Landscape Gardening Business Advice
Could someone please give me advice on starting my own landscape gardening business. All help would be very welcome.
Lee Collet 08 Mar 10
|
|
|
|
Recyling of Polystyrene packaging (EPS)
Polystyrene may be good for protecting products in transit but it is not so good for the environment. Where can consumers get rid of their waste polystyrene packaging once they get the product home? One answer is to use in the bottom of plant pots but can it be recycled anywhere else?
Simon 05 Feb 10
|
|
|
|
No longer like the old days for gardeners job ads
I wonder about Hort Week - as a reader from way back when it was called The Gardeners Chronical - now it seems to lack any great appeal to the proper gardener fraternity. It was always the first stop if you wanted a gardening job but now the job pages are filled with Recruitment Agencies - Who wants to advertise a job with an Agency if all they do is simply readvertise it in Hort week? Is there somewhere else anyone can reccomend I look for gardeners jobs?
Roger Topias 11 Feb 10
|
|
|
|
Snow ... How do you all pay ... or not pay staff ?!!
For the first time in over 25 years in Garden Centres I didn’t open the garden centre because of the weather on Saturday, the road outside was horrendous and in reality very dangerous to drive along (unless you were mad & lucky enough to have a 4 x 4 !). Also we had some nasty days last week when we had staff going home an hour or two early and some not getting to work until sometime after 9am. I guess people deal slightly differently between key department managers and some normal staff ... BUT with the bad snow I just wondered what everyone’s policy is with regard to the payment of staff :-
1. Who don’t get to work because of the Snow & Ice ?
2. Who ‘you’ cancel and tell not to come into work ?
3. Who ask to or you send home early because of the Snow ? Etc. ... Etc. ... Etc. ...
GC Director 13 Jan 10
|
|
|
|
This weather - a critical blow to landscapers?
This weather is possibly going to be a critical blow to landscapers. What do you think? Not only have they had to cope with lower productivity and therefore lower earnings before Christmas - then pay their staff the Christmas break and now when they want to start earning they are stuck with conditions no professional horticulturalist can do much outside let alone get to the job. Where finances have been tight this will only put more strain on them and their funds to finance work when it does pick up will be difficult. It could well push a few over the cliff with knock on impacts on suppliers etc.
Nick Coslett 14 Jan 10
|
|
|
|
GCA Conference looking good!
I thought the line up of speakers that the GCA have for their conference on the 25th/26th January was looking good, but now I have just been reading “View from the top” a feature in HR magazine on James Timpson and the Timpson shoe and key empire. His “maverick approach to HR” is fascinating. It will be worth going to the conference just to hear him speak let alone Justin Urquhart Stewart and Lord Digby Jones. That reminds me I must get my place booked. See you there!
Neil Gow 06 Jan 10
|
|
|
|
Another scam
Have you had any retailers/suppliers complaining about scam companies? We have already had one and we think we have two more companies trying to buy goods who we are not sure about. Just wondered if anyone else was aware of this going on? The companies use legitimate registration numbers for company and vat and the goods get sent to a warehouse where they pick up the goods but of course never pay…..
Maddie 13 Jan 10
|
|
|
|
Are garden centres reluctant to stock innovative products?
I would like to ask those Garden Centres stocking paving products why they are reluctant to add innovative DIY tools as link sales to their range. Visit any GC and you will not find a product such as ours that actually encourages the customer into purchasing paving, yet there seems to be concern when figures suggest fall in landscape product sales. We like to say - ‘with racks full of paving are you selling or saving’?
Alan Welsh - www.pointrite.co.uk 17 Nov 09
|
|
|
|
Impending VAT rise?
Does anyone have any thoughts on impending VAT "rise"? I've heard it may go to 20%, or at HTA Conference, Zero rated may move to 7% (=all grow your own plants/seeds). Retailers seem to have pocketed the difference with cut to 15%, judging by the number of 99p retail price points still out there. What happens when it moves back up??!!
Any plans, rumours, facts, ideas, concerns !!
Martin 30 Oct 09
|
|
|
|
Top 100 Garden Centres by turnover
I have to ask where they get the data from? I have viewed the list on the below link and it is based on turnover. I can see from the list it has missed a few garden centres that are larger than some of them on the list. Where did Hortweek get their info from? http://www.hortweek.com/channel/GardenRetail/article/940912/Garden-Retail-launches-map-top-100-garden-centres/
Andrew 11 Dec 09
|
|
|
|
GLEE - The morning after!
Well that was a lot better than I was led to expect! I thought it was a good solid show with plenty of products. BUT it needs the support of the whole industry... ONE INDUSTRY - ONE SHOW! As a buyer I don't want to see half the options, I want to see it all in one location. We need a single International show that represents the whole gardening industry. Solex is good for furniture and BBQs but needs to open it's doors to all relevant manufacturers if it's to develop and become THE single show for that sector. In the meantime GC operators please give suppliers a hard time for not exhibiting at GLEE. Suppliers please rethink. And GLEE... keep it going the way you did this year - we need the show!
Boyd J Douglas-Davies 05 Oct 09
|
|
|
|
Comments about Four Oaks
Having just returned from the Four Oaks show, which had a good, posative buzz about it this year, I will never complain about the prices of refreshments at GLEE and other NEC based shows again! For the £1.50 they wanted for a cup of tea in a plastic beaker with powdered milk, I was able to enjoy two cups (in a china cup) with real milk and a biscuit at Trentham Gardens on the way home.
A Retailer 09 Sep 09
|
|
|
|
Glee Fee Duckers
Has every one else had the countless companies bigging up the fact that they will not be at Glee this year. They won`t attend as it is too expensive, sorry won`t exhibit! they will be there however prowling the isles like parasites waiting for unsuspecting prey. However I shouldn`t be disappointed as the savings made are going to be passed on via price reductions. Perphaps those companies may wish to publish those savings we can all expect. Respect to all those still going I for one appreciate the show.
Ian 28 Sep 09
|
|
|
|
What price Christmas trees?
Does anybody have a feel for what fresh cut christmas tree (Norway/Nordman/Fraser/Noble) etc prices are doing for the 2009 season? We seem to be looking at a 15% average price increase which seems a bit steep to me. Any thought welcome. Thanks.
Neil Gow 01 Sep 09
|
|
|
|
Eastgro
eastgro - in my opinion the major part of the eastgro success this year must go down to john woods while over the years many companies have hosted the event j/w really got behind it and with all that is going on with shows at present it is my opinion eastgro will become a more important date in the diary and in turn atttract more exhibitors and retailers alike - well done john woods and of course sue last for the smooth running
Andy 01 Sep 09
|
|
|
|
Plug plant suppliers
Hi. Im setting up a small nursery where i live. Does anyone have any contacts for suppliers of small plug plants. Thanks.
Neil 11 Aug 09
|
|
|
|
what is the best month to start business?
I am thinking of opening up a garden supplies shop in my local area as there aren't any locally. Just wondering what would be the best month to start. I was thinking January/February. Would you agree.
Daren 09 Sep 09
|
|
|
|
To All Garden Retailers - What Price Loyalty
As a Large outlet for garden products we purchase from a wide range of suppliers. Our purchases are of large quantities and we would expect the utmost loyalty from manufacturers for the many years we have been trading with them.
Just lately we have been checking on the Internet and found that quite a few of our suppliers, some with good profiles in the garden centre industry are selling against us.
Not only are they competing with us, some are undercutting us and considering we abide by their strictures on prices by request, we feel this is an idiosyncratic choice to make as these actions will eventually lead to a reversal of the garden centres profile and a further collapse of the supply chain. It is bad enough, that the industry has suffered losses of a number of wholesalers in the recent past.
We understand the manufacturers right to ply their wares on the internet, but not to the extent, that they are undercutting their own clients. Under the circumstances we were wondering Just how many retailers are aware of this action by suppliers and should Gardenforum as a an information engine for the industry print a top twenty list of these unprincipled suppliers.
The following is a list of offenders other retailers may like to add to it. P.J. Bridgman Garden Furniture, La Fuma Chairs & Relaxers, Outback Barbeques, Faulks & Co Tub Trugs, Haxnicks Cloches etc, Noma Lights, Plum Products, Burgon & Ball.
David 25 Jan 10
|
|
|
|
Outdated items
Items which have had no response for 6 months have been removed
Gardenforum 25 Jan 10
|
|
|
|
Gardenforum RSS - News
Terms and Conditions