The 2017 IGC show, held August 15-17 at the Navy Pier in Chicago, celebrated 11 years this year as one of the only events dedicated exclusively to independent garden centers. The New Vendor Zone returned this year, along with the addition of a New Product Zone, which was a popular attraction with attendees. Almost every type of retail garden product imaginable filled the booths on the tradeshow floor, from pots and containers to garden tools, patio furniture, and decorative items. After walking the floor, seven themes stood out at the show that garden centers can use for inspiration to make up displays that sell products with consumer appeal.
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1. Succulents
It was rare to see a booth at the show that didn’t feature succulents in some way. These low-maintenance plants are one of the hottest consumer items out there right now, and they’re the perfect fit for containers of all types, including vertical gardens and frames. Plus, they fit right in with almost any gardening theme.
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2. Terrariums
It was hard to miss all of the different types of terrariums at the IGC show, from bubble-type, themed terrariums for kids to modernistic, understated terrariums for the home. There were also several do-it-yourself kits, with everything needed to put together your own bit of green space under glass.
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3. Rustic Décor
Rustic containers dominated the container choices displayed at the show. Tin containers dressed up with rust, burlap liners, decorative paint, and stenciling played a prominent role in several displays. This went right along with the trend back toward industrial décor. Products made with natural materials such as straw, wood, cement, stone, and bamboo were also widespread items.
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4. Muted Tones
While rustic was in, so was modernistic, clean lines and muted color tones. Paint-dip containers in pastel tones seem to be growing in popularity, especially when combined with terra-cotta pots. Raw white as a color for containers and hanging baskets is also coming back into favor.
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5. Small-Space Gardening
This has been a trend for a while now, but vendors displayed more products than ever adapted toward gardening in containers or on the deck. There were hanging tool sets, tabletop planters, and several options for vertical gardens, to name a few of the products now available.
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6. Edibles
Grow-your-own and eat-local trends influenced some of the display items at the IGC show, and they weren’t limited to plants. Floral elixirs and flower and fruit cocktails caught some attention, as well as raised planters and herb garden containers that hang over the deck railing. There was also a wide range of containers that offered easy, mess-free watering options.
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7. Kids Gardening
It was exciting to see so many products available to get kids interested in gardening such as colorful gardening tool kits, do-it-yourself terrariums, easy-to-plant veggie pops, pollinator houses, hand-held hummingbird feeders, birdhouses, Mr. Potato Heads, and more.