Dennis Espley, managing director of the Squires garden centre group, echoed the palpable relief felt by many other visiting buyers at SOLEX on the the return of “proper summer weather” over recent weeks.

The re-appearance of the sun and temperatures in the respectable 20s has stimulated a late surged in outdoor leisure sales across most UYK garden centres.

Norfolk Leisure today presented a cheque for £500 to Stratford Garden Centre, winners of a competition to find the best retail display promoting the company’s all-weather furniture fabrics, which you can see on stand 215.

The contest was keenly fought by dozens of Norfolk’s stockists across the UK and was judged by LOFA Secretary Phil Gibbs, who said Stratford’s display struck the ideal balance between eye-catching quirkiness and useful information.

Pictured with Phil Gibbs (lef to right) Julie Dyde (Stratford GC seasonal manager),

Liz Freeman (departmental manager), Debbie Waudby of Norfolk Leisure and Stratford GC proprietor Helen Lloyd.



Coming soon

Premier Decorations are the new UK distributors for the Barbecook range of barbecues...and they're offering buyers a freebie...

Barbecook are also exhibiting at SOLEX in their own right, because the new agreement was signed close to the opening of the show, leaving little time to alter the arrangements.

“Barbecook is helping us to complete the circle ,” said Premier’s Pravin Patel. “We now offer a portfolio of brands that make up a serious barbecue offer.” Other brands distributed by Premier include Sunday chimeneas and built-ins, the Char Grillers range and Jack Daniels barbecue fuels.

Buyers visiting the stand will learn how they can earn a free Barbecook barbecue, simply by registering their interest in the range on the Premier website. “We have such confidence that the Barbecue brand will work for us that we’re prepared to be generous!” said Pravin (pictured).

Alexander Rose’s appearance at this year’s SOLEX (stand 220) doubles as a celebration of their 20^th anniversary.

As well as a range they regard as one of the industry’s most comprehensive, embracing all materials and styles from the traditional to the contemporary, a giant reindeer on the stand is something of a show landmark. Created in the same resin weave featured in their top of the range furniture, it is being marketed to garden centres for their Christmas displays. With a trade price tag of £1,800, it’s retail price ticket would be well over £3,000 – but its main appeal will be as a show-stopper for Christmas departments.

Weber’s Go Anywhere barbecue, now available in both charcoal and gas models, has been updated to incorporate a new space saving element; a foldaway stand secures the lid for carrying whilst also raising the barbecue up to avoid burning surfaces when in use.

Ideal for camping, caravans, picnics and the ever popular music festival scene, this is a cost conscious unit for the mass market with an appealing SRP of £79.99 for the charcoal version and £129.99 for the gas.

Below: the new colour range for the Smokey Joe and Mastertouch BBQ's, now available in slate, crimson and smoke.

There's plenty of sizzle at this years SOLEX exhibition.  BBQ's galore, fire pits a plenty, great new ranges of furniture and a host of great display ideas for your retail inspiration.

Here's a SOLEX SUN tour of the show as it neared completion on Sunday afternoon while Andy Murray became Wimbledon Champion!

See you at the NEC Tuesday or Wednesday...

A chimenea can now be converted into an outdoor cooker using the Gardeco registered design Tia Chim Stove (pictured).  A fire box complete with funnel fits on top of the chimenea bowl, smoke is drawn out through the funnel and the heat of the fire conducts to a cast iron cooking plate which can be used as a plancha.

The Chim Stove can be bought for the SRP of £99.99 or you can encourage customers to buy both chimenea and Chim Stove together for £199.99. See them on stand 100.

Buyers looking for barbecues that offer something different will welcome the stylish new German-made Thuros range from new SOLEX exhibitors Roke (stand E6).

Supplied with a 10-year guarantee, there are tabletop and free-standing models, all in quality stainless steel. A retail POS display unit also gives retailers the opportunities for add-on sales of accessories and tools.

“We think buyers will appreciate the fact that these are a bit different to the norm,” said Roke’s Kirk Fletcher.

The tabletop model is designed to keep heat well away from the working surface.

Roke also have range of Jim Beam charcoal – and wood chips made from that brand's disused barrels. Mmmm...lovely flavouring.

SOLEX organisers LOFA are reminding members and their customers of new EU regulations governing the sale and supply of timber products that came into force on 3 March this year. Non-compliance could result in a jail sentence.

Under the new statute, designed to reduce the amount of illegally-harvested timber reaching the market and protect global rain forests, suppliers must be able to demonstrate that all timber in their products comes from a legal source. The statute applies to retailers who import directly from the factory as well as manufacturers and importers.

The regulations are being enforced by Defra through the National Measurement Office (NMO), whose officers are empowered to enter the premises of suppliers and request documentary evidence of provenance. An initial remedial order can be made, with fines and jail sentences in the event of continued failure to comply.

Steve Hallam, LOFA’s environmental specialist, who has played a key role in the development of LOFA’s Made Aware scheme, said: “This is not a voluntary code, it has the force of law.”

LOFA members have been fully briefed about the new regulations and been provided with a work plan outlining the required procedures. Retailers who are concerned how they might be affected can request further information from the LOFA office.