This year's Garden & Florist Expo, which runs from
Oct. 21-22 at the Toronto Congress Centre in Toronto, is combining last year's show favourites as well
as some new initiatives for 2008.
The 9th annual Garden & Florist Expo, a partnership by Landscape
Ontario and Flowers Canada Toronto Chapter, will feature over 300
companies showcasing hundreds of new products for the 2009 buying
season.
A great showcase for new products,
recent plant and floral introductions along with demonstrations of
products for industry, Garden & Florist Expo draws over 4,000
buyers in the lawn, garden, floral and outdoor sectors. There is no
better forum to network and get ideas to grow your business with unique
products, services and show specials.
Show favourites back by popular demand:
The much sought after Education and Networking events are back
by popular demand. Committed to continuous learning, the Garden Centre
Symposium is for owners and managers to improve business management
skills, drive new customers in the door and increase profits. Keynote
speakers include industry insiders Anne Obarski and Roy Prevost.
Obarski brings her educational and retail expertise to her ‘Making Your
Nursery Business Contagious’ and ‘Retail Nursery Business is Show
Business’ presentations. A Vancouver-based strategist and consultant
who forecasts consumer trends and how to thrive in a changing retail
environment, Prevost will talk about how to ‘Prosper Alongside Big Box
Retail’ and on ‘Retaining and Motivating Employees’.
Interiorscaping – bringing the outdoors in – is all the rage and a
highly specialized industry. Find out how to enhance the indoor
environment with the addition of a well-planned, well-executed and
well-maintained interiorscape. Renowned keynote speaker, Landscape
Architect McRae Anderson will share his thoughts on ‘Raising the Bar of
Interiorscape Design’ and on the theme of ‘Green Plants for Green
Buildings’. President of McCaren Designs of St. Paul, Minnesota, his
award winning company is known worldwide for interiorscape projects at
the Cleveland Zoo and Denver Airport.
There will be lots new to see for 2008:
Gold Cup Floral Design Competition – Watch floral designers from across Canada create spectacular floral designs right before your eyes on the show floor.
New Product Virtual Showcase – A new take on the New
Product Showcase introduced last year, discover on-line the innovative
products that will bring customers into your store ready to make a
purchase. Visit www.gardenexpo.ca to check it out.
Trend Setting Plants – Customers are looking for
unique colours, drought-resistant varieties in plants, shrubs and
florals. Help them find some new favourites for 2009 by exploring the
most popular plants from the University of Guelph’s Summer Garden
Trials to boost your sales with retail-ready options.
Think ‘Green’ Products –
Satisfy increasing consumer demand for products that will improve the
environment and the visual aesthetics of home, businesses and
communities. Think ‘green’ with products that improve air, water and
soil quality found locally, with minimal packaging and even
biodegradable.
Additional information on Garden & Florist Expo can be found at: www.gardenexpo.ca
|
