Garden Retail

Garden Centre Association denies 'blackball' claims by Garden Expo

HortWeek.com
08 February 2010

Be the first to comment The Garden Centre Association (GCA) has reacted to claims that trade show Garden Expo was "blackballed" from last month's GCA conference, at which rival trade show Glee had four delegates and was a sponsor.

Garden Expo director Sarah Porter said representatives of the show wanted to sponsor the GCA event or at least attend.

But GCA chief executive Gillie Westwood said: "They phoned too late to sponsor, less than 2 weeks before the event. We were practically full and Glee was already sponsoring the associates' night, which was arranged last year. It's not blackballing. I just said 'it's not appropriate for you to come now — you're too late.'"

She added that the GCA had no view on whether members should attend the longstanding Glee and/or the inaugural Garden Expo trade shows this year: "We're ambivalent. I'm in no position to tell people where to go. That's not what the GCA's here for. We're totally impartial."

Westwood added that as non-GCA members, Expo organisers Clarion were not eligible to attend the conference. She added that Glee organisers are associate members and that Clarion had been in the past.

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