18 products discovered at the 2017 IGC Show

IGC Show Chicago kicked off its 2017 event at Chicago’s Navy Pier on Aug. 15, as it has for more than a decade. After the show, Garden Center magazine shared highlights from keynotes and educational sessions, which you can read here. In addition to learning and networking opportunities, about 500 exhibitors shared their new products and ideas on the show floor. The New Vendor Zone was back this year, as well, and it featured 40 companies new to the show. We observed attendees visiting booths and scanned the aisles, and here are the products that caught our attention and received second glances from visitors during the trade show:

Grass Flip Flops – You don’t see artificial grass lining the foot bed of a flip flop every day, and this product garnered a lot of attention from attendees at the show. Owner Vickie Canepa said her son came up with the idea for a school project. The packaging for the sandals can be customized and carry any business name and information.

Tillandsia holders – The company Root Cup showcased a product that inspired its name, a planter you can hold in your palm that is fast draining, self-watering and makes it easy for consumers to propagate plants from cuttings. (They also have a larger version.) Another product the company featured was a tillandsia holder that is bendable, can be attached using magnets, Velcro or an adhesive and showcases air plants. One attendee noted that she liked how the interesting structure of the airplant was the focus, not the planter itself.

Leaf lamps – The ethereal lighting products from Eangee made from real cocoa, banyan, jackfruit and alibangbang leaves are made for outdoor as well as indoor environments. The outdoor lamps are equipped with LED lights.

Container collaboration – Georgetown Home & Garden showcased “Blobhouse,” a series of whimsical dog and cat figurines and planters with names like Bongo, Giblet, Prissy and T-Bone, created in collaboration with artist Gesine Krätzner. We overheard garden centers discussing what they’d like to order from the line, and how they are perfect vessels for succulents and airplants. 

Pilea peperomioides -  Garden Center contributor Leslie F. Halleck noted in a recent column how difficult it has been for her to acquire one of these plants, which are incredibly popular in Europe and Australia, but tough to find in the U.S. One garden center owner gave us a tip that they spotted one – and we found it in the Optimara booth. The price tag seems steep – the wholesale price is what some houseplants of its size retail for – but Pilea peperomioides is not your typical houseplant. One Etsy seller was offering her 3-month old plant she propagated from a cutting with 16 leaves for $100. Many other smaller varieties were going for between $50 and $60.

Gardener's soap – SallyeAnder, which produces handmade hypoallergenic soaps, made of olive oil, soy and true essential oils, displayed one of its best-sellers at the IGC Show called Gardener's Hands. The bar is made from scraps of other soaps plus cornmeal, and can remove stains from everything from grass to grease to printer ink.

Smart planters – Crescent Garden showcased a variety of container designs equipped with its TruDrop self-watering system, including the tall, narrow Cup Planter. The TruDrop System has an indicator letting gardeners know when it's time to water, and a protected water reservoir that provides plants with the water they need more efficiently than hand-watering. The reservoir also provides the plant with water and nutrients from the root up, helping produce healthier plants and prevent disease and pest issues. 

Spicy seeds – Sandia Seed Company sells some 100 seed varieties, but the Albuquerque-based business specializes in hot and mild peppers. The edible is popular among gardeners, and Sandia tries to capture these consumers with displays that highlight its “Peppers of the World” packets.

Water Blossom – Water Blossom, a decorative root watering system, was also one of the featured exhibitors in the New Vendor Zone, and they demonstrated how the aesthetically pleasing product helps deliver water to roots faster than traditional watering.

Pretty pots – DaVinci, a division of Airlite Plastics, showcased 20 designs of its in-mold labeling plastic pots, which included Christmas Dogs, Bamboo and Woven Twine graphics. Photos of the wall displaying the containers were spotted on social media feeds, and they were honored with a Retailer's Choice Award at Cultivate'17.

Pearl’s Premium – The company that promotes its lawn seed as low maintenance, drought tolerant and weed resistant is not new to the industry, but it was Pearl’s Premium’s first time at IGC Show. The grass has deeper roots than most lawn grass on the market, providing better coverage and water retention than other varieties, according to the company.

Raised garden bonanza – Dozens of raised garden and bed manufacturers exhibited at IGC Show this year, selling a variety of products, from embellishments for the corners of wood-framed raised beds to waist-high gardens that feature protective covers and wheels. Many of the companies were in the New Vendor Zone. Here are a few we found:
•    vegepod presented its Vegetable Garden Kits that are self-watering, have protective canopies, come in three sizes and can be placed either on the ground or on a variety of stands and trolleys.
•    Altifarm is a three- or four-tiered system of growing containers developed specifically for small spaces that includes a self-watering system that can handle routine watering for up to a week. Grow lights and greenhouse packs are also available as add-on products.
•    Uneak Gardens allows consumers to create raised beds, sandboxes or landscape edges using steel brackets. Gardeners can use their own wood frames or the wood-like, American-made material that Uneak Gardens offers made of plastic and rice husks, which prevents swelling and moisture issues that occur with most raised beds.
•    Gardinnovations showcased its product GardenFrame, accessories for the corners of raised beds that help secure the wood pieces and also improve the aesthetics of these popular growing containers. The designs, Abbey or Belvedere, come in organic black or garden steel and allow consumers to customize the design of their garden beds.
•    City Farmer USA produces an array of raised planters designed to have optimal ventilation and water retention. There are several size options for balconies, patios, rooftops or backyards and are customized for regular or climbing vegetables.
•    Delta Park also offers raised garden bed assembly kits, with panels made out of galvanized steel, and small consumer greenhouses. Gardeners can create hexagon or triangle-shaped beds as well with the kits.

Altifarm

City Farmer USA

Uneak Gardens

vegepod

Fresh name, same product – About a year ago, SBM Développement finalized its acquisition of the consumer segment of Bayer’s Environmental Science business unit, which includes Bayer Advanced. Since that time, SBM Life Science, the division that encompasses what was known as Bayer Advanced, has been working on rebranding the line of “Blue Bottle” products, which have the same formulations. After months of consumer and brand research, they introduced attendees the new name, Bio Advanced, at the IGC Show. The logo looks very similar to Bayer Advanced, and even has the same red shield. They wanted consumers to recognize the brand even though it has a new name. Many garden centers can relate to the process Bayer went through, as many have refreshed their name and logos as they try to maintain their history while marketing effectively to modern consumers. In addition to the new name Bio Advanced introduced new products, including All-In-One Weed & Feed, which kills broadleaf lawn weeks like dandelion, clover and crabgrass while feeding the lawn.

Top show floor photo: Courtesy of IGC Show / All others: Michelle Simakis