IGC 2011 wrapped to rave reviews from both retailers and suppliers following its fifth anniversary year at Navy Pier in Chicago. The buzz was optimistic and upbeat, despite the disappointing weather this spring. Total verified attendance this year came in at 6,488. All 50 states were represented, as well as 24 countries, including an IGCer from faraway Wellington, New Zealand.

"IGC is not only the largest gathering of garden centers in America, it is the largest in the world," says IGC Show Co-founder and IGC Retailer Publisher Jeff Morey. "IGC has clearly established itself as the must-attend event among garden centers," says IGC Co-founder and Garden Chic Publisher Cheryl Morey. Retailers were busy all week, starting on Monday with the Wisconsin garden center and Chicago botanical garden tours. IGC University opened Tuesday morning with two-hour workshops. The new "professor-driven" tracks proved popular with the "students," who received diplomas upon completing the program. The 1,000-plus-booth trade show floor was packed from start to finish, as independent retailers scouted the latest trends in garden selling.

IGC’s three spotlight keynotes were especially well-received this year, drawing record attendance. P. Allen Smith from NBC’s Today Show encouraged garden centers to stop whining and start selling. TV star, best-selling author and life coach Larry Winget’s inspiring "just do it!" message is being called the most popular IGC keynote to date. Retail guru Paco Underhill made the strong point that garden centers must be more in tune with their primary customer base: women.

IGC 2012 returns to Chicago’s Navy Pier August 21-23, 2012. Dennis DeYoung – star of mega-group Styx – has been signed as the free IGC Show Classic Rock Concert.

IGC Retailer Buzz!

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.