Sipcam and Westland top the GIMA Awards 2024
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Sipcam wields the GIMA Sword of Honour
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Westland Horticulture are Supplier of the Year
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Doff Portland celebrate their Export Achievement Award
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Primeur celebrate their sustainability award.
Earlier tonight 412 of the best of the garden retail industry came together to celebrate the 43rd annual GIMA Awards at a glittering black-tie event at the Celtic Manor Resort.
Well-known comedian, presenter and Sunday Times bestselling author, Tom Allen, compered the event and revealed his own passion for gardening as he announced this year’s winners.
Sipcam lifted the coveted Sword of Excellence, winning best product for the second consecutive year. Westland lifted the bowl for supplier of the year.
GIMA AWARDS 2024 – THE WINNERS
The GIMA Sword of Excellence for best overall product
Winner: Sipcam Home and Garden - Slug Stoppa
It’s a spray that creates invisible barriers on plants, deterring slugs/snails from going near them. Unlike harmful slug products, Slug Stoppa is pesticide free and leaves slugs unharmed whilst also promoting healthier growth for plants. Slug Stoppa also has a unique spray pouch using 55% less plastic than a plastic rigid plastic bottle.
GCA Supplier of the Year Award
Winner: Westland Horticulture
The award is voted by members of the Garden Centre Association. The GCA said of Westland: “There were plenty of strong contenders for the top spot this year, but with just one vote in it Westland just beat everyone else with their complete category and range propositions, backed with superb services levels.”
Finalists: AMES Companies, Woodmansterne, Meadow View Stone and Woodlodge.
Gardenex Export Achievement Award
Doff Portland was awarded the Gardenex Export Achievement Award, just pipping VegTrug and David Austin Roses.
The GIMA Sustainability Award
This year’s sustainability crown was won by the team at Primeur for its Tierra Verde coloured collection.
GIMA AWARDS 2023 – PRODUCT AWARDS
Garden Care
Winner: Sipcam Home and Garden - Slug Stoppa
What the judges said: “We love that this product both feeds and protects plants at the same time.”
Finalists: Sipcam Home and Garden - Organic Superfood Concentrated Liquid Feeds, Vitax - Vitax Organic All-Purpose Feed, Pelsis Ltd. - Green Protect Box Tree Moth Trap, Westland Horticulture - Westland Lawn Care Collection
Category Sustainability Champion: Sipcam Home and Garden - Organic Superfood Concentrated Liquid Feeds
Growing Media
Winner: Southern Trident Ltd - Harmony Gardens Multipurpose Compost with added John Innes.
What the judges said: “A good mix of ingredients, with added loam and John Innes - and the first claiming to be carbon neutral too.”
Finalists: Westland Horticulture - Westland Houseplant Potting Mix, RocketGro - Multi-Purpose Compost 50L, Westland Horticulture - Boost All Purpose Compost
Sustainability Champion: Southern Trident Ltd - Harmony Gardens Multipurpose Compost with added John Innes
Garden Tools, Machinery and Implements
Winner: Westland Horticulture - Kent & Stowe SureCut Cutting Range
What the judges said: “Great technical innovation, presented fantastically and positioned commercially so it sells really well.”
Finalists: The AMES Companies UK Ltd - Ames Tools Carbon Steel Digging Spade, GARDENA UK - GARDENA SuperCut All Purpose Loppers, GARDENA UK - GARDENA 18V MultiCleaner AquaBrush
Sustainability Champion: Westland Horticulture - Kent & Stowe SureCut Cutting Range
Growing Planting Equipment & Sundries
Winner: Smart Garden Products - GroZone Perfect Propagator
What the judges said: “Perfect value on a small scale and simple to use - a very smart product.”
Finalists: Westland Horticulture - Flopro Metal Multi Spray Gun, Deco-Pak - Chelsea Horticultural Seashells, Elho - Green Basics Strawberry Pot
Sustainability Champion: Deco-Pak - Chelsea Horticultural Seashells
Outdoor Leisure
Winner: Zest Outdoor Living - Terraza Outdoor Kitchen Range Set
What the judges said: “Fantastic value for money, looks great and has sold well.”
Finalists: Maze - Roma Rope Weave Corner Dining Set with Rising Table - Clay Stone Grey, Zest Outdoor Living - Stirling Arbour, Woodlodge Products - W Garden Living - Panama
Sustainability Champion: Woodlodge Products - W Garden Living - Soft Furnishings
Garden Landscaping
Winner: Altico Garden Products - Natural Slate feature piece
What the judges said: “Genuinely different and makes a great look accessible to the consumer.”
Finalists: Altico Garden Products - Pure & Natural Pebbles & Cobbles, Zest Outdoor Living – Tall Botanical Greenhouse, Deco-Pak – Eco-Stone Glass Chippings
Category Sustainability Champion: Deco-Pak – Eco-Stone Glass Chippings
Garden Clothing & Gifts
Winner: Phoenox Textiles Ltd - Hug Rug Bee 3
What the judges said: “A great design, great value and to top it all, British made. What's not to like?”
Finalists: Treadstone Products - Warm 'n' Waterproof Garden Glove, Treadstone Products - ClipGlove Activity Boots, Mr Fothergill's Seeds Ltd - Pudsey Wildlife Attracting Flower Mix
Category Sustainability Champion: Phoenox Textiles Ltd - Hug Rug Bee 3
Pet Care, Aquatics and Wild Bird Care Products
Winner: Satchville Gift Company - Earthy Sustainable Bird Feeder Collection
What the judges said: “A really well-presented, complete range of products with a great eco-message.”
Finalists: Wildlife World - Frogilo, Smart Garden Products - Yak Popcorn, Wildlife World - "Woolie" the Sheep"
Category Sustainability Champion: Satchville Gift Company - Earthy Sustainable Bird Feeder Collection
Garden Lighting, Water Features & Ornamentation
Winner: Smart Garden Products - Rainbow Flaming Balloon
What the judges said: “An amazing pick-up line that has ‘lit-up’ sales.”
Finalists: The Solar Centre - Seattle Ash USB Solar Table Light, Altico Garden Products Ltd - Jada Self Contained Water Feature, Smart Garden Products - Magic Mushroom, Smart Garden Products - Maris Solar Lantern.
Category Sustainability Champion: Maze - Athena Solar Light
Decorative Pots & Planters
Winner: Primeur Ltd - Tierra Verde Coloured Collection
What the judges said: “Stylish with a good strong eco-message that's easy to understand.”
Finalists: Elho - The Coffee Collection, Elho - Jazz Round, Capi Europe BV - Metallic Copper Groove Planter, Woodlodge Products - EcoMade Hemp Indoor Planter
Category Sustainability Champion: Primeur Ltd - Tierra Verde Coloured Collection
GIMA AWARDS 2024 – MARKETING AWARDS
Best Point of Sale Material
Winner: Keter UK Ltd - Stewart Balcony Range Stand by Keter
What the judges said: “This stand highlights the products features and benefits to great effect, helping to generate more sales.”
Finalists: Satchville Gift Company - Earthy Sustainable Tree Display, Meadow View Stone - Project Themed, Point of Sale Displays, GARDENA UK - GARDENA Multi-Function Stand and POS, Altico Garden Products Ltd - Pure & Natural Pebbles and Cobbles, Treadstone Products - ClipGlove Activity Boot Display Stand
Category Sustainability Champion: Satchville Gift Company - Earthy Sustainable Tree Display
Best Online or Social Media Campaign
Winner: Westland Horticulture - Westland Beneath the Leaf campaign
What the judges said: “A beautifully crafted and engaging multi-channel campaign seen by 25 million consumers.”
Finalists: Elho - The Coffee Collection social media package, Westland Horticulture - Peckish For Nature: Year-Round Communications Campaign, GARDENA UK - Flymo – First Cut Sunday
Best Multi Channel Marketing campaign
Winner: Westland Horticulture - Peckish 'Colour in Your Garden' campaign
What the judges said: “This campaign taps into what has been a growth market in recent years. It's perfectly aimed at keeping consumers engaged with some great content ultimately driving sales.”
Finalists: Westland Horticulture - The Westland Garden newspaper, Evergreen Garden Care - Miracle-Gro “Have yourself a Gro-ment” campaign, GARDENA UK - Grow With GARDENA
The Judges
The panel was, this year, made up of Blue Diamond’s Alan Roper, Sharon McNair from Yorkshire Garden Centres, Josh Novell of Polhill Garden Centres, Haskin’s Andy Harriss, Scott Provan from Klondyke, plus Garden Trade News’ Trevor Pfeiffer, Michael Perry aka Mr Plant Geek, and Jade Galloway-Harrison from award sponsors, eBay.