It has a been a number of years since I personally attended GLEE - the early 2000s probably. Then it was a key part of a dealer's calendar, with many machinery manufacturers displaying their latest products.

Now, the whole show is a lot smaller than what I’d remembered, and certainly the machinery section is very much reduced. Now it’s pretty much just dominated by Handy Distribution's stand. However, their stand is very impressive and featured a number of brands within it including Webb, Bosch, GreenWorks, Flymo, McCulloch, Gardena, and Handy's own labelled products.

Talking to Handy's managing director Simon Belcher, he still believes the exhibition is right for them. He said, "This show is so much better now they have moved it to taking place on a Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. We used to find that a lot of end-users would make their way in on a Sunday through various means - but now we are just seeing quality trade visitors coming onto the stand.

"Whilst we have a had good number of servicing dealers come through this week, it is mainly the garden centres who we're seeing attending."


Handy md Simon Belcher with a display of Webb mowers

Making a big splash on their stand was the Webb range of mowers. Simon explained how the range had undergone a significant facelift and will now comprise of three categories - Classic, Supreme and Elite. The first two levels will be available through all stockists, however the Elite range will be exclusive to specialist dealers only (and as a consequence wasn't featured at Glee).

These Elite machines are high-end, premium products, all featuring Briggs & Stratton engines. One exclusive mower which Simon said dealers could look forward to in plenty of numbers next year is a 16" rear roller with an aluminium deck. Simon said, "The Elite range offers our dealers that bit of difference. Consumers may familiarise themselves with the brand through the mass channels, but if they want the premium-end of the Webb range, they will need to visit one of our dealers."

New, modern packaging also supports the range and the attractive, traditional-looking wooden stands, which the machines were being shown off on at the NEC, are available to dealers for their showrooms.

Also taking a significant spot on the stand was the GreenWorks range of battery-powered garden machinery. Scott Lelliott, International Sales Manager for GreenWorks Tools Europe, was on hand to explain the benefits of the range, which uses a universal lithium-ion battery. He said, "GreenWorks is the biggest manufacturer of this type of battery powered technology in the world, making equipment for other major brands. We are now concentrating on getting our own label machinery out there.


Scott Lelliott, International Sales Manager of GreenWorks Tools Europe, with Simon Belcher

"Battery power is the future. Dealers need to embrace this new technology. We have a full range of machinery including mowers, which start from £199, hedge-trimmers, chainsaws, and even a snow-blower. And key to them all is our cutting-edge battery technology which we know have got 100% perfect."

Elsewhere around the show, other machinery exhibitors included Wolf Garten, LawnKing, Hyundai and a few Chinese manufacturers including Ningbo Cheery Garden Tools.

DJ Turfcare Equipment was also in attendance, exhibiting their organic fertiliser products for lawns, not their lawn-edging machines. But md David Jenkins believed that independent dealers should be thinking of broadening their stocking habits from just purely machinery, to become more of an all-encompassing lawn-care specialist centre. He said, "Shows like Glee can give dealers inspiration to see products such as our Mo Bacter for example, to give them increased sales opportunities."