Garden Connect Wins Retail Award for Innovation

Garden Connect has won the prestigious Retail Award for Most Innovative Business in the Dutch garden industry at the Tuinzaken Retail Experience, last Wednesday in Boskoop. On behalf of the jury Tjeerd Posthumus and Brenda Horstra handed over the Award to Garden Connect director Edwin Meijer. The Retail Award for Innovation was introduced in 2016. 

On behalf of the jury Brenda Horstra explained why the Award was granted to Garden Connect: “This company has been distinctive because of the invention of smart solutions in regards to websites, webshops and loyalty cards. The enthusiasm and drive of this team has been so encouraging that many, many Garden Centre’s decided to shift their online marketing to Garden Connect.”

Garden Connect currently provide online marketing services to almost 250 Garden Centre’s in the Netherlands, Belgium, UK and Ireland. Edwin Meijer attended the gala dinner and award night on behalf of the company and was surprised by the award. TV presenter Jurgen Smit ask for a first response on the stage but only a few words were spoken by him: “Many thanks!”. After the Award, Certificate and impressive bouquet of flowers was handed over a short comment was made: “It’s great to win this award as the first company ever, but it’s also typical. Garden Centre’s are behind in regards to online retailing so there are steps to take. We hope to win this award multiple times, but would welcome more initiation from the industry as well.”

After the official Award ceremony and dinner, the gala night continued with music to celebrate the award and the start of the new season. On behalf of the HTA, Martin Simmons led a delegation of 16 Garden Centre’s to the Retail Experience in Boskoop. 

Photo taken by Trevor Pfeiffer of Garden Trade News.