BLE tips & tricks with… RHS’ Cathy Snow

Cathy, thanks for making time. When did you first attend BLE?
It must have been around 2006. I remember thinking: “What on earth is all this about?” I soon got the idea though…

What’s been your best BLE memory?
That would be the year we launched the RHS artwork for our move into children’s products. We had an excellent response. A real high point!

What makes for a good BLE meeting?
Meeting someone who gets the brand, wants to create something sustainable and relevant that will do justice to the brand – and that offers the RHS a great licensing opportunity. As the UK’s favourite gardening charity, we take our role very seriously – and that extends to everyone who uses our brand and its associations on their products. More generally, meetings are a great opportunity to learn something new about product and trends – and of course to agree new deals.

What’s your key aim for this year’s BLE?
Expanding our portfolio of licensees, continuing to pursue diverse categories and showcasing our artwork – and linking all of this to a core message: the RHS is relevant to, and for, everyone. If you own a plant, you are a gardener. We’ll also focus on meeting key retailers to support our licensed products.

Before we let you go, can you give us a BLE tip or recommendation? Could be a restaurant, pub, venue or show advice…
To be honest, eating and drinking are not likely to be a problem; there is no shortage of choice on-site or nearby. But one tip I was given early on has proved invaluable: wear comfortable shoes. You really don’t want to be worrying about your sore feet in the middle of a Wednesday meeting with two days to go…

Good tip! Last question: Where is RHS housed at this year’s show?
We’re at B255.

Great stuff. Thanks again!

If you still haven’t registered for BLE this year, click here to do so!

BLE 2023 runs at ExCeL London from October 4th to 6th 2023.