New hardware show to join Garden Expo/Florist Expo

Paul Day, show manager for Landscape Ontario, and Rob Cappiello, industry vice president for Reed Exhibitions, recently announced the launch of a new hardware/outdoor living trade show that will run concurrently with Garden Expo/Florist Expo on October 17-18, 2006.

Garden Expo/Florist Expo is Landscape Ontario’s fall buying show for the retail garden and floral industries. The new show, the National Hardware Show Canada, will focus on the home improvement market with small tools, hardware and outdoor living furniture.

“We are excited about the new partnership. We are closer to one-stop shopping for the lawn and garden and floral sectors now,” said Day and Cappiello.

“There will be significantly more choice for garden center and retail buyers. Buyers will be able to move freely between the two shows and purchase a wider range of goods to tempt their customers,” added Day.

The three shows will take place at the same time and require 200,000 square feet of floor space, double the floor space currently used by Garden Expo/Florist Expo. For the 2006 show, there will be approximately 1,000 exhibitors.
Since its inception six years ago, Garden Expo/Florist Expo has quadrupled in size, establishing itself as the place to buy for the lawn and garden and floral industries. The shows won an award from the prestigious Trade Show Week magazine as one of the 50 fastest growing shows in North America.

The shows will remain in the October time slot to suit the buying cycles and seasonal nature of the lawn and garden industry. Garden Expo/Florist Expo and the Canadian Hardware Show 2006 will take place on October 17-18 at the Toronto Congress Centre.

Landscape Ontario will continue to produce Garden Expo and its other award-winning show, Congress, which incorporates Fencecraft, a show produced by the Canadian Fence Industry Association. Landscape Ontario also produces Florist Expo on behalf of Flowers Canada (Ontario), another trade association. The National Hardware Show Canada will be produced by Reed Exhibitions, one of the largest trade show producers in the world.

“This partnership is good for everyone. Ultimately, Canadian retailers and the end consumer will benefit from the expanded choice of product,” said Day.

For more information contact Paul Day at the LO office, 905-875-1805, ext. 339.