Ellerslie 2009 A Phenomenal Success
The Ellerslie International Flower Show 2009 has been a phenomenal success “absolutely out doing Auckland”, say Show Managing Director Dave Mee.
“It is unprecedented, from the record breaking opening day on Wednesday to the more than 75,000 visitors who enjoyed this year’s five-day show in North Hagley Park.
“Christchurch has really embraced and taken ownership of Ellerslie which is fantastic. This has been the best Show in many years and may be the best in the 15-year history of the Ellerslie International Flower Show.”
He says the quality of the exhibitions has been outstanding, which is always the measure of success for the Show.
“The four gold award-winning gardens is the largest number at Ellerslie in at least the last five years and were much praised by the international panel of judges.”
Mr Mee says retailers at the Show has been “wondering where the country’s economic recession is” with most experiencing sales which have far outstripped previous shows in Auckland.
“Many retailers have had to courier in extra stock from Auckland and even from Australia to replenish supplies.”
Maya Neumann, a milliner from Sydney, has been an Ellerslie exhibitor for the last six years and says “this Show leaves Auckland for dead”.
“I sold out all my winter hats within the first day and will be bringing 10 times the amount of stock to next year’s Show. This has been amazing.”
Jane Birchell, a floral designer from Wellington, says Ellerslie 2009 is “the best show ever for us”.
“This is our fourth Show and it will be a sell out. We never expected such a huge response.”
She praised the North Hagley Park venue for the Show and also the lay-out.
During the five-days there were:
20,000 Show bags and programmes distributed.
12,000 sandwiches consumed.
500 bunches of flowers sold from a single retail stand.
More than 800 The Ellerslie cocktails drunk.
250 hats bought.
4500 hand massages by the Linden Leaves team.
100,000 toothpicks used in the Countdown Woolworths Marquee for food samples.