Results good despite fuel crisis

It was to be expected that the fuel supply crisis in Britain would strongly affect attendance figures. As it was, 18 079 trade visitors, 1 541 of them from abroad, came to the NEC in Birmingham, which was 15 per cent less than last year. The number of exhibiting firms occupying an area of 45 000 m² at GLEE, in combination with Petcare, Nursery and THF, rose by just under 13 per cent to 1 237. Exhibitors from abroad numbered 149 from 25 different countries.
The jury appointed to distribute awards for the best new products found it difficult to decide on the winners, because of the great number and high quality of the products under consideration. Among the companies to receive awards were Keybrick (garden design), Apta Pottery (decoration), Intersolar (equipment), Scotts (garden care), William Sinclair Horticulture (growth aids), WD-40 (DIY), Claymore Grass Machinery (garden tools), Notcuts Nurseries (plants), Beaver Water Plants (water gardening), Vita Quench (pets), Freeplay (accessories), Suttons Seeds (dealer service) and T.M.I. (export potential).
The drop in visitor numbers caused by the fuel crisis was smaller than expected.
Petcare @ GLEE offered buyers a broad range of pet products, and the further expanded Nursery live plant show enjoyed increased popularity.