FUTURESCAPE 24 | Behind the Scenes

FutureScape is so much more than 2 days in our calendar every year. It’s an event that we look forward to and plan for months in advance. It often starts in the meeting room in front of a whiteboard and preparing for this years’ show was no different. Following the show in 2023, we quickly made the decision to up our game and take a bigger stand. That was the easy bit, what followed was not! 

There are so many considerations when it comes to planning your presence at a trade show and getting the perfect balance is nigh on impossible.

We started by reflecting on what worked, and more importantly what didn’t, at the last show. The openness of the stand was, thankfully, positively received by everyone, as it took hours to design and build, so we wanted to make sure that was incorporated moving forward. However, we knew we needed to add something and it was at this point that we acknowledged the lack of products and systems. This was noticed last year by both ourselves and visitors. Problem, meet solution. Well, almost! Pre-2023, our stands were very product-heavy so we just needed to find the right balance. 

Fortunately, our in-house product development team had been working on a new range and after some gentle persuasion the decision was made to launch at FutureScape 24. This new product range was our beautiful Corten Water Feature Kits. With water features covered, we were faced with the difficulty of how to display our various lighting systems. Irrigation has always been hard to show off so we decided not to stress over how to make it look attractive. After all, irrigation is often designed not to be seen. Lighting, on the other hand, is often chosen for their aesthetic appearance so we had to put more thought into that. We chose to incorporate the lighting amongst seasonal planting, nestled within two corten planters to complement the water features and to help visualise what the fittings can look like in-situ. The light fittings displayed were carefully chosen to showcase the variety of our extensive range and included a mix of finishes, brands, styles and applications. 

Anyway, that’s enough of a pre-show debrief. On to the show.

After a successful build, we were raring to go and couldn’t wait to show off the stand once the doors opened. 

Day 1 went so well; the team was incredible and the atmosphere was electric. In the afternoon, Sam was part of a panel in the lighting theatre that discussed the importance of collaboration between suppliers, designers, and contractors. We are always thrilled to be involved with talks and discussions as it keeps us up to date with what the industry needs and how we can help. After a quick debrief over dinner and a few beers, it was time for some well-earned shut eye ready for another early start. 

Day 2 was another great success. The team were rushed off their feet all day meeting new customers and catching up with existing customers. Sam once again took to the stage of the lighting theatre, this time with Paul by his side, with a presentation focussed on how to take garden lighting to the next level. The audience was packed, leaving many having to stand around the theatre to hear from the experts. Following the talk, the stand had a surge of visitors which gave us an extra boost and the best finish to an already brilliant show.

In addition to our own, our products were featured on other stands and we proudly sponsored the “Garden of the Future” with a full in-lite lighting system and a square corten water feature, which was sadly taken down to make room for a giant, copper, pumpkin chair!

FutureScape 24 also saw the launch of Hyphae Learning, the landscaping industry's first all-in-one digital knowledge hub, who we are very proud and excited to be collaborating with. If you’d like to learn more about Hyphae Learning, check out this video >>

Overall, FutureScape 24 was a fantastic show, perhaps the best one yet, and it was great to see so many existing customers and meet new ones. We couldn’t have been happier with how everyone interacted with our stand and the team. We are so excited to announce that we will be back next year, although we’re not 100% sure what our stand will look like! If you have any comments, suggestions or feedback please do let us know.

Check out our full highlights here >>

Watch post show debrief with Sam, Paul and I >>