Mini Grow Bed from Lakeland – Product Review

Review by Michael Smith


Garland Mini Grow Bed
Lakeland Ref: 51193 Price: 22.91 GBP,
Lakeland Garden Catalog page 21

Stuck with a small garden but still want to grow an abundance of crops, or perhaps the soil in your area is poor and the seedlings always struggle?

Watch those plants wake up when you put them to bed, a Mini Grow Bed that is. The Garland Mini Grow Bed gives plants such as carrots, potatoes and onions the best start in life as the soil within the bed warms more quickly, giving earlier crops. The black surrounds also, I should think, contribute to this warming process.

The enclosed growing area protects, to some extent, against disease, pests and weeds, whilst offering excellent drainage and protection against soil erosion. However, the pesky birds and the slugs and snails will still try to do their best to get at your crops, no matter what. So you will have to think of protection such as netting and what have not. There Lakeland can help too, but that is a different story.

And not only will your vegetables be happier in a raised bet such as the Mini Grow Bed; the raised growing surface also makes it easier for you, giving easier access tot he plants and less bending for your back.

The Garland Mini Grow Beds are made from 100% recycled polypropylene and the bed is simple to assemble, requiring no tools.

In fact, assembly was done in this test indoors, in the living room, no less and took less than five minutes and can be done by one person, no problem, Having a helper, though, will make assembly easier. The hardest work was filling it up with soil outside, lifting the bag of compost and such.

The single bed measures about 38inches by 20inches x 10inches and, due to the constructions is simple and easy and also light.

There is an extension kit available for this Mini Grow Bed that will about double the size. The construction of this, however, requires some drilling and as the kit is but two quid cheaper than the normal bed my suggestion would be to have more of the individual ones rather than running extensions. But then, everyone to his own, I guess.

The extension kit if Lakeland Ref: 50393 and costs 19.95 GBP

The Mini Grow Bed is also available as a combi with a crop support frame – Lakeland Ref: 50938 at a price of 34.96 GBP (this is for the bed and the frame) and in addition to that there is a cover for the support frame (and little greenhouse, so to speak) available – Lakeland Ref: 51051 costing 19.94 GBP and also a liner is available that enables you to use the Mini Grow Bed on a patio, decking or even a balcony. The liner is also made from 100% recycled, woven polypropylene and has handles than will make it easy to lift it out, with the soil, at the end of the season. The liner is Lakeland Ref: 51050 and costs 5.54 GBP.
Worth having when on areas where you do not want to end up with soil at the end of the growing season.

The Mini Grow Bed took me very little time to assemble and then to place outside. Once fill with soil it is extremely sturdy and looks also very good.

Definitely a product that can be recommended for anyone. With mini raised beds such as this, and at such a great price – I have seen similar ones at a number of trade fairs recently of which none are below the 65 GBP mark. For the price of the cheapest one at other places you can have three of these from Lakeland. So, go and get growing your own veggies.

Oh, and as I have said before, Lakeland are not paying me to say all those nice things about their products (chance would be a find thing but...). The products are just good, and so far I have been happy with all of those that I have reviewed and can recommend them without hesitation.

© M Smith (Veshengro), 2009
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Patio Planters from Lakeland – Product Review

Review by Michael Smith


Haxnicks Patio Planters
Lakeland Ref: 50948 (3 Vegetable Planters)
Price: 14.95 GBP

Those planters are another product from Lakeland's new dedicated Garden Catalog that caught my attention when going through it after I received my press copy for review/preview.

You don't need a garden to “grow your own”...

Especially for small spaces, this collection of durable polyethylene sacks allows you to have your own vegetable plot on a patio, in a yard, or right next to the back door. Easy to manage and to maintain, they are great way to introduce children to growing vegetables too. And they might actually eat those vegetables if they have raised them themselves. With drainage holes at the bottom to avoid waterlogging, they have carry handles and can be reused year after year.

Those planters are, as I had guessed, and described thus in my review of the Garden Catalog, similar to the so-called builders' bags, being from about the same type of material. The only difference is that the material is not as heavy and it is also, in contrast to the builders' bags, additionally coated.

I have used builders' bags in my garden for container planting already and found them to work very well. The only drawback with the builders' one, despite the fact that they can ge had by the ton for free from building sites, is that they are rather big and once filled with soil can no longer be moved. They also take rather a great amount of compost and soil.

The Patio Planters from Lakeland have handles sewn onto the sides which I assume to be for ease of moving should one wish to after they have been filled with soil. Not something I would advise unless one would like to have a sprained back. 40 liters of compost can be heavy. In the bottom and on the bottom rim there ate a number of good sized drain holes with brass grommets and those should make for good drainage.

The Haxnicks Vegetable Patio Planters come in a pack of three containing three different sizes; Deep, Medium, and Shallow. The shallow version will make a great bed for growing mixed salad leaves and I have employed it for exactly that selfsame purpose. In due course, therefore, I hope to be harvesting from that planter.

In today's climate, and here more than just the weather and such, growing your own food locally, or at least some of it, is something that many people want to do and with planters such as these here available from Lakeland anyone can do so, even if one has bot a balcony in an apartment block. Fresh home-grown salad leaves and other vegetables are no longer out of reach for even the smallest patio or balcony. With the Patio Planters the smallest patios and balconies can become personal vegetable gardens.

Another great product available from Lakeland. The Patio Planters can be found in the Lakeland Garden Catalog on page 22/23.

In addition to the Vegetable Planters, that I am reviewing here, there are also available Kitchen Herb Planters, Strawberry Planters and Potato Planters in this series.

So, let's go and grow some veggies.

© M Smith (Veshengro), 2009
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Wellington & Barrow Tomato Fleece Hood Competition

Purchasers of Planto’s Tomato Fleece Hoods are invited to send in a photo of the biggest tomato grown using them. The winner will receive a Wellington and Barrow voucher to the value of £25. Entries needed by 1st August 2009.

Planto Tomato Fleece Hoods provide a micro climate which will give your tomatoes a head start this spring.


For more details and how to enter go to - www.wellingtonandbarrow.com

OneClick IntelliPanel Desktop from Lakeland - Product Review

Standby To Save Money!

Review by Michael Smith

Desktop IntelliPanel Lakeland Ref 21306

We live in a digital age, but it’s still important to switch off from time to time – especially your electrical appliances. We’re told that leaving something on standby wastes a staggering £740 million a year, well waste no more!

These IntelliPanels are recommended by the Energy Saving Trust, and mean that you can say goodbye to standby on your desktop or home entertainment system. Simply plug all the equipment in and every time you turn the screen on or off, IntelliPanel will automatically take care of the rest.

The IntelliPanel Desktop for PCs, the one that I have reviewed here as I do not have a TV or any other appliance of that nature but enough computers, has one master socket – that is the one that controls the system – and 7 sockets for peripherals and power supplies to run peripherals on a PC. When the PC is shut down a relay, for lack of a better word, is triggered and the other 7 sockets are switched off, thus turning off all appliances with nothing draing any phantom power.

Read more here

Grass Edger from Lakeland – Product Review

Review by Michael Smith

Grass Edger – Lakeland Ref 50965 – 21.96 GBP

This Grass Edger sold by Lakeland comes as a 2-part tube steel construction that is assembled by means of a bolt with a wing nut. The assembly cause no problems whatsoever as it was all too obvious and the device appears to be quite sturdy.

The circular cutter of the Grass Edger is not over sharp – but is probably intended to be in is way – and the cutter assembly too looks fairly robust as well. Obviously, as will all things, the proof of the pudding, as they say, is in the eating, meaning here that only over a more prolonged use would one be able to gauge how it performs and holds up to the rigors that some may inflict it the tool.

Read more here

Typhoon Green Pan from Lakeland – Product Review

Go Green In Your Kitchen

Review by Michael Smith

If you’re keen to pick eco-friendly products then check out these beautifully designed pans – must-haves for a greener kitchen!

The pans are crafted from recycled aluminium and the manufacturing process uses less energy, making them the ideal choice for eco-conscious cooks, whatever is on the menu.

Using recycled aluminium also means that no new Bauxite needs to be mined in order to produce “virgin” aluminium. A great plus for sure, giving old aluminium a second life.

In fact, aluminium is a metal that can be nigh on indefinitely recycled, similar to stainless steel, though, I believe, the latter's properties for that are a little surperior to aluminium.

The Kyoto range is coated with Thermolon, a ceramic-based non-stick covering which contains fewer chemicals, gives easy-release for food, is easy to care for. Please note: Do not use metal utensils with this pan. The non-stick coating will get damaged if you do.
Thermolon non-stick coating is manufactured PFOA-free and in an environmentally friendly way, resulting in 60% less CO2 emission, according to a statement by the manufacturer. The coating also PTFE-free and therefore does not “off-gas”, that is to say, does release any toxic fumes during the heating process, unlike other coatings one could mention but better does not.

Read more here:

Lakeland Garden Catalog – Review

by Michael Smith

Recently I received the Garden Catalog from Lakeland, the well-known household goods company in the English Lake District, hence the name “Lakeland”.

While Lakeland have had in their catalogs in the past items and tools for the garden here and there this is the first dedicated Garden Catalog of Lakeland.

The range of tools and products is overwhelming and all look very good and impressive.

With gardening, especially as to growing your own food, being on the in crease, due to environmental green concerns and also the state of the economy, on the in crease this catalog is a great addition to Lakeland's range.

Amongst the items that very much have caught my attention in this catalog are the Patio Garden Range of durable polyethylene sacks on page 22 and 23 of the catalog and which, from the looks in the pages of he catalog are of the same or similar material as the builder's bags in which sand and such items are nowadays delivered, but smaller and specially designed with gardening in mind.

Read more here:

EDF Energy Ideal Home Show 2009 is Bargain Hunter Live!

Alison Cork to appear at the Show

London, 9th February 2009 – EDF Energy Ideal Home Show 2009 is delighted to announce that Alison Cork and ‘Bargain Hunter Live’ will be at the Show to offer visitors bargain hunting tips and invaluable advice. Alison Cork is a respected TV presenter on shows such as ‘60 Minute Makeover’ and ‘Don’t Move, Improve!’ In addition, Alison regularly writes for The Daily Telegraph and Evening Standard.

‘Bargain Hunter Live’ is the culmination of Alison’s years of trawling the UK’s back streets and warehouses in search of the best quality products at unbeatable prices. Prices for all of the ‘Bargain Hunter Live’ products will be exclusive to the show, unavailable elsewhere and up to 75% less than you would pay on the high street. Kitchens, bathrooms, beds, dining tables, sofas, shutters and accessories are just some of the many products that will be on show.

The EDF Energy Ideal Home Show 2009 will run from 20th March – 13th April 2009 at Earls Court London. Opening hours will be from 11am – 9pm Monday to Friday and 10 am - 6 pm Saturday and Sunday. Tickets will cost £14 on weekdays and £16 on weekends. A reduced ticket price of £5 will be available for visitors who come to the show after 5pm.

Bargain Hunter Live will be located on the first floor at the 2009 Show. Alison will also be on hand to offer great bargain hunter tips. She advises, “Be prepared to abandon the traditional high street in favour of ‘off piste’ locations with lower overheads. The high street carries fixed overheads in terms of rent and rates, and you can often find the same product at 20 – 30% less, just by virtue of it being sold in a location with less passing traffic.”

In addition, ProblemSolved.co.uk will be working with the Ideal Home Show 2009 to help visitors to the new www.idealhomeshow.co.uk find a tradesman. Linking people with 60,000 trades people from the best possible sources – public and professional recommendation, and the UK’s leading bodies. They say you are only as good as your last job and Problemsolved.co.uk is putting that to the test by asking their users to write reviews and post them on the site.

So cut out that middle man and head straight to EDF Energy Ideal Home Show for some great bargains.

The Ideal Home Show is world’s largest home interest event celebrates its 101st anniversary in 2009. It takes place from 20th March – 13th April 2009 at Earls Court London. The Show is renowned as the home of great ideas and has seen the launch of many home innovations such as the microwave, the fridge and the vacuum cleaner. The tradition of launching brand new ideas and products to the public is maintained through the Show’s annual Innovation Nation awards, which showcase the work of emerging talent from Britain’s top design schools and now encourage amateur entries from the public.

Source: Nylon Communications Limited
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EDF Energy Ideal Home Show 2009 Celebrates 10 Years of the Concept Products Competition

Supporting and Showcasing the Best in Young Home Product Design Talent

London, 3rd February 2008 – The EDF Energy Ideal Home Show 2009, the home of great ideas, celebrates 10 years of inspiring creativity with the Concept Products Competition. Once again, this innovative venture returns to give young professional designers the opportunity to showcase their ideas in an arena that attracts attention from the design industry.

This year, Karoline Newman, who brought Concept Products to the Show 10 years ago, has shortlisted 25 designs that reflect the key themes of the 2009 Show. Karoline is a long- tanding cultivator of young design talent and the EDF Energy Ideal Home Show is delighted to have her support for the 2009 Show. This year’s Concept Products revolve around making the best use of space and finding practical solutions to saving energy.

All 25 designs will be showcased in the “Innovation Nation” area of the Show. Examples of the shortlisted products include, “I rest my case” by Alexandra Parker-Brown which is a small suitcase reminiscent of a Chesterfield sofa that can also become a footstool and the Radiator by Sam Sheard which illustrates how to use energy efficiently. Radiators are decorated with colourful farm animal designs in thermochromatic ink. When the radiator is turned off (cold) the graphics are displayed, but when the radiator is turned on (hot) the graphics start to disappear, a reminder to the user of the energy that they are using and the impact it might ultimately have.

New for this year, Concept Products has been integrated into the curriculum of two universities, Plymouth and De Montfort, via briefs given to students during their design courses. Students were asked to come up with design ideas for Space Saving and Sustainable Living. The best of these designs will be showcased alongside the other short listed concept products. Visitors to the EDF Energy Ideal Home Show 2009 will be able to vote for their favourite design either at the Show or via the show website and the overall winner will receive a prize of £2,000. In a new development for 2009, a panel of experts selected from across the design industry will also review the designs and give constructive feedback to help the designers’ progress with their products.

Many previous winners have gone on to have commercial success. For example, Oliver Blackwell, first spotted at the 2007 Show, set up his own chartered industrial design company working with clients such as B&Q. Gillian Westley who showcased her design at the 2008 Show has since worked with the kitchen utensils design company, Joseph Joseph on their forthcoming 2009 design collection.

But alongside these ‘professionally’ designed products the Show will also facilitate an amateur competition in which any member of the public can enter their own design ideas, with the chance of them being made into a real mock-up to be displayed and also voted on at the Show and on the website. Overall, the objective is to demonstrate the creativity which abounds in this “Innovation Nation” and to continue the show’s long heritage of being THE showcase for domestic innovation.

The EDF Energy Ideal Home Show 2009 will run from 20th March – 13th April 2009 at Earls Court London. New for 2009, opening hours will be from 11am – 9pm on weekdays and 10am – 6pm at the weekend. To keep in line with the money saving objectives of the show, ticket prices will stay the same for the third year running, costing £14 on weekdays and £16 on weekends. For locals and commuters who want to make the most of the extended evening programming and events, a reduced ticket price of £5 will be available after 5pm on any day of the week.

For further information, visit www.idealhomeshow.co.uk where additional details on the show can be found as well as archives on the 100 years of home making innovations. The new EDF Energy Ideal Home Show website launches in December 2008 and will mark the beginning of a year round source of product ideas to complement the annual show.

The Ideal Home Show, the world’s largest home interest event celebrates its 101st anniversary in 2009. It takes place from 20th March – 13th April 2009 at Earls Court London. The Show is renowned as the home of great ideas and has seen the launch of many home innovations such as the microwave, the fridge and the vacuum cleaner. The tradition of launching brand new ideas and products to the public is maintained through the Show’s annual Innovation Nation awards, which showcase the work of emerging talent from Britain’s top design schools and now encourage amateur entries from the public.

dmg world media is an international exhibition and publishing company, which produces more than 300 market-leading consumer shows, trade exhibitions and fairs each year.
The company also publishes more than 65 related magazines, newspapers directories and market reports. dmg world media employs more than 800 people and maintains a worldwide presence through more than 30 offices around the world in Canada, the United States, Brazil, the United Kingdom, France, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand. dmg world media is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Daily Mail and General Trust plc (DMGT), one of the largest and most successful media companies in the United Kingdom.

The combination of EDF Energy and British Energy forms one of the UK’s largest energy companies. The combined business is the UK’s largest producer of electricity. With a current installed capacity of around 16.5GW, we produce almost one-quarter of the nation’s electricity from our nuclear, coal and gas power stations, as well as combined heat and power plants and wind farms. We provide power to a quarter of the UK’s population via our electricity distribution networks in London, the South East and the East of England and supply gas and electricity to over 5.5 million business and residential customers.

Through our climate and social commitments we have launched the biggest environmental and social packages of any UK energy company. The company is also a key player in national infrastructure projects including management of private electricity networks serving four London airports and the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, the country’s first major new railway in 100 years.

EDF Energy and British Energy together employ nearly 20,000 people at locations across the UK. The combined companies are part of EDF Group, one of Europe’s largest power companies. EDF is the official energy utilities partner and sustainability partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

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Bahco Bypass Loppers PG-20-E - Product Review

Review by Michael Smith

I must admit that I have had this pair of loppers in question for review now for the best part of a year but it does take a while, I believe, with tools to test them properly. That I have now done.

Bypass loppers of compact design to prune in difficult-to-reach places, available in two sizes. Oval steel tube handles with comfortable plastic grip and shock absorbing plastic buffers for added comfort in use. The smaller cutting head is ideal for pruning ornamental shrubs and rose bushes. Unlike for the professional range of loppers there are no spare parts available for this one.

The PG-20-E bypass loppers which I have had for review is the smaller of the two sizes and has a cutting capacity of a maximum of 30mm. This is, in my view, all academic though and depends on the hardness of the wood. I would not like to try it or any for that matter on dead prunus branches of that diameter, for instance. I have done dead branches of up to about 20mm with those loppers and I found it hard going. Not that the loppers would have broken, maybe. I just found it physically hard and would, in such cases, rather resort to a saw.

Those bypass loppers could be, and I do that at times, for they are very light and handy to carry, referred to as “secateurs on steroids”.

The specifications, so to speak are for the PG-20-E that of a cutting diameter 30 max, with a length of 440mm and a weight 665 grams. As I have said, they are very light.

Now if someone could design a carrying holster for it, of some sort, this would be an ideal too for any Countryside Ranger and such like to take out on a patrol, especially a foot patrol, in order to remove branches and such that may encroach on a footpath, a bridleway, or such.

This is, as all of Bahco's tools, a professional tool at a reasonable price and anyone in their right mind, especially a professional, I should think, would rather invest in quality tools than to buy cheap and find them broken in a few hours or days of use.

© M Smith (Veshengro), January 2009
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BHETA VOTES IN FAVOUR OF COLLABORATION WITH BJGF

British Home Enhancement Trade Association and British Jewellery, Giftware & Finishing Federation join forces to create one powerful ‘super federation’

In a unique, forward thinking and commercially intuitive step, the British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA) and the British Jewellery, Giftware & Finishing Federation (BJGF Federation) have announced their intention to create one powerful ‘super federation’.

This followed a resoundingly positive 95% vote in favour of the collaboration from BHETA members, which closed yesterday at a special briefing meeting hosted by the two organisations at BHETA’s current headquarters in Northampton.

The new super federation will bring together two of the most powerful trade associations in the United Kingdom and will provide the jewellery, gift, home enhancement and finishing industries with a united and substantial lobbying voice, stronger representation at the highest levels of government, and an upgraded membership offer.

The new entity will see the executive team at BHETA’s Northampton offices relocate to the BJGF Federation’s headquarters at Federation House in Birmingham. This merging of facilities will significantly control administrative costs and leave greater resources to invest in widening and deepening the membership services.

As David French, chief executive officer at BHETA, said, “With 2008 proving to be one of the most testing economic environments in the 50 years since our Association was formed, this initiative will create a strong and resilient super federation that will represent all our industries powerfully and decisively into the next decade and beyond. Whilst many other companies and organisations are facing down-sizing or even closure, we are making this move from a position of strength and we’ll continue to operate with a well funded financial base. This new super federation will allow each sector association within it to retain its own voice and control its own destiny, but allow us, as a group, to fund a more comprehensive range of benefits and services to all our members.”

David Metcalfe, vice president of the BJGF Federation, said, “This forward thinking initiative will bring critical mass to two trade associations that already have a formidable track record at effectively representing their members. This is a genuine and unique collaboration that will bring about greater control of costs and additional funds to invest in the super federation – ensuring that we provide a premium membership services and powerful representation at local, national and European government levels.”

The new super federation will be renamed in order to clarify its role as an umbrella trade organisation, and details of its future branding and strategy will be announced shortly.
Both associations have committed to ‘openness and transparency’ and in a thoroughly modern agreement will sign a commercial ‘pre-nup‘ which ring fences and protects the assets and interests of both associations for the first two years of the new union.

by Vanessa Fortnam, The Press Office Ltd
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LONDON MULTI-TRADE SHOW GETS FULL INDUSTRY SUPPORT

The industry’s leading trade associations and wholesale groups have renewed their support and participation in the London multi-trade show that now consists of Totally Tools, Totally DIY and the recently launched Totally Secure.

The changes proposed for the 2009 shows by organiser Brintex have won the approval of long-term show supporters, the British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA), Decco, the Federation of British Hand Tool Manufacturers, Home Hardware Southwest, MICA Hardware and Toolbank who have all confirmed they will be exhibiting next January. In addition, the British Hardware Federation (BHF), which has had its own stand at the show for the past two years, has confirmed it will be back in 2009.

This year, many members and customers of the various organisations will be offered assistance with travel and refreshment costs, to help promote a visit to the show in January.

This activity, alongside a revamped floor plan which puts new products literally centre stage, the provision of free personalised invitation tickets for exhibitors to use, and a fresh approach to the idea of staging a ‘multi-trade’ show, with the introduction of Totally Secure has met with approval.

Paul Woolley, commercial director of the BHF Group, said, “With over 2,000 hardware members we see the show as a great opportunity to meet up with existing members and recruit for new ones! We’ll be offering new members a 25% discount on membership fees if they sign up at the show.

“In addition, our team from BHF Direct will be on the look out for new lines and products to offer our members – the show provides us with a great opportunity to get direct feedback on new products and our own services. We can cover a lot of ground in three days at the show!”

Simon Bicknell, sales director of Toolbank, whose support was important to the successful launch of Totally Tools four years ago, commented: “Totally Tools continues to be an important part of our marketing programme and we welcome the initiatives being made by Brintex to add energy and impetus to the show.

“The show is a great platform to update customers on our latest initiatives and plans. We look forward to meeting potential new accounts and spending time with many existing customers and are pleased to confirm Toolbank's participation in Totally Tools 2009.”

New exhibitors to sign up for the 2009 to date include Aisin Europe, AP Lifting Gear, GT 85, Isotronic Mezger, RKW Leisure, RCD and Tarax Technology. In addition, Brother UK, Saint Gobain Abrasives and Spectra Tool Company are returning to the show after a break last year and DK Tools and Tool Connection are both back at the show having doubled the size of their stands.

“More than ever, retail buyers have to be proactive in their search to find new products to sell on to their customers. Our multi-trade show will be a great sourcing platform for buyers – and should help to stimulate interest and retail sales, which the whole market needs,” said show director James Murray. “Now is the time to proactively sell and to get out and see what companies have to offer!”

This year, to mark the show’s 15th year, a high-level industry conference, addressing the key issues of DIY and home retailing, will take place on the morning of Monday, 19 January. Details of the conference theme and speakers are to be announced shortly.
Current exhibitors for Totally Tools include Abingdon King Dick, Arrow Fastener, Evolution Power Tools, Exakt Precision Tools, KS Tools KWB Tools / Ringwood Agencies, Ledco, Monument Tools, Nilfisk Alto, Northern Wholesale, Rolson Tools, SMC and Valley Industries.

In Totally DIY confirmed exhibitors include Agralan, Bulk Hardware, Centurion Europe, Coo-Var, Crown Paints, Draper Tools, Euro Showers, Everbuild Building Products, Fair & Square, Feed ‘n’ Leave, Gorilla Glue, Group 55, IBP Conex, Initial Monogram, King Cole, Liberon, London & Lancashire Rubber, Mueller Primaflow, Oracstar, Polyvine, Procter Brothers, RB UK, Route 1 Group, Sealey Power Products, STV International, Sycamore UK, Tembe DIY, Tor Coatings, Trollul and Unger Germany.

New show Totally Secure has attracted bookings from Yale Security Products, part of the Assa Abloy Group, Borg Locks, Codringtons, Davenport Burgess, Guardian Lock & Engineering, Henry Squire & Sons, Keyprint, M.A.C Solutions, Master Lock, Sentry Safes, Sterling Locks and Total Product Sales, with more names waiting to be confirmed.

Totally Tools, Totally DIY and Totally Secure will take place 18-20 January 2009 at Earls Court in London.

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QVC – SHOWING VIEWERS WHAT’S NEW

The QVC team will be attending this year’s multi-trade show at Earls Court with one aim – to find new products for its regular one hour, Sunday morning programme dedicated to DIY products.

QVC buyer for DIY and garden, Chris Gardner, will be at the show with QVC presenter Julian Ballantyne, to find as many new products as possible to show their viewers.

“We thought that our viewers would be interested to see how we track down new products and also see footage of our existing vendors at the show,” explained Chris Gardner.

Exhibitors across all three shows have been challenged to put forward their best new ideas for consideration but have been warned to take into account that they will have to be confident their product can demonstrate enough points of difference or new features to sustain eight to ten minutes of air time as well as offering value against the high street and other routes to market!

Chris explains, “We offer our customers products that have a point of difference, a story or USP and where we can demonstrate the benefits of purchase.”

The team at QVC says that their buying decisions are driven by the individual product and value against the marketplace and not on brand recognition.

One company which has benefited from being spotted by QVC is C Enterprise UK Ltd, which created the POWER8 workshop – a full cordless ‘Workshop in One’ that comes in its own armoured carry case. Chris Elsworthy, the product’s inventor will be exhibiting at the 2009 show.

He comments, “The POWER8 workshop has already benefited from airtime on QVC Germany, where it went down really well, and will have its first airing in the UK and in the US in the next couple of weeks.

“Our problem was keeping the description and product demo to within eight minutes! But working with QVC has been a good lesson in how to really focus on selling a product quickly and easily.”

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