Buyers and buying teams from across the garden retail sector were given reason to celebrate having been awarded one of the 2023 Buyers Power List awards at Glee. This awards ceremony, which took place on day one of Glee (27th June, NEC Birmingham), has become synonymous with market best practices and has quickly become one award that buyers and buying teams hope to scoop following another busy and successful year of trading.
Voting has been open since early summer, with this year’s event attracting more nominations than ever as suppliers and the wider market look to recognise the extraordinary efforts made by these retail professionals. The full list of winners is as follows:
Home & Gifts buyer/buying team of the Year
WINNER – Jodie Smith – Perrywood
2nd place – Al Sheppard – Haskins
3rd place – Kati Taylor – Fron Goch
Plants buyer/buying team of the Year
WINNER – Colin Dale – Notcutts
2nd place – Tom Cook – British Garden Centres
3rd place – Zoe Willis – Perrywood
Garden Care buyer/buying team of the Year
WINNER – Al Sheppard – Haskins
2nd place – Selina Hammond – Perrywood
3rd place – Terry Head – Stewarts Garden Centres
Outdoor Leisure buyer/buying team of the Year
WINNER – Nigel Gates – Gates Garden Centre
2nd place – Jay Bunker – Alton Garden Centre
3rd place – Matt Shorter – Longacres
Landscape buyer/buying team of the Year
WINNER – Dan Kirby – British Garden Centres
2nd place – Scott Proven – Klondyke
3rd place – John Birch – Baytree
Pet buyer/buying team of the Year
WINNER – The Old Railway Line
2nd place – Paul Williams – British Garden Centres
3rd place – Planters Tamworth
Retail Food & Drinks buyer/buying team of the Year
WINNER – Bents Garden & Home
2nd place – Sarah Jaques – Perrywood
3rd place – Pughs Radyr
Christmas buyer/buying team of the Year
WINNER – Rachel Churcher – Perrywood
2nd place – Louise Burks – The Gardens Group
3rd place – Lynsey Abbott – Dobbies
On-Line buyer/buying team of the Year
WINNER – Helen Hensaw – Crocus
Overall Multiple Retailer Buyer/Buying Team of the Year – (hardware, DIY, high street)
WINNER – QD Stores
2nd place – B&M
3rd place – John Lewis
Overall Multiple Garden Retailer Buying Team of the Year – 6 stores or more
WINNER – Blue Diamond
2nd place – British Garden Centres
3rd place – Squires
Overall Independent Garden Centre Buying Team of the Year – up to 5 stores
WINNER – Haskins
2nd place – Perrywood
3rd place – The Gardens Group
