LONDON MULTI-TRADE SHOW PICKS UP THE PACE

With pick up coach routes agreed for British Hardware Federation (BHF) members, lunch/drinks vouchers for Home Hardware South West members, and the latest signings including Abus UK, Cathedral Products and Rothley, London’s Multi-Trade Show is picking up the pace getting ready for January 2009.

Plans for the 15th Show Conference are also firming up. It will run on the morning of Monday, 19 January in the Earls Court Conference Centre, alongside Earls Court 2. The first speaker to confirm is Richard Perks, director of retail research at Mintel, who will provide an overview of the sector for delegates. Brintex will announce further speakers shortly. The theme for the conference has been set as ‘DIY Retailing – What the future holds’.

“There is still plenty being done and details to clarify. Opportunities exist for exhibitors to enter products in our revamped New Product Piazza, as well as highlighting what exclusive deals they will be offering to visitors. TV shopping channel QVC has also asked to use the show this year to film new products and there are more partnerships to be finalised to ensure visitors literally get an easy ride to the show, but it’s coming together well,” commented show director James Murray.

He added, “Interest in exhibition space is growing steadily as companies recognise that without promoting their products their year could be even tougher – and we’re certainly ready and willing to help exhibitors shout about their new ideas and products!”

New exhibitors for Totally Tools include GT85 and Mewett Polyurethane who have rebooked from this year.

In Totally DIY new bookings include Laddermat, Rothley, Rug Doctor, Stadium Group, Urfic UK and William E. Selkin.

New show Totally Secure is shaping up with signings now including Abus UK and Cathedral Products.

Totally Tools, Totally DIY and Totally Secure will take place 18-20 January 2009 at Earls Court in London. For further details and a full list of current exhibitors please contact show organiser Brintex on 020 7973 6401.

Source: The Press Office Ltd.
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Bulldog Mini Bypass Pruning Shears BD3150 – Product Review

Review by Michael Smith

The Bulldog BD3150 mini bypass pruning shears are a very nice and handy little pair of pruners for the cutting back of live or 'green' foliage and also capable of basically all small pruning tasks. In my opinion those pruners are also great for children who wish to help in the garden. Yes, I do know that they are cutting tools and sharp but they will never learn how to do things if they are not permitted to learn when young.

The cutting capacity is 6mm which is just under 1/2 inch in old money. However, it is probably possible to cut a little thicker pieces like that. It all depends on what material they are. While I would not suggest to cut a 3/4 inch apple twig or one of other hard wood with this pair of pruning shears it it, however, possible to cut bramble runners of that size and even bigger, especially if they are “green”.

While an ideal little pair of pruning shears for the home and also the allotment gardener they are also suitable for the professional when about generally in case there is something to be that needs dead heading, whether roses or flowering plants in general. In addition it is also an ideal small pair of secateurs for the Park and Countryside Ranger on patrol should the need arise to cut some bramble runners or such clear from a path to protect the public from injury. It is the small size here that comes in at the forefront, allowing it to just be slipped into a pocket or a notebook belt pouch or such.

Those mini bypass pruners are also brilliant for harvesting produce in your veggie garden or plot, whether those be beans or other vegetables, and do a much better job than garden scissors, for instance.

The grip is a soft elastomer kind of material than makes using them a pleasure.

Priced at an RRP of £8.44 they hardly break the bank and as with all Bulldog tools we are talking quality at an affordable price. I know that you can get secateurs for less than £3 or even for as low as 99pence but what are you getting there?

The only one thing that I am not too sure about, I must say, as to reliability and durability, is the yellow – in the case of the green handles version of the BD3150 mini bypass pruning shears that I was given for review – plastic sliding lock. I would have rather seen something like the lock on the BD3152 bypass pruning shears. In use I find that at times that lock slides forward and, in fact, locks the shears. This is, though, not the only kind of lock on secateurs that I have a problem with. The old style, as on the afore mentioned BD3152 – the clasp on the bottom of the handles – still takes a lot of beating. The spring too, maybe, just maybe, could do with, in my opinion, being just a little bit stronger.

However, this small pair of mini pruners is something that many people will have been waiting for, and also those gardeners that want to be able to allow their youngsters a go in the garden with dead heading and such but the secateurs on the market in general are too large to really be able to do that. These mini pruning shears will, certainly, bridge that gap.

© M Smith (Veshengro), September 2008
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