Taking place on Wednesday, 2nd April 2025, at Melbicks Garden Centre, Coleshill, Birmingham, this event forms a key part of GIMA’s ongoing Buyer Connect series. Designed to provide value and foster business growth, these events bring together leading retailers and suppliers, facilitating meaningful connections that drive commercial success.

Blue Diamond’s roots date back to 1904, a landmark year in the industry when the company emerged as the Fruit Export Company in Guernsey, Channel Islands. Blue Diamond has grown into one of the UK’s most successful garden centre groups. Still owned and managed in Guernsey, the company maintains a strong focus on plants and horticulture while employing around 3,500 people across its Head Office and 47 garden centres in the UK and Channel Islands.

What to expect
This upcoming GIMA Buyer Connect event is primarily focused on 2026 product ranging opportunities. However, the Blue Diamond team will also be on the lookout for products suitable for trial or spot deals in 2025. Both stocked and dropship product ranges will be considered, making this an invaluable opportunity for suppliers looking to establish or grow their presence within Blue Diamond stores.

As part of GIMA’s wider Buyer Connect series, this event is one of many designed to facilitate strategic engagement between GIMA members and key retail buyers. By participating in Buyer Connect events, suppliers can maximise their market exposure and strengthen their relationships with top retailers, ensuring ongoing growth and opportunity.

How to get involved

GIMA members are encouraged to prepare for in-depth discussions on their product ranges and commercial strategies. With representatives from Blue Diamond’s category management team in attendance, the event promises productive dialogues and new business opportunities.

Each participating member will receive a 20-minute appointment, with the option to book additional sessions for multiple product categories. A maximum of two representatives per company may attend each appointment. This event is free for GIMA members, while non-members can participate for £180 + VAT. There are no additional fees for multiple meetings.

Interested members must complete an application form and submit it to info@gima.org.uk by Friday, 28th February 2025. Suppliers with multiple product ranges should submit separate applications for each category. All applications will be reviewed by Blue Diamond, and confirmed meeting times will be communicated by the GIMA team in due course.

GIMA members have triumphantly supported and donated to Greenfingers over the 2024 GIMA events, including the popular GIMA annual Golf Day. This raised an impressive £12,500 for Greenfingers, bringing together garden retailers, suppliers, and stakeholders for a fun and competitive day of golf followed by the BBQ fundraising in the evening, where delegates had the chance to bid for some fantastic auction prizes and take part in the charity raffle.

The GIMA Awards held earlier this month, also contributed to the fundraising efforts. A table raffle, kindly sponsored by Hozelock and the main raffle, generously supported by MorePeople raised £5,713 throughout the evening. Following the judging day held in July, many of the suppliers generously donated their product entries to be auctioned off by W&H Peacock, raising an additional £1,900 for the charity.