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5 Things You Should Know About GLEE 2025

by YOLO INC

Earlier this month, Amazonas UK had the pleasure of exhibiting at GLEE 2025 at the NEC Birmingham, the UK’s leading garden and outdoor living trade show. From hammocks and hanging chairs to floral displays and inspiring talks, it was an event packed with energy, ideas, and innovation.

Here are five things you need to know about GLEE 2025 (and why we loved every moment of it!).

1. Floral Thursday Brought Colour and Purpose 🌸

One of the most inspiring parts of GLEE is Floral Thursday, when exhibitors across the NEC decorate their stands with beautiful fresh flowers. But it’s more than just eye catching displays, it’s also for a good cause.

Floral Thursday supports Greenfingers Charity, which creates magical gardens for children’s hospices across the UK. By taking part, exhibitors not only brighten up the show but also raise awareness and funds for this incredible charity that helps children and families connect with nature during difficult times.

This year, fundraising went a step further with a special Greenfingers Charity Raffle, giving visitors the chance to win fantastic prizes while supporting the cause. It added an extra buzz to the day and helped raise even more money for the charity’s vital work.

Walking through the halls on Floral Thursday was like stepping into a living garden, with flowers draped across displays of plants, furniture, and pet products. It created a warm, uplifting atmosphere and reminded everyone why the garden industry is so special.

                                                                               Olymp Stand-Rio bordeaux hammock

2. Big Brands Were in the Room 🛍️

GLEE is where retailers and suppliers come together – and this year was no exception. We had the chance to chat with household names like Robert Dyas and Anthropologie, alongside a wide range of independent garden centres and homeware specialists.

But the value of GLEE goes beyond simply meeting big brands. It’s an essential opportunity for networking, spotting trends, and opening new doors:

  • Why GLEE matters for retailers: Buyers attend GLEE to discover what’s new, exciting, and relevant to their customers. Exhibitors who showcase innovation, unique designs, or fresh product ideas are more likely to catch their attention.

  • Trend spotting: GLEE is also the perfect place to see what’s coming next in garden, home, and furniture trends. By walking the floor and talking to other exhibitors, you can spot patterns in what buyers are looking for, identify gaps in the market, and find inspiration for your future collections.

  • Networking made easier: The GLEE app is a powerful tool that many exhibitors overlook. By using it in advance, you can book appointments with retailers before the show even begins, making sure your stand is on their must visit list. The app also allows you to submit requests to meet with major retailers. While not every application is approved, it gives exhibitors a valuable chance to get in front of the right buyers.

  • Neighbour connections: Sometimes, the best opportunities come from your stand neighbours. Taking time to chat with nearby exhibitors can spark brand collaborations, shared marketing opportunities, or even joint promotions.

  • Beyond retailers: It’s not just buyers who walk the aisles. We also met marketing agencies, stylists, and influencers who are actively looking for products and stories to feature. We met with influencer Michael Griffiths who has a whopping 382k Instagram followers. By talking to him we managed to get a feature on his Instagram story. These connections can amplify your brand’s reach far beyond the event itself.

Ultimately, GLEE isn’t just about who you meet, it’s about how you make the most of the opportunities. With the right preparation, exhibitors can walk away not only with new stockists but also with partnerships, press coverage, and insights that shape their year ahead.

3. The Show Floor Was Bursting with Creativity 🎉

Everywhere you looked at GLEE 2025, there was something new to discover. The exhibition featured hundreds of stands, each with its own unique flair.

Some of the most memorable included:

  • Pet Face – Who entertained visitors with their playful claw machine filled with dog toys (and yes, we won plenty of freebies!). It was a fantastic way of drawing people onto the stand and encouraging them to engage with their products.

  • Miracle Gro – With a giant stand that showcased their latest plant care innovations and drew huge crowds.

  • Countless outdoor furniture brands, garden décor suppliers, and pet care companies, each putting their own creative twist on product displays.

The scale of the show was incredible, and exploring it gave us plenty of inspiration for future events.

4. The Talks Were Packed with Insight 💡

Alongside the stands, GLEE hosted a series of thought provoking talks and seminars. Our team attended several highlights, including:

  • “Growing Your Garden Business on TikTok Shop” – A practical guide to using social media to drive sales.

  • “Leading Transformation at Dobbies Garden Centre” With CEO David Robinson – An inspiring look at retail innovation.

  • “Market Research That’s Creating a Buzz” With Laura Loveridge – Packed with valuable consumer insights and trends.

These sessions gave us new ideas and strategies to help grow Amazonas UK and reach even more hammock lovers across the UK. We also learned a lot about how garden centres are evolving and what’s set to shape them in 2026. The outdoor sector is booming, with a 39% increase in garden furniture sales and a 31% rise in outdoor dining products, reflecting the growing trend of people investing more in their outdoor spaces (Just as you should 😉)

           

                                                                                                           Globo Chair

With 69% of adults visiting a garden centre in 2024, it’s clear that experience led, ever changing ranges are key to attracting and engaging customers. Categories such as outdoor furniture and BBQs are growing rapidly, showing just how much people are prioritising their gardens as extensions of their homes.

5. GLEE Is About More Than Products 🌍

For exhibitors and visitors alike, GLEE is about community, connection, and creativity. It’s a place to:

  • Build relationships with retailers and suppliers

  • Discover the latest garden and outdoor living trends

  • Share ideas across the industry

  • Support important initiatives like Floral Thursday and Greenfingers Charity

Spotlight on the Amazonas UK Stand 🌿🪢

Of course, one of our personal highlights was our own Amazonas UK stand.

This year, we created a true hammock haven, showcasing:

For Floral Thursday, our products were adorned with flowers, turning our stand into a colourful focal point that really captured the spirit of the show. Visitors loved stopping by to chat, try out our products, and take photos.

Being able to share our passion for hammocks and outdoor living with so many people from major retailers to independent stockists, it was an amazing experience.

From flower covered hammocks to inspiring talks and unforgettable connections, GLEE 2025 was a huge success for Amazonas UK. We’d like to thank everyone who stopped by our stand and shared in our love for hammocks, hanging chairs, and outdoor living. 

👉 If you’d like to stock our products or learn more about our range of hammocks, Globo chairs, hammock stands, and garden furniture, get in touch with the Amazonas UK team today.

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