June 9, 2011 – Following a decade of success, Expo is launching a host of initiatives,
from a new venue to spotlighted merchandise, intended to bring vendors
and buyers closer together on October 19 and 20, 2011 in the North
Building of the Toronto Congress Centre in Toronto, Canada.
June 9, 2011 – Following a decade of success, Expo is launching a host
of initiatives, from a new venue to spotlighted merchandise, intended to
bring vendors and buyers closer together on Oct. 19 and 20, 2011 in
the North Building of the Toronto Congress Centre in Toronto, Canada.
Vendors are encouraged to create spectacular merchandise displays that
will interest, inform and entice visitors. Promotional tools –
advertising, sponsorships and online invitations – are available to
vendors to help them invite their customers and potential customers to
the show. Engagement opportunities to reinforce existing customer
relations; to start new relationships and stimulate the buying process
between suppliers and buyers will be plentiful.
Overview:
Expo 2011 moves to the Toronto Congress Centre’s state-of-the-art North
Building. The new venue boasts twelve loading docks, spacious,
sound-proofed meeting rooms that transform to accommodate meetings of
any size and a richly appointed lobby to shelter delegates during the
registration process.
More than 3,000 retail horticultural professionals and mass merchants
participate in Expo. Buyer-vendor connections will form as a result of
better dates and show hours. The show will move to Wednesday and
Thursday, and open at 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Oct. 19th and to 4 p.m. on
Oct. 20th.
Enhanced lighting throughout the show will create a unique ambiance. By
putting the spotlight on products, the show hopes to draw visitors into
booths and stimulate buying.
"With the focus on the flowers, plants and products offered by
exhibitors at Expo, instead of carpet and walls, visitors will
experience a new face-to-face interaction with suppliers to the floral
and garden trades. At Expo, the focus is on what matters: the visitor
and the product," notes Expo’s artistic director Albert Graves,
president of Bloemen Décor.
A popular event, the Garden Centre Symposium, traditionally held the
Monday prior to the show, is being revamped to become the opening
morning breakfast event for Expo 2011 on Wednesday, Oct. 19th starting
at 7:30 a.m. Hosted by Landscape Ontario’s Garden Centre sector group,
the event will feature a keynote address by Karl Stensson, president of
Sheridan Nurseries, entitled ‘Taking a Good Garden Centre and Making it
GREAT!’ Join retail expert Karl Stensson as he walks you through his
journey at garden centre locations from around the globe.
The ticket price includes breakfast, admission to Expo 2011 and the
Awards of Excellence Ceremony. Denis Flanagan, Landscape Ontario’s
public relations director will present the awards to the winners in the
garden centre and grower categories. Retailers will enjoy the cost
savings – ticket prices start at $55 for Landscape Ontario members and
$75 for non-members who purchase by Oct. 7th. After Oct. 7th prices will
increase. The affordable pricing ensures that owners and their entire
retail team can learn how to create great retail environments.
The best things we’ve learned were in kindergarten, including an
afternoon break for cookies. Landscape Ontario’s Interior Plantscape
sector group offers a new event – ‘Coffee and Cookies’ on Wednesday,
Oct. 19th from 1 to 3 p.m. Besides the delicious treats, delegates will
be enthralled with food for thought as acclaimed horticulturists Dr.
Casey Sclar and Lorrie Baird, of Longwood Gardens, present ‘Living Walls
at Longwood Gardens.’
Growing your business is top of mind with everyone. On the morning of
Thursday, Oct. 20th at 8 a.m., delegates are invited to attend an
interactive presentation that will cover closing sales, overcoming
objections and how to build value instead of price chopping. The 3rd
annual Landscape Designers Breakfast and Networking Event will feature
Rory Sheehan, of Positive Strategies Inc, as he shares tactics s for
achieving results in ‘Close More Business & Have Happy Clients’.
To take advantage of cost savings for both the Wednesday Coffee Break
and Thursday Breakfast Event plan to purchase tickets by Oct. 7th.
Prices for Landscape Ontario members start at $50, non-members at $70.
Florists and business owners are invited to join a technology seminar entitled ‘Are you Hooked-Up?’ This session is
not for the faint of heart. This is where Ryan Freeman, a fifth
generation florist with Martin’s and president of Strider Search
Marketing, will lead you through the practicalities of how to maximize
website content, e-marketing and how to use Twitter and Facebook to
build your business, make connections and enhance sales. Entry for this
seminar is included with trade show admission. The session will take
place on Wednesday Oct. 19th at 4:00 pm at the Main Stage.
Industry professionals in the garden, floral and outdoor living sectors
will benefit from the educational programming and the 250 plus vendors
spotlighting the latest products and services.
Show highlights include:
· New venue – North Building, Toronto Congress Centre
· New show dates and hours:
Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2011 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 20, 2011 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
· 250 plus vendors including live good growers
· New Product Showcase featuring hundreds of innovative products and recent plant introductions
· Power Breakfasts and Breaks to boost retail professionalism and connect you to powerful keynote speakers
– ‘Taking a Good Garden and Making it GREAT’ presented by Karl
Stensson, Sheridan Nurseries and hosted by the Garden Centre sector
group on Wednesday, Oct. 19th at 8 a.m.
– ‘Living Walls at Longwood Gardens’ presented by Dr Casey Sclar and
Lorrie Baird, Longwood Gardens on Wednesday, Oct. 19th at 1 p.m.
Landscape Ontario’s Interior Plantscape sector group will host the
event.
– ‘Are You Hooked-Up? A technology seminar presented by Ryan Freeman, Strider Search Marketing on
Wednesday Oct. 19th at 4 p.m.
– ‘Close More Business and Have Happy Customers’ hosted by the
Landscape Designers sector group and presented by Rory Sheehan, Positive
Strategies Inc. will start at 8 a.m.
– Live demonstrations: ‘Creating Excitement with Your Window Displays’.
Featured retail designers will recreate each of the four seasons,
building maximum impact for customers. Presented by Suzy Caiger of
Ada’s Flowers, the demonstrations will take place on Wednesday Oct. 19th
at 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., and again on Thursday Oct. 20 at 11:30
a.m.
– Recognition ceremonies of outstanding achievements will take place during EXPO
– Landscape Ontario’s Awards of Excellence Ceremony – Oct. 19th – 8 a.m.
– Canadian Academy of Floral Art’s (CAFA) Induction Ceremony – Oct. 19th, 6:30 p.m.
– Communities in Bloom – Ontario’s Luncheon and Provincial Awards – Oct. 20th – 1 p.m.
The Annual Garden Party on Wednesday, Oct. 19th runs from 6:00 p.m.
until 8:00 p.m. at the Main Stage. The event is the ideal environment to
strengthen business relationships and make connections in a
face-to-face social setting.
For more information, visit www.loexpo.ca.
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