Canada’s fall trade show offers more than leading vendors and hundreds of new products to entice customers. Garden & Floral Expo, produced by Landscape Ontario, offers novice and veteran retailers and designers the products and professional development needed to operate a profitable business. The show takes place October 23 and 24, 2013 in the North Building of the Toronto Congress Centre.
Celebrating 40 years of horticultural leadership, Landscape Ontario continues to produce a trade show with a reformatted program guaranteed to meet industry retailers’ personal and professional needs.
‘To connect you to thought leaders, topics and ideas that will inspire you to meet the challenges of today’s new retail environment, Garden Expo offers an exciting line-up of events.’ says Heather MacRae, Director of Events and Trade Shows.
Following last year’s success, the Destination Inspiration Theatre will be brought back for 2013. Featured workshops will include seasonal urn assembly, live cooking demonstrations and information on product trends – relevant to garden and floral retailers and designers.
The Compost Council of Canada, joining forces with Landscape Ontario, will present a demonstration at the Destination Inspiration Theatre by Executive Chef Joseph Levesque of the Toronto Congress Centre. Chef Levesque will create fine fare live on stage, from locally harvested fruits and vegetables commonly sold through garden centres.
The show reverts back to a 9:00 a.m. opening. Landscape Ontario sector group-hosted events will shift from breakfast to lunch schedules. The Garden Centre Group is excited to announce Jim Hole, Hole’s Greenhouses & Gardens, as the keynote speaker. Mr. Hole is Alberta’s most articulate and knowledgeable horticulturist, and known for his business savvy. He is ardent about plants, conservation, the environment and business.
A workshop on Green Plants for Green Buildings (GPGB) will be hosted by the Interior Plantscape Sector Group. More and more studies show the benefits of green plants – at home or in the workplace – and how they increase productivity, reduce absenteeism, minimize health problems, and create a better sense of well-being. Ultimately all of this translates to bottom line improvements for businesses. This session will be eligible for GPGB CEUs, and is the only opportunity of its kind in Canada for 2013.
The annual Welcome Reception will create a buzz with an illustrious panel of retail industry leaders and innovators presenting Top Ten Tips. Who knows how to create retail success better than Karl Stensson, president of Sheridan Nurseries? The company is currently celebrating its 100th anniversary. Several industry leaders and innovators will join him on stage.
Garden writers, on a trend-spotting mission, will return to Garden & Floral Expo for their annual Connect Event. The meeting concludes with a visit to the trade show floor. Vendors, showcasing their latest products and services, strive to be ‘spotted’ by the writers for coverage in their publications, blogs and other communication mediums.
An event being launched at Garden Expo will be the Connecting Educators Summit, being held on Warm-up Tuesday, October 22, 2013. It is a full day of sessions aimed at horticultural educators and affiliated professionals.
Terry Childs, a consistent Landscape Ontario volunteer since 2004, was recently honoured with chairmanship of Landscape Ontario’s Show Committee. Childs promises that attending Garden & Floral Expo will contribute to retailers’ business goals and prosperity: “Networking, first and foremost this is the best way for our members to grow their business. Then we add the extras — seminars, workshops, suppliers and social events. Novice and veteran retailers, designers and florists will receive the inspiration and educational development they crave to grow professionally and thrive in the new retail economy,” says Childs.
“Newer and sometimes smaller member companies gain the ability to look at how to set their sights high and achieve their business goals, as well as how to develop a professional company.” concludes Childs. Garden & Floral Expo, “provides the opportunity to meet many suppliers under one roof and discuss upcoming needs and desires. Most importantly the positive attitude we give is often reflected in the positive attitude we see.”
Garden & Floral Expo 2013 opens Oct. 23 at the Toronto Congress Centre, North Building, and closes the following day. To register for Expo or one of its associated events, please visit www.loexpo.ca. Follow Garden Expo and Landscape Ontario on Twitter @LOexpo, and @LOevents.
Registration:
To register for Expo or one of its associated events, visit www.loexpo.ca.
Show dates and times:
Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location:
Toronto Congress Centre, North Building, Hall IJ, 650 Dixon Rd., Toronto, Ontario M9W 1J1
Website:
Additional information on Garden & Floral Expo 2013 can be found at: www.loexpo.ca
About Garden & Floral Expo 2013, Landscape Ontario and strategic partners:
EXPO 2013 is Canada’s fall show for the garden and floral industry. Between 1500 – 2000 horticulture and floriculture retailers, designers and buyers will attend the trade show, which showcases new products, recent plant and floral introductions and product demonstrations. Information is available at http://www.loexpo.ca
