NLGS is A-OK

Some noteworthy stuff from last week’s National Lawn & Garden Show in Hotlanta …

* NLGS president/CEO and industry “good guy” Bob Mikulas welcomed some 60 buyers and 100 vendors to the 15th gathering of the industry’s premier appointment-based event. If you haven’t acquainted yourself with this show, here’s the format: Buyers (garden center owners and distributors) set up at tables in a big room and entertain vendors over the course of the three-day show via predetermined 10-minute appointments. Think “speed dating” for products. A signal alerts the vendors when an appointment starts and ends; in between, they meet prospective buyers and spend the session trying to show them why they need to knock “prospective” off the title. On a good day, a vendor might have 20 appointments. A savvy buyer will make sure to hook up with practically any product manufacturer that could ultimately help pad the bottom line. It’s a win-win format that has proven successful for a decade and a half.

* A viewing area displayed literally hundreds of new items, suggesting that those economists who predicted that home/lawn-focused businesses would survive a challenging economy were probably  correct. Several prominent product lines in the mix: Pest repellents, birding and nature items and lots of “green” stuff, most notably compost bins and rain barrels. A personal favorite was the Tow-n-Stow convertible trailer and storage unit. By day, it’s a sturdy trailer; push a few buttons and turn a few cranks, and by night it becomes a storage unit – complete with shelves – that can be placed anywhere in the garage or shed.

* The event drew a generally upbeat group of buyers and vendors from around the country. While business isn’t quite “as usual” in most locales, the show principals with whom we spoke said it has been steady to “better than expected” throughout the spring – some rare good economic news.

* Next year’s NLGS, set for June 15-18, 2010, is tentatively scheduled to take place in Colorado Springs. Check here periodically for updated news on the 2010 show.

-- Yale

Comments

[greg draiss]

Just 60 buyers and only 100 vendors?

Sounds like it is time to go virtual instaed of another trip to Atlanta.

By the way, ask most buyers and they will tell you Atlanta is one of the worst cities for trade shows. Too many panhandlers who have become way too agressive.