Better together? The people have spoken. We move on.

Now there is only one real question. Birmingham in September, or err. . . Birmingham in November?

Will GLEE 2015 offer a better opportunity for the exhibitors to reach a trade-centric audience in September, or do they stick with the new IOG SALTEX in November where they can meet end users? Is the timing the real issue rather than location?

I had planned to go and have a look-see at GLEE last Sunday but Trish and I were involved in a nasty car accident in Dorset on Saturday when a vehicle ploughed into the back of us at speed. A further heavy shunt with the safety barrier then did for the front end and my Honda Civic (told you I had taste!) is a complete write-off.  Fortunately, we were able to walk away, battered and bruised after attention at the scene, but it was a very scary moment.

So I have to rely on those who attended – and the feedback is good. A new layout that meant people had to ‘shop-the-show’ (rather like M&S moving the milk around the store), a business-centred show and a quality audience. There must be a question mark (still) about the Sunday opening which was very quiet, against which there was still frantic buying going on when the show closed its doors at 4.00pm on Tuesday

Of course, the garden machinery industry has ‘form’ with GLEE. It was, for many years, the focal date in the trade diary.  Then companies questioned cost, those who could not build big stands felt marginalised, so for a couple of years all the exhibitors were ‘forced’ into shell-scheme only stands. I remember describing the machinery section as resembling the Moscow Garden Machinery Show (today I’d probably make that the North Korean GMS). It was uniform, characterless and dull.

So the wide open spaces of Windsor Racecourse became the new option (after its disastrous dalliance with the East of England Showground at Peterborough).

Now, we are back to Square One.

Exhibitors will have to decide whether the September date with trade buyers and a fair smattering of landscapers and contractors is the best option for them, or continue their relationship with the IOG with its end-user bias, but now in November at the same NEC venue.

As Cilla used to say on Blind Date “the decision is yours”

What will be interesting is the effort that the GLEE and IOG organisers put into wooing those wavering, the ‘don’t knows’, the undecided; the floating voters.

Let’s have a referendum!