Trade associations PetQuip and Gardenex are reporting positive results from two ‘Meet the Buyer’ events for importers and retailers based overseas.
Last month, Gardenex and PetQuip hosted an in-person Meet the Buyer event at the London offices of Joybuy, a new European online retail business due to launch early this year from JD.com, China’s largest retailer by revenue.
Petface, Lily’s Kitchen, Ancol and Buddycare took part from the UK pet industry, with further companies from the garden sector also participating.
Gardenex and PetQuip director general Joe Denham said: “The launch of Joybuy into the UK is very exciting and we were delighted to be the first trade association to facilitate meetings with their buying team.
“The meetings are on course to have very positive outcomes and we look forward to offering more opportunities as Joybuy moves into its launch stage.”
In addition, two days of online meetings hosted by Gardenex and PetQuip saw representatives from Home to Garden, Strata Products, SoilWorx, Pet Rebellion, Buddycare, DotDotPet, Group 55 (Animology) and Scruffs hold productive discussions with Richard Goba, chief executive of Canadian distributor Footprint Products.
Footprint Products specialises in innovative products for the lawn and garden, outdoor living, electrical and hardware sectors. Headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, the company supplies customers across Canada, including garden centre retailers such as Botanix and Sheridan Nurseries along with major DIY and home improvement chains.
Goba said: “A big thank you to Gardenex who were extremely helpful in matching my new supplier needs and arranging the meetings. Overall, it was a brilliant success and we will be introducing many new UK products into Canada as a result of their work.”
Planning is underway for more Meet the Buyer events including with Dutch and Belgian marketplace operator Bol and US importer/distributor Arett in February.
Denham added: “We are putting together a regular calendar of Meet the Buyer events for the year ahead, which will give our members significant potential for business with some of the brightest and best companies in the UK and international markets.”
