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  James Lewis @ ADAPT LANDSCAPES January 30, 2014 at 7:47pm

  Hi Joshua,
  
  My advise would be to stay true to what you believe in.
  When times are hard it's very easy to lower your price to compete in price wars. If you want to create a reputation that counts it can only be made by doing to job properly. Explain to your prespective customers what they are getting for their money. customer service is key.
  
  I have only be running for 4 years and everyday is still a learning curve but that's why I love being self employed.
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  Joshua Sear-Whittaker January 30, 2014 at 10:14pm

  Thanks James that's definitely good advice. It's extremely frustrating not to mention time wasting when I'm being undercut all the time.
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  Joshua Sear-Whittaker January 30, 2014 at 10:15pm

  I especially find it hard to get good garden design projects....
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  Matt Johnson January 31, 2014 at 5:42am

  The design projects you are after will grow and become more regular as your business and reputation grow.. And like James said stick to your guns. If it helps after you have been to quote a job etc why not give them a call to ask a few questions as feedback.. What could you have done better.. why didn't they choose to go with your quote etc, Helps you to better the quoting that you provide
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  Colin Hunt January 31, 2014 at 6:47am

  It's a drip, drip, drip process. Lets say I want my garden re-designed, why would I use you? You've only been going for a year and from what you say you, are more expensive than most. Something has to give.
  Are you aiming to high to start with? Does your profile encourage me to ring you up to lay a 4 mtr concrete path or repair a rear step? It is from turning out a continuous stream of good work that we get our reputation and contacts.
  I use the 'concrete path' example for a reason. Many years ago, we had 'moved on' to 'bigger stuff' when a little old lady asked me to lay a small concrete path, which we did. Not long after I was congratulating myself on winning a nice new build project. Only later did I find out that the Architect was 'the little old lady's' grandson, who had been impressed by the care we took over the small job and the way we had dealt with her. That contact lead to many more jobs.
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  Joshua Sear-Whittaker January 31, 2014 at 9:12am

  Yes all very true, and thanks for the comments. I suppose I am just eager to create a good brand name and earn decent money.
  
  Don't get me wrong I do still take on small projects even if its just fencing but the design side of the business is slow, and that's the bit I love the most.
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  Colin Hunt January 31, 2014 at 9:54am

  I am sure if you are committed and you really want it, you will get there in the end. There is no magic formula and all areas are different, but London has endless potential - the Capital also attracts endless competition. A local builder friend of mine recently completed an enormous amount of work on a property in West London and we are in South East Essex - 2hrs travelling each way, every day!

  The time spent on every quote/estimate/design that you do is not time wasted, you gain experience, you learn to deal with the customers, maybe getting a sixth sense about what they want, getting YOUR personality over to them in the short time you have.

  Good luck Joshua, it's a marathon not a sprint!
  
  Joshua Sear-Whittaker said:

  Yes all very true, and thanks for the comments. I suppose I am just eager to create a good brand name and earn decent money.
  
  Don't get me wrong I do still take on small projects even if its just fencing but the design side of the business is slow, and that's the bit I love the most.
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  Mulberry February 1, 2014 at 12:10pm

  Hi Joshua,

  There is no silver bullet when you get started. Networking is a good idea, talk to other landscapers, let them know your available as a sub contractor if they need extra help. This will help to increase your experience and knowledge. Get a qualification, (if you haven't already got one), people like to know they are dealing with someone who has knowledge of what they say they can do, qualifications give you credibility. Go on courses. You meet other landscapers just starting and designers, most are looking for help and advice initially, so networking together, as I said, helps, it's great to have allies as it can get lonely out there. We have had our ups and downs, always keep your sail up as you never know what will come along. For example, the other day for no real reason I googled "gardening jobs in ( my area)", up came a gum tree link. I went on it and have subsequently picked up a job to design an edible forest garden and three days a week as a subcontractor to a head gardener on an 80 acre estate! The second job came from sending an e-mail to someone who were there selves advertising for work. I asked if they would sub-contract to me if I had a bigger job and they connected me to the estate. Sometimes it pays to think out of the box. Look at how you can add value to yourself and your service, again through recognised qualifications and by adding to your skill set. I recently completed a a course to become a horticultural assessor, Now I can use that to create another income stream alongside my other work. There are a lot of opportunities out there. Hope that's of some value to you, Feel free to get in touch if you want to chat further, talk is free :)
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  Craig Spence And Hedges February 1, 2014 at 4:06pm

  I say if you are not getting jobs you quote for it may be your to cheap sometimes we underestimate what we do .
  And as others say get on networking with others . And also get feedback of quotes ask why you did not get the job . All the best for 2014 .
  Spence and hedges north Wales