UK landscapers facing stiff challenges, too

If this is any comfort in this economic climate (and in the spirit of misery loves company), landscapers in UK are experiencing the same challenges as we are. A group of 15 landscapers met recently there, and Wyevale garden center trainer Neville Stein offered these 13 suggestions to keep them going:

• Overhaul your website – it needs to have great images and customer testimonials
• Stay in touch with customers, colleagues and industry experts

• Respond fast to every enquiry
• Word of mouth – astound customers with your service and they’ll talk about you

• Debtor ledger – keep on top of what people owe you, reduce your “debtor days” or the amount of time it takes for customers to pay you
• Negotiate discounts with suppliers for paying on time

• Internal cost cutting – examples are mobile phone contracts or vehicle costs

• Review your bank account

• Sell off assets you don’t use – eg a piece of kit you don’t need

• Set financial targets 

• Think about a five-year plan – it will help you stay focused

• Come up with a Unique Selling Proposition (USP) that sets you apart from other landscaping firms

• Get off the tools – it might only be for a couple of hours but use the time to think about your business and plan for the future

Source: hortweek.com (Click on the headline to keep track of what your colleagues in the UK are doing and to sign up for their weekly enewsletter.) — Ron Hall