burner deluxe barbeque, 90 degree corner units, pull out units, sink unit and fridge - all supplied ready assembled with 70mm granite worktop and end panels

The long-established Garden Furniture Global team have recently signed an exclusive distribution agreement on an exciting new range of US developed barbeques and outdoor kitchens. The new Mont Alpi range includes top of the range deluxe outdoor kitchens that bring a new meaning to the well-coined phrase ‘outdoor room’. There’s a range of flexible units, including fridge, sink, 90 degree and 45 degree corners as well as deep pull out drawer sections and 4 or 6 burner barbeque sections. The really innovative and stylish feature of the range is the beautiful polished granite surfaces. They’re available in highly fashionable twinkling ebony or a cool ice white to suit both traditional and more contemporary garden styles.

The outdoor kitchen range is totally adaptable to any shape or size of outdoor space, and for a more modest sized patio there’s a range of sophisticated stand-alone gas fired cart barbeques which also feature the same easy-to-clean granite style tops. Prices start at RRP £699 for a 3 burner with 18mm granite top.

All products in the range are made from stainless steel and feature LED lit control knobs, halogen lit cooking surfaces and dual layer ceramic infrared burners that create real barbeque smoke and flavour. Including electronic ignition, gliding rubber castors, 8mm cooking grills and temperature gauge, Mont Alpi barbeques have all the equipment you would expect on a top of the range propane gas barbeque.

D470B  stainless steel 4 burner deluxe barbeque with 70mm granite worktop

The full range will be on show at SOLEX on stand number 550

To find out more about Mont Alpi barbeques and the Harbo range of stylish garden furniture, go to www.gardenfurnitureglobal.com or e-mail our office on salesl@gardenfurnitureglobal.com or call to speak to us on 0208 366 6988

Garden Furniture Global, Crews Hill Nursery, Theobolds Park Road, Enfield, EN2 9BS

Zest 4 Leisure will be displaying the very best in outdoor living at SOLEX 2018 with its award winning range of arbours, gazebos and garden furniture.

Following on from Zest’s successful product launch at last year’s SOLEX event, visitors to the company’s stand (345) can expect new products as well as range extensions of its bestselling outdoor leisure furniture; building on its already popular product range.

Zest’s products on show include the striking new unique Noah’s Arbour, designed with outdoor entertainment in mind. This unusual arbour comes complete with a floor and combined roof, giving shade and shelter to the table and benches, whatever the weather.

Speaking of the new Noah’s Arbour, Zest Managing Director, Steve Morgan says:

“Zest 4 Leisure strives to bring innovation to the core of every product and we have certainly done this with our Noah’s Arbour.

“Working alongside Cardiff Metropolitan University in 2017, we have worked on our product development and innovation taking in to account future trends and in response to customer demands for outdoor entertaining; we have developed the concept into the new Noah’s Arbour.”

In addition, on display will be the new Noah’s Picnic Table, the Large Four Seater Miami Swing Seat, which is an additional size to the original and very popular Miami Swing Seat, providing the perfect place to relax on a warm day. 

You will be sure of a warm welcome at Zest 4 Leisure’s unique double-decker stand with its top-notch hospitality.

Discussing this year’s return to SOLEX, Zest 4 Leisure’s Sales Manager, Alwyn Williams says:

“We are returning to SOLEX with brand new timber garden furniture and range extensions of our existing customer favourites. As a business, we are always striving to build on our successes with new, innovative products. SOLEX is a brilliant place for us to launch our latest products and is guaranteed to be a great experience.”

Zest 4 Leisure is a leading manufacturers and suppliers of top quality, FSC Certified, timber garden products.  Its furniture is built using pressure treated timber and has a 10-year anti-rot guarantee, meaning that products from Zest stand the test of time.

Information: www.zest4leisure.co.uk

With ever-increasing demand for conservatory furniture, A-Mir & Co have developed three super new ranges using high-end weave materials – Fiji, Milan and Modena.

Fiji is a new developed classy Vintage Twist Rattan Weave which is hand woven on to Aluminium welded frames. Ideal for indoor and outdoor use as the cushions on Fiji sets are supplied with High Grade Weather Shield Fabric, which makes the cushions Weather-Proof and Stain Resistant.

Milan is a smart new Retro-look range made with Rope Rattan wicker complimented with a wood-look effect. The range offers Multi options that clients can choose the best layout for their perfect setting. Ideal for indoor and outdoor use.

Modena is a deluxe 5mm full round weave range collection cleverly hand woven to give a traditional look. The square Modena Table has the height adjusting feature that converts the table from Dining to Lounging. Modena has indoor and outdoor 4, 6 & 8 guest Dining sets.

See the whole range at SOLEX on stand 520.

A-Mir & Co are proud to have been recognized as one of the top 1,000 companies to inspire Britain by London Stock Exchange Group.

Now a best-selling brand often outselling the competition by 3 to 1. That’s the finding of retailers across the country when it comes to Katie Blake Outdoor Furniture.

Managing director Steve Potter is delighted with sales this season with an increase of 40% on 2017. "The early part of the season was poor even though our Pre-Season order intake was up 40% but with the warm weather we have replaced the poor sales in Spring.

"One big reason retailers like Katie Blake is that it is not discounted on line, so margins can be maintained, and the other major reason is the 10 year Guarantee! With very few returns it’s a great product to sell and even if there is a problem Katie Blake sort it out immediately."

Buying by the container means you get a full margin and a container really doesn’t have that much on it. On average it takes 1 hour for 3 people to unload so buying from the UK warehouse means less profit and whilst they do carry stock with such a massive range it won’t always be what you want.

The set shown here is just one of many available in various colour cushions and Rattan Weaves. The quality is very good, the comfortable chairs and deep padded cushions sell themselves.

Katie Blake, which is part of the Glencrest Seatex group of Companies, passed the LOFAssured audit first time and so you can be confident that Trading Standards will not be knocking on your doorstep – remember it is the Retailer who is responsible for ensuring they sell furniture that is compliant with the Fire Regulations.

www.katieblake.co.uk

t: 0044(0)1702 527814

Email: sales@glencrestseatex.co.uk

To mark the start of its 25th birthday celebrations, Alexander Rose has a very special offer on a very special bench – the “Chorus” which was one of the benches at the company's first ever show. Meet the team on stand 215 for more information.

With nearly 50 different benches available and with combined bench sales of around £3,000,000 a year, Alexander Rose has become the supplier of choice for benches both within the UK and further afield. 

Alexander Rose benches can be found in some of the UK’s most prestigious venues, but are equally at home in a quiet corner of a domestic garden. 

Benches have been an integral driver behind the growth of the company over the last 25 years, and remain as important now as they were back in 1994 when Alexander Rose was launched. The company now offers benches in a variety of materials from classic wood to contemporary metal to weave. 

Alexander Rose benches come in a large selection of sizes from four to eight feet long, and the different styles available come in a range of different seat depths. 

With its UK warehouse the company is able to supply most items from stock to store in very short timescales, and the customer service team is ready to help you with any queries you may have. 

Find out more  at www.alexander-rose.co.uk

GTN's Greatest Outdoor Leisure Retailing Team Awards will be revealed tomorrow at SOLEX.

Trevor Pfeiffer will announce the winners at the SOLEX drinks reception after the first day of the show on Tuesday.

Awards will be presented to the following categories:

• The Greatest Furniture Sales Team of the Year
• The Greatest BBQ and Outdoor Furniture Sales Team of the Year

The 'LOFAssured' initiative ensures that all cushions sold by members comply with current government fire safety regulations.

LOFA is raising awareness of fire safety standards/regulations for garden furniture cushions in this young campaign and, already, 23 members are certified with 15 in progress and soon to be completed.

A Mir & Co - www.a-mir.co.uk

Bramblecrest - www.bramblecrest.com

Cane Industries - www.caneindustries.co.uk

Culcita - www.culcita.ie 

Daro – www.daro-cane.co.uk

Desser - www.desser.co.uk

Europa Leisure – www.europaleisure.co.uk

Extreme Lounging- www.extremelounging.com

Firmans Direct Ltd - firmansdirect.com 

Glencrest Seatex Ltd – www.glencrestseatex.co.uk

Glendale Garden and Leisure – www.glendale-leisure.com

Hampson Agencies – www.jati-kebon.com

Hartman UK - www.hartmanuk.com 

John Robertson Ltd - www.johnrobertson.ltd.uk

Kettler (GB) Limited – www.kettler.co.uk

Leisure Plan – www.leisureplan.co.uk

Lifestyle Garden - www.lifestylegarden.com

Maze Rattan -www.mazerattan.com

Munro Importers -pagodafurniture.co.uk

Norfolk Leisure Lifestyle Limited – www.norfolkleisure.com

Pacific Lifestyle Ltd - www.pacific-lifestyle.co.uk

Quest Leisure Products Ltd – www.questleisure.com

Supremo UK – www.supremouk.com

One of the conditions of LOFA membership is that members must adhere to a code of conduct, part of which is compliance with all current legislation; it is this culture of propriety that the retailer and customer buy into when they source product from LOFA members.

LOFAssured is a distinguishing factor setting LOFA products apart from other non-compliant suppliers. LOFA appointed FIRA (Furniture Industry Research Association) and entered into a Primary Authority Partnership with HertfordshireTrading Standards to aid the members in their quest for full compliance.

For further information on the Leisure and Outdoor Furniture Association, call 02392 258844 or visit www.lofa.co.uk and www.lofassured.co.uk.

Hartman (stand 505) are celebrating 50 years at the forefront of the outdoor furniture industry with another display of the latest in innovative, quality outdoor furniture to suit every size and shape of outdoor space.

Hartman’s versatile collection includes premium resin weave, high quality cast aluminium, FSC certified hardwood and a diverse range of shading option.

Following the hugely successful launch of their Weatherready cushions, Hartman are continuing their trend of offering premium weatherproof furniture with the introduction of a new range of luxurious lounge sets featuring premium Sunbrella fabric.

Sunbrella fabrics are 100% solution-dyed acrylic fabrics that are water, fade, mould, mildew, and stain resistant; perfect for any outdoor elements.

Also on display will be updated versions of Hartman classics, featuring new styles, sizes and colours.

W: hartmanuk.com

Campingaz builds on its presence in the barbecue and garden market at Solex as it showcases its highly-acclaimed ‘Master Series’ gas barbecue collection.

This impressive range includes the all-black editions and directly targets the more premium end of the market. Designed at the company’s headquarters in France and available in 3 and 4 burner versions, the Master Series range combines clever, user-friendly technologies with a striking and durable construction.

Developed for serious barbecue enthusiasts that demand the same cooking functionality and versatility outdoors as they do inside, the Master Series LXS four and three burner models have been created to offer the ultimate in cooking performance. 

Among many accolades throughout 2018, the Master 4 Series LXS was crowned National BBQ Week’s ‘Best of the Best Barbecue’ due to the great performance and stylish looks.

Cooking for a group is made easy with its ingenious Culinary Modular Accessory system (accessories available separately). Roast with the specially designed poultry roaster, stir-fry on the non- stick steel wok, serve up a pizza from the pizza stone or whip up a paella. All accessories insert into the removable inner cast-iron grid ring for ultimate cooking flexibility to effortlessly create a diverse range of dishes.

For unrivalled cooking performance, the Master Series LXS features a premium, enamelled cast iron cooking surface that offers outstanding heat retention. The barbecue’s powerful stainless tube burners feature an impressive 10 year warranty.

To find out more about the full range visit Campingaz on stand 330.

W: campingaz.com

Whether it be barbecues, traditional Sunday lunch or any other gathering with family and friends the outstanding collection of steak knives, carving sets, and barbecue utensils from Tramontina will ensure the most memorable of times.

With high quality dishwasher safe polywood (real wood) handles, which uniquely come with a 5-year warranty, the Original Jumbo steak knife and fork epitomises the stylish good looks and high quality of the brand.

For further information:

TRAMONTINA UNITED KINGDOM LIMITED – Tel: +44 (0) 20 3176 4557 / +44 (0) 20 3176 4558

 E: contactl@tramontinauk.com:  www.tramontina.com

Lithe Audio - the innovative UK AV brand - is bringing 'instant' sound for your garden with a simple plug and play all-in-one Bluetooth rock speaker designed to fit discreetly into your surroundings while delivering exceptional sound quality.  

Unlike other garden speakers that require drilling and cabling from inside the house, and a separate amplifier, the Lithe Audio rock speaker has the amplifier built-in and Bluetooth built in, simply plug in to an outdoor socket - and play!

This unique rock speaker is perfect for entertaining outdoors and keen gardeners. And of course, it's fully waterproof - making it ideal for English Summers! Combining high quality, pin-sharp audio, this is the must have outdoor speaker solution for year-round audio. Just power up, connect your phone or tablet, stream off Spotify, You Tube or your personal playlists, and let the good times rock.

"We're excited to bring to the market an all-in-one, plug-and-play speaker that has the amplifier and Bluetooth contained in one weatherproof unit," says Amit Ravat, managing director for Lithe Audio.

"It's the perfect solution for outdoor entertaining - and with the exceptional sound quality, it will really make your summer parties and BBQs rock!"

Launch deals are available with full retail display units. Visit Lithe Audio on Stand 575 at Solex or for more details - www.litheaudio.com

Kadai Firebowls by Wilstone (stand 230) will be returning to Solex for the fourth year running to showcase a variety of current best-selling products and a selection of new arrivals for 2019. You will see the existing Kadai firebowls, plus a new improved design featuring a heavy duty bottom, accompanied by a five-year warranty.

The show-stopping metre-wide Wilstone Kadai with Tripod Pulley System (pictured) will be making an appearance, perfect for cooking food that needs to be temperature controlled. The Tripod Pulley System is amongst the latest must have gadgets for live fire cooking, the hottest new trend on the barbecue scene.

New for 2018/19 is the Kadai Woodfired Pizza Oven, a fantastic one-of-a-kind cooking accessory that sits on top of the Kadai bowl to bring that wow factor to social events.

Take a look, too, at their gazebos and rose arches, both of which come with a 10 year warranty as well as the Decorative Diamond Plant Obelisk, which comes with a five-year warranty.

The company will also bring along new shields for the Kadais, garden plant sticks, recycled garden furniture and an extensive firebowl accessory range.

Char-Broil will be on stand 325 where it will be showcasing key products from its award-winning ranges, including the Kamander kamado-style grill, the Gas2Coal hybrid and its ‘TRU Infrared’ Professional BBQs.

Char-Broil is the leading family-based US brand that has been making and innovating barbecues since 1948, making 2018 the 70th Anniversary year for the brand. Char-Boil offers a broad range of high quality gas and charcoal grills and a comprehensive range of matching grill accessories, which will also be on show.  

Char-Broil is an innovator in infrared cooking technology. Its industry-leading TRU-Infrared technology ensures an even distribution of heat every time, without any messy flare-ups – and locking in mouth-watering flavour with 50% juicier results.

Char-Broil also has the Dancook range as part of its portfolio. The Dancook range is founded on the Danish tradition of cooking outdoors. The simple, unique products are manufactured in solid materials in a stylish design.

The Gas2Coal hybrid grill, puts to rest the debate over the perfect fuel. For many consumers, that smoky charcoal taste is a key ingredient for the perfect grilling experience, but it’s hard to beat the convenience of gas. As an innovation leader, Char-Broil has combined the best of both worlds in its new Gas2Coal grill.

In less than 60 seconds, grill masters can switch fuels – based on their mood or the type of meat – without ever having to compromise again. But Char-Broil didn’t stop there – to ensure the perfect performance of the Gas2Coal, the grilling surface has been designed to circulate air from top to bottom so that the charcoal burns in the same direction, ensuring much better use of radiant heat and greater energy efficiency.

W: charbroil.com