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IGC Show sets attendance records

September 3, 2009  By Amanda Ryder


Sept. 3, 2009 – “Record-breaking” describes this year’s Independent Garden Center Show, which came to Chicago’s Navy Pier in August.

“Record-breaking” describes this year’s Independent Garden Center Show, which came to Chicago’s Navy Pier in August. Attendance from across the country and internationally broke all records, as garden center buyers wrote orders directly from the trade show floor.

IGC Show organizers report the third annual event registered on-site attendance of 6,043 – up 36 per cent from last year – drawing garden center buyers from 49 states and 24 countries. “This year’s tremendous showing is a true testament to the vitality of the independent sector,” says Jeff Morey, who produces The IGC Show along with his wife, Cheryl.

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The excitement in Chicago was palpable. More than 50 members of the consumer press took in the trade show and conference, as garden bloggers streamed updates directly from Navy Pier. “There are so many items, it is hard to even begin a blog post about all that one can find there,” wrote “Mr. Brown Thumb” in his “Chicago Garden” blog.

The buzz started Monday, the day before The IGC Show opened, as the Chicagoland Garden Center Tour loaded eight full buses with 450 participants for the sold-out tour of three trend-setting garden centers in and around Chicago. This year’s excursion doubled the capacity from last year and puts
the tour at the largest of its kind in all of horticulture.

At The IGC Show Conference, crowds gathered from opening day Tuesday through the closing bell Thursday. Thought-provoking keynotes, two-hour workshops, panel discussions and specialty track sessions inspired attendees with the latest trends and profit strategies driving independents’ business.


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