Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
The Giftware Association (GA) has announced details of a Meet the Buyer day with the Tillington Group of Garden Centres.
The event will be held at the Low Wood Bay Resort at Windermere in Cumbria on Thursday May 17. It will run from 11am until 1pm, with set-up starting at 9.30am on the day.
During the day, attendees will have the opportunity to pitch their products and ranges to buyers from The Tillington Group.
Founded in 1989, the Tillington Group is a non-profit making association of independent garden centre businesses that co-operate on buying and marketing. There are 11 member companies – Ruxley Garden Centre, Frosts Garden Centres, Scotsdales Garden Centre, Webbs Garden Centres, Van Hage Garden Centres, Hayes Garden World, Otter Nurseries Garden Centres, Alton Garden Centre, Squire’s Garden Centres, Bents Garden & Home, Whitehall Garden Centres – that operate 38 garden centres between them, with a combined turnover of more than £200 million.
All the members sell a wide range of gifts, including books, cards, toys, home furnishings, fashion accessories and seasonal items, and will be represented by at least one buyer at the event.
GA said: ‘Space at this meeting is extremely limited, and we want to make sure that both the buyers and suppliers make the most out of their day, so attendance will not be on a first-come-first-serve basis. Instead, the Tillington buyers will decide on a maximum of 20 suppliers to meet with, and all applications will be considered equally.
‘Applications to join this exclusive event entail a £30 administration fee. There is no cost to attend the event itself, except for travel, and we will arrange and pay for accommodation for those who are lucky enough to be chosen to attend.
‘Please note: we do not have any influence or control over the selection of suppliers. The Tillington Group makes those decisions entirely, and we are not party to their decision-making process. But we can guarantee that all submitted and paid applications will be delivered to the Tillington Group for their perusal.’
To apply, download Meet the Buyer – Tillington application form[1] and return it to simone.rose@ga-uk.org by April 6.
