International visitors up by almost 9 per cent

The Glee Petindex hall was a hive of activity on all three days.
Since Gafa in Cologne is only going to take place every two years in future, TPS believes it has good prospects in the medium term of further enhancing Glee’s profile as an international meeting place for the garden and pet sector. The number of foreign visitors increased by 8.7 per cent this year to 2,530, although 5.64 per cent fewer domestic visitors than last year came to the Birmingham show. This resulted in a drop in the overall attendance figure compared with last year of 4.35 per cent to 24,761. TPS suggested that the reason for this lay in the decision to charge non-registered visitors an entry fee for the first time, which may well have deterred many non-trade visitors. The number of visitors recorded as guests thus fell by 60 per cent compared with the previous year, which had a positive effect in turn on the calibre of the overall visitor contingent. Another reason for the decline in domestic attendance could have been the changeable gardening season, which suffered – both in the UK and elsewhere – from the innumerable tricks played by the weather in the spring and summer.
The shopfitting firm Juwel Ladenbau is very active in the UK.
In spite of this, exhibitors expressed satisfaction with the way things went at Glee. Even the UK Garden & Leisure Federation Gardenex, with which TPS works closely on organisation of the show, professed optimism and in its closing statement declared itself pleased with the increase in the number of international visitors. The International Buyer’s Centre, which is open throughout the show to serve foreign trading companies seeking contact with British manufacturers, was well frequented on all three days. Although no exact figures are available as yet, the successful development of Glee Petindex may well have contributed substantially to the success of Glee, like last year. Hall 4 housing the pet product show was a hive of activity throughout the exhibition period.
UK company Eurostich presented unusual, high-quality beds and blankets for dogs and cats.
In addition to leading British and international manufacturers, a large number of small and medium-sized companies both from the UK and abroad exhibited this year, and most of them, when asked for their impressions of Glee Petindex, said they had made many new contacts during the three days of the show.  maj