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You were lucky, if I do pop in a garden centre I always get stopped by a little old dear who automatically assumes I work there and insist that I escort her to whatever she is looking for. When I nicely point out that I am a customer and wouldn't know I always get the reply " well you look the type to work here!" All I can think that it must be my youthful looks as the GC in question is not one that employs large numbers of OAP's ;-)
......and the only people who will ever get a discount at a garden centre chain are the over 60's!
Jack who worked for me last year always insisted we stopped off at one particular GC chain as they make the best take out tea. The counter staff asked if he was staff and got a whopping discount on the drinks order every time :-)
You've not even mentioned how hard it is to find the exit, without being assaulted by acres of scented candles and pou pouri......
I take great pleasure in asking the staff why they are selling tender bedding plants in February. Gives me something to do on a quiet day. :-)
I get on great with my local garden centre. It's not huge like the chains and is a family business so that helps. They do me a good discount and whenever I pick anything up they put it on my account and invoice me at the end of the month, so I can get payment from the client before I have to pay them. They had my business cards out when their customers ask if they know a gardener. They also have a second business making bespoke fencing and garden buildings and recommend me to people as an installer. In return I buy my fencing from them, not just as payback but because it is only a little more expensive than mass produced stuff and is way better quality. All in all it is a very good mutually beneficial relationship.
I'm guessing that's not your local Wyevale then, Chris? :-)
Good local GCs will work with the local tradesmen. Sadly, there aren't many left near me as the chains have taken over. The small discounts locally from the remaing indies, perhaps 10-15%, doesn't cover the time to choose and collect the plants for small jobs.
I rarely buy in plants now, as the client can buy locally at what I'd need to charge to make it worthwhile, and that saves me the cashflow. I usually only get involved when there's enough for me to spend a whole day going to my nearest really good trade nursery, and that's perhaps £500-worth of plants to justify it? 90 mile round trip and the best part of a day's time before even starting to plant them.