The IGC Show is so much more than new products from all over the world - and yes, there are many thousands of those. It is a source of inspiration for legions of garden center professionals who take their annual summer pilgrimage to Chicago very seriously. As the world’s largest educational resource for garden centers, with a full 53 hours of the highest-quality education, IGC 2012 rolls out a roster of new speakers, new tracks and new sessions at IGC University. For six years running now, IGC is the best place to learn from our industry’s thought-leaders, trend-setters and rising stars.

IGC’s 210,000 square feet of vendor exhibits stretch far out toward the stunning blue waters of Lake Michigan at Navy Pier, where more than 1,000 exhibitors meet face-to-face with thousands of IGC buyers – just like you – from all over the country and around the world. The flower-filled streets framing downtown Chicago’s stores, restaurants, attractions and sights, plus spectacular Navy Pier, lakeside Chicago’s No. 1 destination (and proud home to the IGC Show, its largest annual event), add to the excitement.

There are so many things to see and do at IGC that won't cost you a dime. On top of the free trade show, the IGC Classic Rock Series, featuring Dennis DeYoung, founder of the legendary rock band STYX, will get you grooving. World class keynotes like Celebrity Chef Rick Bayless, Joe 'Gardener' Lamp'l from DIY Network and PBS television, Retail Visionary and Author Joseph Pine and IGC Dynamo Corey Bordine will change the way you look at your business. Networking with thousands of your fellow garden center owners, managers and buyers from around the country who share the same challenges and opportunities you do – yet another free benefit.

Perhaps our attendees sum up the IGC Show best: “Fabulous” ¹,  “Incredible” ²,  “Inspiring” ³,  “Wonderful” ⁴,  “Terrific” ⁵,   “Beautiful” ⁶,  “World-Class” ⁷,  “Fantastic” ⁸,  “Lovely” ⁹,  “Great” ¹⁰,  “Amazing” ¹¹,  “Excellent” ¹²,  “Awesome” ¹³,  Wendy Farrell, owner of Farrell’s Lawn and Garden, simply said “Wow!”

Find new products.  Fire your creativity.  Feel the quickening pulse of our vibrant industry.  Come experience the magic of your chosen profession all over again.  You owe it to yourself and your business to attend The IGC Show – the world’s largest trade show and conference for independent garden centers – this August in stunningly beautiful (and great fun!) downtown Chicago.

[1] Ken Long, President, L.A. Reynolds Garden Showcase, Winston-Salem, NC
[2] Jim Lavigne, General Manager, Edgewater Greenhouse, Portage, WI
[3] Scott Endres, Co-Owner, Tangletown Gardens LLC, Minneapolis, MN
[4] Becca Algozzino, Tagawa Gardens, Centennial, CO
[5] Jim Dezell, Owner, Flamingo Road Nursery, Davie, FL
[6] Lynda Sarb, Asst. Manager, Sid's Home, Bolingbrook, IL
[7] Terri Smith, Owner, Smith’s Ares, Niantic, CT
[8] Pam Donzanelli, VP, Gale’s Garden Center, OH
[9] Alison Caldwell, Buyer, Hicks Nurseries, Westbury, NY
[10] Donna Dent, Retail Manager, The Garden Center, San Antonio, TX
[11] Sandi Hillermann McDonald, CEO, Hillermann Nursery & Florist, Washington, MO
[12] Julia Snell, Owner, Wild Oasis LLC, Eutawville, SC
[13] Patricia Cartwright, Owner, The Greenhouse Nursery, Nassau, Bahamas 

 

IGC Retailer Buzz!

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We love IGC!  Great quality and variety of vendors.  We always find lots of exciting items for our store.  Well worth the trip!" – Michelle Van Liew Smith, Vice President, Van Liew's Home & Garden Kansas City, MO             “IGC is the best trade show of all the ones we do every year - a great return for our investment and a super location to mix business and pleasure.” – Debbie Remblence, VP Sales, David Austin Roses, Tyler, TX

“We go to one show a year now – it's IGC. We used to go to about three or four shows, now we just come here because IGC has everything.” – John Loyet, President, Greenscape Gardens & Gifts, Manchester, MO             "IGC has a tremendous diversity of products. The vendors here are outside the box of what you would see at the traditional distributor shows." – Clark Anderson, Owner, Anderson’s Home & Garden Showplace, Newport News, VA

"It's always an August treat to head out to Chicago for the IGC show. Traveling on a bus tour and participating in seminars inspire me to bring back great ideas to our business to make immediate and long term improvements. It's always healthy to get away from what we do for a few days, soak up some ideas and head back with a fresh perspective."   – Emily L. Harvey, Manager, Harvey's Farm, Westborough, MA             “If you are an owner of a garden center and can only attend one trade show, the IGC show is the one. Great town, great show, great people!.” – David Miller, President, Miller Plant Farm, York, PA

“IGC is an investment that is worth every penny. My husband and I count on it every year to recharge our batteries and get us excited about new products and ideas. The business contacts and networking we do with other IGC's is also very valuable in this box store era."   – Jessica Robertson, Backbone Valley Nursery, Owner, Marble Falls, TX             "IGC is extremely valuable to our businesses.  We have found many NEW products which have been best sellers and NEW vendors who continue to provide us with quality products/plants.  We took our two managers with us this year for the first time and plan on taking other key employees next year.  The show and educational opportunities created an excitement that the managers have brought back and spread to other employees.  IGC is a MUST ATTEND show for us." – Lisa/Jim Jenkins,    Owners Jim Jenkins Lawn & Garden Center Pittsburgh, PA.