For more green in the cities
The next storm or another hot summer can't be stopped, but we can ensure that our cities are better prepared for them in future. Many organisations and initiatives are currently campaigning for this.
Interview with Thomas Holzportz
Thomas Holzportz regularly publishes articles on barbecuing in his blog called baconzumsteak.de. We spoke to him about the latest developments on the BBQ scene and about sustainable meat consumption.
“One has to earn respect and recognition”
Martina Mensing-Meckelburg has been President of the German Garden Centre Association (Verbands Deutscher Garten-Center – VDG) for four years. We spoke to her about her tasks.
Prolonged drought: Focus on irrigation
After the drought summer last year, it has also been extraordinarily dry in many regions this spring. Hence, devices and automatic systems for irrigating the garden are particularly coming under focus in 2020.
Green office: Added value with plants
Plants improve the work climate. This recognition is not new, but it is one that is gaining in topicality again.
Without the garden there would be no art
Art connoisseur Roland Doschka is convinced that nature and gardens have influenced artists throughout the ages. He, on the other hand, allowed himself to be inspired by the work of famous painters when creating his garden.
"Laypersons have a better command of the social channels than companies"
The intention behind Silvia Appel's various social media channels is to enthuse people for living with plants. The 33-year-old woman from Würzburg/Germany has been active on the web under the name "Garten Fräulein" (Garden Miss) for six years already.
Christmas time: You can't satisfy every single customer
Especially during the pre-Christmas season a good POS design and appealing online marketing is very important. We discussed the topic with Oliver Mathys.
The largest collection of roses in the world
The small city of Sangerhausen is located on the mountain slopes of Südharz, Germany. Every summer a sea of millions of blossoms await the visitors there, because this is where the largest collection of roses in the world is at home.
Huge treasure trove for innovative ideas
On his tours around spoga+gafa 2019, Oliver Mathys was once again able to discover new ideas for the design of the POS. The marketing and sales consultant was also responsible for the realisation of the POS Green Solution Islands this year.
spoga+gafa 2019: Trends for outdoor furniture
From 1 to 3 September, the latest trends and topics for garden furniture and decoration were on show at spoga+gafa. An overview of new products for the upcoming outdoor season.
Successful spoga+gafa 2019
After three successful days, spoga+gafa 2019 came to a close on 3 September after recording an extremely positive result and an increased number of visitors. A good 40,000 trade visitors underlined the international significance of the trade fair.
New market research study on city gardening
The new “City Gardening” market research study was presented on the second day of the spoga+gafa garden trade fair. The study surveyed more than 1,000 city gardeners and gathered relevant market data on the topic.
3 questions for: Olaf Elderenbosch (managing director elho)
The declared goal of elho is for people to surround themselves with as much greenery as possible. For 55 years now, the Dutch family business has been passionately dedicated to the production of flower pots.
Trendshow Outdoor Furniture & Decoration
As the largest garden trade fair in the world, spoga+gafa presents the latest developments in outdoor design. One of the highlights of this year's fair is the Trendshow Outdoor Furniture & Decoration.
An overview: The event programme of spoga+gafa 2019
From 1 to 3 September the world's largest garden fair will present the current trends and theme worlds of the green industry in Cologne. In addition, once again this year a comprehensive event programme is being offered. Here a few of the highlights:
3 questions for: Sonja Koschani (WD-40 Company)
The blue and yellow can with a red cap is well-known all over the world: The products of the WD-40 Company are sold in over 188 countries. The company is of course on board again at this year's garden fair, spoga+gafa.
Highlights of spoga+gafa: Interview with Stefan Lohrberg
As the largest garden trade fair in the world, spoga+gafa will be presenting all the new products for outdoor living from 1 to 3 September. We talked to Stefan Lohrberg, Director of spoga+gafa, about the trade fair highlights and current developments in the industry.
Simply get inspired ...
"Wellness in Nature”, “Kids Garden”, “Flower Power”, “My Tiny Coffee Shop” and “City Gardening” – these are the themes of the POS Green Solution Islands at this year's spoga+gafa. Have a look and get inspired!
Practical Garden Day at spoga+gafa
spoga+gafa 2019 is presenting a special offer for landscape gardeners and the executing companies: The Practical Garden Day on 2 September addresses the theme planning and building for 50+.
IVG Power Place Akku & Power Place City Gardening
On the theme islands of spoga+gafa 2019 in hall 6, everything revolves around innovative and smart technologies for the garden, as well as new products for the patio and balcony. In addition to product presentations, there are also informative lectures.
Trendshow at spoga+gafa: Interview with Susanne Brandherm
Together with her office brandherm + krumrey Susanne Brandherm is the curator of this year's Trendshow at spoga+gafa. We talked to her about basic developments in outdoor design and her expectations for future trends.
3 questions for: Nicole Espey (BSI)
Nicole Espey has been Executive Director of the German Association of the Sporting Goods Industry (Bundesverband der Deutschen Sportartikel-Industrie – BSI) since 2014. The association is patron of spoga+gafa and spoga horse in Cologne.
Register now: Event highlights at spoga+gafa 2019
This year, too, an exciting event programme will be offered at and around the international garden trade fair in Cologne. Prior registration is required for some events. Here is an overview with direct links to registration.
Exciting and topical: Lectures and talks in the Garden Café Forum
spoga+gafa is also being accompanied by a diversified supporting programme in 2019. In the Garden Café Forum, exciting lectures and discussion rounds on current themes and issues of the green industry await the trade fair visitors.
There is great potential in pop-up stores
In May 2019, a hagebau DIY shop opened up a pop-up store in the city centre of Mülheim in Germany and presented a selected assortment of DIY products for a period of 90 days. The Executive Director, Timo Buhren, is presenting the project at this year's BHB GardenSummit.
Growing potential: new products for the contract business
As the largest garden fair in the world, the upcoming spoga+gafa will be showcasing a wide range of outdoor furniture and accessories - including numerous new products for the contract business.
“Eating has become one of the most important distinguishing features”
In October BEEF! is celebrating its 10th anniversary. The first food and lifestyle magazine for men was developed by Jan Spielhagen in 2009. He is still the Chief Editor of the successful publication today.
New survey on city gardening
Which special needs do big city dwellers have when gardening in urban spaces? Together the IFH Cologne, spoga+gafa is addressing this issue. We spoke to Jens-Peter Gödde from IFH about the new survey, "City Gardening".
City Gardening: furniture and accessories
In summer, city residents are drawn back outdoors. Every tiny outdoor space is used for relaxing in the open air. Exhibitors of spoga+gafa are offering new furniture and accessories for City Gardening.
SizzleBrothers – "Feuer und Flamme am Grill"
The BBQ/grill blog by the SizzleBrothers is online since 2015. Since then, the three friends from Hanover, Germany have been sharing new grilling recipes, instructions and tests with their ever-growing fan community every week.
City Gardening: The focus is on fun
A few years ago only a few people planted flowers and plants on tree slices or wasteland in urban districts. Today, more and more city dwellers are turning their immediate living environments into green spaces.
City Gardening: Barbeque on the balcony
Summertime is barbecue time - even on the balcony or the roof terrace. Exhibitors of spoga+gafa show how the best of the barbecue can be made in the city.
Green solutions: recycling in outdoor design
Current discussions revolve around the avoidance of plastic or closed material cycles. Exhibitors of spoga+gafa have been focusing on recycling and sustainable production processes for some time.
The entire world of the garden: A look at the spoga+gafa 2019
The largest garden fair in the world scores this year not only with a unique exhibition offer, but also with a tremendous depth. The emphasis is being placed on City Gardening.
City gardening isn’t just a topic for “environmentalists” anymore
Konni van Delft has been working as a freelance visual merchandiser since 1986. She advises garden centres and DIY stores throughout Europe. We spoke with her about the current trends in POS design.
Groundbreaking platform: The “Trendshow Outdoor Furniture & Decoration”
Global megatrends significantly shape our lives and living. The influence of topics such as urbanization or sustainability on the latest outdoor design is demonstrated by the "Trendshow Outdoor Furniture & Decoration" at the upcoming spoga+gafa.
Special experience: BBQ and Concept stores
With the increasing popularity of BBQ, the demands of consumers have also increased. Therefore, special store concepts are countering the growing online trade with an extraordinary shopping experience.
City Gardening: New focus of spoga+gafa
The increased urbanisation is one of the global mega trends of our era: More and more people are moving to the city. Hence, spoga+gafa is setting a new main focus with "City Gardening".
Are there alternatives to peat?
Substrate manufacturers, environmentalists and consumers have been dealing with the issue of peat for years. There is a great deal of commitment to find sustainable alternatives for gardening.
In the garden with: Erwin Meier-Honegger (Ernst Meier AG)
Erwin Meier-Honegger and his sister manage the Swiss family business Ernst Meier AG with one of the most innovative garden centres in Europe.
Strengthening and protecting box trees
The box tree (buxus) is extremely popular among garden owners. However, at the moment it has developed into a problem case in many places.
Outdoor Kitchen: Gas grills are particularly popular
The assortment of grill products was one of the growth drivers of the green industry once again in 2018. The summer with its record temperatures also played a significant role here.
"DIY stores must continue to hone their stationary profile"
Since December 2018, the ‘Handelsverband Heimwerken, Bauen und Garten – BHB’ has a new executive spokesman: Dr. Ralf Bartsch.
How digital is the green industry?
Hardly any other development in recent years has confronted companies with such major challenges as digitalisation. The technical progress in this area is often so fast that many have a hard time keeping up.
“One should always have a plan B for the summer”
Oliver Mathys is an acknowledged market expert and networker of the green industry. He develops sales concepts for garden centres and DIY stores and supports them with the implementation thereof throughout the whole of Europe. We talked to him about his ideas for POS design in the summer and about what garden centres should definitely pay attention to during these months.
In the garden with: Volker Püschel
Volker Püschel won the “Garden of the Year 2019” competition with a house garden designed by him. We talked with the landscape architect about his award-winning project, enchanted ruins as a design element and today’s demands on garden planning.
3 questions for: Jürg Zwahlen (Birchmeier Sprühtechnik AG)
The extensive product assortment of Birchmeier AG extends from small hand spray devices to spray systems for carrying on the back or on carts and is used worldwide in the house or garden, in agriculture, in the most varied trades and in industry.
Natural air conditioning: plants on facades and on roofs
The cities are growing all over the world. This not only increases the population, but also the density of the development. Greened façades and roofs can help to improve the climate and air quality in urban areas. Current projects therefore allow plants to grow on and on houses.
In the garden with: Armin Rehberg (Landgard eG)
Armin Rehberg has been the CEO of Landgard, Germany’s largest marketing producer cooperative for flowers and plants, fruit and vegetables, since mid-2013.
“The growth rate of the cordless garden appliances is over 50 percent”
From pruning shears to chainsaws, through to robotic lawnmowers or ride-on mowers – the specialised department “Garden and Lawn Care Appliances” of the Industrieverband Garten (IVG) e.V. (Industry Garden Association) unites all of the manufacturers of products that are needed for the care of a beautiful garden.
Durable quality: weatherproof materials for outdoor furniture
Last summer has shown what effects climate change can have. Manufacturers of outdoor furniture are adapting to such climatic changes with particularly durable materials.
In the garden with: John W. Herbert (European Retail Association)
John. W. Herbert, general secretary of the European Retail Association (EDRA), is the “elder statesman” in the DIY landscape. For 35 years he has been in charge of leading positions in German and international DIY companies as well as in national and international DIY associations.
Indoor Farming: herb gardens in the kitchen
Especially in winter, we long for something green in our own four walls. So why not plant a herb garden in the kitchen? “Indoor Farming” is the urban trend towards self-sufficiency in herbs and vegetables.
Garden of the Year 2019
From gardens with ruins, to grass gardens with a pool, through to the small city oasis with a circular lawn – the gardens of the year voted at Schloss Dyck in Rhineland on 8 February show the wide spectrum of current garden design and give an insight into present trends.
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