30 Nov 2010

2011 Exhibitor List

Regards
Joseph Blair
www.HortiTrends.com
HorticultureTrends
News . Advertising . Sales . Marketing . Business Development & Support. 
Expertise, Practical Know-how, Passion for the Horticulture Fresh Produce & Lifestyle Sectors...

Address: Suite 5,  64 Dame Street . Dublin 2 . Ireland . Location: Map & Directions
    
Mobile: 353 (0)87.9212044  

Email: jblair@hortitrends.com     
30 Nov 2010

Reasons to Exhibit at Bloom 2010 ((tag:Horticulture Ireland,Bloom,News,trends,weather,jobs,events,tenders,landscapers,garden centre,nurseries,Fresh Produce,forestry,Growers,arboriculture,growtrade,Sourcebook,Horticulture Business Directory,suppliers)

Irelands Biggest Garden & Lifestyle Show. 

  • Over 60,000 visitors over five days.
  • Get face to face time with a high calibre audience.
  • Promote your existing products and services.
  • Launch new product ranges.
  • Generate fantastic sales and leads.
  • Build and develop valuable customer relationships.
  • Leverage PR opportunities and gain great media exposure around the show.
  • Boost your company's profile and awareness.
  • Opportunity to associate your company with a premium event.

Regards
Joseph Blair
www.HortiTrends.com
HorticultureTrends
News . Advertising . Sales . Marketing . Business Development & Support. 
Expertise, Practical Know-how, Passion for the Horticulture Fresh Produce & Lifestyle Sectors...

Address: Suite 5,  64 Dame Street . Dublin 2 . Ireland . Location: Map & Directions
    
Mobile: 353 (0)87.9212044  

Email: jblair@hortitrends.com     
30 Nov 2010

Bloom 2011 Dates for the Diary

Bloom 2011 runs from Thursday the 2nd of June to Monday the 6th of June 2011 in the Phoenix Park in Dublin, Ireland.

You can add any of the days to your diary by clicking the relevant link in the table below.

We look forward to seeing you there.


Day Date Times Add
Thursday 02/06/201110:00 - 18:00 Add to calendar
Friday 03/06/2011 10:00 - 18:00 Add to calendar
Saturday 04/06/201110:00 - 18:00 Add to calendar
Sunday 05/06/2011 10:00 - 18:00 Add to calendar
Monday 06/06/201110:00 - 18:00 Add to calendar

Regards
Joseph Blair
www.HortiTrends.com
HorticultureTrends
News . Advertising . Sales . Marketing . Business Development & Support. 
Expertise, Practical Know-how, Passion for the Horticulture Fresh Produce & Lifestyle Sectors...

Address: Suite 5,  64 Dame Street . Dublin 2 . Ireland . Location: Map & Directions
    
Mobile: 353 (0)87.9212044  

Email: jblair@hortitrends.com     
30 Nov 2010

Bloom 2010 Facts & Figures

Attendance

  • Total: 60,129
  • Thursday: 8,385
  • Friday: 11,124
  • Saturday: 15,280
  • Sunday: 11,618
  • Monday: 13,722

Visitor Demographics

  • Male: 41%
  • Female: 59%
  • Accompanied by children: 27%
  • Average number of children: 2.3

Age Profile

  • 25 - 35: 9%
  • 35 - 45: 24%
  • 45 - 55: 34%
  • 55 - 65: 22%
  • 65+: 11%

Socio-Economic Classification

  • ABC 1s: 81%

Respondents Traveled From

  • Dublin: 43%
  • Rest of Leinster: 31%
  • Connaught: 5%
  • Munster: 13%
  • Ulster: 2%
  • International: 6%

Booking Practices

  • 32% of attendants booked in advance to attend the show (17% in 2009).

Key Metrics

  • 99% of respondents found their visit either worthwhile or very worthwhile
  • Over 72% were able to recall sponsors associated with the show
  • 75% of respondents spent over 3 hours at the show
  • 84% of respondents purchased at the show
  • 63% of respondents indicated they would purchase as a result of their visit
  • 81% of respondents rated the showgardens as good/excellent
  • 91% of respondents rated the floral display marquee as good/excellent
  • 81% of respondents said they would return again in 2011
  • 11% indicated that they "maybe would" return again in 2011.


You can register your interest in sponsorship using this form or by calling Paul Gallagher in EventHaus on +353 (0)1 846 0020

Regards
Joseph Blair
www.HortiTrends.com
HorticultureTrends
News . Advertising . Sales . Marketing . Business Development & Support. 
Expertise, Practical Know-how, Passion for the Horticulture Fresh Produce & Lifestyle Sectors...

Address: Suite 5,  64 Dame Street . Dublin 2 . Ireland . Location: Map & Directions
    
Mobile: 353 (0)87.9212044  

Email: jblair@hortitrends.com     
29 Nov 2010

Silence is Golden. First Load Carriers in the World to Be PIEK Certified

Unique silent transportation units from Container Centralen

The noise levels of the rolling ½ and ¼ steel euro pallets CC Rolly and CC Dolly from Container Centralen (CC) have been tested by TNO (a Dutch independent scientific research organisation) to acquire the PIEK certification. Noise levels of both pallets stay within the maximum of 60 dB(A) to classify for this certification. This means that CC is the first company in the world to obtain a PIEK certificate in the category “goods carts” (load carriers). This milestone within goods deliveries was furthermore awarded a so-called ‘Noise Oscar’ November 9. 

At a ceremony held by the British Noise Abatement Society at the House of Commons November 9, Container Centralen and its range of low-noise returnable transport items were awarded the Highly Commended accolade.


Joseph Blair
HorticultureTrends

Keep Yourself updated! Click Here to Subscribe to our News Letter and Alerts for the Horticulture & Fresh Produce Sectors In Ireland www.HortiTrends.com 

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News . Horticulture B2B Directory . Advertising . Sales . Marketing . Business Development & Support. 

Expertise, Practical Know-how, Passion for the Horticulture, Fresh Produce & Lifestyle Sectors.

Address: Suite 5 . 64 Dame Street . Dublin 2 . Ireland . Location: Map

Mobile: 353 (0)87 9212044  

Email: jblair@hortitrends.com     

29 Nov 2010

Paid work experience at Kew News ((tag:Horticulture Ireland, News, trends, weather, jobs, events, tenders, landscapers, garden centre, nurseries, Fresh Produce, forestry, Growers, arboriculture, Sourcebook, Horticulture Industry, Business Directory, suppl

Kew's Main Library

Graduate traineeships in the Library and Archives

Kew has one of the world’s most important plant science libraries and archives. Each year, the Library and Archives offers two twelve-month paid traineeships for graduates interested in careers in librarianship or in archives administration and records management.

A 2010 sandwich student mapping coffee species distribution

Sandwich studentships at Kew

To provide practical work experience for undergraduates, Kew offers a series of sandwich student placements, either working within its science teams or as part of the information technology department.

HPE_Kew_Apprentices in Botanical Horticulture

Kew Apprenticeship in Botanical Horticulture

Sign on for our 3 year practical horticulture course with day release option.

Kew Trainees (2009 intake)

Kew Traineeship in Botanical Horticulture

Sign up for our one-year Botanical Horticulture training course

Keep Yourself updated! Click Here to Subscribe to our News Letter and Alerts for the Horticulture & Fresh Produce Sectors In Ireland www.HortiTrends.com 

Click Here! to Promote Your Business and Grow Your Trade on Irelands Leading Business2Businesss Horticulture Directory of Supplies & Services www.HortiTrends.com

News . Horticulture B2B Directory . Advertising . Sales . Marketing . Business Development & Support. 

Expertise, Practical Know-how, Passion for the Horticulture, Fresh Produce & Lifestyle Sectors.

Address: Suite 5 . 64 Dame Street . Dublin 2 . Ireland . Location: Map

Mobile: 353 (0)87 9212044  

Email: jblair@hortitrends.com     

28 Nov 2010

New Florist in Dublin Bucking the Trend

Click http://hortitrends.com to Subscribe to our News Letter and Alerts for the Horticulture & Fresh Produce Sectors.
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Leading Business2Businesss Horticulture Directory of Supplies & Services.

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28 Nov 2010

Bord Bia Horticulture Subsidiary Board Members. Not Sure How Updated it is!

28 Nov 2010

Dual Promotion of Keelings Flowers & Chocolates at Applegreen Making it Easier for the Guys to Choose

Imag0087

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27 Nov 2010

Become a Show Stopper by John Stanley ((horticulture, nurseries, garden centres, growtrade, business directory, plants, retail, florists))

Customers walk into your store and your job is to get them to stop and look at the products on offer, hopefully if you can achieve that they will be enticed into buying the product on offer.


Your “Show Stopper” strategy is critical if you are to grow your sales in 2011.


The start of a new year is the ideal time to review your yearly “show stopper “ strategy and make the appropriate changes required to grow sales in the new year.

Ask yourself the following questions in preparation for a new trading year


1 Do all your team know what a “show stopper” is and how it affects your business?

My definition of a “show stopper” is the space allocation and display in the store that encourages the majority of your consumers in the store to stop and look at the display that has been created. The aim of stopping the customer is to get them to pick the product up and make a buying decision. Once they have made one buying decision they are more likely to make more purchases.


2 Does all the team know where the “Show Stopper” locations are in your store?

Every store has “show stopper” locations. Every retailers has a power spot selling position in their store, it is normally four steps into the store once the customer has traversed the transition zone. Every retailer sets up displays that have end cap locations, another area that is a “shop stopper” locations in the store. Walk the store and look at your sightline locations and ask yourself whether these draw the customer through the store. Every customer gets to the checkout and this is another ideal “shop stopper” location.


The number of locations for “show stoppers” will vary from store to store depending on the size and physical arrangement of the store, but the key is that all the team are aware of where these locations are and appreciate how important they are to the overall sales in the business.


3 Have you developed a “Show Stopper” display strategy?

It is not knowing where the locations are that is the key, it is what you do with them that is the real answer and a display plan for the year is critically important. Show stoppers are not about the product, that comes once you have decided what is the message you wish to communicate at the show stopper location. The message can be classified within a number of themed promotional groups. The main show stopper groups used by retailers are


Seasonal: A theme based on the four seasons of the year {in some cultures there are more seasons that can be developed} Creating a display theme around the season provides a message to the consumer that the whole store is changing the merchandise mix


Colour: Consumers often buy on a colour theme and selecting one colour theme for a show stopper is an easy and ideal eye catcher.

Favourites: Consumers like to buy based on opinion and a Favourites display can be based on one of the sales team, as an experts favourite range of products, or alternatively a best seller promotion based on consumer buying habits.


Peaks: New Year, Christmas, Easter, Mothers Day and so on are all part of a peak display strategy where the display is build based on a known track record based on consumer demand.


Added Value Solutions: The aim of this display is to sell the solution rather than the product. It allows you to take products from two or more different categories and combine them on a display to provide the right solution for the consumer. I recently saw a fashion show that was displaying shoes, bags and dresses together as the added value solution for the consumer.


Unique Themes: This is where you can let your imagination run wild and develop a theme that is unique to your store. It should be a theme that is memorable as the aim is to get your consumer to not only get involved themselves in them, but to promote it to their friends via word of mouth or the social media.


Back to Nature: Consumers are looking to get back to nature and a theme around sustainability and preserving the nature around us is very much in vogue at present.

4 Is someone responsible for managing the Show Stoppers?

Many Show Stoppers do not perform because they are built and then neglected. A show stopper needs to be monitored daily. This will only occur if somebody is made accountable for the day to day management of those displays. If they are half empty, untidy or have the wrong product on them these locations will reflect badly on the image and sales of the whole company.


Create a show stopper strategy and grow your business in 2011.

John Stanley (CSP) is one of the top 10% of speakers in the world today, an acclaimed retail consultant and WA Entrepreneur of the Year 2009.  

The author of  
several marketing, customer service and retail books including the best seller “Just About Everything a Retail Manager Needs to Know”, his company is WA Small Business Champion 2009 – Educational Services and WA Small Business of the Year - Export.  
For information on how John can help you grow your business visit www.johnstanley.com.au or emaillinda@johnstanley.com.au  

Keep Yourself updated! Click Here to Subscribe to our News Letter and Alerts for the Horticulture & Fresh Produce Sectors In Ireland www.HortiTrends.com 

Click Here! to Promote Your Business and Grow Your Trade on Irelands Leading Business2Businesss Horticulture Directory of Supplies & Services www.HortiTrends.com

News . Horticulture B2B Directory . Advertising . Sales . Marketing . Business Development & Support. 

27 Nov 2010

Grow Your Brand at Bloom 2011

Grow Your Brand at Bloom 2011

Grow Your Brand at Bloom 2011

Thursday 21st October, 2010:
 Bloom, Ireland's largest garden and food festival, brought to you by Bord Bia, is currently calling for sponsors for next year's show which takes place in the Phoenix Park from 2nd June - 6th June. This unique horticultural and culinary experience, which is now entering its fifth year, is offering tailor made sponsorship packages to best match organisations marketing strategy and budget.

The colourful feel-good festival attracts widespread public attention before, during and after the event and offers potential businesses the opportunity to showcase and grow their brand by interacting with 60,000 visitors over the four days. Visitors to Bloom can enjoy a range of spectacular showgardens, amazing floral displays, a large scale artisan farmers market, live cookery and craft demonstrations, free gardening advice plus dedicated children's activities.

Speaking about the opportunities available to businesses, Gary Graham, Bloom Show Manager, Bord Bia said, "We are very excited about Bloom 2011. The beauty of Bloom is that it allows organisations to interact with potential customers and key stakeholders in a unique environment. Over the past few years we have worked closely with over 30 key sponsors, from many diverse areas where we developed individual packages tailored to suit the specific requirements and budgets of each brand. We are encouraging all companies to consider Bloom as part of their planning for marketing activities in 2011".

For organisations interested in getting involved in Bloom 2011 the following demographics and visitor responses from the 2010 show are worth noting -

  • 60,129 people in attendance
  • 57% of these were from outside Dublin
  • 30,000 people spent more than four hours at the event
  • 99% of people rated the event as very worthwhile or worthwhile
  • 84% indicated that they had purchased a product or service at the event
  • 81% indicated that they would visit the event again in 2011

Commenting on the benefits of sponsoring the event, Donal Moulton, Marketing Manager Origo said: "BOSCH has been involved with Bloom since the beginning and without a doubt it is the most successful show that we participate in. Our BOSCH cooking demonstrations and BOSCH garden displays provide us with an opportunity to meet with our customers and showcase BOSCH products. We are always encouraged by the magnificent reception we receive from our customers and event organisers. We look forward to continuing our association with Bloom which is an event we cannot afford to miss".

For further information on tailoring a package to suit your business, contact Bloom's sponsorship team today garret.buckley@eventhaus.ie01 8460020 or Paul.gallagher@eventhaus.ie01 8460020.

26 Nov 2010

RHS Wisley Visitors Break World Record ((tag:Horticulture Ireland, gardening, rhs, News, trends, weather, jobs, events, tenders, landscapers, garden centre, nurseries, Fresh Produce, forestry, Growers, arboriculture, Sourcebook, Horticulture Industry

It's official: we have finally had verification from GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ that we have broken the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ record for the Most Simultaneous Matches of Conkers played at one time. 

The conker attempt was held on Seven Acres lawn at RHS Garden Wisley on 30 October, where 502 keen conker players took part to help us smash the world record.

We had players of all ages joining in, with some families travelling as far away as Sussex to take part. To all these people we want to say a massive thank you. Without you we could never have done it!

The record-breaking conker session at Wisley

 

26 Nov 2010

Report Highlights Value of School Gardening ((tag:Horticulture Ireland, school gardening, News, trends, weather, jobs, events, tenders, landscapers, garden centre, nurseries, Fresh Produce, forestry, Growers, arboriculture, Sourcebook, Horticulture I

Children with Special Educational Needs blossom when gardening becomes part of their school timetable, says a new RHS report.

The findings from the year-long project showed that the pupils involved participated more in activities and embraced a new interest in learning. Those who had preferred to work independently developed improved team working skills. They also gained confidence and were happier to persevere with challenging tasks.

The outreach project, Growing Together: Gardening with Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs was undertaken by the RHS in 2009 -10, and included children aged from four to 16.

School gardening

The pupils involved had conditions such as Autistic Spectrum Conditions (ASC), Behavioural, Emotional and Social Difficulties (BESD) cystic fibrosis, hearing impairment and dyslexia. The emphasis of all sessions was to give students practical, hands-on gardening experience and for teachers to learn skills so that they could work with the pupils between visits.

Hayley Young, RHS SEN Schools Project Officer said: “I could see my young gardeners changing as the year progressed, growing in confidence, being more interested in what was going on and interacting better with other children and adults.

“For me, the past year has been a career highlight. Working with 95 eager children and young people and their enthusiastic teachers has been demanding, fun and very, very productive - and I don’t just mean all the crops they produced!”

Funding the project

The project was made possible by a generous legacy from the late Mr Peter Rees, who was a member of the RHS for more than 30 years, along with his late wife Moya. The legacy enabled the charity to fund an SEN Schools Project Officer to work with six Special Education Needs schools in Sussex. She worked with 95 pupils and their teachers throughout the school year, leading both student sessions and teacher training. The publication of the report was funded by the Department of Education's Growing Schools initiative.

The findings have enabled the RHS to support two further SEN projects over the next few years. A Project Officer has been appointed to work with SEN pupils in mainstream schools in West Yorkshire and Hayley Young will look at opportunities for older secondary pupils to follow accredited horticulture courses to increase their chances of work experience and employment.

     

26 Nov 2010

Garden.com Launches Two New Environmentally Focused Sites ((tag:Horticulture Ireland, garden.com, News, trends, weather, jobs, events, tenders, landscapers, garden centre, nurseries, Fresh Produce, forestry, Growers, arboriculture, Sourcebook, Hortic

Garden.com, an internet leader in the rapidly expanding outdoor living category, has launched two partner sites,Solar.com and Greenhouse.com.   


Solar.com, the destination place for all things solar, helps consumers live a greener life. While solar energy is quickly becoming a viable solution for alternative power, Solar.com pinpoints the greatest in solar technology offering alternative energy products such as solar panels, wind turbines, and everyday solar solutions for the homeowner. Solar technology also extends to lighting, the patio and garden as well as even inside the home.

Greenhouse.com, the new consumer solution for all backyard greenhouse needs, allows consumers to educate themselves to find the perfect greenhouse and related accessories. Whether simple pop up, full scale, portable or a cold frame, greenhouse.com presents a diverse variety of options, tips, articles, recommendations. Greenhouse.com points out tips and information as well as highlighting the most popular greenhouses that are most beneficial. 

“With fall ending and winter approaching, Garden.com and TABcom are pleased to announce the great timing of Solar.com and Greenhouse.com, two sites that help those looking to shift their planting needs to the indoors and save on energy costs,” said Paul Ambrose, vice president of Garden.com.

Garden.com also has released its new e-gardening catalog. The 36-page book is a small representation of the 25,000 products available online at Garden.com. Here are a few of the highlights:

•    Gardener's Gift Guide
•    The Ultimate Outdoor Room
•    Fall Clean Up Tools
•    Fire Pits & Patio Warmth
•    Birding and Wildlife Products
•    Exclusive Products from PBS Gardener Billy Styles
•    Personalized Gardening Products
•    Curb Appeal and Garden Décor Products
•    His/Her Holiday Product Recommendations

For more on the Garden.com catalog, click here

26 Nov 2010

Shades of Green ((tag:Horticulture Ireland ,sustainability, green issues, News, trends, weather, jobs, events, tenders, landscapers, garden centre, nurseries, Fresh Produce, forestry, Growers, arboriculture, Sourcebook, Horticulture Industry, Busines

It’s not just multinationals with huge budgets that can implement sustainable practices. Small, nimble companies are also well able to push the green agenda, reports Linda Daly

Small firms may look at large multinationals and their green budgets in envy, but as the old adage goes, it’s quality rather than quantity that counts.

Indeed, it appears small to medium-sized enterprises have the upper hand when it comes to developing innovative, sustainable practices and green products and services.

Andrea Carroll, corporate sustainability consultant with Arc Sustainability, believes they are more innovative.

“For big businesses it can be a case of retro-fitting, but small firms are innovating new sustainable practices through identifying products and services, and spotting a niche where there’s a new growth area for greener, sustainable businesses,” she says.

Yes, larger companies can commit the resources to boost their green credentials. Siemens highlighted this recently when it offered to lend the State money to install up to 1.1 million domestic water meters around Ireland.

The move by the multinational is part of a range of measures that has seen its own bank finance energy-saving measures in government departments and public buildings.

Also this month, Lagan Cement, which is part of the larger Lagan Group, positioned itself to the forefront of sustainable business practice by launching a biodiversity action plan and nature walk.

The company hopes to have one of the most environmentally friendly plants in Europe at its 600-acre manufacturing facility in Kinnegad, Co Meath. It has highlighted a number of species on the site, with the walk taking in areas including lakes and sandbanks created by prior excavation.

But fear not, small firms. Carroll acknowledges that large multinationals are often seen as leaders in the area of sustainability, but she says small firms have the ability to adapt quicker and change their processes and products to become more sustainable.

“They’re seeing and meeting a demand that’s not being met by bigger business,” she adds.

A NATURAL PORTFOLIO

Carroll points to the success story of Tom’s of Maine, a natural personal-care product company, which was founded by husband and wife Tom and Kate Chappell in the Seventies.

The company’s first product was a non-polluting phosphate-free washing powder called Clearlake, and it went on to develop a portfolio of natural soap, toothpaste and other healthcare products. Its policy has always been to advocate for clean water.

Over the years, it built a strong reputation for producing environmentally friendly products, and in 2006 was acquired by Colgate-Palmolive, which took a controlling 84pc stake in the firm, for a reported US$100m.

Cloud-computing company Dediserve is an example of an Irish small firm that developed with the green agenda in mind. The two-year-old Dublin-based firm provides hosting services to its clients, which in turn allows them to remove the need for hardware and high electricity costs.

HOW THE CLOUD IS GREEN

The cloud-hosting model is green because it requires less servers to host the same number of users than a dedicated server farm.

Managing director of Dediserve, Aidan McCarron, says that while cost is the main motivation for companies to use the service of a cloud-computing server, they are attracted by the green aspects also.

“Several new studies have been released claiming that the aggregate emissions of all web servers around the world will contain as much carbon as the entire airline industry by 2020,” says McCarron.

“Virtual servers consume less than 5pc of the power of a physical server while giving you the exact same functionality, which means you can run 20 virtual servers off the same power as one physical server. This reduces your power consumption massively.”

One Dediserve server rack is now the equivalent to 25 traditional racks of servers. McCarron says the green agenda is a big driver in terms of how business is being done. His clients agree, it would seem.

Set up in February 2008, the company is already in expansion mode and recently bought Belfast-based Venture Host. This has helped it break through to the UK market, and has clients around the world.

McCarron says the firm plans to make other acquisitions in the UK and US in the medium term.

Being innovative in your sustainability practices will win you clients, as many of the larger retail giants and businesses look to their suppliers to ensure they are also environmentally responsible.

SUSTAINABLE LAUNDRY

Dalkey-based firm Crisp Dry Cleaning and Laundry Service has won a lot of business due to its very innovative environmentally sustainable practices.

“In order to minimise our impact on the environment, we have actively pursued new technology and products to help us with that process,” says Andrew Collins, managing director.

The company worked with Louth-based manufacturers Dormer Ireland to develop plastic hangers made from 100pc recyclable products, and started providing them to customers two years ago. The hangers have been designed in such a way that they have eliminated the need for cardboard sleeves.

Crisp further reduced its carbon footprint by packing up its dry cleaning with nylon reusable loyalty bags, effectively eliminating wire-hanger and plastic-bag waste.

The firm also carries out a system called wet cleaning, which is a more environmentally sustainable form of dry cleaning.

“Our mission statement for the 21st century is to be as green and as responsible as we can be. Everything we can do and are doing and every piece of technology we look at putting into our business would back up this philosophy,” he says.

Every year, the company commits a budget to researching different systems to achieve those goals. Collins’ ultimate aim is that Crisp will eliminate the non-sustainable dry-cleaning system and replace it with a more environmentally sustainable system.

He says the decision to implement this policy into his business was both a personal and a professional one.

“It’s important because first as a father with two very small children I wanted to be environmentally responsible. As a businessman it’s a wonderful challenge to source locally produced sustainable products without increasing my overhead but reducing it. That’s very exciting,” he adds.

The return on the investment of the hangers has been about €2 per hanger, according to Collins, who says he has reduced his overheads by a significant 10pc in the past year.

Collins says it has been a great way to distinguish his firm from the competition. He has also marketed the company, which was set up in 2004, by giving school presentations around the Dalkey and Shankill areas about how sustainability practices can cut down on waste.

“I find it quite enlightening and the response we have received from students has been very good,” he says. Being innovative in your sustainability practices, whether that’s through establishing business processes or developing greener products and services, is a win-win situation it would seem.

This article first appeared in OwnerManager magazine.


26 Nov 2010

iPhone app puts businesses in control of energy costs ((tag:Horticulture Ireland, energy saving, bill reduction,News, trends, weather, jobs, events, tenders, landscapers, garden centre, nurseries, Fresh Produce, forestry, Growers, arboriculture, Sour

A new app for the iPhone has been released that allows users to access real-time energy market information and could potentially save them money.

Vayu has provided the app that will give businesses the information they need to watch over their energy bills and offers access to a wide range of issues that affect the price of natural gas – helping firms better decide how to buy their energy.

iPhone app puts businesses in control of energy costs

Ross McConnell, Eamonn Fennell, Victor Costello and Matt Williams join Wayne Kelly, managing director of clear energy services at the launch of the new Vayu iPhone app

Bill reduction

According to Vayu, this proactive approach to energy management will give companies an opportunity to significantly reduce their bills.

The app features 'Daily Gas Price Alerts', 'The Daily Market Commentary' and 'Weekly Market Overview', as well as a feature that enables users to manage their accounts.

The app was designed by Dublin company Big Top Multimedia and is available on the App Store.

  

26 Nov 2010

Shoppers Cautious over Christmas Spending ((tag:Horticulture Ireland, News, consumers, retail, trends, weather, jobs, events, tenders, landscapers, garden centre, nurseries, Fresh Produce, forestry, Growers, arboriculture, Sourcebook, Horticulture In

For new businesses hoping to make a killing over Christmas, uncertainty still abounds with just over half (51pc) of consumers planning to reduce their spend this year, according to AXA Financial.

Just 1pc plan to increase spending over the festive season. One in ten is waiting to see what the December Budget holds.

The survey of 1,000 adult consumers was conducted within the last few weeks for AXA Financial by independent market research company, iReach. Those aged 35-44 are most likely to reduce their Christmas spending with 55pc confirming this.

“It looks like being another difficult Christmas for retailers with the added uncertainty of a particularly tough Budget and the arrival of the IMF which could delay the start of spending by many,” commented David Walls, director, AXA Financial.

“However, the good news is that a significant proportion of the population (39pc) is determined to celebrate Christmas and maintain spend despite or even because of all the doom and gloom.”

Looking longer term

The Budget becomes even more of a factor for those who are looking longer term. Almost a quarter (23pc) say that their discretionary spending (on holidays, entertainment, home improvement, electrical goods etc) over the next 12 months will depend on the Budget. Some 42pc expect their discretionary spending to decrease while 30pc see no change. Only 5pc expect to increase discretionary spend.

Photo: David Walls, director, AXA Financial

26 Nov 2010

IFA REACTION TO THE NATIONAL RECOVERY PLAN ((tag:Horticulture Ireland, national recovery plan, News, trends, weather, jobs, events, tenders, landscapers, garden centre, nurseries, Fresh Produce, forestry, Growers, arboriculture, Sourcebook, Horticult

Reacting to the publication of The National Recovery Plan, IFA President John Bryan said the role that agriculture and the food sector can play in the economic recovery of the country has been acknowledged in the plan.
 
John Bryan said agri-foods exports will increase by €750m, or 12%, this year and the potential identified in Food Harvest 2020 Report will continue to drive export growth and jobs. “The farm schemes and taxation measures are critical to the sector’s growth and the Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith must ensure that they are fully maintained in the Budget next month.”
 
He said, “the Government must ensure that an AEOS replacement for those farmers leaving REPS is put in place. The allocation for 2011 will be inadequate if the Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith does not pay all outstanding payments to farmers this year. It is vital that agriculture’s capital commitments in 2011 are met.  The Minister can do this by paying out the €120m owed to 17,000 farmers as part of the Farm Waste Management Scheme before the end of the year.”
 
The IFA President said the broadening of the tax base and reduction in services will impact very negatively on all farm families, particularly those on low incomes. He said the proposal to double the carbon tax will have a further damaging effect on the export-led, agri-food sector. The increase in VAT rates must be fully reflected in the VAT flat-rate refund to farmers.

26 Nov 2010

RDS Energy Lecture Series - Geothermal Energy in Ireland ((tag:Horticulture Ireland, geothermal, energy, lecture, News, trends, weather, jobs, events, tenders, landscapers, garden centre, nurseries, Fresh Produce, forestry, Growers, arboriculture, So

RDS Energy Lecture Series - Geothermal Energy in Ireland

RDS Energy Lecture Series - Geothermal Energy in Ireland

The next lecture in the RDS Energy Lecture series is on the topic of geothermal energy; a renewable and sustainable energy source generated from the heat in the earth’s core. It is harnessed by extracting hot water and/or steam through boreholes from deep underground and using it to generate heat and electricity. Although already widely used around the world in countries such as Germany, the US, Iceland, Italy and France, to date no deep geothermal projects have been completed in Ireland. Geothermal can help reduce Ireland’s reliance on fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gas and substantially reduce our carbon emissions. 

The Society is delighted to welcome Mr Padraig Hanly, Managing Director of GT Energy to the RDS to update those in attendance about the potential of geothermal energy in Ireland and the ongoing developments in the industry. GT Energy is a leading Irish company that specialises in the harnessing of deep geothermal energy for the production of renewable heat and electricity internationally

Date: Thursday February 17, 2011

Venue: Minerva Suite

Opening Hours:
7.00pm

Admission:
Free of charge and open to all. Advance booking is essential.

Organiser's Contact Details: 
Farrelly, Paul 
Industry and Commerce 
RDS Foundation Department 
Ballsbridge 
Dublin 4

Tel: +353 (0) 1 240 7215 
Email: industry@rds.ie 
Fax: +353 (0) 1 660 4014 
Web: http://www.rds.ie/industry

26 Nov 2010

The Landscape Institute Awards 2010 ((tag:Horticulture Ireland, News, landscape institute, trends, weather, jobs, events, tenders, landscapers, garden centre, nurseries, Fresh Produce, forestry, Growers, arboriculture, Sourcebook, Horticulture Indust

The LI Awards 2010

Watch poet Ian McMillan’s welcome speech at this year’s awards and view winners list...

After an introduction from LI President Jo Watkins, who described the Awards as 'capturing the zeitgeist," Radio 3 presenter Ian McMillan’s opened the ceremony. He spoke eloquently about the world of landscape. He talked about the way in which "landscapes are available for myth". Watch the speech here above.

Richard Bisgrove, winner of the Peter Youngman Award, commented: “It came as a complete surprise and was a very great honour”. He went on to say that he thought the Landscape Institute is at the forefront of efforts to achieve a sustainable future. He is due to retire from lecturing at Reading University at the end of the year but hopes to continue his involvement with landscape through occasional lectures, writing and consultancy.

Emma Corless of AECOM, who won the Design One to Five Hectares award for their Liverpool Pier Head Public Realm and Canal Link, said: “The Landscape Institute continues to do a wonderful job promoting landscape architecture and professions within the built environment. The emphasis on visionary aspects of the profession within the annual awards should be congratulated.”

Winners of the Local Landscape Planning award, Chris Blandford Associates, were delighted. CEO, Dominic Watkins, said: “Together with the wide range of multi-disciplinary, landscape-led projects recognised at this year’s awards event, the MKSM Green Infrastructure Design Guide emphasises the important role played by the profession in helping deliver quality sustainable development.”

The Cambridge City Council sustainable urban drainage (SuDS) project took the prize for the Landscape Policy award as well as the President's Award. Simon Neesam of The Landscape Partnership who worked on the project, commented: "We hope that the format of the guide will encourage greater use of SuDS and dispel some of the myths which appear to hamper their incorporation into developments and open space. We hope that other local authorities will adopt a similar progressive approach to Cambridge City."

To see the winners accept their awards view our gallery here. The full list of winners from the day is below.

President’s Award
• Cambridge SuDS Design and Adoption Guide by The Landscape Partnership

Peter Youngman Award
• Winner: Richard Bisgrove, Director of Landscape Management at the University of Reading

Communications & Presentation
• Winner: Making Space in Dalston, London by J&L Gibbons
• Commended: Golden Square, Birmingham by Capita Lovejoy

Heritage & Conservation
• Winner: Arnos Vale Cemetery Restoration, Bristol by Nicholas Pearson Associates
• Highly commended: Hill Close Gardens, Warwick by Plincke
• Highly commended: Chiswick House Gardens, London by Scott Wilson
• Commended: Valentines Park, Ilford by Land Use Consultants

Design: Under one hectare
• Winner: Duncan Terrace Gardens, London by Remapp
• Highly commended: Lyric Theatre Roof Garden, London by Groundwork London
• Highly commended: Braham Street Park, City of London by EDCO Design London Ltd
• Commended: The Living Wall, Westfield London by AECOM

Design: One to five hectares
• Winner: Pier Head public Realm and Canal Link, Liverpool by AECOM
• Highly commended: Ashford Ring Road by Whitelaw Turkington
• Highly Commended: Institute of Art, Design & Technology Campus by Stephen Diamond Associates
• Commended: St John’s Square Blackpool by Planit IE Limited

Design: Over five hectares
• Winner: Cambourne Green Infrastructure, South Cambridgeshire by Randall Thorpe
• Highly commended: The Forthquarter Park, Edinburgh by Hyland Edgar Driver
• Highly commended: Meadow Farm Hurley by mhp design

Landscape Policy
• Winner: Cambridge SuDS Design and Adoption Guide by The Landscape Partnership

Local Landscape Planning
• Winner: MKSM Green Infrastructure Design Guide by Chris Blanford Associates
• Highly commended: Cambourne New Settlement by Randall Thorp
• Commended: Cornwall AONB Atlas by Land Use Consultants

Strategic Landscape Planning
• Winner: Greater Ashford Development Strategy: Environmental Workstream by Studio Engleback
• Highly commended: Wirral Borough Landscape Assessment by TEP
• Highly commended: Strategic Planning for the Cotswolds Landscape by the Cotswolds Conservation Board

Student Portfolio
• Winner: Ruth Olden, Edinburgh College of Art

Urban Design & Masterplanning
• Highly commended: Oxford Circus London by Atkins

Future Vision winners

Future Green Thinking Award: 
Lee Miles, MFA Environment Design for The Mbare project, a proposal to replace a former slum in Zimbabwe with a combination of better agricultural management, bio-energy production, improved infrastructure and economic growth, creating a self-sufficient prototype for improving cities.

Future Work/Life Award:
Ronan Watson, Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) for New Life on the Block which aims to tackle social deprivation and environmental sustainability by regenerating existing tower blocks to become self-sufficient in energy and provide spaces for year-round food production while strengthening the community.

Future Open Spaces Award: 
Elspeth Reddsih, Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA), for The Educational Energy Hub, a series of strategies for a section of the Don Valley aiming to attract new housing, business and users; reduce flood risk and pollution; enhance ecology; and provide sustainable transport. It proposes a biomass plant in a former power station.

Future Buildings Award: 
Jonathan Woodward, Architecture (BA Hons); for The Bio-craft, an innovative structure designed for societies at risk from the effects of climate change which includes a means of producing renewable energy.


26 Nov 2010

Northern Ireland Rose Society Endorses Neutrog Sudden Impact for Roses ((tag:Horticulture Ireland, rose society, neutrog, News, trends, weather, jobs, events, tenders, landscapers, garden centre, nurseries, Fresh Produce, forestry, Growers, arboricul

After a year of trialling Sudden Impact for Roses, the Rose Society of Norther Ireland have agreed to endorse the product.  
Norman Beck of the Rose Society said “ We have all been extremely impressed with the performance of Sudden Impact for Roses this year, and we are delighted to endorse the product. We look forward to working with Neutrog in the future, and we believe we can each help each other grow and develop.” Niall Reynolds of Neutrog said that he also was delighted with partnership, and that he had really enjoyed meeting and working with the members of the society.
26 Nov 2010

Neutrog Fertilsers Passes the Spread Test ! ((tag:Horticulture Ireland, neutorg, fertilisers, News, trends, weather, jobs, events, tenders, landscapers, garden centre, nurseries, Fresh Produce, forestry, Growers, arboriculture, Sourcebook, Horticultu

Neutrog Passes the Spread Test !

 

Since Neutrog Fertilisers were launched on the Irish agricultural market in early 2010 there has been a great response from Irish farmers, who are very willing to give Neutrog a try. One of the questions we were being regularly asked was “how far will it spread”. Most tillage farmers require a 24m spread, and some were concerned that neutrog products such as Rapid Raiser and Seamungus wouldnt go the distance.  
To reassure farmers Neutrog’s Con Farren asked Trevor Richards of Atkins Machinery to do a spread test using trays, on 2 types of fertiliser spreader, a Bredal Trailed speader and a Lely Centerliner. Trevor was surprised at how well Neutrog Rapid Raiser spread with both machines, particularly given the fact that the day of the test was quite windy. The Bredal was set-up to spread 24m and the trays showed that there was an even spread accross this distance. The centreliner was set up for a 12m spread and also resulted in a perfect spread pattern.  Con said “It was important that we carried out this test, as it gives farmers the 100% assurance that Neutrog Fertilisers can be spread accurately, and to the required distances.”

Regards
Joseph Blair
www.HortiTrends.com
HorticultureTrends
News . Advertising . Sales . Marketing . Business Development & Support. 
Expertise, Practical Know-how, Passion for the Horticulture Fresh Produce & Lifestyle Sectors...

Address: Suite 5,  64 Dame Street . Dublin 2 . Ireland . Location: Map & Directions
    
Mobile: 353 (0)87.9212044  

Email: jblair@hortitrends.com     
25 Nov 2010

Flora Florists Dublin Ready for Christmas

Imag0079
24 Nov 2010

M&S Gearing up for Christmas Flower Sales

Imag0077
18 Nov 2010

Kildare Trade Show 2011? Kildare Grower's Press Release - “Future for Kildare”

Having carefully considered the findings presented from the review of the “Kildare Show”, Kildare Growers Group Ltd, has decided to embark on an alternative path to support and promote Amenity Horticulture.  The group has elected to focus their efforts on creating an event which will showcase the best of Irish horticulture, in association with Bord Bia (Irish Food Board).

 

Our vision for the event is to assist growers to nurture and develop new ideas, to bring quality trade buyers to the event and, supported by Bord Bia, to provide mentoring to exhibitors in presenting their offering to potential buyers. All of these activities are focused on establishing a desirable annual event.

 

Planning for the new trade event, in July 2011, more focused on promoting Irish Nurseries and associated product suppliers is currently underway, details  of which will be announced in due course.   

 

Yours Sincerely

 

Brendan Guilfoyle

Chairman Kildare Growers

Regards
Joseph Blair
www.HortiTrends.com
HorticultureTrends
News . Advertising . Sales . Marketing . Business Development & Support. 
Expertise, Practical Know-how, Passion for the Horticulture Fresh Produce & Lifestyle Sectors...

Address: Suite 5,  64 Dame Street . Dublin 2 . Ireland . Location: Map & Directions
    
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18 Nov 2010

HortiTrends Breaking News! Agri Aware Executive Director John Murray moving to Tesco.

 Full Story coming Soon! Sign up to News Alerts & Directory Below!

Regards
Joseph Blair
www.HortiTrends.com
HorticultureTrends
News . Advertising . Sales . Marketing . Business Development & Support. 
Expertise, Practical Know-how, Passion for the Horticulture Fresh Produce & Lifestyle Sectors...

Address: Suite 5,  64 Dame Street . Dublin 2 . Ireland . Location: Map & Directions
    
Mobile: 353 (0)87.9212044  

Email: jblair@hortitrends.com     
17 Nov 2010

Long Range Weather Forecast For Ireland - 17 Nov 2010 from Weather Online ((horticulture,weather,plants,Ireland,growtrade,business directory))


TODAY ... mostly cloudy with showers becoming more persistent and turning to steady rain for some, winds briefly much lighter, then ramping up again to about 30-40 mph (nothing like yesterday though), possibly a few stronger gusts near the Clare and Kerry coasts, from a SW direction. Rather chilly by mid-day with temperatures levelling off around 7-8 C. Rainfalls 10-15 mms.  
Satellite image (c) yr.no/Meteosat
TONIGHT ... showers or longer periods of rain becoming more drizzly with fog becoming widespread, lows 5-7 C in a moderate SW wind.

THURSDAY ... showers continuing, moderate SW winds, highs near 9 C.

FRIDAY ... partly cloudy for most, some showers continuing in Connacht mostly, and winds backing to south. Lows near 3 C and highs near 10 C.

SATURDAY ... cloudy, periods of rain heavier in western counties, winds backing further to SE, lows near 4 C and highs near 8 C.

SUNDAY ... cloudy, raw, some sunny intervals developing with a few widely scattered sleety or wintry showers, lows near 2 C and highs near 7 C.

OUTLOOK
 ... colder in general next week, possibly cold enough for snow and sharp frosts at times in a generally NE to N wind flow.

17 Nov 2010

Westland Horticulture to hold Masterclass for Retail Garden Staff in Dublin - February 2011

Westland Horticulture’s masterclasses are aimed at garden retail staff, and experienced speakers will provide information to boost the skills and confidence of staff.

The master classes will cover the follwing categories:

  • Developments and Trends in the market place.
  • Customer engagement.
  • How to maximise sales and product knowledge
  • The Future Foundation will provide information on trends and Westland Horticulture’s technical team will provide information on specific products to enable retail staff to pass this on to their customers. Westland Horticulture head of marketing Keith Nicholson said:  "The 2011 Westland Masterclasses are a must for all garden retail staff, as one of the leading companies within this area we will be using our knowledge along with those from outside professional organisations to reinvigorate gardening within centres across the UK."

    Westland Masterclass Date - Dublin: City West Hotel – 3rd February 2011.

    The classes are free of charge and restricted to 30 delegates per course.  A refundable booking fee of £35 is required. 
    To book your place email Nicola Bacon on nbacon@westlandhorticulture.com

    16 Nov 2010

    Irish Landscape Institute Events

    November 2010   

    Street Design in Ireland: A Renewed Approach
    Sarah Rock, Urban Designer & Principal of Placemakers  vwww.placemakers.ie 
    Jason Taylor, Urban Designer, South Dublin County Council

    Date:         Thursday 18th November
    Venue:      Conference Room, Pearse Street Library, Dublin 2
    Time:        Doors open 17h45pm, Lecture commences 18h15

    Sarah is actively involved in urban design research, education and training, and has a specialist interest in street design.  She runs the multi-disciplinary RIAI Urban Design CPD Series.  Jason is involved in a number of street design projects including the Adamstown Street Design Guide and is part of the working group tasked with producing new national guidelines for street design in Ireland.


    January 2011 
    Children, Play & the Elements - Harry Harbottle

    Date:          Thursday 27th January
    Venue:       Conference Room, Pearse Street Library, Dublin 2
    Time:          Doors open 17h45pm, Lecture commences 18h15

    Harry is co-author of the guide to the European standard for the safety of playground equipment and an expert in the specification and design of naturalistic playgrounds and play equipment.

    15 Nov 2010

    Executive Summary of Plan for the Development of Horticulture in Teagasc 2010-2013

    Executive Summary This “Plan for the Development of Horticulture in Teagasc 2010-2013” addresses both the ongoing need for change identified in Teagasc 2030 and the Teagasc Change Programme 2009-2013 as well as the need for maximising resources of horticulture in Teagasc against a background of a deteriorating budgetary position. The horticultural sector contributes over €360 million (CSO, 2008) to agricultural output at farm gate level and provides over 6,000 jobs in the production sector. In addition the amenity services sector has a value of over €2 billion and employs an estimated 12,700 people. There is considerable potential for development of horticulture at both production and value added levels. Fruit and vegetables play a very important role in addressing the nation’s health problems and horticultural pursuits contribute to a positive lifestyle. The need for ongoing industry modernisation remains a key priority to attain the efficiencies required in a competitive global horticultural industry. New EU regulations concerning pesticides were enacted in November 2009. These together with the volumes of existing regulations including the Nitrate directorate, hygiene regulations etc will have major implications for all growers as well as the input and output service industries. The goal of Teagasc will be to provide growers and the industry with the knowledge and skills to abide by these regulations while enabling growers and the industry to deliver increased profit from productivity. The primary recommendations are listed below: 1. Exploit the development potential of horticulture, prioritising mushrooms, fruit/vegetable, nursery stock/cut foliage and turfgrass sectors. a. Support innovation that adds value in the food sector taking advantage of the positive healthy profile associated with fruit/vegetables. b. Support innovation that creates diversity in the nursery stock/cut foliage sector. c. Use Producer Organisations to drive investment and consolidate market developments where possible. 2. Integrate horticultural research, advisory and education services in one programme under the leadership of a dedicated programme manager. This will better service the needs of the horticultural sector and enable rationalisation of Teagasc resources. Horticultural activities will be located at a) Ashtown/National Botanic Gardens b) Kildalton. Potato development work will be associated with the tillage crops and potato expertise in Oak Park. 3. The drivers of the horticultural programme will be a) Profit from productivity; b) Innovation for added value; c) Energy efficiency and d) stakeholders needs. 4. Teagasc will form a “Horticultural Commodity Team” comprising representatives from Teagasc, Bord Bia, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and stakeholders representing sectoral interests including growers and the industry. This team will provide leadership and coordination to the horticultural industry. Enterprise teams will be established to provide leadership to the individual sectors. A Joint Programme Development Team with representatives from Research, Advice and Education will draw up the annual Teagasc Horticulture Business Plan. 5. Key appointments required subject to resources are: a. entomologist to service the needs of all horticultural production; b. Specialist-Researcher on potatoes; c. Specialist-Researcher on mushrooms; d. Post doctorate or post graduate researcher on cut foliage; and, e. Knowledge transfer person dealing with horticultural web content, publications, short courses and public events.

    11 Nov 2010

    Breaking News! Development Plan for Horticulture In Ireland to be Released within days

    Director of Horticulture at Teagasc Jim O’Mahony is making ready the plan for the public domain and all interested industry sectors. Stay tuned to HortiTrends for this and other latest news updates!
    11 Nov 2010

    Breaking News! Development Plan for Horticulture In Ireland to be Released within days

    Director of Horticulture at Teagasc Jim O’Mahony is making ready for the public domain and all interested industry sectors. Stay tuned to HortiTrends for this and other latest news updates!

    Joseph Blair
    www.HortiTrends.com
    HorticultureTrends


    News . Advertising . Sales . Marketing . Business Development & Support. 
    Expertise, Practical Know-how, Passion for the Horticulture Fresh Produce & Lifestyle Sectors...

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    11 Nov 2010

    HortiTrends to Give Industry Talk to ITB Horticulture Entrepreneurship Programme 2010

    Joseph Blair of www.HortiTrends.com and Director of Horticulture Network Ireland will be speaking to students and entrepreneurs in the Institute of Technology's Horticulture Department tomorrow. He will be discussing a range of issues that are effecting existing businesses and new entrants into the horticulture sector in Ireland and Europe. He will be also showing students the benefits of joining the HortiTrends Business2Business Horticulture Directory and Sourcebook that will help them to Grow their Trade in Horticulture in Ireland now and into the future. 
    It is a free online directory that unlike paper catalogue directories will not be gathering dust on any shelf and are not out of date as soon as they are published. He will be also be revealing some trick of the trade and the benefits of a Social Media for Business campaign that will make the Directory outshine any new or existing entrants to the market. he will also talk about getting Free Money! from the likes of Bord Bia through the MAP programme among others. Check back over the weekend for an update on the talk and also how your company too can benefit by getting its business profile on Hortitrends now! Stay tuned for an important link up with and online consumer gardening website. Sign up to day at www.HortTrends.com

    Keep Yourself updated! Click Here to Subscribe to our News Letter and Alerts for the Horticulture & Fresh Produce Sectors In Ireland. 


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    Expertise, Practical Know-how, Passion for the Horticulture Fresh Produce & Lifestyle Sectors...

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    11 Nov 2010

    The Marketing Secret for 2011

    The Marketing Secret for 2011

    John Stanley

    Marketing has gone through a revolution over the last few years and month

    . It seems like every month a new idea hits the market place. Gone are the days when it was as simple as writing a newspaper advert and the job was done. The retailer of today has to consider the social media, conventional promotions, word of mouth marketing, loyalty schemes and a host of other ideas to develop their business.

    All these new ways of developing and growing your business have been proven to work by retailers and small business, but the real challenge is implementationin your own business.

    The down turn and uncertainty in the market place due to the financial meltdown in 2008 has resulted in most small businesses considering  downsizing and either shedding staff or not recruiting more staff.

    In 2010 many economies around the world are still “soft” with governments bringing in stricter governing regulations and as a result retailers are still nervous about growth in the economy. This really came home to me when I had a conversation with my local travel agent. We were having a conversation about marketing and she mentioned that the challenge was not developing new ideas, but having the time to implement those ideas. She was confident that if she had the time she could develop her business and spread the message about how good her service was helping her customers.

    She is aware of the marketing secret for 2011...it is TIME .Those businesses that can find time to develop their marketing strategy are those that will prosper in 2011.

    I was recently working with a client and his reaction was very similar. His comment was “I am too busy to do marketing, I need all my time to just keep the business afloat, when the business is going well I will give myself more time to do the marketing”.

    The extra pressure that retailers and small business are feeling at present is resulting in less people doing more work and as a result they are not having time to develop their business. This strategy will work in the short term, but in the long term it will result in a reduction in customers as other businesses gear up to develop their marketing strategies and attract customers away from your business.

    TIME SAVERS

    The key to developing your business in the next few months is going back to the basics of management and looking at how you can use time more effectively to allow you and your team to develop marketing strategies for the business in 2011.

    My top 7 Tips are as follows

    1 Write down your goals as far as marketing is concerned. What do you want to achieve and by when. I think the key is to write them down rather than just think about them and to put a date to the time you will have achieved these goals.

    2 When travelling give yourself a target to achieve. I am a typical “Road Warrior” and use the time at airports and on flights to achieve work goals, you may not be an air traveller, but travel time can still be a valuable time to catch up and research what marketing you need to develop.

    Do not procrastinate. Set a deadline, write it down and do it. Tell work colleagues and family members what you are doing so they can help you develop your goals.

    4 Balance your time between traditional marketing and social media marketing. It is easy to get engrossed in one at the expense of the other. You will need both techniques in your tool kit for 2011.

    5 Is there something that you can delegate to allow you to invest more time in the things that will make a difference in your business? For some of us it may be worth delegating the marketing, for others it may mean delegating other areas of work.

    6 Measure the success of marketing. Measure how you are achieving more customers and the increase in the average sale per customer. This will give you the motivation and confidence to develop your marketing skills

    7 Reward yourself when you have achieved your goals in marketing.

    I am confident that 2011 will result in more unique marketing ideas being presented to all of us and it will be easy to feel swamped by all these ideas. My advice is to keep it as simple as you can, set some goals and make sure you achieve them.

    John Stanley (CSP) is one of the top 10% of speakers in the world today, an acclaimed retail consultant and WA Entrepreneur of the Year 2009.  The author of several marketing, customer service and retail books including the best seller “Just About Everything a Retail Manager Needs to Know”, his company is WA Small Business Champion 2009 – Educational Services and WA Small Business of the Year 2010 for Export Services.  John was voted one of the “Power 100” in 2010 by the UK Horticultural Press.  Visit his websitewww.johnstanley.com.au or email linda@johnstanley.com.au to see how he can help you grow your business. 

     

      

     

    6 Nov 2010

    Garden Centres and a Florist Winners in Retail Excellence Ireland Awards

    Irelands top 50 stores in 2010 include Arboretum Lifestyle & Garden Centre at number 11, Orchard Home & Garden at 13 and Lamber De Bie Flowers at 25. Both Arboretum and The Orchard were winners in the Best Superstore Category with De Bie Flowers a winner in the Best Small Store Sector. www.retailexcellence.ie
    3 Nov 2010

    GLDA Seminar Ticket Sales to Date Suggest a Pre Christmas Sell Out.

    Garden and Landscape Design Seminar, Saturday 29th January 2011

     

    Inspired: What drives successful design?

     

    Design is borne of many things; Ego, empathy , passion, skill, history, belief, knowledge, vision, bravery, economy and emotion all play their part in stimulating designers to solve problems, satisfy desires and overcome challenges. What drives and constitutes successful design is a somewhat more complex issue. While consensus may be reached on intent, function and aesthetics, the shifting sands of time alter perception, attitude and environment making it an essentially ephemeral agreement; And one which design professionals have debated for eons.

     

    To frame a contemporary vision of what drives successful design, the Garden and Landscape Design Association (GLDA) have enlisted the genius of some of Europe’s most respect design professionals for a day of insight, opinion and debate.  Now in its 15th successful year, the GLDA design seminar, which is aptly entitled, Inspired: What drives successful design? Will take place on Saturday 29th of January at the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin. The speaker line-up for the eagerly awaited 2011 seminar features multi award-winning design professionals of national and international acclaim, including Tom Stuart-Smith, Róisín Heneghan of Heneghan Peng Architects, Hugh Ryan MGLDA and James Doyle of James Doyle Associates.

     

    As the design calendar event of the year places are already being snapped up. To secure your place at this exciting event you are encouraged to book early. For tickets and further information contact the GLDA office on: 01 2940092, info@glda.ie or via www.glda.ie.

     

    This event is proudly supported by Bord Bia, Ireland’s Food Board.

    If you have a story or event to promote please email: news@HortiTrends.com 

    Latest Company News, Trends, Courses, Products Services, Suppliers & Jobs in Horticulture & Fresh Produce, Nurseries, Fruit & Vegetable Growers, Landscape, Architecture, Garden Centre, Florists, Sports Turf, Green Keeping & Forestry Sectors.

    '

    3 Nov 2010

    "Operation Chip It" News

    "Operation Chip It" News November 3, 2010

    Facts about “Operation Chip It”

    Different messages about ‘Operation Chip It’ are circulating in the media. Some are correct, but there are also many misunderstandings. The short and simple facts are as follows:

     

    • 1. From the 10th of January 2011 FloraHolland, GASA, Landgard and CC will scan all incoming containers.
       
    • 2. From the 10th of January 2011 FloraHolland, GASA, Landgard and CC will only hand out genuine CC Containers. 
       
    • 3. In December / January you will receive new ID tags (‘padlocks’) according to the number of CC Containers you have under contract with CC. CC will credit you GBP 0.17 per CC Container for the tagging. 
       
    • 4. If you have more CC Containers than stated in your contract(s) with CC, you can currently add these to your CC contract holding at a special license fee of only GBP 5 per CC Container. After the 10th of January 2011, the license fee will be GBP 15. 
       
    • 5. All containers without the new CC ID tag and the CC metal plate will be rejected. 
       
    • 6. New ID tags that cannot be scanned or give an error message will, in the first instance, also be accepted and included in your balance. They will, however, be recorded separately. 
       
    • 7. A special Control Group, manned with both internal and external experts, will investigate and report any suspicious flows or patterns. This is necessary in order to find and eliminate misuse of our common system. 
       
    • 8. If the situation demands it, customers with suspicious flows or patterns will be asked to improve control before hand-in so that any misuse can be avoided.

    Scan your CC Containers – YOUR Guarantee!

    Containers without a genuine CC RFID tag are not accepted in the CC Pool System. Therefore, we recommend that you always scan the containers you receive.

    More information
    www.operation-chip-it.com

     

    If you have a story or event to promote please email: news@HortiTrends.com 

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    2 Nov 2010

    www.HortiTrends.com Launching B2B Horticulture Trade Directory & Website that will Work Hard for Your Business

    Horticulture & Fresh Produce Ireland News website www.HortiTrends.com is to provide Horticulture Network Ireland with it's new feed service on it's network site at www.horticulture.ie The news feed covers all the sectors involved in the provision of products and services in both the B2B and the B2C arena including:

    Nurseries & Ornamental Growers.
    Fresh Produce, Fruit & Vegetable Growers.
    Garden Centre, Florists & Retail.
    Landscaping & Landscape Architecture.
    Green Keeping & Sports Turf.
    Arboriculture & Forestry.
    Environment & Green Sectors.
    Local Authority, Parks & Government.
    Jobs, Events & Tender Alerts.

    John Whelan CEO of the Irish Exporters Association said " A news and directory service of this kind has been sorely missed in the sector and will help companies to stay abreast of changes and trends in the areas of horticulture & fresh produce while providing them with a vehicle to promote and market their services."
    He also welcomed three new members. Aqua Flor Direct Ltd www.aquaflordirect.com, Neutrog Fertilisers www.neutrog.ie and HortiTrends www.HortiTrends.com

    Joseph Blair of HortiiTrends also announced the launch of a new Directory Service for businesses in the Horticulture and Fresh Produce sectors. "It will go hand in hand with the HortiTrends website and will be heavily marketed at home and abroad as a resource tool for companies who want to source products and services. It will not be your typical static site and will utilise all the benefits of Social Media for Business."

    There are also plans to launch both a Trade News printed magazine along with a new consumer gardening website and consumer magazine. Horticulture companies in Ireland will now have a one stop shop to interact with both the B2B and B2C markets. 
    To find out more contact Joseph on 087 9212044 or visit www.HortiTrends.com

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    '

    2 Nov 2010

    New Grow Trade Site to Launch in 2011((tag: HortiNews, horticulture, fresh produce, news, trends, Ireland, )

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    '

    29 Oct 2010

    John and Linda Stanley Have an Award Winning Year

    John and Linda Stanley, the owners of John Stanley Associates are having a year of awards.  

    Belmont Small Business awards announced last week that their company John Stanley Associates had won the Belmont Small Business Export Award.

    This is the third recognition of their endeavours in the last twelve months. Twelve months ago the couples business was awarded the Small Business Champions Award for Training and Education in Western Australia and John was awarded Small Business Champion Entrepreneur of the Year for Western Australia.

    In July the UK horticultural press placed John in the top 100 most influential people in the UK horticultural retail industry; this was for the second year running and he was  the only non UK resident in the list.

    This latest award is in recognition of the amount of work the couple do outside of Australia helping small businesses to grow and prosper. On the awards presentation night, John and Linda could not be present to accept their award as they are working with retailers in Hungary, Czech and Poland. Their Eastern European work is a combination of conference presentations, consultancy and retail workshops. The couple work in 28 countries on all Continents where businesses exist, they have worked in Czech before, but this is the first time they have worked in Poland and Hungary. Their first trip to Poland has already resulted in four more trips being organised to work with the industry.

    You can take a look at their calendar of work on their website www.johnstanley.com.au

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    '

    29 Oct 2010

    ScottsMiracle-Gro Announces Jim Hagedorn Will Remain as CEO

    ScottsMiracle-Gro Announces Jim Hagedorn Will Remain as CEO

    Barry Sanders promoted to President; Mark Baker departs as President and Chief Operating Officer

    The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (NYSE: SMG), the world's leading marketer of branded consumer lawn and garden products, today announced that Jim Hagedorn has decided to continue to serve as both chairman and chief executive officer. In 2008, Mr. Hagedorn announced his intention to retire as CEO during this fiscal year.

    "The success we've seen over the past two years has been exciting, but it really just reinforces how much more opportunity remains for our Company and the lawn and garden category," Hagedorn said. "While I thought I wanted to step aside after I turned 55, I've decided I want to stay engaged in the business and, with the approval of our Board of Directors, intend to do so."

    ScottsMiracle-Gro also said that Mark Baker, who was hired as president and chief operating officer two years ago, has departed the Company and the Board of Directors.

    "While I will miss the good friends I have made over the past two years, my decision to leave is the right thing for the Company," Baker said. "Jim is a strong and charismatic leader and I continue to share his vision for ScottsMiracle-Gro. I wish him and all 8,000 associates good luck and I am confident in their continued success."

    Additionally, Barry Sanders has been named president of the Company, effective immediately.

    Sanders joined ScottsMiracle-Gro in 2001, overseeing the implementation of a new enterprise resource planning system as well as the consolidation of the North American Consumer business. He later led the sales force in the U.S. and was then promoted to lead the Company's Global Supply Chain. In 2008, Sanders was selected to lead the U.S. Consumer business and, earlier this year, was named executive vice president of the entire Global Consumer segment.

    "I am confident that the leadership team here is as strong as we've ever had," Hagedorn said. "Barry has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to drive profitable growth and has repeatedly set a clear direction for his team, and has been tenacious in driving results.

    "I also want to acknowledge the important contributions that Mark Baker made to this Company. As President and COO he helped us implement changes that will benefit us for years to come. And the insights he provided during his seven-year tenure on our Board made our discussions more productive and truly helped to guide the vision and strategy of our Company. I look forward to continuing my 20-year friendship with Mark. He leaves us on good terms and I want to thank him for all he has done," Hagedorn said.  

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    '

    27 Oct 2010

    Obituary: Jim Kelleher a Committed Horticulturist and Family Man Remembered by Friends and Colleauges

    It is with great sadness that we report the recent death of a popular and hardworking horticultural colleague. I asked Jim's colleagues in Teagasc for a few words.

    “The death has recently taken place of Jim Kelleher, Teagasc Nursery Stock Specialist advisor. Jim was based at Kildalton for a long number of years both as an advisor and lecturer in horticulture. He started his career in County Wicklow where he served in the early 80’s. During his time at Kildalton Jim was seconded to Avonmore/Glanbia where he headed up the emerging forestry division before returning to Kildalton. Jim made a very significant contribution to horticultural development.  In January 2010, despite the onset of his illness, Jim was a key driver of plans for the Nursery sector as outlined in the “Plan for the Development of Horticulture in Teagasc 2010-2013”. Socially Jim was great company – a renowned raconteur and able musician! Jim will be sadly missed by his clients, colleagues and friends in Teagasc and particularly at Kildalton.

    All at Teagasc send our sympathies to Jim’s wife Kathleen and family.

    "Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.”

    Jim Kelleher

    Jim at the National Plant Fair, Punchestown 2009.

    Photo: Koraley Northen

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    27 Oct 2010

    40.4bn in Irish exports in Q3 2010

    40.4bn in Irish exports in Q3

    John Whelan

    John Whelan


    The leap in exports was driven by an aggressive 12.8pc growth in merchandise exports, according to the Exporters Association (IEA) third quarter review.Good growth in merchandise and services exports brought total Irish exports for the third quarter to €40.4bn, marking a 9.3pc increase on last year.

    The Association’s chief executive John Whelan said the export effort continues to show Ireland the “way out of the recession”.

    The review said that merchandise exporters gained from a broadening out of the growth across most of the main international trading markets. Exchange rate competitiveness and continued buoyancy in global trade also assisted the acceleration in export growth.

    Whelan said the euro exchange rate with the dollar in the three months toSeptember was, on average, 10pc lower than it was in 2009. “This helped Irish manufactured goods exports to the US rise by 32pc in value,” continued Whelan. “This reversed the losses in exports to that market over the last two years. This indicates clearly that Irish exports are now competitive into the US, provided the US Treasury does not re-enter the currency market to weaken the dollar.”

    Whelan added that the exchange rate with sterling also improved during the quarters, helping exports to the UK rise by 4pc. This was particularly important for the indigenous sector which trades heavily to the UK market, said Whelan.

    The agri-food sector increased its export sales by 14pc. Services exports grew 4.9pc, a more modest growth than its aggressive pattern in the first half of the year. The Association expects export sales will continued to be strong for the rest of the year, and therefore has revised its forecast for the year to €158.9bn in total exports.

    It added that Irish exports could grow faster next year if the Budget 2011 is supportive of the export sector and does not increase the cost of exporting from Ireland. The IEA Pre-Budget Submission outlines the key routes to export expansion that should be supported in the Budget. 

    Whelan stated that despite the strong overall performance of Ireland exports, it is hard to overstate the difficulties faced by exporters in 2010. He said volatile exchange rates, reduced trade finance for expansion, withdrawal of bank bond guarantees, withdrawal of invoice discounting cover and credit insurance difficulties all are problems which exporters still face.

    However, he concluded, “There is clear evidence that exporters can drive their way out of this recession and bring economic growth with it, but it is essential that the upcoming Budget supports export growth and does not increase the cost of doing business in Ireland.”

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    27 Oct 2010

    UK Landscape Award Final Shortlist Announced

    UK Landscape Award final shortlist announced

    The UKLA shortlist has been announced and the details on the six finalists are revealed here...

    UKLA shortlist announced

    A shortlist of six UK landscapes were announced on 12 October as contenders for the first-ever UK Landscape of the Year soon to be revealed at the Landscape Convention Conference in November…

    The six finalists from the transformed heritage coastline in Durham to a bustling city-based network of green spaces in Sheffield, represent the rich variety of work going on the profession today. The shortlist is: 

    • A twenty-five-year campaign to improve the Mersey Basin
    • Restoration of the Durham Heritage Coast – previously an industrial wasteland
    • Creation of spectacular spaces and streets in the heart of Sheffield
    • Community-led rebuilding of Baxter Park, Dundee in Scotland
    • Conservation of the hill forts and heather moorland of Denbighshire in Wales
    • Regeneration of Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland

    The winning landscape will go on to represent the UK in the European Landscape Award, which takes place in Strasbourg in March 2011.

    Commenting on the announcement, Natural Environment Minister, Richard Benyon, said: “Whether you’re in a town or in the countryside there are areas around us that we should rightly be proud of. A good landscape makes us feel part of a community and gives a sense of pride in where we live.”

    Helen Phillips, Natural England Chief Executive, was equally emphatic: “All landscapes are important. They form the link between human society and the natural world, and provide vital natural support services – such as food, clean water, climate change regulation, flood prevention and, of course recreation. All six shortlisted landscapes showcase what can be achieved when communities and partners come together to support the landscapes around them.”

    Professor Keith Nicholson, a board member of Scottish Natural Heritage says, “We are really pleased to see the Dundee project win the Scottish heat of the award. This project has demonstrated real commitment to sustainable landscape in the local community. Looking after our landscapes is a responsibility shared by everyone. The Dundee project has embraced that responsibility wholeheartedly and we wish it every success in the finals.”

    Project profiles: your guide to the UKLA shortlist

    Full details of all schemes are available at:uklandscapeaward.org/results

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    27 Oct 2010

    Capital Investment Programme 'Crucial' For Economic Growth, Says CIF


    The Construction Industry Federation (CIF) has called on the Irish Government to make job retention and development a primary goal of its four-year budgetary policy. 

    Speaking at the publication of the federation's pre-Budget submission, the Director-General Tom Parlon said: "The Government’s fiscal consolidation targets for the next 4 years won’t be achieved without economic and employment growth. If this is to be achieved, the Government has to protect productive spending in the Budget.

    "The Capital Investment Programme is particularly crucial in this regard. Cutting capital investment again will only serve to further depress economic activity and as has been illustrated over the past two years, put more pressure on the Exchequer as a result of further unemployment. Cutting productive investment is a false economy."

    Mr Parlon continued: "There are a range of measures that the Minister can introduce, at no cost to the Exchequer, to help support the economy. A good example is stamp duty. Persisting with a high transaction tax when there are no transactions makes no sense, either from the economy’s or the Exchequer’s perspective."

    "Introducing a 0 per cent stamp duty rate may encourage more interest in commercial and residential property transactions and therefore generate additional incomes for the State," he added.


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    27 Oct 2010

    Glee visitor numbers fall 11% as visitors stay away by Phillip Voice

    Exhibitors at this years Glee must be wondering how low visitor numbers can fall as unaudited figures show that just under eleven percent less people attended the event between 20-22 September 2010, NEC Birmingham.

    The show has now seen a fall of 49.5% since its peak in 2003 (source ABC).

    Confusingly, and quite worryingly - official Glee media partner - Hort Week, headlined their story 'Glee hails visitor uplift to 13,000'. I might be missing something (perhaps it's an industry code?) but Glee posted 14,617 in 2009 and only 13,050 in 2010 - a fall of just under 11%?

    Hort Week will have to explain how it's come to its conclusion because I don't understand it.

    Here's the audited* figures from 2003 to date.

    2010* 13,050 (unaudited)
    2009 14,617 
    2008 18,119 
    2007 22,202 
    2006 24,530 
    2005 25,157 
    2004 24,761 
    2003 25,886

    Glee

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    27 Oct 2010

    Landscaping & Landscape Architecture News: UK Hard Landscaping Show 2011 Cancelled

    Hard Landscaping Show 2011 cancelled

    HLSThe Hard Landscaping Show 2011, due to have been opened by journalist Matthew Wilson, has been cancelled after organisers failed to sell enough stand space to make the February 2011 event viable.

    Event director, Stephen Callaghan, told DIY Week: "Trading conditions in the landscaping industry remain very tough," and went on, "Many of our major exhibitors are struggling to commit and this has been making it difficult for us to achieve our goal of significantly growing the show for 2011."

    Callaghan is proposing that the Hard Landscaping Show will return in February 2012 and has intimated that the event may go to bi-annually.

    by Phillip Voice.

    More coverage:

    Hort Week - Hard Landscaping show postponed until 2012 due to 'tough trading conditions'

    The Landscaper Magazine - SHOW MOVES TO 2012

    The Hard Landscaping Show website.

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    27 Oct 2010

    New UK Landscaping Trade Show for 2011

    CL LogoRGBDates_picnik


    ....a step closer to launch

    As a landscaping and gardening industry analyst, I've been appalled in recent years at the way the landscaping and horticulture industry has largely ignored the end user when organising trade events.

    The emphasis has always seemed to have been on the product or services supplier's relationship with the ultimate buyer, and the practitioner - the guys and girls who use machinery and products, day in and day out - too often referred to as 'tyre kickers', are all but forgotten in the development and sales process.

    It's time that practitioners' experience knowledge is fed back into development and fine tuning of equipment and machinery because they are the ones who get to know, warts and all, how a piece of equipment feels and responds handles or how a product works, during the course of their work.

    The day has arrived whereby the practitioner, rightly, is becoming recognised as the driver of the landscape and garden industry - their opinion, views and advice should be ignored at peril.

    Managers have had their time and not made a difference: how can someone who sits at a desk all day possibly know what machine to buy when they are not out in the fields and dealing with conditions underfoot? It's all well and good acting as a middleman and feeding information back to developers but as always, something will always get lost in translation.

    Machinery, equipment, product developers and manufacturers should have the opportunity to talk directly with the practitioner: The Landscape Juice Network was the first ever landscape and horticulture professional trade network to bring together everyone from the landscaping and garden world and now we are close to launch of our brand new industry Trade Show called Creating Landscapes.

    I guess it's a case, proverbially at least, of putting my money where my mouth is.

    If you are a product, equipment, machinery or plant supplier, why not come over and participate in landscaping and gardening's specialist industry event?

    I'm delighted to welcome Stephen Ingram to the Landscape Juice Network as part of the Creating Landscapes' team.

    Stephen is an independent exhibition and event organiser having previously worked within the event market and have organised the likes of The Royal Smithfield Show, The CLA Game Fair, The National Amateur Gardening Show and The Royal Bath & West of England Show.

    For further details, you can email Stephen directly at stephen@hale-events.com Keep an eye out for the official launch.


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    26 Oct 2010

    Garden and Landscape Design Seminar, Saturday 29th January 2011

    Inspired: What drives successful design?

     

    Design is borne of many things; Ego, empathy , passion, skill, history, belief, knowledge, vision, bravery, economy and emotion all play their part in stimulating designers to solve problems, satisfy desires and overcome challenges. What drives and constitutes successful design is a somewhat more complex issue. While consensus may be reached on intent, function and aesthetics, the shifting sands of time alter perception, attitude and environment making it an essentially ephemeral agreement; And one which design professionals have debated for eons.

     

    To frame a contemporary vision of what drives successful design, the Garden and Landscape Design Association (GLDA) have enlisted the genius of some of Europe’s most respect design professionals for a day of insight, opinion and debate. 

    Now in its 15th successful year, the GLDA design seminar, which is aptly entitled, Inspired: What drives successful design? Will take place on Saturday 29th of January at the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin. The speaker line-up for the eagerly awaited 2011 seminar features multi award-winning design professionals of national and international acclaim, including Tom Stuart-Smith, Róisín Heneghan of Heneghan Peng Architects, Hugh Ryan MGLDA and James Doyle of James Doyle Associates.

     

    As the design calendar event of the year places are already being snapped up. To secure your place at this exciting event you are encouraged to book early. For tickets and further information contact the GLDA office on: 01 2940092, info@glda.ie or via www.glda.ie.

     

    This event is proudly supported by Bord Bia, Ireland’s Food Board.

     

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    21 Oct 2010

    Organic Growers of Ireland (OGI) Conference

    Organic Growers of Ireland (OGI) Conference

    The Organic Growers of Ireland (OGI) are delighted to confirm details of their forthcoming conference on Monday November 22nd. The OGI were formed in 2008 and since then they have slowly gathered momentum around the country. This is the first conference that they are hosting and it takes place in Killcormac, Co Offaly (situated on the N52 between Birr and Tullamore).  Presentations on the day include topics such as Organic Seeds and Varieties, Super Valu Local Organic programme, Irrigation and Composting.  Watch this space for more details! 

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    21 Oct 2010

    Hedgerow Survey Needs Your Help by RHS UK

    Hedgerow survey needs your help

    21 October 2010

    The hedgerow is home to much wildlife

    The hedge in your back garden may hold crucial information for scientists assessing the country's biodiversity as the latest 'citizen science' survey by the Open Air Laboratories Project (OPAL) gets under way.

    The OPAL team is inviting members of the public to collect as much information as possible about the hedges in back gardens, parks and open spaces all over the country, particularly in urban locations.

    'We know quite a lot about hedges in the countryside and how important they are, but how much biodiversity do they contain in cities?' said Jonathan Silvertown, head of the OPAL Biodiversity Observatory. 'They might be even more important in urban areas where natural habitats are more scarce.'

    How you can take part

    Hedges are already known to support a wide range of life, but the survey hopes to find out which hedges best support insects and small mammals. Participants select a three-metre stretch of hedge and record information about the appearance of the hedge, how many flowers, fruits and nuts it contains, which insects they find there and other evidence of animals using the hedge, such as holes and burrows.

    Once results arrive, they are placed on an online map and the survey team rates each hedge according to its importance for wildlife, building up a picture of the state of hedgerows around the country.

    Other surveys

    The biodiversity survey is the fifth in a series of surveys carried out under the five-year OPAL project, set up in 2007 with a grant from the Big Lottery Fund. Other projects already under way that you can join in with include:

    • Assessing earthworm populations
    • Air quality
    • The health of ponds, rivers and streams.
    Thousands of results have already been collected and a final report bringing together conclusions from all the projects is to be published in late 2012.((tag: HortiNews, horticulture, fresh produce, news, trends, Ireland, ))

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    21 Oct 2010

    2020 Vision - Improving Ireland’s biodiversity knowledge base

    2020 Vision - Improving Ireland’s biodiversity knowledge base

    The National Biodiversity Data Centre has produced a knowledge gaps document 2020 Vision - Improving Ireland’s biodiversity knowledge base as one output from the recent Biodiversity Knowledge Quest event hosted by the Centre. The document provides a brief summary of the biodiversity knowledge gaps workshops and proposes a list of the key knowledge gaps that could be filled over the next 10 years. This document is a consultation document. 

    Interested parties are invited to make written submissions on the content of the document to info@biodiversityireland.ie. Submissions should be received by Friday 29 October 2010.

    Feedback is particularly sought on two questions; 

    1. Would filling of the key knowledge gaps listed in Table 1 make a significant contribution to expanding our knowledge base over the next 10 years? 

    2. Are there any gaps or errors in the tables presented in Appendix I? 

    The document can be downloaded from http://www.biodiversityireland.ie/wp-content/uploads/Knowledge-Gaps-Document-_for-consultation_.pdf

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    21 Oct 2010

    Minister Launches Research Call and Research Newsletter

    Following on from the Food Harvest 2020 Report, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith TD, has announced details of a €10 million Research Call across the Department's three competitive research programmes: FIRM (Food Institutional Research Measure), RSF (Research Stimulus Fund) and COFORD (Competitive Forest Research for Development).


    The Minister reaffirmed his belief that a vibrant Agri-Food Industry is a key part of the Smart Economy and will play a key role in leading our country to better economic times. The Minister said "the importance of research and innovation was emphasised in the Food Harvest 2020 Report as a prerequisite to achieving the growth targets for the agrifood sector. In response to the Report I am therefore delighted to launch these very significant research initaitives".

    Under FIRM a number of initiatives have been developed which will build on existing research capacity and capability and will add value to existing research outputs whilst also delivering new knowledge to underpin the future development of the food industry. The industry itself has been very involved in informing the content of the Call under the remit of the AgriVision 2015 Food Industry Research Group chaired by Dan Browne. The Minister stressed that "the outputs of the research will provide the basis to deliver on a number of the growth targets outlined in Food Harvest 2020.  One of those targets is to increase the production of milk by 50% over the next 10 years and one of the initiatives under the FIRM programme will provide the scientific knowledge to add value to this sector".

    Through the Stimulus programme the Department has committed substantial resources to agriculture based research, resulting in the development of significant research capacity. The Department wishes to further strengthen this capability by supporting the development of a collaborative research network on climate change in agriculture. This network will assist the development of sustainable high calibre integrated multidisciplinary collaborative research effort and will facilitate greater participation in International Collaborative Research Initiatives in this field.

    The Minister added that "in addressing the issue of competitiveness, a joint FIRM/Stimulus initiative will also be launched".

    In forestry research, proposals relating to forest reproductive material and forest health and protection will be invited from Irish research institutions. Both of these research areas are vital to the productivity and well being of the forest resource, especially in times of the predicted environmental impacts from climate change.

    Minister Smith stated that "benefits from projects funded under the Research Call  will accrue not only to producers and processors but also to the wider rural community". They will also contribute to improved collaboration between various research institutions and the establishment of critical mass in the respective research areas.

    Further details of the research call are published on the Department's website. 

    The Minister also announced the publication of the 1st edition of a new Department Newsletter - Research News . This Newsletter, produced by DAFF's Research Division, will be circulated on a quarterly basis to all DAFF's research stakeholders. It is designed to give an overview of research funded by DAFF primarily under its three competitive funding programmes (FIRM, Stimulus & COFORD), to alert researchers of EU and other international funding opportunities, and to update readers on related policy developments.  The Minister said "The launch of Research News is part of a communications strategy intended to keep relevant parties better informed of the nature, extent and value of DAFF's on-going commitment to investing in agri-food & forestry research and innovation which is seen as a priority for the future under Food Harvest 2020". The Newsletter is available to download from the DAFF website .

    If you have a story or event to promote please email: news@HortiTrends.com 

    Latest Company News, Trends, Courses, Products Services, Suppliers & Jobs in Horticulture & Fresh Produce, Nurseries, Fruit & Vegetable Growers, Landscape, Architecture, Garden Centre, Florists, Sports Turf, Green Keeping & Forestry Sectors.

    '

    20 Oct 2010

    DEFRA to reduce resource spending by 29% and capital spending by 34% 2010 to 2010. Ireland to Follow?

    Over the course of the Spending Review period, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will reduce resource spending by 29% and capital spending by 34%. The Department’s Administration budget will be reduced by 33%.

    Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL)

    £ billion
    2010-112011-122012-132013-142014-15
    Resource DEL2.32.22.12.01.8
    Capital DEL0.60.40.40.40.4
    TOTAL DEL 2.92.62.52.32.2

    In this table Resource DEL excludes depreciation

    Defra will reprioritise its spending, focusing tax payer’s money on British farming and food production; enhancing the environment and biodiversity; and supporting a green economy resilient to climate change.

    The Department will manage its reductions by:

    Maximising the use of matched European funding for the Rural Development Programme for England, enabling a £66m reduction in domestic contributions. This will allow environmental stewardship schemes to remain open to all farmers. Defra will prioritise schemes that will be most beneficial to the environment, increasing the  Higher Level Stewardship Scheme by 80%.

    • An expected 15% efficiency saving will be made in the procurement strategy for flood and coastal defences. Savings achieved from this will be reinvested into safeguarding and enhancing protection for people and properties. It is estimated that by March 2015, better levels of protection can be expected for 145,000 households in England.
    • Making more efficient use of resources for animal welfare and disease prevention and control, by taking forward proposals to involve the industry in sharing the responsibility and cost of disease control.
    • Abolishing British Waterways as a public corporation in England and Wales; a new waterways charity will be created.
    • Funding will be stopped for 7 waste PFI projects, saving £3 million by 2014-15 and more in the longer term.

    Reducing waste and bureaucracy:

    • Reducing the number of quangos Defra funds from 92 to 39.
    • Reducing red tape and unnecessary burdens on farmers and food producers, without compromising standards. The task force on Farming Regulation will report by early 2011.

    Making efficiencies

    • Reducing administration costs by £174m through reductions in staff numbers, more efficient IT and procurement practices; increased use of shared services across Government; reducing the size and cost of Defra’s corporate estate.

    In addition to the above, the Department will be adopting the following idea, suggested through the Spending Challenge process:

    • Reforming the Environment Agency’s staff lease car scheme – saving up to £3m per year.

    Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said:

    “Our strategic aim is to deliver on the Prime Minister’s pledge that the Coalition will be the greenest Government ever, whilst playing our part in tackling the economic deficit that we have inherited.

    “This settlement reflects the need to make significant savings alongside meeting the priorities we have set and maintaining important frontline services in respect of flood defences, environmental protection and animal health monitoring.”

    If you have a story or event to promote please email: news@HortiTrends.com 

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    '

    20 Oct 2010

    Compost Quality Assurance Scheme Tender

    Compost Quality Assurance Scheme Tender 
    Source: rx3
    -------------------------------------------------------------
    RX3 - Rethink Recycle RemakeRx3 published a request for tenders for a compost quality assurance scheme on 6th October 2010 on the e–tenders website. The closing date for the procurement process is 16th November 2010. 

    International market driven quality assurance schemes have long been recognised as having a positive impact on collection and treatment of organic waste in other jurisdictions as well as the on quality of the compost produced. In Ireland, it is considered that the development of a compost quality assurance scheme will instil further confidence in consumers as to the quality of, and benefits to, using compost products. A quality mark/logo/label, as part of a compost quality assurance scheme, will also assist consumers in identifying high quality compost products. 

    The purpose of this Request for Tenders is to appoint a contractor to conduct a 3–phase project:

    • (i) to develop a compost quality assurance scheme and associated documentation (Phase 1);
    • (ii) to trial the compost quality assurance scheme for a 12 months (Phase 2);
    • (iii) to operate on a pilot basis the compost quality assurance scheme for a further 12 months (Phase 3).

    This proposal is being developed in accordance with the recommendations in the Market Development Programme for Waste Resources 2007 - 2011, which is sponsored by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. 

    Further information and documentation relating to this notice is available on the eTenders Web Site athttp://www.etenders.gov.ie/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT175257 

    If you have a story or event to promote please email: news@HortiTrends.com 

    Latest Company News, Trends, Courses, Products Services, Suppliers & Jobs in Horticulture & Fresh Produce, Nurseries, Fruit & Vegetable Growers, Landscape, Architecture, Garden Centre, Florists, Sports Turf, Green Keeping & Forestry Sectors.

    '

    18 Oct 2010

    HORTI FAIR 2010 LAYS FIRM BASIS FOR INTERNATIONAL HORTIWEEK 2011

    Powerful innovation platform attracts quality visitors

     

    Amsterdam, 15 October 2010 – The International Horti Fair is strengthening its position as an innovation platform and its focus on internationally-oriented horticultural businesses. With this in mind, the International HortiWeek was announced during the Horti Fair, which was held this year in the Amsterdam RAI Exhibition and Convention Centre from 12 to 15 October. Horti Fair 2010 was a successful, high calibre trade exhibition which put great emphasis on innovation, knowledge exchange and actually doing business.  

     

    Satisfied participants

    Although the 2010 fair was compacter than previous editions as it had 530 exhibitors from 36 countries, it was just as complete as in other years. For four whole days the Horti Fair House of Technology & Innovation was the centre of debates and interviews with key players in the horticultural industry. According to the jury members, the quality of the products on display in the House of Quality ranged from good to very good. A Horti Fair pavilion such as Career Plaza clearly meets a need as it brought more than 1,200 students and school pupils into contact with the horticultural industry.

     

    The exhibitors were very satisfied with the quality of the visitors. Patrick Lek of Lek/Habo Groep BV commented, ‘We’re certainly not dissatisfied: the mood has been positive and we have been visited by many people with investment plans, which is, after all, where it all starts. As a business, you have to be here. And despite all the focus on abroad, we are certainly not forgetting our Dutch visitors.’  Roy O’Mahony of CleanGrow, which was shortlisted for the Horti Fair Innovation Award and ended in fourth place, said, ‘We have achieved maximum exposure here and met very interested and well-informed visitors from all over the world and many key players. An amazing week!’   

     

    International Horti Week 2011

    Next year, the Horti Fair will be held from Tuesday 1 to Friday 4 November 2011. This will be during the first edition of the International HortiWeek, the week during which both the Horti Fair and the FloraHolland Trade Fair are held in association with one another. Joint promotion, carefully coordinated exhibition concepts and shuttle services will be elements of the cooperation between them. Other hot items will be the linking of the home market and internationalisation.  

     

    New director of the Horti Fair

    There are other changes as well, because Frans-Peter Dechering will be the new director of the Horti Fair from 1 January. He will succeed Wim van der Loo, who is retiring. Dechering has long international experience of horticulture. He has built up a large network of contacts in both the vegetable and floriculture sectors and among suppliers to Dutch and foreign horticulture firms. ‘The horticultural industry is changing and the Horti Fair is changing with it,’ comments Dechering. ‘Cooperating with the participants to ensure that the Horti Fair fulfils a proper commercial function and at the same time strengthening horticulture nationally and internationally will be a real challenge and involve a lot of hard work.’ Besides the fresh blood for the executive board and this summer’s appointment of the new chairman, Ewald van Vliet, the establishment of the exhibition committee and the introduction of the International HortiWeek, the Horti Fair has taken major steps towards strengthening its position as a leading national and international horticultural showcase for the coming years.

     


    Visitors from over 70 countries

    The daily Breakfast Briefings held before the fair opened pulled in more visitors and participants than last year. The Horti Fair itself attracted 23,256 trade visitors from over 70 countries. Almost 80% of the visitors to the Horti Fair 2010 took or were involved in decisions on the purchase of products and services exhibited at the fair. 35% of the visitors actually made a purchase or requested a quotation during the fair. The prospects for next year are good: no fewer than three quarters of the visitors stated that they planned to return in 2011.  

     

    Horti Fair Innovation Award 

    The Horti Fair Innovation Award 2010 was won by Berg Product BV for its BergBand conveyor belt system, which was praised in the jury report for ‘the power of its simplicity, the wide range of applications in horticulture both in the Netherlands and abroad, and the relatively low capital outlay’. Second place went to Frans van Zaal for its Van Zaal Container Submerger System, and third place to Bercomex for its Furora universal grading and bunching machine. For the first time in the history of the award, numbers 4 and 5 were also named. These were CleanGrow for its ‘multi-ion meter’ and the consortium represented by Klimrek for its ‘vertical crop protection’. As international trade jury chairman Gijs Kok noted, ‘This shows just how closely the top shortlisted firms are matched in terms of innovative capacity.’ Bas Lagerwerf of Berg Product was pleased with the award and satisfied with the quality of the visitors to his stand. He commented, ‘Dealers from all over the world come together here. After all, to see innovation you have to come to the Horti Fair!’

     

    Best Participant Award

    The Best Participant Award went to Bercomex for what the jury described as ‘the innovative strength shown throughout its exhibition presentation and the power of its communication both before and during the Horti Fair’. The award is presented each year to the exhibitor making the best use of Horti Fair as a communication instrument. Roland Kroese, managing director of Bercomex, says, ‘The Horti Fair is very important for our business. Not only as an opportunity to display innovations but also as a way of strengthening our dealer network and meeting customers who come from all over and whom we would not otherwise meet.’  

     

    Interpolis Quality Cup, plant stands and Csizik Trophy

    This year the Interpolis Quality Cup was awarded to the firm of Fa. G.J.A. van Santen of  Honselersdijk for its Hydrangea macrophylla Pimpernel Classic. The prizes for the best stands in the plant categories were assigned by the Permanent Judging Committee (VKC) to Floricultura (9.7), Anthura (9.5) and Floriade (9.3). The Csizik Trophy for the most attractive flower arrangement at a stand was won by Zuidkoop Natural Projects.

     

    Prospects for Horti Fair 2011 already good

    Interest in the Horti Fair 2011, which will be held under the umbrella of the International HortiWeek, is already good. ‘Contracts have already been signed and over 80 options for stand space have already been taken,’ says Wim van der Loo, the departing director. ‘In all my years as director of Horti Fair I have never before experienced anything like this. The exhibition concept of the Horti Fair 2011 in Amsterdam RAI, the cooperation with FloraHolland, the Technical Trials and other horticultural initiatives geared to the International HortiWeek in the first week of November 2011 are clearly proving popular in the industry.’  

    If you have a story or event to promote please email: news@HortiTrends.com 

    Latest Company News, Trends, Courses, Products Services, Suppliers & Jobs in Horticulture & Fresh Produce, Nurseries, Fruit & Vegetable Growers, Landscape, Architecture, Garden Centre, Florists, Sports Turf, Green Keeping & Forestry Sectors.

    '

    18 Oct 2010

    Transforming Ireland Seminar #20

    Transforming Ireland Seminar #20

    Date: Thursday, 21st October 2010

    Time: 12:30-14:00

    Venue: TCD-UCD Innovation Academy Space, 2-3 Fosters Place, Dublin 2 (map)

    Topics:

    Solar Energy:Reaching a new Solar Industry in Ireland - Mazhar Bari, CEO Solarprint

    Delivering Renewable Power to the People - Tim Cooper, Coolpower

    Abstract:

    Delivering Renewable Power to the People

    The Green Building in Temple Bar set out to demonstrate the viability of incorporating "state of the art" energy conservation and renewable energy technologies in a mixed use city centre building in 1994. These technologies included solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and small wind turbines that are typical of the renewable energy micro-generator installations being rolled out in huge numbers throughout Europe and the US.

    Ten years later support from SEAI and a Directive from the EU made it just about possible to "grid-connect" these micro-generators. Coolpower Limited was set up in the course of this to serve as a vehicle for operating these grid- connected micro-generators. This grid-connected system has operated continuously since then generating a total of c.12,000 kWh and more importantly creating the first and largest set of accurate performance data for grid-connected micro-generators in Ireland.

    Today Cool Power Products (a spin-off company from Cool Power Limited) manufactures EMMA (Energy and Micro-Generator Manager) control units which are used for optimising the output from small/micro-generators, stabilising networks and facilitating large scale deployment of distributed generation. EMMA GVS (Grid Voltage Stabilisation) allows micro-generators to be installed where there are network limits/constraints, allowing installations to proceed without the need for network upgrades. EMMA technology is CE certified and has being widely deployed with micro-generators across UK, Ireland and France.

    The presentation will give an overview of the development of EMMA technology, which is playing a key role in facilitating the roll-out of small and medium sized generators that are delivering clean sustainable renewable power directly to the people.

     

    To register for this seminar, please click here

    If you have a story or event to promote please email: news@HortiTrends.com 

    Latest Company News, Trends, Courses, Products Services, Suppliers & Jobs in Horticulture & Fresh Produce, Nurseries, Fruit & Vegetable Growers, Landscape, Architecture, Garden Centre, Florists, Sports Turf, Green Keeping & Forestry Sectors.

    '

    7 Oct 2010

    FACTS & FIGURES HORTI FAIR 2010

    FACTS & FIGURES HORTI FAIR 2010

    FACTS AND FIGURES as at 4 October 2010

    International Horti Fair 2010

    In 2010 the International Horti Fair is being held in the Amsterdam RAI for the eleventh time. It is the joint continuation of the NTV international horticulture trade fair in Bleiswijk (since 1972) and the International Flower Trade Show in Aalsmeer (since 1962).

    Organizer

    International Horti Fair BV

    Amsterdam RAI, halls 1 to 6 inclusive

    Europaplein 22, 1078 GZ Amsterdam (use this address for satellite navigation as well)

    Dates

    From Tuesday 12 to Friday 15 October 2010 inclusive

    Opening times

    From 10.00 – 19.00 hours on all days

    Admission

    Free of charge for professionals on production of invitation/entrance tickets, which are distributed via exhibitors and trade publications or can be downloaded from www.hortifair.com/tickets (price

    € 40 at ticket office).

    Surface area

    Approximately 35,000 gross m2

    Segmentation

    Horti Tech (technology and supplies) in halls 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

    Horti Grow & Trade (production and trade/services) in halls 1 and 5

     

    Number of exhibitors

    approximately 530

    House of Quality: 1.000 participants

    Exhibition theme 2010

    ‘Earning Sustainably’

    National entries

    China, Egypt, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Kenya, South Korea, Spain

    Countries of origin

    Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Sweden, Taiwan, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United States.

    Visitors

    The International Horti Fair attracted more than 34,000 visitors in 2009, approximately 48% of them from the Netherlands. Registrations and surveys have shown that the international visitors come from more than 100 countries, making the Horti Fair in the Netherlands the most intensively visited trade event in horticulture and the most international of horticultural trade fairs worldwide at the same time.

    Board

    Chairman of the Board is Ewald van Vliet, mayor of Lansingerland and member of the Board of Greenport Nederland, among other things. Harm Maters (chairman AVAG), Cees Visser (director Visser International Trade & Engineering), Maarten Leune (member of the board of Plantum NL) and Igo Janssen (managing director Horticoop) are members of the Board on behalf of the sector organizations AVAG, Federatie Agrotechniek, Plantum NL and VPN respectively. Independent board members from the sector are Frank Hendriks (cultivation, director Hendriks-Agro), Sander Kroll (commerce, director Ki Plants) and Dick Oosthoek (services, Rabobank Nederland), Bert Koeze (Royal Van Zanten) and Jacques Teelen (former director of FloraHolland).

    Exhibition Committee

    Sjaak Bakker (Javo), John van der Knaap (Priva), Mariëlle van Buuren (BVB Substrates), Harry Kloppenburg (Fides), Frank Boers (Boal Systemen) and Leo Swart (Modiform).

    Horti Fair Innovation Award

    All new products and services registered on time by Horti Fair participants automatically compete for the Horti Fair Innovation Award (in partnership with Reed Business). The winner will be announced on Tuesday 12 October, the first day of the trade show.

    Horti Fair Breakfast Briefings
     under the auspices of Syntens

    Participants organize Breakfast Briefings before the exhibition opens in the morning. The Briefings are a creative combination of presentations, networking and breakfast, in preparation for a visit to the Horti Fair. 

    Special pavilions:

    Technical Trials

    (stand 04.0417)

    Technical Trials is a new pavilion at the Horti Fair and is the result of cooperation between a number of leading technical producers. The participants “Central Station” is the pick-up point at the Horti Fair, where visitors to the trade show receive information from and about the 17 participating companies.

    Horti Fair Stage

    (hall 6)

    The Horti Fair Stage in hall 6 of the Amsterdam RAI exhibition complex is the new events platform and the official opening, the prize ceremony for the Horti Fair Innovation Award, product demonstrations, receptions, announcement of the prize-winners from the House of Quality and the final round of Ranking the Grower will all be held here. Furthermore, the Horti Fair Stage is a platform for theme and new products presentations and the first rounds of the Horti Business Game.

    Horti Fair House of Quality

    hall 1 (01.0126, 01,0228) and hall 5 (05.0102, 05.0202)

    The Horti Fair House of Quality (sponsored by Interpolis) with more than 1,000 entries is worldwide the greatest judging event for flowers and plants from individual growers. Their entries are assessed by expert judges from the Stichting VKC (Permanent Judging Committee).

    Horti Fair House of Technology & Innovation

    (stand  04.0226)

    With the addition of Innovation to the name to emphasize renewal and a vibrant programme of debates once more, the Horti Fair House of Technology & Innovation again promises to be one of the top attractions at the coming Horti Fair. Participants present horticultural technology.

    Horti Fair House of Software

    (stand 01.0428)

    This special interest pavilion offers visitors a complete and future-focused impression of the latest developments in software for greenhouse horticulture. The Horti Fair Internet café completes the pavilion.

    Horti Fair Breeders’ Market 

    (stand 01.0440)

    This pavilion offers a concentrated overview of the ranges offered by specialized breeders and suppliers of parental material.

    Horti Fair Career Plaza

    (stand 03.0302)

    The Career Plaza is the pavilion at the Horti Fair that links the horticultural sector with young people who are looking for a job or are considering their choice of profession. Special activities are organized in the pavilion for students who are becoming acquainted with trade and industry by meeting exhibitors at the trade show.

    AVAG Market

    (stand 04.0220)

    Sector pavilion for members of this organisation for Dutch suppliers to greenhouse horticulture.

    If you have a story or event to promote please email: news@HortiTrends.com 

    Latest Company News, Trends, Courses, Products Services, Suppliers & Jobs in Horticulture & Fresh Produce, Nurseries, Fruit & Vegetable Growers, Landscape, Architecture, Garden Centre, Florists, Sports Turf, Green Keeping & Forestry Sectors.

    '

    6 Oct 2010

    Request for Tenders - Compost Quality Assurance Scheme (CQAS)

    Title:Request for Tenders - Compost Quality Assurance Scheme (CQAS)
    Published by:Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government
    Publication Date:06/10/2010
    Application Deadline:
    Notice Deadline Date:17/11/2010
    Notice Deadline Time:15:00
    Notice Type:Invitation to Tender
    Has Documents:Yes
    Abstract:International market driven quality assurance schemes have long been recognised as having a positive impact on collection and treatment of organic waste in other jurisdictions as well as the on quality of the end-product (i.e. compost) itself.
    In Ireland, it is considered that the development of a compost quality assurance scheme will instil further confidence in consumers as to the quality of, and benefits to, using compost products. A quality mark/logo/label, as part of a compost quality assurance scheme, will also assist consumers in identifying high quality compost products.
    The purpose of this Request for Tenders is to appoint a contractor to conduct a 3–phase project: -
    (i) to develop a compost quality assurance scheme and associated documentation (Phase 1),
    (ii) to trial the compost quality assurance scheme for a 12 months (Phase 2), and
    (iii) to operate on a pilot basis the compost quality assurance scheme for a further 12 months (Phase 3).
    This proposal is being developed in accordance with the recommendations in the Market Development Programme for Waste Resources 2007 - 2011, which is sponsored by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

    If you have a story or event to promote please email: news@HortiTrends.com 

    Latest Company News, Trends, Courses, Products Services, Suppliers & Jobs in Horticulture & Fresh Produce, Nurseries, Fruit & Vegetable Growers, Landscape, Architecture, Garden Centre, Florists, Sports Turf, Green Keeping & Forestry Sectors.

    '

    6 Oct 2010

    International Horti Fair 2010 ((tag:horticulture, trade show, plants, Holland, ireland

    International Horti Fair 2010

     

    HORTI FAIR 2010: STRONG GROUP OF PARTICIPANTS, 

    NEW ATTRACTIONS AND EXTRA INNOVATION

     

    Amsterdam, 6 October 2010 - On top of the strong group of participants, the Horti Fair 2010 is again offering extras to visitors this year. Extras like the new pavilions Technical Trials and Horti Fair Stage, an even greater focus on innovation and a fascinating exchange of knowledge by means of Breakfast Briefings, special interest pavilions and the exhibition theme 'Earning Sustainably'. The Horti Fair is being held in the Amsterdam RAI in the Netherlands from 12 to 15 October inclusive, the event will be opened by the new chairman Ewald van Vliet and admission is free of charge for trade visitors, if they download their tickets at www.hortifair.com/tickets. 

     

    With approximately 530 exhibitors from 35 countries, half of them from the Netherlands, the Horti Fair once more has a rock solid group of participants. It is the most complete of horticultural trade fairs and internationally the most intensively visited trade event in the world. From automation to seed technology and from parental material to packaging: the Horti Fair 2010 offers a complete picture of contemporary horticulture. The hundreds of innovations also look forward to the future, partly as a result of the theme of 'Earning Sustainably'.

     

    Opening by Ewald van Vliet

    The Horti Fair 2010 will be opened by Ewald van Vliet, the new chairman of the board, and during the opening he will consider developments in horticulture and the role of trade fairs, now and in the future. ,,The fragmentation of the range of trade fairs and less scope for investment because of the crisis mean that the Horti Fair is more compact now. But fortunately, it is at least as complete. We are introducing the concept of the International HortiWeek during the exhibition. International horticultural trade fairs and events in the Netherlands are bundling their activities under that title in the first week of November 2011. With joint promotion, carefully coordinated exhibition concepts, and shuttle services for example. That means partnership in the interest of visitors and participants alike. And for, from and by horticulture,’’ predicts Van Vliet. 

     

    New: Technical Trials and Horti Fair Stage

    Technical Trials and the Horti Fair Stage are new pavilions at the Horti Fair. Seventeen specialist technology suppliers work together in Technical Trials. They organize field trips from the Centraal Station (stand 04.0417) at the Horti Fair to the participants' businesses and to concrete projects in practice, so that visitors can see the technical progress and possibilities with their own eyes. The Horti Fair Stage (in hall 6 of the Amsterdam RAI) is the new events platform with Flowertrends (flowered by Dutch Creations), prize ceremonies, TV recordings for KAS Tuinbouw, rounds of the Horti Business Game 2.0 and the final round of Ranking the Grower.

     

    Even more innovation

    At the 2010 edition of the Horti Fair, the House of Technology is being complemented with Innovation, there is a special new products judging event in the House of Quality, and Syntens is linking this year's Breakfast Briefings to I-Tours that will take in innovative participants. ,,This is a further underpinning of the innovation programme of the Horti Fair,’’ says its managing director Wim van der Loo. The presentation of the Innovation Award (in partnership with Reed Business) during the official opening of the Horti Fair by chairman Ewald van Vliet is an important benchmark in this programme. Which of the ten nominees will win the first prize in the form of a media cheque for € 5,000, receive the esteem of colleagues in the sector and ride the huge wave of publicity? All new products registered can be seen atwww.hortifair.com and recognized at the fair and on the official floorplans as well by the special New logo.

     

    Exchange of knowledge and amusement

    With the exhibition theme of 'Earning Sustainably' as their keynote, there is once more an impressive programme of Breakfast Briefings (see www.syntens.nl/hortifair) before the exhibition opens in the morning. No fewer that five subjects are examined from different angles between 08.00 and 10.00 hours every day, after which visitors can also walk the I-Tour route and conclude this part of their day in the House of Technology & Innovation. This is also simply the best pavilion for a spectacular programme of debates. The Horti Fair House of Software (no. 01.0428) offers the prospect of software developments in horticulture and the Breeders' Market houses specialist suppliers of parental material. In the House of Quality around 1,000 flower and plant entries will be competing for the Interpolis Quality Cup, the prize for the most highly rated entry. The AVAG Market (no. 04.0220) is the pavilion for contractors and fitters in greenhouse horticulture in the Netherlands, with Greenport Holland International as a new key area. 

    Offering a preview of the ten-yearly World Horticulture Expo, flower tastings and the Flower Toppers, the Floriade 2012 stand (no. 05.0212) is interesting for four whole days, which also certainly applies to the Career Plaza (no. 03.0302): the Horti Fair pavilion for matchmaking between students and the horticultural business sector. This special pavilion is a top attraction for all visiting national and international professionals, with a taste event (collaboration between Tomato World, Koppert Cress and the CAH Dronten university of applied sciences), the presentation by Major Earth on 'possibly the most important business sector in the world', and the introduction of the first 3D website in the Netherlands - nederlandse.tuinbouw.nl - in connection with the It’s Alive promotion campaign.

     

    Service for trade visitors

    In 2010 the Horti Fair is being held in the Amsterdam RAI from 12 to 15 October inclusive and is open every day from 10.00 to 19.00 hours. Admission is free of charge for trade visitors, who receive tickets from participants or online (www.hortifair.com/tickets). Tickets cost € 40.00 at the box office (for non-trade visitors). Shuttles bring visitors safely, swiftly and comfortably to the Horti Fair from horticultural areas (www.hortifair.com/route). Take a look at www.hortifair.com for an up-to-the-minute impression of the most intensively visited trade event for professional horticulture and click onwww.hortifair.com/hortivisit for the free weekly e-mail newsletter. All visitors can also pick up their free copy of the Horti Fair Daily News, the exhibition newspaper with the latest news from the fair in English, plus a complete floorplan and a daily agenda.

    If you have a story or event to promote please email: news@HortiTrends.com 

    Latest Company News, Trends, Courses, Products Services, Suppliers & Jobs in Horticulture & Fresh Produce, Nurseries, Fruit & Vegetable Growers, Landscape, Architecture, Garden Centre, Florists, Sports Turf, Green Keeping & Forestry Sectors.

    '

    6 Oct 2010

    Women and Agriculture Conference 2010

    Women and Agriculture Conference 2010
    Looking positively at ourselves, our families and our farming business is the theme of this year's Women and Agriculture conference which takes place on the 20th October in the Lyrath Hotel Kilkenny. This key event for farm women promises to be jam packed, informative, entertaining and fun day.

    Over 600 women attended last year's conference and the feedback was "do it again". Bookings are coming in so to be sure of your place log on to www.irishcountryliving.ie or phone 01 4051189 and book today. €50 per person includes lunch and teas.


    Programme for the Day

    9.00 Registration with tea/coffee and pastries

    9.30 Official Welcome, Matt Dempsey, Editor of Irish Farmers Journal

    9.40 Official Opening, Helen Brophy, CEO of National Dairy Council


    Session 1: Our farming business

    10.00 Up the Energy I

    10.10 Looking after your most valuable asset - Professor Patrick Wall, Associate Professor of Health, UCD

    11.00 Break

    11.20 Pension issues for farm families - Margaret Healy, Chairwoman of IFA Farm Family and Social Affairs Committee

    11.35 Real life family dilemmas from the Money Mentor including 5 key messages for farm families - Peter Young, Irish Farmers Journal

    12.15 Financial Matters including nursing home support, civil partnerships and co-habitation, transferring the family farm and what to expect in the Budget - Declan McEvoy, Senior Tax Planning Consultant with IFAC Accountants

    12.45 Questions

    1.00 Lunch


    Session 2: Ourselves and Our Families

    2.00 Up the Energy II

    2.10 Growing up together, dealing with teenagers and young adults and how best to manage the adult to adult relationship with the child who remains on the farm - David Coleman, Clinical Psychologist and popular presenter of RTE series, Families in Trouble and Teens in the Wild

    2.55 EU food labelling – understanding the health claims made for food - Dr Mary Flynn, Chief Specialist, Public Health Nutrition

    3.30 Flourishing under fire – "happiness is not an accessory in our lives but essential for survival, recovery and flourishing" - Dr Maureen Gaffney

    5pm Close with Mairead Lavery, Editor Irish Country Living

    If you have a story or event to promote please email: news@HortiTrends.com 

    Latest Company News, Trends, Courses, Products Services, Suppliers & Jobs in Horticulture & Fresh Produce, Nurseries, Fruit & Vegetable Growers, Landscape, Architecture, Garden Centre, Florists, Sports Turf, Green Keeping & Forestry Sectors.

    '

    6 Oct 2010

    HortiFair 2010 Update

    Horti Fair Stage: presentation venue available

    There are still opportunities on the Horti Fair Stage for Horti Fair participants who would like to take advantage of an extra platform to present their activities. Your presentation of a product, introduction of a new product, welcome for a large delegation: inquire into the options and send us a mail.

    But send it as soon as possible, so that your event can also be included in the daily agenda for the Horti Fair (appears in the Daily News, the press agenda, on the website, etc). The Horti Fair Stage is certainly the platform for the opening of the Horti Fair, prize ceremonies, Flowertrends (flowered by Dutch Creations), introduction of the Anthura marketing concept, the presentation of the award for Ranking the Grower, interviews for KAS TV and rounds of the Horti Business Game. Opportunities are still available on every day of the exhibition and no extra costs are charged for this service!

    lijntje

    Registrations start for 2011

    The Horti Fair 2010 will see the start of registrations for the Horti Fair 2011, when your trade show will be held in the first week of November at the same time as the FloraHolland Trade Fair. This means the Horti Fair is one of the founding partners of the International HortiWeek and has the Holland Complex (halls 8 to 11 inclusive) of the Amsterdam RAI in use.

    The registration forms will be delivered by the Horti Fair team and you can also meet the team members on the Horti Fair stand in the House of Software (stand 01.0428). The modern exhibition accommodation of the Holland Complex (high halls, more direct light, modern entrance, good restaurants and excellent facilities for supply and dismantling) is extremely suitable for the Horti Fair horticultural trade show. Participants in 2010 will be given first opportunity of taking out an option on stand space for the Horti Fair 2011! Please contact Jacco Mantel (j.mantel@hortifair.nl) for details.

    lijntje

    Principal stand contractor Arti'70

    You can still place additional orders for furniture in the Arti'70 webshop (link) until 10 October. Thereafter Arti'70 can be reached via the service desk in the main entrance of the Amsterdam RAI. The opening times are: Monday 11 October from 08.00 to 17.00 hours and Tuesday 12 October from 08.00 to 10.00 hours.

    lijntje

    Press Room Horti Fair 2010: K102

    Press room K102 is in use for the Horti Fair 2010 and you can deliver press files for the international trade press there between 14.00 and 15.00 hours on Monday 11 October. Also check out the tips for optimum PR before, during and after the Horti Fair. Are there any ideas, special stand campaigns or events you haven't passed on yet? Then don't lose any time in contacting the Horti Fair press service.

    If you have a story or event to promote please email: news@HortiTrends.com 

    Latest Company News, Trends, Courses, Products Services, Suppliers & Jobs in Horticulture & Fresh Produce, Nurseries, Fruit & Vegetable Growers, Landscape, Architecture, Garden Centre, Florists, Sports Turf, Green Keeping & Forestry Sectors.

    '

    5 Oct 2010

    Value or Premium, let the customer make a Choice

    Value or Premium, let the customer make a Choice

    John Stanley

    The last few years have been tough for many retailers. Many have relied on discounting to get them through a difficult retailing period, but the discount formula was always a short term measure and the winning retailers had to find a new strategy to ensure they could grow their business.

    The global recession has lasted longer than many predicted and as a result retailers have had to change tactics to grow their businesses.

    I first observed a strategic change coming from the fast food sector and I talk about this in the October edition of Retail World Report on my members site. As countries went into the recession many fast food companies benefited as consumers downgraded from more expensive restaurants and graduated towards cheaper food offers. In the USA, for example, the fast food retailers have trained their consumers into thinking about a hamburger as a known value product and as a result they have been forced to keep the product below the five dollar price barrier to ensure they generated traffic to their stores. This policy can only last so long before increasing costs and the need to improve the bottom line means a new strategy has to be developed.

    The fast food retailers had a dilemma; they could not destroy the loyalty they had built with the $4.99 customer market, but at the same time they needed to attract new customers whom they wanted to spend more plus they wanted existing customers to spend more too.

    The answer was to keep their existing range and price structure, but create a new category in store that was more profitable and market this to their consumer base.

    Value and Premium

    The solution was to develop the existing product range as a Value range and to introduce a new range at a Premium level. This strategy resulted in deluxe hamburgers and ribs being introduced into the menu at a much higher price point.

    In the UK it has resulted in MacDonald’s developing an upmarket coffee strategy and in 2009 that meant they moved over 84 million cups of coffee. According to an article in the Daily Mail [Sept 23, 2010] the next stage is to develop espresso coffee as a premium product.

    The Premium and Value approach is not confined to fast food; supermarkets are also going down the same avenue. In the same newspaper it was reported the Sainsbury’s have launched a “Taste the Difference“ range which will be promoted by Jamie Oliver the celebrity chef. Sainsbury’s have launched a Premium range that contains 1,100 different S.K.U’s and one billion pounds worth of sales last year. Research carried out by Kantar Worldpanel [Daily Mail 23 Sept 2010] highlighted that the supermarkets that have seen the fastest growth in the last twelve months have developed a value and a premium strategy. One reason for the growth is that consumers are shifting from restaurants to home cooking using premium products in a tight economy.

    How Does this Apply to You?

     

    How does this apply to you? The changes taking place in the food industry in developing a value and premium range are just as important for any retailer. The market is changing and many would argue that the middle price point products are disappearing. Some buying decisions are being made on value, whilst on the same shopping trip other decisions are being made based on premium buying decisions, products positioned in the middle range are today often overlooked by consumers.

    This means that every retailer needs to stand back and relook at the category range they are stocking and ask themselves:

    1.       

     Do we have a value range and are we promoting it as such?

    2.        Is there a premium range and is this being promoted as a premium range?

    3.        What products do we have in the middle of the range and should they be on the shelf?

    And what about the Discounting?

    Discounting strategies will continue and are needed to ensure products stay fresh in the customers eyes. The most successful large retailer, Tesco, has a very successful discount policy and use it as a customer draw. The company has a policy of graduated discounting, which is something all retailers need to adopt. It is based on product life cycles and set time limits, all stock is monitored. The discount starts at 25%, then moves to 50% and then to75%.  Once a product passes a certain time date in the UK it is sold for a penny as it goes through the till.  According to the website moneysavingexperts.com they recently monitored 50 items at one time that were being managed in this way.

    The key is to manage the stock and to ensure stock turn is profitable.

    John Stanley conducts monthly training on his Members site that helps all retailers keep up with current changes in the marketplace.  Visit his website for details www.johnstanley.com.au

    John Stanley is WA Entrepreneur of the Year 2009 and his business JSA is WA Small Business Champion – Education 2009. He is an acclaimed conference speaker, retail consultant and author.  For more information on how he can help your business grow, visit his website www.johnstanley.com.au, or his resources site www.johnstanleyretailguru.com.au

    If you have a story or event to promote please email: news@HortiTrends.com 

    Latest Company News, Trends, Courses, Products Services, Suppliers & Jobs in Horticulture & Fresh Produce, Nurseries, Fruit & Vegetable Growers, Landscape, Architecture, Garden Centre, Florists, Sports Turf, Green Keeping & Forestry Sectors.

    '

    4 Oct 2010

    Amenity Trees and Woodlands: A Guide to their Management in Ireland

    Amenity Trees and Woodlands: A Guide to their Management in Ireland

    The Tree Council of Ireland in association with the Arboricultural Association [Irish Branch] and the Society of Irish Foresters present a seminar on Amenity Trees and Woodlands: A Guide to their Management in Ireland

    Monday, 18th October  2010

    National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Co. Dublin

    Amenity trees and woodlands are an indispensable part of our everyday landscape, helping to create places where people want to live, work and play. Planning and managing the resource, particularly within the built-up environment, requires the input of a wide range of professionals and stakeholders. It also requires an awareness and understanding of best practice, both in relation to individual tree care and overarching issues.

    Click here to download further information, programme and booking form in PDF format [PDF 506K]

    If you have a story or event to promote please email: news@HortiTrends.com 

    Latest Company News, Trends, Courses, Products Services, Suppliers & Jobs in Horticulture & Fresh Produce, Nurseries, Fruit & Vegetable Growers, Landscape, Architecture, Garden Centre, Florists, Sports Turf, Green Keeping & Forestry Sectors.

    '

    29 Sep 2010

    Colour Your Life October Newsletter

    Heading
    Colour your Life presents.... October 2010
    ‘Ever stylish’ with a selection of conifers 

    You can generate lots of interest in the planteria in autumn and what better plant group to focus on than conifers? 

    They must be the ultimate plant group for year-round appeal. Any weather, any season, almost any soil, they are there delivering structure, style and environmental benefits. 

    There is always a demand for conifers because of this. 

    But what is the magic recipe to translate that into sales?


    It’s as easy as 1,2,3

    You can boost plant sales with skilful use of POS, positioning and by highlighting their benefits.

    Download your FREE POS now from the Colour your Life website!

    Use our tutorial to find out how to personalise your POS by adding your own logo or go straight to the poster service to try it yourself. You can download high resolution images to print yourself or alternatively you can use the poster printing service to have them printed and sent to you at a reasonable cost.


    See more...

    Style, fun & function

    These are key concepts to have in mind. Conifers are so diverse, you can maximise visual value in-store by including varieties with unusually coloured leaves or exciting shapes. Many of the golden conifers available in this country are dwarf varieties which can provide colour and interest in tight spaces, when many other garden plants are dormant. 
    Dwarf species, (e.g. Pinus mugo) are full of natural humour. Take ‘Mops’ that almost spherical little tree that works so well in beds and borders, or Pinus pumila (Dwarf Siberian pine). 

    And it isn’t just the benefit of what we see, it has been proven scientifically that the needles of conifers trap and neutralise those deadly disease-causing particulates, thereby improving air quality around our homes and workplaces. This is a strong promotional message that will have resonance with today’s customers.

    Some more species suggestions for special promotion


    Colour your Life makes big splash at GLEE!

    Did you make it to the Colour your Life seminar at GLEE on September 22nd? It was great, with retail guruPhil Rogers (IKEA, ASDA and Warner Bros) and Mark Long (Director of PPH UK bureau) offering some great ideas on how to engage with customers, get more out of Colour your Life and benefit from theGreen Community Award.

    We had loads of feedback from the floor with some leading retailers including Paul Cooling (Coolings Nurseries) and Neil Gow(Burcot Garden Centre) contributing their thoughts to the session. Gillie Westwood (Chief Executive GCA) commented on the changes in our industry and Steve Fry of Dorset Based Gardens Group spoke on the benefits of being involved in the Green Community Award. Gary Buttle from Ned Yates’ garden centre spoke about the benefits of using Colour your Life POS. If you didn’t make it, don’t worry... 

    You can see a copy of Phil's Top Retail Tips by clicking here....


    Have you seen the poster service tutorial?

    The online poster service is brilliant and we can vouch personally  for the quality of the materials available. Why not have a look at the tutorial film on Youtube? It takes you through the steps to create wonderful POS that will help to boost sales in-store.

    Just look at what some campaign users have to say about its benefits:


    X Factor - Now plants have their own talent show!

    At this year’s Plantarium trade show in Boskoop, organisers trialled a new idea – a catwalk style show for new plants. Run with suitable razamataz (plus some very lovely assistants) the plants strutted their stuff before an admiring, yet critical audience.  Find out what plants stole the show...


    If you have a story or event to promote please email: news@HortiTrends.com 

    Latest Company News, Trends, Courses, Products Services, Suppliers & Jobs in Horticulture & Fresh Produce, Nurseries, Fruit & Vegetable Growers, Landscape, Architecture, Garden Centre, Florists, Sports Turf, Green Keeping & Forestry Sectors.

    '

    29 Sep 2010

    HortiFair News 2010

    New products, new philosophy'

    "Where we are concerned, the Horti Fair is the trade show for introducing new products and communicating our new philosophy. This is very visible in the new logo in a clear and fresh shade of blue, instead of the familiar 31-year old green logo. 
    And we will be pleased to explain the change on the stand,’’ says Ruud van Gils from Saint-Gobain Cultilène (stand 02.0206).

    'Cultilène cares' is the substrate supplier's philosophy. ,,We supply not just substrate products but services as well, besides assisting our customers in choosing the best growth medium. With respect for our living environment, naturally. Because all our products are made from natural raw materials and contribute to the use of less water, energy and nutrients," explains Van Gils. As well as the new philosophy and new products, the Cultilène stand will also be showcasing the X-fibre technique. Cultilène is the sole substrate supplier that uses this technique to produce an optimum imitation of the natural root environment for plants.

    lijntje

    House of Software: third successful edition on its way

    For the third year in succession, the House of Software will be one of the extra attractions at the trade exhibition for professional (greenhouse) horticulture.Participants in this pavilion represent all links in the chain from breeder through retailer. This special interest pavilion (stand 01.0428) provides visitors with a complete and future-focused picture of the latest developments in software for greenhouse horticulture.

     

    The Horti Fair internetcafé is part of this pavilion, where participants also introduce new products and services, such as the low threshold step-up to software updates from Sercom. New products and services from other participants like Distel Software, Florecom, Hawe Systems Europe, SDF Tuinbouwautomatisering and Wevab have not yet been announced. Discussions are still in progress with a number of sector colleagues concerning their participation in the Horti Fair House of Software. 

    The oldest of the companies has been specializing in horticulture for no less than fifty years and they are all presenting a wide range of products: advice/communications, automation, control systems, certification, internal transport and delivery systems, logistical systems (software), management software, software applications for horticulture, and registration programs.

    lijntje

    Opening and Happy Hour: 12 October

    Participants at and associates of the Horti Fair will shortly be receiving their invitations for the official opening of the Horti Fair from 09.00 to 10.00 hours on Tuesday 12 October in the Horti Fair Stage in hall 6 of the Amsterdam RAI. The opening will be performed by Ewald van Vliet, the new chairman of the International Horti Fair, who will discuss the added value of the trade show supported by horticulture in a period of ongoing internationalization, virtualization and changing competition.

    The second theme of the opening is 'Innovation', in the context of which the prestigious Horti Fair Innovation Award will be presented to one of the participants nominated for this prize.

    The first day of the Horti Fair will be brought to a close with exhibitors, guests and associates during a Happy Hour that starts at 18.00 hours (walk-in 17.30 hours) on Tuesday 12 October. 

    If you have a story or event to promote please email: news@HortiTrends.com 

    Latest Company News, Trends, Courses, Products Services, Suppliers & Jobs in Horticulture & Fresh Produce, Nurseries, Fruit & Vegetable Growers, Landscape, Architecture, Garden Centre, Florists, Sports Turf, Green Keeping & Forestry Sectors.

    '

    27 Sep 2010

    Glee is not a landscaping or gardening show

    Glee is not a landscaping or gardening show

    by 
    Philip Voice

    RotovatorLet's end it here and now. Glee (that's the garden centre and pet product exhibition at NEC Birmingham and not the popular TV programme of the same name) is not, never was and never will be, a place to promote the world of landscaping and horticulture.

    The Emap marketing machine has been allowed to generate whirls of positive spin, unchallenged - but aided and abetted by the trade press - for far too long.

    I've not read or heard one positive review from a landscaper or gardener who has attended the show and it proves - to me at least - what Dan Thurlow told me about doing more for our industry was just not true (if I'm wrong here Dan, I'd be happy to be shown otherwise).

    Emap have got to be honest with us all, and themselves and return the show to grass roots level and that is, first and foremost, as a pet and garden centre event. I told Emap before, we do not want our exhibitions stands to be tucked away behind the pet stands as an afterthought.

    Landscaping and gardening is a serious business and it contributes a great deal of money to the UK economy so it deserves to be treated with more respect.

    I did a search on the Glee website using the search words "landscape" or "landscaping" and it returned just 10 results.

    I know my comments may stimulate a debate amongst Glee supporters that my intention is just to knock other shows because it's mine and Landscape Juice's intention to run our own event.

    Let me dispel any of these thoughts before they grow roots. Yes we are going to put on an industry event for landscapers and gardeners in 2011 - and the integral and peripheral businesses that go hand in hand - but Creating Landscapes (as the show will be named) has grown from need: in a way, I've decided to put my money and reputation where my mouth is and I've spent the last eighteen months or more talking and listening to the industry practitioners who feel left out and neglected.

    There just isn't an event for landscapers and gardeners that is centric to their needs - Landscape Juice, in conjunction with our partners - Hale Events - have worked hard to research what has been missing so we can deliver a rich and profitable experience.

    As always, I want to hear your comments and if you are a landscaper or gardener and you did think it was worthwhile attending or if you are a an exhibitor who sells to landscapers and gardeners and you feel the show was benefit then please do leave a comment.

    If you have a story or event to promote please email: news@HortiTrends.com 

    Latest Company News, Trends, Courses, Products Services, Suppliers & Jobs in Horticulture & Fresh Produce, Nurseries, Fruit & Vegetable Growers, Landscape, Architecture, Garden Centre, Florists, Sports Turf, Green Keeping & Forestry Sectors.

    '

    27 Sep 2010

    "Operation Chip It" News

    "Operation Chip It" News September, 2010

    Andersons Transport: “We plan to use RFID to its full potential!”

    There is a great deal of concern about the implementation of RFID in the horticultural industry supply chain. This is understandable as the introduction of new technology or significant change always takes some getting used to in the beginning. However, RFID is widely used already, but we don’t even notice it: At toll roads, in supermarkets, at the airport, in hospitals, etc. Before long RFID will be an integral part of horticultural logistics too.


    Andersons Transport

    Andersons Transport is a full transport service provider that has been operating in the UK for more than 40 years. They are eagerly awaiting the technology that will allow the horticultural supply chain to advance further. 

    “It is clear that the CC Container pool is affected by the intrusion of the counterfeit containers,” says Scott Cumming, Project Manager at Andersons Transport. “Clearing up this problem is something that should be a priority for the industry and resolving it by introducing RFID is in our opinion an added benefit.”

     


    Andersons Transport and changes to the industry

    “I am convinced that Andersons Transport will benefit significantly from taking a proactive approach in embracing the introduction of RFID technology,” says Scott Cumming. “It is clear that early adopters of the new technology who communicate effectively with their clients will be able to enhance their customer offer, and they will create enhanced benefits to each end of the supply chain.”

    If you have a story or event to promote please email: news@HortiTrends.com 

    Latest Company News, Trends, Courses, Products Services, Suppliers & Jobs in Horticulture & Fresh Produce, Nurseries, Fruit & Vegetable Growers, Landscape, Architecture, Garden Centre, Florists, Sports Turf, Green Keeping & Forestry Sectors.

    '

    27 Sep 2010

    Tree Council of Ireland "Bliain na Beithe". "Year of the Birch "

    "Bliain na Beithe". "Year of the Birch ".

    On Thursday, 7 October 2010 primary school children all over Ireland are encourage to put away their school books and spend the day learning about trees in a fun, relaxed and engaging environment.  The aim of ‘Tree Day’ is to create a learning experience that will enthuse and enlighten all children by making them aware of the magic, beauty and importance of trees and the wider environment. The event is sponsored by Tetra Pak tetrapak logoand supported by the Department of Education and Science. Many schools take the opportunity to

    participate in guided woodland walks at over 120 locations throughout the country. These walks are hosted by Tree Council member organisations including Coillte, the National Parks & Wildlife Service, the Heritage Service of the OPW, the Dublin local authorities and private owners.

    Tree Day was first held in 1997 and has since grown from strength to strength with hundreds of thousands of pupils estimated to have taken part in a woodland walk for the day.  It ensures that each child who passes through the primary school curriculum will have eight full days of education about trees during the primary school cycle. 

     tetrapak logo

    Tetra Pak Website

    To arrange a walk for your school please click here for details of a contact in your area

     

    Each year a different tree is celebrated on Tree Day. Tree Day 2010 will celebrate one of our most common natives, the birch tree.  A poster with the theme “The Year of the birch” has been circulated to all primary schools with a factsheet about birch.

     To support Tree Day, the Tree Council has developed a comprehensive resource pack on the subject of trees.  It is complimentary to the science syllabus of the school curriculum and covers over 40 topics on the subject of trees such as “why trees are planted,” “wildlife in woodlands” “trees in poetry” and a range of interesting and fun science experiments and worksheets to stimulate project work and practical activities, both in the classroom and in the school grounds.  The Tree Day Manual is available in all schools and is also free to download from the left column of this page.school children dressed as witches on broom

     

     

     

     

    Eanna Ni Lamhna, Vice President, Tree Council of Ireland with some schoolchildren at the National Botanic Gardens where details of Tree Day 2010 were announced. Posing with a birch tree above and the broom called a besom - a broom made from birch twigs. 

     

     

    If you have a story or event to promote please email: news@HortiTrends.com 

    Latest Company News, Trends, Courses, Products Services, Suppliers & Jobs in Horticulture & Fresh Produce, Nurseries, Fruit & Vegetable Growers, Landscape, Architecture, Garden Centre, Florists, Sports Turf, Green Keeping & Forestry Sectors.

    '

    27 Sep 2010

    Gardeners Urged To Stop Using Peat-Based Compost

    Gardeners Urged To Stop Using Peat-Based Compost

    While turf cutting continues to be a controversial subject in Ireland, a new initiative to phase out the use of peat in compost was launched recently in the UK. In 1999 the Government aimed to eliminate peat from all but 10 per cent of compost by 2010, but it is still present in 46 per cent of the compost sold in Britain. Its extraction in the UK not only disturbs rare wildlife but also releases an estimated million tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year about the same as from 175,000 cars.

    In northern Europe, peat is being extracted quicker than it is renewed on moors and bogs. Some 38 per cent of peat sold in the UK is from native sources, with 56 per cent coming from Ireland and 6 per cent from the Baltic states.

    The bogs take thousands of years to form, thickening by just a millimetre a year – far too slowly for them, and their wildlife, to keep up with the extraction. The mining also increases global warming by releasing carbon stored in the peat.

    Despite the development of alternatives, peat still accounts for about half of the seed and potting compost market. Demand for such "growing media" has increased rapidly, spurred on by a ‘back to the Good Life’ surge in recent years : 75 million bags are sold each year.

    Which? survey this year found that alternative composts performed better than peat for growing potatoes and flowers in pots. Alternatives include bark, green compost, wood waste, wood fibre and coir.

    If you have a story or event to promote please email: news@HortiTrends.com 

    Latest Company News, Trends, Courses, Products Services, Suppliers & Jobs in Horticulture & Fresh Produce, Nurseries, Fruit & Vegetable Growers, Landscape, Architecture, Garden Centre, Florists, Sports Turf, Green Keeping & Forestry Sectors.

    '

    27 Sep 2010

    Organic Promotion Launched In UK

    Organic Promotion Launched In UK

    The UK Organic Trade Board (OTB) is to launch a £2million campaign following its successful application to the EU for matching funding for the £1 million it has raised from the organic business world. The OTB was set up by the organic industry to develop, promote and support organic trade. One of its key objectives is to double the value of the market for organic products in the UK within the period 2008 to 2013.

    A website www.whyiloveorganic.co.uk is already in operation and the main campaign will start in September, with press ads running towards the end of the year in conjunction with PR and digital promotion.

    A modest growth in the organic market is expected in 2010 following a fall in sales in 2009. Huw Bowles, Chairman of the OTB, said the campaign would “give us a great chance for growth in all organic sectors so sales start to increase again. We’re not forcing consumers to subscribe to all the benefits we mention, but simply consider making the switch if they haven’t already.”

    If you have a story or event to promote please email: news@HortiTrends.com 

    Latest Company News, Trends, Courses, Products Services, Suppliers & Jobs in Horticulture & Fresh Produce, Nurseries, Fruit & Vegetable Growers, Landscape, Architecture, Garden Centre, Florists, Sports Turf, Green Keeping & Forestry Sectors.

    '

    27 Sep 2010

    Horticulture Teaching Job Available

    Teaching job available

    Basic details and application form are available from the VEC here….

    It’s 16 hours a week. Phone the college on 063 83604 for more info on what would be involved.

    If you have a story or event to promote please email: news@HortiTrends.com 

    Latest Company News, Trends, Courses, Products Services, Suppliers & Jobs in Horticulture & Fresh Produce, Nurseries, Fruit & Vegetable Growers, Landscape, Architecture, Garden Centre, Florists, Sports Turf, Green Keeping & Forestry Sectors.

    '

    25 Sep 2010

    CC - RFID Scanner Deadline October 15th 2010

    After a long selection process and several rounds of equipment testing, Container Centralen has certified Nordic ID and PANMOBIL as suppliers of RFID scanners to the European horticultural industry.

    Both suppliers have scanners that are capable of supporting the RFID solution that has been developed in co-operation with IBM. All scanners are able to clearly verify the authenticity of the CC Container. Other features, integration options and prices vary, and are explained in more detail below.

    To ensure that you receive your scanners in due time before January 10, 2011, the suppliers recommend that you make your order no later than October 15, 2010.

    Download a brief RFID scanner overview

    If you have a story or event to promote please email: news@HortiTrends.com 

    Latest Company News, Trends, Courses, Products Services, Suppliers & Jobs in Horticulture & Fresh Produce, Nurseries, Fruit & Vegetable Growers, Landscape, Architecture, Garden Centre, Florists, Sports Turf, Green Keeping & Forestry Sectors.

    '

    25 Sep 2010

    Greenmount Floristry Student at the RHS Tatton Park Show

    Greenmount Floristry Student, Valerie Clarke, writes on her experiences behind the scenes at the RHS Tatton Park Show….

    I finished my Floristry course at Greenmount Campus in June 2010 and was thrilled to be invited to help leading UK designer, Amanda Canning, with her floristry demonstrations at the RHS Tatton Park Show in July.  I was accompanied by my two friends Dorothy Blair and Pat Hunter whom I met and trained with at Greenmount.  

    Our first experience at Tatton involved joining a willing band of volunteers within the British Florist Association marquee to prepare costumes for a Catwalk Show featuring West End musicals.  We made a range of body adornments for the dancers and quickly learned that everything has to be BIG for the stage. We also contributed by making a range of accessories to enhance the costumes.  For example, Pat made a beautiful bustle for ‘My Fair Lady’ and Dorothy and I made the head for beast in ‘Beauty and the Beast’ – it’s wonderful what you can do with floristry materials!   

    The highlight of our trip was supporting and assisting Amanda in her floristry demonstrations.  We assisted with the preparations for the designs, stage design set up and scene changes and, of course, learning to be in the right place at the right time so that our designer was presented with everything she needed to complete her creations.  We also had a bird’s eye view behind the stage as Amanda completed an outstanding range of commercial floristry designs.

    The BFA marquee also hosted the International Design Competition for 18-25 year olds which took place over the three days we were there.  It was a privilege to see such talented florists push the boundaries of traditional floristry to create a host of stunning creations.  It was truly inspiring to see these young people at work and amazing to see the variety of designs that were created using the same materials.    

    On the last day of the trip we visited ‘The Flower and Plant Works’ flower shop in Runcorn run by Amanda and her sister Barbara. We saw first hand how all the floristry training at Greenmount was applied within a successful high street florist.  We all wanted to work there but sadly there were no vacancies!

    Floristry students celebrating at Greenmount Campus Awards Day in June. Valerie Clarke (2nd left) was awarded the prize for First Overall in Floristry
    Floristry students celebrating at Greenmount Campus Awards Day in June. Valerie Clarke (2nd left) was awarded the prize for First Overall in Floristry

    Leading UK floristry designer, Amanda Canning, (back) taking a break from her demonstrations in the BFA marquee with Greenmount floristry students (from left) Dorothy Blair, Patricia Hunter and Valerie Clarke
    Leading UK floristry designer, Amanda Canning, (back) taking a break from her demonstrations in the BFA marquee with Greenmount floristry students (from left) Dorothy Blair, Patricia Hunter and Valerie Clarke

    Floral costumes for Beauty and the Beast in the BFA Catwalk Show.
    Floral costumes for Beauty and the Beast in the BFA Catwalk Show

    Some of the stunning work in the International Design Competition
    Some of the stunning work in the International Design Competition

    If you have a story or event to promote please email: news@HortiTrends.com 

    Latest Company News, Trends, Courses, Products Services, Suppliers & Jobs in Horticulture & Fresh Produce, Nurseries, Fruit & Vegetable Growers, Landscape, Architecture, Garden Centre, Florists, Sports Turf, Green Keeping & Forestry Sectors.

    '

    23 Sep 2010

    Product to Shopper Experience by John Stanley

    Product to Shopper Experience
    John Stanley

    The changes in retailing seem to be happening at a faster pace than ever. Keeping up can be a real challenge. A new word seems to be creeping into the retail vocabulary: shopcentric.

    I first noticed the word in reports coming out of mainland Europe, but what is shopcentric all about?  It is about a shift in thinking processes.  It is about being less concerned about the product being sold and more concerned about providing the right experience for the consumer.

    Some organisations are using other words that mean the same thing. Shopping malls are emphasising that they are "Activity Centres" rather than places you just go to shop. Whatever word you use to describe it, the emphasis has turned to creating a shopping experience rather than just selling "stuff".

    What does this mean for retailers?   It means retailers have to focus more on the consumer and their needs and wants than in the past. Many retailers will argue that they have always focused on the consumer, but now it has become more fashionable for more retailers to do this and as a result the competition for this space has become more aggressive.
     
    What do you need to focus on to provide a point of difference?

    My first concern is that the word “experience" is now overdone. A recent launch of an American shopping centre was heralded as a "New Shopping Experience”.  The latest marketing from Jakarta in Indonesia is 'Family weekend shopping experience in Jakarta".

    The trouble is not many people believe in the headline any more.  For example, 56% of American shoppers "cross shop" on a regular basis when purchasing a product. In other words the so called experience has not bought customer loyalty.

    There are exceptions and Starbucks, Anthropologie and Abercrombie and Fitch shoppers are good examples of consumers who are true followers due to the experience they have experienced in those stores.

    Creating an experience or being shopcentric means following some specific guidelines in retailing that other retailers either do not implement or do badly or inconsistently.

    In 2004 Indiana University produced a report entitled "Creating the Ideal Shopping Experience."  They interviewed consumers to identify what they preferred. It is not the actual results that I find interesting for today's retailers, it is their approach and how that research technique can be adapted to any retail situation.
     
    The report was split into five segments:
     
    Must Have .  The first question asked of consumers was what must a retailer provide?  The answers were what you would expect. Knowledgeable staff, customer service, cash and credit card payment facilities, product availability and cashiers and people to bag your products. The challenge is if you did a similar survey in your store, what would be the MUST HAVES
     
    Should Have.  This was the second question asked of consumers and the response included promotional flyers, staff having computer access to find out information, products signed, a map of the store, products individually priced. Again this may be "common sense", but I recently worked with a retailer where computer access was banned as the owner felt that the sales team could not be trusted to use the computer professionally.
     
    Nice to Have.  This was the third part of the survey and looked at what the consumer considered to be a bit of luxury when they were shopping. It got the consumer to think about the shopping experience and this was the core of the survey. The challenge is what would the consumer feel were the nice-to-haves in your store; this would probably revolve around extra services rather than more products.
     
    Indifferent.  This part of the survey focused on what you may feel is important, but your customer felt it did not make a difference to their shopping experience.  Too often as retailers we focus on the wrong things in the customer eyes and we could be focusing on the wrong areas of developing the business.
     
    Prefer not to have.  The final question focused on the things customers would prefer not to have in their shopping experience, comments like a dirty store became one of the issues in the customers mind.

    As I mentioned, this survey was carried out six years ago and the results would not apply to retailers today. The key issue is how would your clients complete such a survey and how you manage and implement the suggestions and ideas that are offered.

    You may argue, quite rightly, that you are already providing an experience for your customer base. My challenge to you is that providing an experience has now become trendy and all sorts of retailers and shopping centres are now joining the band wagon.  This means that everyone in the experience economy needs to improve their game to ensure they impress their customers and provide a better experience than the retailer next door.

    Customers are not only comparing the experience you provide against other retailers that do what you do, but also against other retailers in other categories or industries.

    We have found this in our own town. Six months ago the experience retailers in town on a Sunday were the local garden centre and breakfast coffee shop. Both businesses have seen a drop in town once the farmers market opened during the same time period. The customers changed shopping habits for a better shopping experience even though the product sold was completely different.
     
    The Challenge
     
    The challenge for all retailers is to improve their game. This starts by asking the customer where they feel the business fits into the experience game.You need to know your strengths, weaknesses and opportunities. Once you have done that, work with the team to improve them. You will probably find that the opportunities fall into specific groups. Most retailers find they split into customer service, services offered, merchandising and display and management issues. Create some action teams to address each area and come up with a plan to truly enhance the shopping experience.
     
    If you would like more information on experience retailing and would like to keep up with what is happening around the world, John Stanley has developed a low-cost, high-value means of doing just that and training your team every month at the same time.  For AUD$45 a month you can become a member of his exclusive club and stay ahead of your competition, watch his monthly TV program online, and train your team, visit his resource site www.johnstanleyretailguru.com.au to join up and start reaping benefits today.

     

    If you have a story or event to promote please email: news@HortiTrends.com 

    Latest Company News, Trends, Courses, Products Services, Suppliers & Jobs in Horticulture & Fresh Produce, Nurseries, Fruit & Vegetable Growers, Landscape, Architecture, Garden Centre, Florists, Sports Turf, Green Keeping & Forestry Sectors.

    '

    23 Sep 2010

    Retailing...are you the new social church? by John Stanley

    Retailing...are you the new social church?
    John Stanley

    Various reports have been produced on retailing in recent years that focus on why people go shopping. Some of these reports identify that consumers are driven by convenience and price. I agree that these are key drivers and the multitude of "box" stores and TV commercials will verify that this is the case for many retailers.
     
    Having said that, there is a fundamental change going on in some retail sectors that we need to be aware of. The consumer is re looking at their most precious commodity, TIME, and asking themselves how can they use it more effectively, but also how can they develop quality time within the community.
    The community is still an important factor for consumers and they still want to gather and connect as a community. Historically the village and town square became the focal point for the local population and the weekly market was a must be place to be seen, catch up on the latest local gossip and to connect as a community. The town square remained the centre of the community until the emergence of the supermarket. This resulted in consumers changing their shopping habits and as a result they would often go shopping and not engage with anyone else in the community whilst on that shopping trip.
     
    During the last twenty years this has become the main shopping focus. Out of town shopping complexes were developed and as a result the hub of many towns went into decline and the community suffered as a result.
     
    We are now in a period of change once more.  Consumers want their "Social Church" back and as a result we are seeing a number of changes in the way people plan to shop.
    What is Social Church?
     
    My definition of social church is where the community can gather and connect. This may take place at a market, a community hall, club, or of course, church. Over recent years the social church has become more segregated with consumers congregating in tribes based on age or hobbies rather than mixing as a community where all ages and interests get together and enjoy the community.
    Communities need to get together.  Alas in many communities in the last few decades people have moved in and out of houses and may not even know the neighbours; the result is a breakdown of the overall community.
    Consumers are now challenging this concept and as a result we are seeing a change in the way we retail and I believe this will be a trend rather than a fashion and retailing may have changed for decades as a result of it.
     
    Activity Centres
     
    The shopping mall is already seeing this evolution take place. Some estimates are that 50% of American shopping centres are already in decline and empty malls are now a common site in the USA.  The consumer has started to rebel against an experience where they are left in a controlled environment to walk along lines of global shops without much respite.
    The result has been the emergence of the main street in new "shopping villages" and architects beginning to design shopping centres that look more like town hubs than boxes with shops in them.
     
    In Australia we have the term "Activity Centres.”  An Activity Centre is where 50% of available rental space is made available to activities other than retailing. This means that libraries, night clubs, taverns and community halls are now being introduced into the same retail complex and a 24/7 community experience is on offer to local residents.
    The local farmers market traditionally was the "Social Church" for the community. The farmer would bring products direct from the farm and sell directly to a local community. In countries such as Italy, Spain and France the market has continued to be a community focus, but in many countries it went out of fashion as the supermarkets grew their market share.
     
    The Farmers Market is back and has become one of the fasted retail growing sectors, it is the ideal social church and many new Activity Centres have created a central plaza to allow the market to be reintroduced into the central hub of activities.
    My Book Shop Experience
     
    I recently had a meeting in a suburb of Perth and we planned to meet at Millpoint Cafe Bookshop, a business I was unfamiliar with. I was told it was an independent bookshop. The meeting was on a Friday morning.  I arrived at the book shop to find the place full of consumers, reading books, buying books and having a late breakfast or early lunch, in fact we had a challenge to find a seat.
     
    Here was an independent, locally owned bookshop that had discovered that if they could tap into Social Church they would have a thriving business.  The place I am told is humming like this every day of the week.

    What had they discovered
     
    1 You need to create a relaxing atmosphere to get consumers to linger longer
    2 The product does not dominate the experience; the customer needs space to enjoy the experience
    3 They provide social activities, spread in their case around authors, that are provided consistently and at various times of the day and the week
    4 The quality of the food and coffee is as important as the quality of the product they sell
    5 The customer is encouraged to linger longer
    6 The staff were exceptionally good at their interactive personal skills
    7 The team had a passion for the product and how the customer could enjoy it
    8 The environment was authentic and unique; you knew you were not in a globally designed retail environment
    All forms of retailing need to develop the social church niche. For some retailers it can be a broad church whilst others will develop a narrow church and build on the hobby or interest of their customers.

    The businesses that have an advantage are locally owned independent operators who are keen to develop their market penetration within the community.
     
    If you would like more information on how to create experiences for your customers, John Stanley has developed a low-cost, high-value means of doing just that and training your team every month at the same time.  For AUD$45 a month you can become a member of his exclusive club and stay ahead of your competition, watch his monthly TV program online, and train your team, visit his resource site www.johnstanleyretailguru.com.au to join up and start reaping benefits today.

     

    If you have a story or event to promote please email: news@HortiTrends.com 

    Latest Company News, Trends, Courses, Products Services, Suppliers & Jobs in Horticulture & Fresh Produce, Nurseries, Fruit & Vegetable Growers, Landscape, Architecture, Garden Centre, Florists, Sports Turf, Green Keeping & Forestry Sectors.

    '

    22 Sep 2010

    HortiFair 2010 News

    'Revolution in handling cut flowers'

    "The Bercomex grading and bunching machine signifies a revolution in the handling of cut flowers. We have worked on this innovation for ten years with our partners, invested millions in it and have succeeded in developing a machine that singles flowers from the greenhouse fully automatically, sorts them in accordance with the required specification and gathers them together again.

    Sleeving, fully automatic taping and the addition of a sachet of Chrysal flower food can also be integrated into the system," states Roland Kroese, the managing director of Bercomex (stand 01.0424). The bunching machine has a modular construction for practically every variety of cut flower, handles 4 stems per second in practice and will be receiving its new name on the first day of the Horti Fair. "We supplied 10,000 systems worldwide in thirty years with its predecessor. The generic bunching machine is a huge leap forward with the integration of new technologies, digitalization and robotics. And it also maintains product quality and uniformity more effectively, besides realizing savings on labour costs,’’ says Kroese.

    lijntje

    Horti Fair Stage: an extra platform for you as well!

    The Horti Fair Stage in hall 6 of the Amsterdam RAI exhibition centre is the new events platform during the coming Horti Fair. For you too perhaps!

    Because time slots are still available in the stage diary for company presentations, special gatherings, workshops, demonstrations, product launches and receptions. The Horti Fair Stage will be the theatre for the official opening, prize ceremonies for the Horti Fair Innovation Award, the House of Quality (incl. the Interpolis Quality Cup), the Best Participant Award, the final round of Ranking the Grower, trend demonstrations with flowers and plants, TV recordings for KAS Tuinbouw and the first rounds of the Horti Business Game. No costs are involved if your presentation meets the requirements! So take advantage of this extra Horti Fair platform and send us a mail with your idea or proposal!

    lijntje

    Building and dismantling

    All participants have received written information about the dates and times for building and dismantling the Horti Fair 2010 and the phased delivery of the required materials. Please pass this information on to stand builders and subcontractors as well, so that all of us can help to ensure the organization of the trade exhibition proceeds without a hitch!

    Halls 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the Amsterdam RAI are open for the building and fitting out of stands at the following times:

    • Friday 8 October from 07.00 tot 22.00 hours
    • Saturday 9 October from 08.00 to 18.00 hours
    • Sunday 10 October from 08.00 to 18.00 hours
    • Monday 11 October from 07.00 to 17.00 hours

    Removal of goods and dismantling of stands for halls 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 can be commenced at 19.30 hours on Friday 15 October and continues until 24.00 hours on Saturday 16 October. Check the precise details for your entry in the personal mailing sent by post.

     

    If you have a story or event to promote please email: news@HortiTrends.com 

    Latest Company News, Trends, Courses, Products Services, Suppliers & Jobs in Horticulture & Fresh Produce, Nurseries, Fruit & Vegetable Growers, Landscape, Architecture, Garden Centre, Florists, Sports Turf, Green Keeping & Forestry Sectors.

    '

    21 Sep 2010

    Clever CloseLine Shortlisted New Products Competition at Glee 2010

    Atacama International is a young Irish design and development company run by Darren Rudden, Colin O'Brien and Greg Tobin. They are based in Dublin and their flagship product is the Clever CloseLine. The Clever CloseLine is the world's only rotary clothes dryer with an automatic, rain sensitive cover. At the first drops of rain, a rain sensor activates a cover which deploys over your clothes, protecting them from the rain. When the rain stops, the cover automatically retracts allowing for the full benefits of UV drying and aeration. The Clever CloseLine also has a side mesh attached which protects from rain falling at an angle. The unit is powered by a 12V rechargeable battery which will last minimum of 2-3 weeks depending on weather conditions, and the battery can be taken out and fully recharged in 4-5 hours. 

    The Clever CloseLine retails at just €299 which is cheaper than a tumble dryer. By using the Clever CloseLine instead of a tumble dryer, customers can recoup the cost in under 2 years through energy cost savings and they can also decrease their household carbon emissions by up to 10% annually.
     
    They exhibited the Clever CloseLine at Glee which is the UK's premier home and garden trade show and were short listed in the new products competition. Given the stature of this show and the judging panel, this was a fantastic achievement and endorsement of their product. They also exhibited at the Tullamore Show in August and the public reaction was phenomenal. They also won the best invention at the show in the Labour Saving Device category.
     
    For more information on the Clever CloseLine, please visit their website...www.clevercloseline.com

     

    If you have a story or event to promote please email: news@HortiTrends.com 

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    '

    17 Sep 2010

    GIY (Grow it Yourself) Ireland 2010 Conference

    GIY (Grow it Yourself) Ireland 2010 Conference

    Under 24 hours to go now to the GIY 2010 Conference which takes place tomorrow (Saturday) at the

     Guinness Storehouse.  There will be some tickets available at the door or you can also book in advance atwww.giyireland.com/shop.  Tickets cost €40 and include a hot lunch, access to the Storehouse Tour (normally €15) and access to talks.  For details on how to get to the Storehouse go to http://www.guinness-storehouse.com/en/GettingThere.aspx

    The theme of this year's conference is Together We Grow and the event is aimed at GIY local champions, and anyone who is interested in finding out more about GIY.  

    The GIY 2010 Conference is proudly supported by Woodies DIY.

    GIY is thrilled to announce that the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese will open the event – her attendance is due to her interest in GIYing and in the spirit of community and volunteerism that GIY represents. It is also due recognition for the huge work that all GIY local champions have put in to getting their groups up and running.

    GIY Ireland has put together a stellar cast of speakers for the event, including:

    •       Diarmuid Gavin - Garden Designer, TV Presenter and GIY Patron

    •       Duncan Stewart - Environmentalist and presenter of Eco-Eye

    •       Michael Kelly - Founder of GIY and author of Tales from the Home Farm

    •       Klaus Laitenberger - Former Organic Centre Lecturer and author of Vegetables for the Irish Garden

    •       Paddy Gleeson - Horticulture Consultant, Woodies DIY

    •       Fionnuala Fallon - Irish Times Urban Farmer Columnist

    •       Victoria Mary Clarke - TV Presenter, journalist and Yoga instructor

    •       Nicky Kyle - Organic Gardening Expert, former director of IOFGA and the Organic Trust 

    •       Michael Fox - Chairman of the South Dublin Allotments Association

    •       John Carney - Organic Gardening Expert

    •       Laurent Bertomier – Former head chef at the Palais de L'elyse (Presidential Palace) in Paris

    •       Pat Whelan - Farmer, butcher and author of An Irish Butcher Shop

    The conference agenda also includes:

    ·       World Cafe POD sessions where you can meet fellow GIYers from around Ireland

    ·       Presentation of the GIYer and GIY Group of the Year awards

    ·       Launch of the “Friend of GIY” Loyalty Card programme

    ·       Launch of GIY Bulk Seed Order programme

    ·       Tour of the Guinness Storehouse - find out about Guinness history and the brewing process

    ·       Free pint of Guinness in the Gravity Bar 

      Tickets

      Tickets are priced at €40 and include refreshments, a hot buffet lunch, and a tour of the Guinness Storehouse (the tour normally costs €15 per person). 

      Venue: The Guinness Storehouse

      The Guinness Storehouse is Ireland's Number One international visitor attraction and is about ten minutes walk from Houston Station. The STOREHOUSE® was originally built in 1904 to house the Guinness fermentation process. This incredible building was constructed in the style of the Chicago school of architecture, with massive steel beams providing the support for the structure of the building. The STOREHOUSE® building housed the fermentation of Guinness beer until 1988, and opened its doors as a tourist attraction in November 2000.

      About GIY Ireland

      GIY is a registered charity (CHY 18920) which aims to inspire people to grow their own food and give them the skills they need to do so successfully.  We do this by getting GIYers together online and in community groups around Ireland so that they can learn from each other and exchange tips, ideas and produce. GIY meetings and membership are free and open to people interested in food growing at all levels, i.e. from growing a few herbs on the balcony to complete self-sufficiency, from beginners to old hands.

      There are over 70 GIY groups in communities around Ireland and approximately 5,000 people involved between our community groups and online social network at www.giyireland.com.  GIY Ireland was founded in 2009 by author and journalist Michael Kelly.  Sponsors include the Arthur Guinness Fund, Woodies DIY, Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, Bord Bia and the AIB.  Patrons of GIY Ireland include Diarmuid Gavin, Darina Allen, Clodagh McKenna and Joy Larkcom. 

     

    If you have a story or event to promote please email: news@HortiTrends.com 

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    '

    17 Sep 2010

    Spencer ECA opens new office in Ireland

    Spencer ECA opens new office in Ireland

    South-Wales based supplier of construction industry support, ground-works and landscape services, Spencer Environmental Care Associates, is pleased to announce the recent opening of its new office in Ireland.

    Aiming to attract new markets and expand its activity beyond the UK, specifically for its revolutionary SpiderPlow ‘trenchless’ pipe and cable installation system, Spencer ECA sees this extension to its operation as a significant step in its business development.

    Currently, Spencer is the only company in the UK and Ireland to own and operate a SpiderPlow, which is regarded as the most efficient, environmentally friendly and effective way of installing pipes and cables below ground. Because the SpiderPlow cuts, installs and back-fills - all in one operation, its use is particularly significant when working in ecologically and environmentally sensitive areas.

    Added to this, its efficient and low-impact method means that it offers a significant reduction in time, money and risk. It also operates very effectively on soft ground and marshland, has the ability to work on almost any terrain and can manoeuvre around most obstacles, as well as span ditches and even shallow rivers.

    In view of the benefits SpiderPlow has to offer, Spencer has been increasingly called upon to install cables for wind-energy projects, the system proving ideal for both on-shore sites and, more recently, the laying of export cables through the transition zone, in the case of off-shore installations.

    The SpiderPlow is equally as effective when installing pipes of up to 12” in diameter, which are regularly used in the installation of water and sewage rejuvenation schemes.

    “The opening of our new office in Ireland allows us the opportunity to offer our services to a new range of clients and contractors”, said Business Development Manager for Spencer ECA Charlie Jukes. “We are aware of a number of projects currently being considered in Ireland for which the SpiderPlow would prove to be ideal and therefore our new office allows us to respond to customers more quickly and effectively.”

    Spencer’s Ireland office is based in Trim, County Meath and is headed up by Con Farren - confarren@spencereca.com.

    Further information can be found at www.spiderplough.ie

    Spencer ECA
    Based in Llandysul , South Wales, Spencer ECA provides a wide range of support and environmental services for the construction and civil engineering industries. These include all aspects of land management, ground maintenance and site clearance. Spencer also specialises in the management and control of trees, vegetation and invasive plants, in particular Japanese Knotweed and the production of Biomass. Spencer is the only operator of the SpiderPlow ‘trenchless’ cable and pipe installation system in the UK and Ireland.

    Certified to ISO 14001: 2004 and ISO 9001: 2008, the company follows a stringent yet realistic environmental and ecological policy.

    Photo
    Spencer’s SpiderPlow installing an export cable for major new wind-energy project.

     

    If you have a story or event to promote please email: news@HortiTrends.com 

    Latest Company News, Trends, Courses, Products Services, Suppliers & Jobs in Horticulture & Fresh Produce, Nurseries, Fruit & Vegetable Growers, Landscape, Architecture, Garden Centre, Florists, Sports Turf, Green Keeping & Forestry Sectors.

    '

    16 Sep 2010

    Irish Company CleanGrow Ltd nominated for Innovation Award at HortiFair 2010 ((tag;horticulture, plants, hortifair, Ireland))

    Nominations for Innovation Award announced

    Ten new products being introduced at the Horti Fair 2010 have been nominated by the international jury of experts for the prestigious Innovation Award (in partnership with Reed Business).

    lijntje

    "Sustainability theme additional reason"

    ,,Sustainability as the exhibition theme was an extra reason for us to choose the Horti Fair,’’ says Andy van Bentem, managing director of Coco-Potgrond.nl (stand 02.0210).

    "We can supply 12 m3 of potting soil on a single Euro Pallet. That means huge savings on transport and storage costs, and an enormous reduction in CO2 emissions as a consequence," he explains. The coconut potting soil is supplied in compressed form in this concept. Besides a range of potting soils, the products supplied by Coco-Potgrond also include fertilizers, ground cover, hanging baskets and even potting soil disks in gift packaging. ,,We want more national and international exposure for our products, which are not only biological, but ecological as well. But we are saving the latest news for the Horti Fair in Amsterdam,’’ announces Van Bentem. The theme of the Horti Fair 2010 is 'Earning Sustainably.

     

    If you have a story or event to promote please email: news@HortiTrends.com 

    Latest Company News, Trends, Courses, Products Services, Suppliers & Jobs in Horticulture & Fresh Produce, Nurseries, Fruit & Vegetable Growers, Landscape, Architecture, Garden Centre, Florists, Sports Turf, Green Keeping & Forestry Sectors.

    '

    16 Sep 2010

    PECKISH SET TO RUFFLE FEATHERS IN WILD BIRD CATEGORY at Glee-Petindex 2010

    PECKISH SET TO RUFFLE FEATHERS IN WILD BIRD CATEGORY

     

     
    Westland Horticulture is preparing to launch their first foray into the wild bird care category with their new and innovative brand Peckish.

     

    Available throughout retailers across the country from next month, Peckish is one of the most exciting brands to launch at this years’ GLEE.
     
    Swooping into stores this September it will be the perfect answer to every bird’s feeding requirements.

    Providing ‘What Birds Want’, Peckish will be delivering high quality feed and feeders, giving birds the perfect solution to their all round health with its special ingredients. 

    Unique to Peckish and setting it apart from others is the nutritious Calvita supplement combining calcium and specific vitamins to ensure that wild birds receive the best quality food.

    The Peckish brand contains a comprehensive range of bird feed including general feed to species specific, there is something for every bird.
     
    The products have evolved from extensive research into consumer wants resulting in packaging which is informative, friendly and attractive, appealing to bird feeders throughout the generations.

     

    Jen Richardson, Product Manager for Peckish said, “Peckish really does provide the perfect product for all wild birds and we are extremely excited about launching it into the bird care category.
     
    It is a simple, engaging and energetic brand which we aim to become the consumer’s number one choice in bird care.”

     

    Peckish will be launched at GLEE in September at the NEC in Birmingham, and will be available for buy in selected retailers from the end of August.

     

    If you have a story or event to promote please email: news@HortiTrends.com 

    Latest Company News, Trends, Courses, Products Services, Suppliers & Jobs in Horticulture & Fresh Produce, Nurseries, Fruit & Vegetable Growers, Landscape, Architecture, Garden Centre, Florists, Sports Turf, Green Keeping & Forestry Sectors.

    '

    16 Sep 2010

    Glee Wonderwall Pics

    Glee wonderwall pics

    Glee Wonderwall

    The Glee Wonderwall is the new community lead feature for www.gleebirmingham.com. Hosted 365 days a year there is no better place to see great merchandising ideas from around the UK and overseas.

    Get involved

    We know that many of you retailers are doing some great things back in store. So why not share your ideas with your peers. Simply take a photo of your great merchandising displays and send them to us at glee@emap.com. We will then upload your image to the Glee Wonderwall with a full accreditation to you and the product you are displaying.  

     

     Barton Grange  Barton Grange 2 Barton Grange 3
    Barton GrangeBarton Grange 2Barton Grange 3
     Garsons Esher S  Garsons Esher 2 S Garson Esher 3 S
    Garsons Esher Garsons Esher 2Garsons Esher 3
        
    PolhillPolhill 2Polhill 3
        
    ShootsShoots 2Shoots 3
       
    Bybrook BarnGarsons Titchfield Poplars
       
    Ruxley Manor Shoots Washington 2Thompsons Canterbury
       
    an Hage PeterboroughStewarts Country GardensStewarts Garden Lands
       
    Squires badshot leaParadise Park Millbrook Gravesend
       
    Millbrook Gravesend 2 Millbrook CrowboroughMillbrook Crowborough 2
        
     Coolings 

     
    16 Sep 2010

    Irish Companies Exhibiting at Glee 2010

    There are a number of progressive companies in the horticulture & Lifestyle sectors who are flying the flag for Ireland in export markets. All are participating at Glee 2010 which expects a large number of visitor's from Ireland who will be looking for new business opportunities. 

    •   Kilfera Pet Products.
  •   Phytoforce Veterinary Herbal Tonics.
  •   McMonagle Stone.
  •   Atacama International.
  •   Celtic Moss.
  •     Porters Christmas Trees.
  •     Westland Unwins.
  • To find out more about these companies and Glee 2010 go to the following link: http://www.gleebirmingham.com/page.cfm/link=323

    GLEE 2010

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    '

    15 Sep 2010

    Container Centralen (CC) Extended Campaign Period – New Launch Date

    Extended Campaign Period – New Launch Date

    Container Centralen - Improving Supply Chains

    As the implementation date for the introduction of RFID has been drawing near, concerns and uncertainties about how RFID will change our industry and working procedures have been expressed by many CC Container users. 


    Container Centralen (CC), who manages the CC Container pool, takes the market’s opinions, concerns and assessments very seriously. The RFID partners in this project – FloraHolland, Landgard, VGB, GASA Group and CC – have therefore decided to defer the implementation date to Monday, January 10, 2011.

    To find out more how RFID can benefit your business click here 


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    '

    15 Sep 2010

    Yesterday’s unwanted pet, tomorrow’s invader – Chipmunk spotted in Waterford Woods ((tag: horticulture Ireland)

    Latest Horticulture & Fresh Produce News for Ireland

    Yesterday’s unwanted pet, tomorrow’s invader – Chipmunk spotted in Waterford Woods

    Image of chipmunk spotted in County Waterford

    Experts identified another potentially invasive non-native species in the Waterford area during August 2010. A Chipmunk (most likely the Siberian Chipmunk) was photographed crossing a road near Dungarvan by a vigilant member of the public. This grainy photograph has alarmed experts at Invasive Species Ireland, the National Biodiversity Data Centre and the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

    Their concern is not unwarranted. The Siberian chipmunk, characterised by 5 longitudinal black stripes along its back, could be another competitor to the red squirrel which is already suffering because of the introduction of the invasive non-native grey squirrel. Both species have similar habitats and food requirement. Siberian chipmunks may also have negative impact on ground nesting bird species.

    This species is not only of concern to conservationists. Research from France has shown that in the wild, Siberian chipmunks can harbour ticks. In suitable suburban habitats, this may increase the risks of transmission of tick borne diseases such as lymes disease.

    While we have not seen significant economic impacts associated with this species in Europe to date, in its native Russia, Siberian chipmunkis known to destroy up to half the forest nut production, and cause great damage to grain crops and potentially in gardens and orchards. The potential for economic impacts here in Ireland is unknown.

    Over the past number of years there has been a growing concern about the potential problems pets can have on our native species when they become invasive. Colette O’ Flynn, manager of the National Invasive Species Database reports that ”during 2009 and 2010, we have seen a number of species associated with the pet trade end up in the wild in Ireland” and adds “that early detection and reporting of such species in the wild to the Data Centre is imperative if the battle to avert their spread and harm is to be successful”. John Kelly from Invasive Species Ireland said “Government is acting to implement restrictions on non-native species that can threaten our native wildlife, economy and human health. However, each citizen must take responsibility in protection Ireland’s valuable biodiversity” 

    The National Parks and Wildlife Service in Ireland encourages responsible pet ownership and trading. As part of this, we are working to promote responsible pet ownership and or trading. Pet owners and traders should remember that it is illegal to release any non-native species into the wild in Ireland without a license. Often, it is cruel to release a pet into the wild. They can be ill-equipped to deal with living in the wild resulting in unnecessary stress. Pet owners should be responsible for the animals they keep. Mr. Kelly advises “If you no longer want your pet, try to take it back to the pet store you purchased it from or talk to your vet for advice. Always research an animal before you take possession of it.”

    Siberian chipmunks do not make ideal pets. They can escape easily and are difficult to contain.

     

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    '

    13 Sep 2010

    PetEx 2010 returns to the RDS this September

    Latest Horticulture & Fresh Produce News for Ireland

    PetEx 2010 returns to the RDS this September.

    PetEx 2010 Ireland’s only dedicated Pet and Aquatics trade show –returns to the RDS, Dublin from Sunday 12th September until Monday 13th September. 

    To visit PetEx 2010 couldn't be simpler - just log on to www.petex.ie and click on the visitors page to complete your details. Then simply press submit and you will have secured your free badge to PetEx 2010 Companies and Distributors will be showcasing the latest Pet Product on the market and Don't forget, a visit to PETEX could increase your profit margins with the exclusive show deals that our exhibitors are offering. Entry to PetEx 2010 is free of charge and by pre-registering you will receive a complimentary copy of Pet Gazette Magazine. 

    PetEx 2010 is bringing the Pet trade together in an informal environment which offers the range and quality of products on show and most exhibitors are exclusively showing at PetEx 2010. 

    Exhibitors include: include J & K Aquatics, Glanbia Gain Feeds, Beaphar UK, Crown Petfoods (Royal Canin and James Wellbeloved), JBL, Seawater Life, Chanelle Pet, Crewood Pet Products, Connolly Redmills, Europet, Neil Hardy Aquatica, PetQuip, Country Pet, Barking Waterproof Beds, Pet Gazette, HSD, Land of Holistic Pets, Company of Animals, Molar, Arden Grange Urban Forest, PATS, Pet Gazette and many more to be confirmed. 

    For the latest information on new products, exhibitors, show features and to keep up to date on all exciting developments at PetEx 2010 please visit www.petex.ie Also don't miss out on our New product Showcase organised and sponsored by Pet Gazette Magazine. Which will feature an impressive display of the latest products and ideas from the Pet Trade
    PetEx 
    12-09-2010 - 13-09-2010

     

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    '

    10 Sep 2010

    Don't Miss Out on Ireland's Horticulture & Lifestyle Trade Event of the Year!

    Garden Centre Association of Ireland (GCAI) - Autumn Seminar. 14th September 2010.

    Don't Miss Out on Ireland's Horticulture Trade event of the Year!

    If you are an owner, worker or student in the garden centre, landscaping, florist, nurseries/grower's sectors of horticulture or you are a service provider or supplier then this event is for you.

    Still not convinced?
    You don't have the time? It's not relevant? You don't need to meet any of the following?
    • Buyers for independant garden centres. 
    • Buyers for garden centre groups and hardware groups.
    • Industry support bodies such as Bord Bia or Teagasc.
    • Growers/Nurseries & other service providers.
    • Landscapers.
    • Industry correspondents & bloggers.
    • Educator's.
    • Decision makers and influencers in all of the above groups.

    If that is not enough, there will also be a professional line up of speakers from the UK and Ireland on topical issues that are effecting our sector. They will offer advice and direction on the day that will help your business to thrive now and into the future.

    Click here to see the 
    full 
    conference line-up: 
    Garden Centre Association Seminar Line-Up

    If you want to take part in this 'Must Attend' event then book now by contacting

     
    www.HortiTrends.com Horticulture & Fresh Produce News Ireland

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    '

    9 Sep 2010

    5 days to Garden Centre Association Ireland Autumn Seminar - Book Now!

    Latest Horticulture & Fresh Produce News for Ireland

    5 days to GCAI Autumn Seminar

     

    The GCAI is proud to welcome Andrew Maxted, Director of Marketing at The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) 
    UK
     as one of the speakers at the GCAI’s Autumn Seminar on Tuesday, 14th September next.

     

    As the HTA’s Director of Marketing Andrew leads the association’s marketing and communications activities. Andrew has recently relaunched the HTA’s Garden Industry Monitor (GIM) market information service. He places a strong emphasis on forward looking research and is also responsible for the National Garden Gift Voucher programme and other promotional initiatives such as the HTA/EU co-funded PlantforLife campaign. Andrew has been with the HTA since 2004 having previously gained substantial experience of management and marketing within membership organisations including ten years at the 
    Cumbria
     and English Tourist Boards. Andrew was elected a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing in 2007.

     

    Andrew will guide seminar delegates through the findings of some of the HTAs most recent consumer trends research.

     

    Also speaking on the 14th;

    Eimert de Graaff, Director QV Web Services – online services for business

    Martin O Donnell, Director, O’Donnell Property Consultants - commercial rates

    Phil Squance, MD, Container Centralen 
    UK
     - changes to trolley system

    James Lawless, owner, Kudos Consulting - social media for business

     

    To reserve a seat or to find out more please contact Anne at the GCAI

    Email anne@gio.ie or phone 087 2888 250

     

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    '

    8 Sep 2010

    Landscape Maintenance Contract for IDA Business & Technology Park, Drogheda, Co Meath

    Latest Horticulture & Fresh Produce News for Ireland

    Title:

    Landscape Maintenance Contract for IDA Business & Technology Park, Drogheda, Co Meath ((tag: tenders, landscape contracts, horticulture, plants, Ireland))

    Landscape Maintenance Contract for IDA Business & Technology Park, Drogheda, Co Meath

    Published by:IDA IrelandPublication Date:07/09/2010Application Deadline:20/09/2010Notice Deadline Date:28/09/2010Notice Deadline Time:16:00Notice Type:Invitation to TenderHas Documents:YesAbstract:Landscaping and Ground Maintenance Contract at IDA BTP, Donore Road, Drogheda, Co. Meath. Three Year Contract subject to six-monthly Reviews. Entire Entrance Areas, Roads, Verges, Hedges, Planted Areas and all Open Space to be included. See additional Specification Document and maps.

     

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    '

    8 Sep 2010

    Saltex 2010: IT’S A SELL-OUT FOR FIRST-TIME IOG SALTEX EXHIBITOR!

    Latest Horticulture & Fresh Produce News for Ireland

    IT’S A SELL-OUT FOR FIRST-TIME IOG SALTEX EXHIBITOR!

    “IOG SALTEX was definitely the best show ever for us,” says Dawn Bone, Operations Director, “and we have re-booked for this year as the exhibition is now our favourite trade show.”
    Supplied with an integrated spout and dust safety cap, the anti-spill pushbutton control can empties 5 litres in 15 seconds (350 ml per second) with no spillage and a reduction of emissions of up to 90%.
    The UK manufactured Flo Control Fuel Can has a 5-litre capacity and can be supplied with three different coloured identity discs (green, red and black) that can be used, for example, for unleaded, 2 stroke or diesel fuel.
    -

     

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    '

    8 Sep 2010

    Saltex 2010: The Future of Public Sector Landscaping

    Latest Horticulture & Fresh Produce News for Ireland

    The Future of Public Sector Landscaping
    Leading players from the world of regeneration and public sector landscaping projects will take part in a Horticulture Week hosted panel discussion at this September’s IOG Saltex exhibition.
    The panel line-up will include regeneration expert Dr Tim Williams, landscape architect and Landscape Institute policy committee head Noel Farrer and chief executive officer of contractor English Landscapes Nick Temple-Heald.
    The debate has been specially convened to examine the impact of both the public sector spending squeeze and the government’s changes to regeneration and planning policy on the future of public sector landscaping projects.
    Dr Tim Williams is managing director of Navigant Consulting's public services practice He has previously been an advisor to David Miliband at OPDM and is currently advising the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).
    Noel Farrer is a founding partner of Farrer Huxley Associates and has developed an extensive portfolio of clients in housing, masterplanning, urban open space, play and eduation. In 2006 he was appointed as a consultant on the CABE Space strategic enabling panel.
    Before becoming chief executive officer of English Landscapes, Nick Temple-Heald was managing director of Glendale.
    Kate Lowe, editor of Horticulture Week, will chair the discussion.
    The debate will take place at 12.30pm on Wednesday 8th September at IOG Saltex in Seminar Room 5 in the Grandstand.

     

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    '

    7 Sep 2010

    GIY 2010 Conference to Attract Food Growers

    Latest Horticulture & Fresh Produce News for Ireland

    GIY 2010 Conference to attract food growers

    07.09.2010

    2010 Grow It Yourself Conference will take place on 18 September at Guinness Storehouse and this year’s theme is ‘Together We Grow'.

    President Mary McAleese will open the event, which is aimed at GIY local champions and anyone who is interested in finding out more about GIY or starting a group in their community. Her attendance is due to her interest in GIYing and the spirit of community and volunteerism that GIY represents.

    GIY [Grow It Yourself], which was a recipient of an inaugural Arthur Guinness Fund award early this year, is a registered charity that aims to inspire people to grow their own food and give them the skills they need to do so successfully.  

    People can exchange information online as well as meeting as part of community groups throughout the country. There are over 70 GIY groups in communities around Ireland and circa 5,000 people involved between its community groups and 

    Other speakers on the day will include Diarmuid Gavin, garden designer, TV presenter and GIY patron; Duncan Stewart, environmentalist and presenter of Eco-Eye; Michael Kelly, founder of GIY and author of Tales from the Home Farm;Klaus Laitenberger, author ofVegetables for the Irish Garden; Paddy Gleeson, chief horticulturalist, Woodies DIY; and Fionnuala Fallon, Irish Times ‘Urban Farmer’ columnist.

    In the afternoon, delegates will be able to chose from a series of talks/demos on topics including growing under cover, community assisted agriculture, yoga for GIYers, sausage-making, tools for GIYers and the OPW Walled Garden at the Phoenix Park.

    The conference agenda includes World Cafe POD sessions where people can meet fellow GIYers from around Ireland, the presentation of the GIYer and GIY Group of the Year awards, the launch of the “Friend of GIY” Loyalty Card programme and a tour of the Guinness Storehouse.

    Tickets are priced at €40 and include refreshments and a hot buffet lunch. 

     

    About GIY

    GIY Ireland was founded in 2009 by author and journalist Michael Kelly. Sponsors include the Arthur Guinness Fund, Woodies DIY, Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, Bord Bia and the AIB Better Ireland Programme.  Patrons of GIY Ireland include Diarmuid Gavin, Darina Allen, Clodagh McKenna and Joy Larkcom.  

    Photo: Diarmuid Gavin was at Festina Lente Gardens in Bray with Anna and Luke Weldon from Kilmacanogue to announce details of the GIY Ireland 2010 Conference, which will take place on Saturday 18 September in the Guinness Storehouse. Photo: Johnny Bambury

     

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    '

    7 Sep 2010

    New RHS Qualifications go Live

    Latest Horticulture & Fresh Produce News for Ireland

    New RHS qualifications go live

    7 September 2010



    Anyone with an interest in plants and gardening, can now study for a new range of qualifications from the RHS.

    These new qualifications are open to anyone from a beginner wanting to gain the basic skills, a keen gardener wishing to acquire additional knowledge, or even at a professional level to enhance a career.

    They have been designed for part-time study, and may be offered as part-time day courses or in the evening by approved colleges and other centres throughout the UK and Ireland. It is also possible to study theory courses by distance learning.

    The qualifications cover a wide range of horticultural topics including theory-based certificates at Level 2 in Garden Planning, Establishment and Maintenance and also the Principles of Plant Growth, Propagation and Development.

    For those wishing to acquire horticultural skills, the RHS has introduced a series of practical skills qualifications starting at Level 1. These focus on developing the essential skills required in the garden, be it for growing vegetables or establishing a border.

    There are no formal entry requirements for taking the RHS qualifications at Level 1 and 2 - all that is needed is an enthusiasm for plants and gardening and a desire to learn more.

     

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    '

    1 Sep 2010

    Extra exposure on Horti Fair 2010 Stage

    Latest Horticulture & Fresh Produce News for Ireland

    Extra exposure on Horti Fair 2010 Stage.

    Are you an exhibitor who would like even more exposure at the Horti Fair? For the introduction of a new product for example, the signing of a contract, celebration of an anniversary or a special presentation? If so, the Horti Fair Stage is an interesting opportunity.

    This is the new events platform at the Horti Fair, in hall 6 of the Amsterdam RAI. The official opening, the prize ceremony for the Horti Fair Innovation Award, product demonstrations, receptions, announcement of the prize-winners from the House of Quality, the first rounds of the Horti Business Game and the final round of Ranking the Grower will all be held here. The Horti Fair Stage can also be used by participants for theme-based and new products presentations. Interested? Then just send an e-mail to Horti Fair and we will contact you to discuss your options!

    lijntje

    Successful trade press preview

    On 24 August eighteen participants in the Horti Fair held presentations for the international horticultural trade press of new products and services being introduced at the Horti Fair.

    This trade press and new products preview was attended by eighteen horticultural journalists representing more than twenty trade publications /websites (incl. video) from Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Great Britain, Belgium, France, Italy, Spain and international titles. This extra service offered by the Horti Fair not only results in publicity and goodwill for the participants, but also generates interest in the Horti Fair. The preview was held at the Demokwekerij Westland. Wim van der Loo, the managing director of the Horti Fair, presented the exhibition concept for the Horti Fair 2010 to the trade press and also revealed a little about the plans for 2011 and thereafter.

    lijntje

    Be part of the sustainability theme!

    Consciously or unconsciously, many products and services shown by participants at the Horti Fair make a contribution to sustainability. And that is why it is so easy to register them for 'Earning Sustainably', the exhibition theme in 2010.

    Your stand will then be included in the theme route, besides receiving an extra mention on the website, in the press file and in other Horti Fair publications. Registration is easy using your digital exhibitors manual. Some examples seen at the Horti Fair trade press preview are phalaenopsis and anthurium pot plants with longer shelf life, Fairtrade flower food, the low noise Euro Trolley that improves night-time distribution in the retail chain, watering precisely tailored to the plant and more economical and less harmful to the environment as a result, covering pots/containers to reduce the growth of moss and weeds so that less crop protection agents are needed, vertical crop protection, biological crop protection agents, energy saving through LED lighting.... there are just too many to mention!

    So be part of the theme: it costs nothing, apart from the effort of registering with the manual. Any questions, or assistance needed? Just mail the Horti Fair and we will be delighted to help. 

     

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    '

    30 Aug 2010

    Carbon Footprint Calculator for Business

    Latest Horticulture & Fresh Produce News for Ireland

    Carbon Footprint Calculator

    Home / Carbon Footprint Calculator
    Carbon Footprint Calculator

    Carbon Footprint CalculatorThis calculator enables a company to estimate the carbon footprint of their business activities.

    There are 2 main input headings

    1. Fossil fuel used for site activities and electricity from grid or renewable sources
    2. Transport fuel for staff travel and/or materials/product distribution

    Report
    A carbon dioxide equivalent figure in tonnes will be estimated from the inputted figures. The total carbon dioxide equivalent figures will give an estimate of your carbon footprint. If you wish you can input figures into any section of the calculator and obtain a CO2 figure for that particular parameter. You can also produce a full report by completing all the relevant sections and request a report for printing at the end.

    Question 1 - Fuel Consumption
    Question 2 - Electricity Used
    Question 3a - Product/Materials Transport
    Question 3b - Staff Business travel

    Click on the link below to go to site:

    http://www.envirocentre.ie/CC.aspx?ID=25596e0e-b89f-4c2e-bf2b-512323db98ac&PID=a257bece-c1e7-464a-9cd0-fde10d3a18c3

    NOTE: Calculations are based on SEI and DEFRA figures. Some co-efficients used in this calculator are approximate. They are designed to give an estimate of a business carbon footprint. An in depth analysis is required in order to measure a more precise footprint.

    If you require information please contact:
    Declan White, Environment & Green Technologies Dept., Enterprise Ireland.
    Phone: 01 727 2480
    Click here to email Declan White

     

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    '

    30 Aug 2010

    Preview looks successfully ahead to Horti Fair 2010

    Latest Horticulture & Fresh Produce News for Ireland 

    Hortifairliggend
     

    International Horti Fair 2010

     

    Preview looks successfully ahead to Horti Fair 2010

     

    Aalsmeer, 30 august 2010 - New products and services, doing concrete business and exchanging professional knowledge: that is what the coming Horti Fair is all about,’’ concluded international journalists during the trade press and new products preview for the Horti Fair 2010. Twenty participants presented a selection of their new products to give the representatives of the horticultural media an early look ahead to the international horticultural exhibition being held in Amsterdam from 12 to 15 October inclusive. Wim van der Loo, the managing director of the Horti Fair described the highlights of the coming show, like the Horti Fair Stage. 

     

    Journalists working for trade publications in the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Finland, Austria, Italy, Spain, France, Belgium and Great Britain, as well as for international titles - 23 of them in total - came along to the preview on 24 August. Demokwekerij Westland, the leading innovation centre in greenhouse horticulture, was the appropriate location for the preview, where one of the premieres was the introduction of the www.technicaltrials.nl website. Technical Trials (stand no. 04.0417) is one of the new pavilions at the Horti Fair and is based on an alliance of leading technical producers. The Central Station run by the participants is the pick-up point at the Horti Fair, where visitors to the show receive information from and about the 17 participating companies that can be visited during the Horti Fair. The Horti Fair Stage in hall 6 of the Amsterdam RAI exhibition complex is the new events platform.


    Horti Fair Noviteitenpreview 2010.jpg




     






    Photo: The Horti Fair trade press preview attracted a large delegation of international horticultural journalists.


    Innovation programme

    The preview, which the Horti Fair organizes every year specially for the trade press, is part of the innovation programme of the exhibition. Managing director Wim van der Loo emphasized that the Horti Fair ,,is organized from, for and by horticulture. This enables us as a trade show to focus a lot of attention on innovation, quality improvement and the stimulation of the exchange of knowledge. Through the eight special exhibition pavilions, the twenty Breakfast Briefings under the auspices of Syntens, and the exhibition theme of 'Earning sustainably'. One of the other highlights again is the presentation of the Innovation Award’’. This prestigious award (in partnership with Reed Business) is separate from the preview, incidentally, because all new products at the fair that have been registered in time are eligible to compete for the Award.

     

    New

    Frans van Zaal Totaal Techniek in De Kwakel (stand no. 01.0118) is introducing a Submersion System at the Horti Fair 2010.This is a new way of supplying water, in which the pots hang in containers that are submerged from below. The system is integrated into the mobile internal transport system. Crea-Tech from Ter Aar has developed a delivery system in which a robot sorts, bunches and places flowers in an auction container at a work station. The products arrive in the rack according to colour, variety and date.

    WPS Hortisystems in De Lier (stand no. 04.0417) is introducing Kit Internal Transport: container systems and conveyer belts in the form of assembly kits that enable growers to take their first steps towards automation less expensively by doing the installation themselves. Plant Handling Robots is a series of robotics for pot plants and other products.

    Philips Lighting B.V. in Eindhoven (stand no. 04.0502) has developed the Greenpower LED interlighting module DR/B, a lighting system placed between plant rows to provide the crop with light and heat, resulting in savings on energy and increased production. The Master Greenpower Plus 1000W EL has been improved and gives 4% more growth light throughout its lifetime as a result.

    In addition to various biological pest control agents like Macro-MiteCitripar, Natufly, Capsanem and Aphipar-m, Koppert Biological Systems from Berkel and Rodenrijs (stand no. 04.0314) is also introducing the Distribug, a blower which the roller tables with pot plants move under and Rollerfix, which simplifies hanging up sticky ribbons (Rollertraps) in crops.

     

    More possibilities

    Vertical crop protection in the right dosage and at the right place, with biological agents such as Enzicur from Koppert and UV-C from Clean Light, and chemical crop protection: this can be done with the Klimrek Rail from Klimrek Producten BV in Pijnacker (stand no. 04.0128). The possibilities also include a longer raising period and (emergency) greenhouse roof repairs. Another new product is the corrosion-free heating system, the Klimrek Heat Buffer, which requires no expansion provision.

    Hoogendoorn Growth Management from Vlaardingen (stand no. 04.0220) is showing three new products in the AVAG Market.Hoogendoorn Webinars make it possible for a number of people to follow training courses and demonstrations at the same time, online and interactively. iSii+Aquabalance is a set of scales for weighing substrate, which helps to adjust irrigation with precision to the needs of the plants. Also new is that the  iSii+Remote Server Edition remote control from Hoogendoorn has now been made suitable for companies that use a server network with Thin Clients, WiFi or smartphones.  

    The HortiMax CropView from HortiMax in Pijnacker (stand no. 01.0517) makes it possible to monitor crop development in detail and make any necessary changes 24 hours a day, by means of a Nikon photographic system integrated into the climate computer. This can be done via the computer, in the greenhouse, but remotely as well. The zoom lens means that everything can be monitored in high resolution down to the most minor details. The first contracts will be concluded at the Horti Fair.

     

    Attention grabber

    The new HortiTop, developed in partnership with Slingerland Potgrond, is an attention grabber on the stand of Horticoop from Bleiswijk (stand no. 02.0102). It comprises Herbaedeck, a specially selected quality bark, HerbaedeckHechter, a biological gel that fixes the bark onto the pot and remains effective for 12 months, and a gel machine to apply the gel. This means labour savings, improved quality and better presentation.

    Container Centralen Nederland from Hoofddorp (stand no. 03.0119) is presenting the new CC Euro Trolley for visitors to the Horti Fair. The trolley has been specially developed for retail outlets and is low noise due to its soft rubber suspension damping and the use of plastic shelves, for which old crates are reused. Two trays with pot plants fit onto the shelves of the roller containers and the deck also has two RFID tags for the purposes of registration and traceability.

    Chrysal International BV in Naarden (stand no. 01.0441) is introducing a number of new products at the trade show in Amsterdam, including the world premiere of the Fairtrade Liquid Flower Food (with Max Havelaar certification mark) for roses and mixed bouquets. It is only permitted to attach the flower food to Fairtrade flowers. Also new are Chrysal Food Drops, a pack containing six portions that are sufficient to provide one year of care for orchids and green plants, and the improvedChrysal Clear Universal Powder Sachets that will give flowers and bouquets a vase life of more than seven days.

     

    Introduction of partnership

    BVB Substrates from De Lier (stand no. 02.0110) is announcing a partnership with Royal Philips Electronics for the purposes of research into the best combination of LED lighting and substrates. One new product is BVB Allure, a bark-free substrate for orchids using Gambit, which is a cork mixture with high structure stability. There are five different types. BVB Sublime for growing tomatoes, cucumbers and bell peppers is made of polyurethane using a new technology that has been developed in alliance with growers and can result in between 5 and 7% higher yield.

    AVO Anthurium Vogels in Wateringen (stand no. 01.0446) is introducing Anthurium Andreanum AVO® Rosalie for pot cultivation; pot size 15-21 cm, and bears large red flowers (7-10 cm) with a green edge. AVO® Pink Christina is a new cut flower cultivar in a lasting dusty pink colour with a long plant life cycle for the consumer and high production for the grower. The company will be celebrating the 75th anniversary of its formation during the Horti Fair and will also be presenting its new house style.

    Anthura B.V. from Bleiswijk (stand no. 01.0330) is introducing its Phalaenopsis (for pot cultivation) Anthura Luzern at the Horti Fair; new in Anthurium cut flower cultivation is the Bellanca®, as well as the Fire XL® and Zafira®Matiz® and Piccolo® are being introduced in Anthurium pot cultivation. Also new is the concept of a ready-made solo Anthurium bouquet in a vase, which is being presented for the retail trade at the Horti Fair.

    There proved to be great interest on the part of the journalists during the preview for the Horti Fair Career Plaza (stand no. 03.0302), the House of Technology & Innovation (stand no. 04.0226), House of Quality (stand nos. 01.0126, 01.0228, 05.0102 and 05.0202), House of Software (stand no. 01.0428), the Breeders' Market (stand no. 01.0440) and the Horti Business Game (stand no. 01.0121), as well as in the exhibition theme of 'Earning Sustainably'.

     

    Extensive service for trade visitors

    All new products at the Horti Fair can be identified by the special Horti Fair New logo on the stands, on the official exhibition floorplans and the new products route, as well as being shown in advance on the new website at www.hortifair.com.

    An additional feature of the website at www.hortifair.com this year is a search and find function at product level and there is also a HortiVisit e-mail newsletter every Wednesday, specially for trade visitors (www.hortifair.com/hortivisit). Shuttles bring visitors safely, swiftly and comfortably to the Horti Fair from horticultural areas (www.hortifair.com/route). Admission costs € 40.00 at the ticket office, but is free of charge for trade visitors, who receive tickets from participants or online (www.hortifair.com/tickets). In 2010 the International Horti Fair is being held in the Amsterdam RAI from 12 to 15 October inclusive and is open every day from 10.00 to 19.00 hours. Take a look at www.hortifair.com for an up-to-the-minute impression of the most intensively visited trade event for professional horticulture. 

     

     

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    '

    30 Aug 2010

    BSc (Hons) in Entrepreneurship in Horticulture

    Latest Horticulture & Fresh Produce News for Ireland

     

    BSc (Hons) in Entrepreneurship in Horticulture 

    To learn more click here - http://www.itb.ie/StudyatITB/bn419.html

     or email: 


    Overview.

    Semester 1 Modules 

    New Venture Development 1: Students are required to commence this module by shaping an idea for a product or for a provision of a service into a genuine opportunity and form teams that will see the idea through to completion. Students must identify new opportunities, critically evaluate existing or alternative products or services in the marketplace, carry‐out preliminary design including proof‐of‐concept and formulate a plan for completion. At the end of the module, students will be required to defend and promote their concept to a panel in the LINC. 

    Horticulture Project 1, Analysis & Design: In this module, students will undertake an individual horticulture project to support the new venture development  efforts  that  includes:  technical  review,  research,  problem  formulation  and  opportunity  identification,  scientific,  regulatory  and environmental  standards,  ethical  implications  and  solution  design.  Project  management,  including  planning,  control  and  documentation,  is critical  to  bringing  together  the  students  knowledge  and  skills  from  the  wider  course.  As  the  project  is  a  year‐long  effort,  this  module represents the initial stages of the overall project that student must complete and contributes to the new venture development efforts. 

    Creativity, Innovation & Teamwork: This module provides students with an understanding of the role of creativity, innovation and teamwork in the entrepreneurial process and its ongoing role in enterprise. As well as practical exercises in creative problem solving, students will consider idea  generation  techniques,  opportunities  for  value  creation,  business  failure  and  networking.  Students  will  complete  a  number  of  team assignments in unfamiliar environments, underscoring the importance of teaming and leadership in the entrepreneurial process. 

    Enterprise & Operations: This module will provide students with the skills necessary to develop a business from idea formation through the various  stages  of  the  business  life‐cycle.  Students  will  consider  enterprise  start‐up,  enterprise  supports,  new  venture  management  teams, research for operations setup, strategy development, quality management, supply chain, growth and sustainability. 

    Sales  &  Marketing:  This  module  provide  students  with  an  in‐depth  understanding  and  appreciation  of  sales  and  marketing  theory  and  the practice necessary for business development as well as an ability to apply these concepts to the development of a marketing plan. 

    Elective  Module:  From:  Horticultural  Business  Management  ;  Human  Resources  Management,  Landscape  Design  2,  Golf  Course  Design  7 Management, advanced Plant Pathology, Plant Treatment Regulation, Advanced Soli Science and Chemistry, Diffusion of Innovation, Universal Design for Amenities, Genetics and plant Breeding, Environmental Indicators, Synthetic sport surfaces, Historical Parks & Gardens, Horticulture Therapy.


    Semester 2 Modules 

    New Venture Development 2: This module is a ‘follow‐on’ from New venture Development 1. Student teams are required to gain considerable traction and progress their ideas further towards commercial reality. As part of this module, the students must complete detailed design and analysis,  develop  prototypes  or  simulations  as  a  product  or  service  demonstrator.  In  parallel,  students  must  complete  a  business‐plan  and support documentation to appropriate proofing points that would allow it to attract the necessary resources to make it happen. 

    Horticulture Project 2, Implementation: This module is a ‘follow‐on’ from Project 1. Project execution, solution implementation and application of the research hold greater emphasis in this part of the project. Demonstrating the bringing together of knowledge and skills from the wider course  is  achieved  through  a  major  written  submission  as  a  thesis,  a  presentation  of  the  project  to  an  expert  panel  and  a  practical demonstration of the creative solutions implemented.  As the project is a year‐long effort, this module represents the final stages of the overall project and contributes to the new venture development efforts. 

    Aboriculture 2: This module enhances the student’s depth of understanding of the science of arboriculture. The student will integrate their knowledge of the plant physiology of trees with the ability to manage Ireland’s reserves of forest, woodland and urban trees. Student will learn to make decisions and work with stakeholders on the survival or otherwise of areas of the national tree stock drawing on elements of their scientific and technical expertise. 

    New Venture Finance: This module requires the student to explain the relationship between and interpret the balance sheet, profit and loss account and cash‐flow. Understand the key the techniques in managing working capital, know the appropriate sources of funding for a given investment proposal, prepare a basic set of financial projections for inclusion in a business plan, understand the linkages between marketing and production decisions and financial performance of the enterprise. 

    Legal, IP & Commercialisation: This module provides students with an in‐depth understanding and appreciation of the Irish legal system, the legal  responsibilities  and  opportunities  for  those  in  business  and  how  the  law  facilitates  entrepreneurship.  The  module  also  explores  the creation, capture and exploitation of intellectual property as well as contract law, tort, business forms and the sources of law. 

    Elective  Module:  From:  Horticultural  Business  Management  ;  Human  Resources,  Landscape  Design  2,  Golf  Course Design  7  Management, advanced  Plant  Pathology,  Plant  Treatment  Regulation,  Advanced  Soli  Science  and  Chemistry,  Diffusion  of  Innovation,  Universal  Design  for Amenities, Genetics and plant Breeding, Environmental Indicators, Synthetic Sport Surfaces, Historical Parks & Gardens, Horticulture Therapy.

    To learn more click here - http://www.itb.ie/StudyatITB/bn419.html

     or email: 

    www.HortiTrends.com Horticulture & Fresh Produce News Ireland

    If you have a story or event to promote please email: news@HortiTrends.com 

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    '

    26 Aug 2010

    Green infrastructure central to planning process - Comhar SDC

    Latest Horticulture & Fresh Produce News for Ireland

    Development of green infrastructure should be a core part of Ireland’s planning policy, including local development plans and the national spatial strategy. That is according to Comhar Sustainable Development Council, which launched its latest research report today.

    We need to move to a system where the protection and enhancement of our green infrastructure is integrated into the planning process, according to Comhar SDC who today launched Creating Green Infrastructure for Ireland. This would require mapping of natural ecosystems to provide evidence of the value of biodiversity and ecosystems to the economy and society, it said.  

    "Development has been a major driver of habitat degradation and biodiversity loss in Ireland," said the report's editor, Dr. Cathy Maguire, Director of Research at Comhar SDC. "Biodiversity continues to decline because its value is not reflected in decision-making by business and government.  While tools such as 'Strategic Environment Assessment' and 'Environmental Impact Assessment' have become part of our development process, they are essentially reactive measures. 

    “The introduction of a green infrastructure approach to planning policy would help to protect, create and manage green infrastructure in an integrated and proactive way.  It would also enhance Ireland's biodiversity and improve resilience to climate change."

    Comhar SDC describes 'green infrastructure' as "a network of green spaces that help conserve natural ecosystems and provide benefits to human populations through water purification, flood control, carbon capture, food production and recreation.  Such spaces include woodlands, coastlines, flood plains, hedgerows, city parks and street trees."

    Comhar cites the National Parks and Wildlife Services estimates that natural ecosystems contribute at least €2.6 billion to Ireland's economy each year, across a range of sectors, including agriculture, health and aquaculture.


    Creating a better work-life environment

     Also speaking at today's launch, Professor Frank Convery, chairperson of Comhar SDC (pictured), said: "Green infrastructure that is operating at its peak and is well connected can makes cities, towns and rural areas better places in which to work.  High-quality green infrastructure translates into higher property values and rents, and is also attractive to the high-value industries, entrepreneurs and workers now needed to underpin the knowledge economy.

     "The health benefits of a green infrastructure are also numerous.  Well-planned green spaces can act as important places to exercise, particularly in an urban centre.  They also provide play areas for children and act as a recreational space for members of the local community.  This offers positive benefits in terms of a community's physical and mental health."


    Professor Convery said that the upcoming revision of the National Biodiversity Plan, as well as the National Adaptation Plan, offers an important opportunity to put green infrastructure on the agenda of all the agents involved in planning and infrastructure delivery.  "Apart from national and local buy-in from our elected representatives, we need all of the key sectors - from agriculture to tourism and planners - to work together to realise the economic and social benefits of protecting our biodiversity," he added.

     

    Recommendations to Government


    The report contains a range of recommendations to government on how green infrastructure can be developed in Ireland.  These include the development of national guidance and objectives; the inclusion of green infrastructure in policy and legislation; green infrastructure maps, and measures to improve data availability and harmonisation. 

     "Comhar SDC has recommended a range of actions, including the development of national guidelines which set out how green infrastructure can be incorporated into the planning process," said Maguire. "We are urging policy makers to grasp the opportunities that green infrastructure approaches can offer in bringing benefits to the environment, economy and society.  Integrating green infrastructure into our planning process would result in health and economic benefits, as well as protecting our biodiversity.  It would offer a positive dimension to our planning process and minimise conflicts between environmental and economic goals."

     "Green infrastructure mapping underpins the whole approach and, while there are data gaps and needs, a lot of useful information already exists at national and local levels," she continued. "This should be made available in a coordinated and accessible way for use in green infrastructure mapping."
      
    Comhar Sustainable Development Council was established in 1999 as the forum for national consultation and dialogue on all issues relating to sustainable development. 

     

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    '

    26 Aug 2010

    National Organic Awards 2010 to be Announced September 14th - www.HortiTrends.com

    Latest Horticulture & Fresh Produce News for Ireland

    National Organic Awards 2010 to be Announced September 14th

    National Organic Awards 2010 
    Now in their 4th year, the National Organic Awards are recognised as 
    an important feature of the organic food and drink Industry. 
    Established by the National Organic Plan under the auspices of the 
    Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food and Bord Bia, judging for 
    the National Organic Awards will take place in early September.  All 
    entries will be judged by a panel of experts.

    Award Categories: 
    1. Best Organic Retail Product 
    2. Best Organic Local Product 
    3. Best Organic Export Product 
    4. Best Organic New Product 
    5. Best Organic Sustainable Product 
    6. Best Overall Organic Product

    Award winners will be announced and presented at a lunch on Tuesday 
    the 14th of September in the Bord Bia Food Centre.  Winners will be 
    invited and expected to attend.

    The objective of the awards is to recognise the achievements and raise 
    the profile of Irish organic food and drink manufacturers and growers.

    This year the awards have been reviewed and will be more inclusive of 
    organic producers from every sector, including horticulture growers. 

    The announcement of the awards will coincide with National Organic 
    Week and we hope to use the synergies to increase the profile of the 
    winners and the Irish organic food sector.

    Important Dates for the National Organic Awards 2010: 
    Monday 23rd August: Deadline for receipt of application forms 
    Tuesday 14th September: Award winners announced.

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