GIMA Buyer Connect sparks new Tillington opportunities
GIMA's latest Buyer Connect event has been praised for creating meaningful commercial conversations between member suppliers and The Tillington Group's buying team.
Held at Squires Garden Centre in Badshot Lea, the event provided suppliers with a series of dedicated one-to-one meetings to discuss new products, ranging opportunities, dropship solutions and routes to market.
The format is designed to give buyers and suppliers focused time together away from the distractions of major trade exhibitions, helping to foster genuine business opportunities.
Mark Farnsworth, Managing Director of Yorkshire Garden Centre Group, part of The Tillington Group, said the event provided access to a number of potential new suppliers and generated several promising discussions for future seasons.
Suppliers also welcomed the opportunity to meet key retail decision-makers face to face. Brian Gardner of Multi-Sharp Tools said the event offered valuable access that would have been difficult to achieve independently.
Alexandra Mangan of GreenKey Garden & Home described the Buyer Connect programme as invaluable, helping place businesses directly in front of interested buyers.
GIMA Director Martin Ward said the event demonstrated the value of bringing together the right people to facilitate commercially focused discussions with long-term partnership potential.
He added that positive feedback from both buyers and suppliers reinforced the importance of creating dedicated networking opportunities outside traditional exhibition environments.
The Tillington Group Buyer Connect forms part of GIMA's wider programme of buyer engagement initiatives, with further events and exclusive buyer meetings planned ahead of Glee 2026.
For further information about GIMA and its wide range of member benefits, please contact the GIMA Press Office on (01959) 564947 or info@gima.org.uk