The winners of the 2016 Glee Buyers Power List have been announced during an awards ceremony at the heart of Glee 2016 within the Inside Retail Theatre.
From individual garden centre buyers to multiple retailer buying teams, the Glee Buyers Power List was launched one year ago to recognise and celebrate the many garden retail buyers who have gone ‘above and beyond’ to make a difference within the industry in the past 12 months.
Speaking at the Glee Buyers Power List awards ceremony, Glee event director Matthew Mein commented: “The Glee Buyers Power List was set up to recognise a key group of decision makers in the gardening industry who have often been overlooked: garden retail buyers. Through this initiative, we are pleased to be able to celebrate and reward their hard work and dedication. Our huge congratulations to all of the winners, the finalists and the many excellent shortlisted nominees.”
Glee, organised by i2i Events, launched its inaugural Glee Buyers Power List initiative to the market in 2015. The response from the industry since its launch has seen an increase in nominations year-on-year, with the shortlist for each of the five categories being a closely fought competition. These shortlists were then opened up to everyone in the gardening industry, enabling them to cast their votes online for their top three buyers or teams in each category.
The winners and finalists were announced as follows:
Best Independent Garden Centre Buyer/ Buying Team
FINALISTS
- Ayletts Nurseries
- Bents
- Brookfields Garden Centre
- Codsall & Wergs Garden Centre
- Longacres – John Connell
- Chessington Garden Centre – Paul Smith
- The Old Railway Line
- Stephen H. Smith’s Garden & Leisure
- Scotsdale Garden Centre
WINNER
Frosts Garden Centre
Best Multiple Garden Centre Buyer/ Buying Team
FINALISTS
Tillington Group – Darran Oakley
- Haskins Garden Centres
- Dobbies – John Forbes
- Wyevale Garden Centres
WINNER
- Blue Diamond Group
Best DIY/Builder Merchant Buyer/ Buying Team
FINALISTS
- Jewson
- Homebase – Sophie Taylor
- Travis Perkins
- Wickes
WINNER
- B&Q
Best Online Buyer/ Buying Team
FINALISTS
- Amazon
- B&M Stores
- GR Garden Retail
- Internet Gardener
- Primrose buying team
- Wayfair – Rebecca Allsopp
- Wayfair Outdoor Category Buying Team
- YouGarden.com
HIGHLY COMMENDED
- Dobbies
WINNER
- Gardensite
Best ‘Other’ Garden Retailer Buyer/ Buyer Team
FINALISTS
- Aldi
- Argos
- B&M Stores
- Ness Botanical Gardens
- Poundstretcher
- Tesco
- The Range
- Waitrose buying team
HIGHLY COMMENDED
- Wilkinsons
WINNER
- John Lewis
Matthew Mein added: “I’d love to offer my sincerest congratulations to all those who were shortlisted, and also to this year’s winners. There is no doubt that they are all highly deserving of their commendations. Our thanks also to all of those that took the time to vote – your continued support of the awards is greatly appreciated.”
