Founded in 2008. The Landscape Juice Network (LJN) is the largest and fastest growing professional landscaping and horticultural association in the United Kingdom.
LJN's professional business forum is unrivalled and open to anyone within within the UK landscape industry
LJN's Business Objectives Group (BOG) is for any Pro serious about building their business.
For the researching visitor there's a wealth of landscaping ideas, garden design ideas, lawn advice tips and advice about garden maintenance.
Replies
The proposed premium service was and still is a good idea for those that are serious about this business but I suspect most members of LJN wouldn’t want to pay. I note that Tommy has changed the format of the American Landscape Maintenance Association by introducing a free basic membership level but the core information still being a paid for service. It will be interesting to see how this will develop.
There has been much debate in the latter half of this year on the future of our industry and the prospects of being a more united front, however I have grave concerns if LJN was going to try and be the saviour of our industry – don’t get me wrong changes are needed and a voice needs to stand up and represent those that don’t fall in line with the various other associations etc. But with the current format of LJN and in particular the membership structure I fear that it will be no more than an annoying little thorn in their backsides rather than a force to be taken seriously.
The “LJN brand” could become a key player and of great benefit to all its members but and with the greatest respect to Phil, it will take more than one person and of course money. Ultimately the strength of the LJN is within it’s membership but I wonder how many will be prepared to give something back?
I for one would like to see a road map of where LJN would be heading and a plan to achieve this. I am sure that together we could then start to make inroads and drive LJN to the next level.
That's an interesting statement Graeme. My mission wasn't to save our industry but merely build a place where our allied industries might have an alternative, that is more than equal, to those controlled by incumbents.
At some point I think, especially if there's agreement from a wide demography, that it will need more than me to continue the struggle of highlighting the imbalance and polarisation that remains in landscaping and horticulture.
I think LJ(N) has been a little more than a 'thorn' in the backside of others; I can actually point to changes that have happened to date.
I am so tired of hearing PR 'bullshit' - by that I mean those who tell a story that doesn't have a chance of being delivered - unless there is enough of us who feel the same way who are willing to make a sacrifice to achieve change, apathy will drive a nail into LJ(N's) coffin.
I have also always maintained that if I am/have been wrong then LJ(N) will naturally die.
My ongoing research tells me that premium is a 'choker' of this site/associations' potential. I have determined that if I start to charge then a large chunk of the membership will walk away and therefore start a downward spiral toward oblivion.
Just look at other subscription models that have taken a big hit - Hort Week (down 10%) Landscaper Magazine (down 18%) BALI (down 8% - depending what numbers you accept as a starting point) APL are down also.
I read Duncan Heather's article about the Society of Garden Designers and their latest membership model. I agree with a lot of what Duncan says (although not for the same reasons).
Apart from the fact that there doesn't seem to be a tangible membership model for the SGD's future, their desire to remain in tight control will ultimately be their wrongdoing/undoing.
I have never disagreed with anyone's desire to set and achieve high standards and raise the bar but, It is my opinion, it's this need to control memberships that will lead to widespread failure.
I've made good use of the site this year, it's been very helpful indeed and hopefully I've managed to help others.
My main concern is that a lot of topics contain quite sensitive info at times, e.g. money matters & business strategies etc and this is on show to anyone who signs up.
You mentioned about Site Privacy a couple of weeks back and paying a subscription? Personally I'd have no problem with this within reason!
Any news on this?
Also, maybe I missed this but was the Tick Logo decided on? and if so, how do I get a van sticker from it?
All the best for 2010
RIch
I have been delighted with LJN this year and have found it not only interesting to read others contributions but also to provide occasional input as well (which people hopefully find useful!).
For me it is a friendly site to visit with real potential to keep on growing. I particularly like the way it is open to all and for me this is what makes the site so great and unique.
Keep up the good work :)
-Nick
Well said John - a near perfect post.
I have learned lots of interesting things via. the forum but also like to think that I have done likewise for others through my discussions/postings etc.
Being self-employed and working on my own, I see LJN members as 'virtual' work colleagues and, as in 'real' life, you get on with some and don't with others!
I have no desire to join any trade bodies.
I think it would be nice to see what really lies beneath the member profiles/company names/bravado etc. of members on the site and think that 'showreel' videos (done via YouTube) highlighting the work/practices of members posted on the site could put a human face/voice/image to the names we are all familiar with.
Anyway
Happy New Year!
My first mistake was to make the name so similar (...identical even) to my Landscape Juice blog. If I was starting from scratch, I think that a standalone and totally unique site would work better. I could re-map the domain which would retain the internal link matrix but all external links (i.e. from your websites back) would have to be edited.
Maybe as Landscape Juice, the site could not become an 'association'?? but there is no reason that one should not harbour ambitions for LJN, in another guise, to become an association - I am passionate (that word is so overused) about setting up a fair(er) system that is industry wide...Anything is achievable if one's mind is put to it.
This is how I have always envisaged the system running:
This website is the hub - just like the centre of a wheel. That hub (at present coordinated by me) can be a small group of individuals democratically elected as a committee, whose job it would be to represent our organisation.
These people would set about representing land-based practitioners and seek finance and solicit membership and establish a strong lobby with the ambition of changing the current system.
LJN has never sought ownership and this is the very first aspect I would seek to change as far as current organisations are concerned - LJN is a stand for 'openness' and 'equality' and it is my view that this is not a quality that is currently afforded by the three main trade associations.
Charitable status is certainly something that should be considered....after all, I cannot be the proprietor of an association and it would be essential that no single person should become autonomous.
Because the site is open, all of the site's business should be conducted in such a way that all discussions are influenced and voted on by every single interested party. In my view, no motion which affects us individually, or as a whole, should be discussed, considered and implemented without full agreement.
Having said all of the above, any organisation will need a strong elected leader with a vision that the majority of membership agrees with. I don't think that anything will get done if every idea was booed down or denounced.
Please bear in mind that LJN does not have to conform with any traditional views or beliefs to be a success.
It has been said to me recently that if LJ is to become accepted amongst its peers then I have to start learning to live with the likes of the APL, BALI, Hort Week and the Landscaper Magazine - I absolutely 100% disagree with this view.
There is an opportunity here for the whole system to be turned upside down and for the many disenfranchised and disillusioned (let alone lonely) professionals, to start dictating terms leaving others with little choice but to listen.
If the above named organisations (as well as those not mentioned) are strong, well run and with the full support of everyone in their respected fields, there will be no problems for them and they should go on to flourish - falling subscriptions in all leads me to believe that there is something seriously wrong with their business model and, I might add with a little self smugness, our alternative has become a compelling distraction.
If you share my views then LJN will go from strength to strength and become (I am serious here) the strongest organisation of its kind in the UK. If my views are not shared by the vast majority then LJN will naturally fall away and consigned to history - if that happens then I shall go about my business elsewhere or the site will remain as a forum (all be it unique).
Finance - this will take finance and if you all do decide to take this on for the long term then you all will need to finance it - absolutely no question of that. I am willing to stand aside to prove that it is not money I am after - the important thing is that LJN, in whatever guise, continues to grow and flourish.
I would throw one warning into the ring though. Throughout my research into online and offline communities, I have determined that every single organisation needs some kind of clear leadership and constant communication. LJN is, I suppose, unique in so far as all of our work is laid bare for all to see and is kind of self feeding.
It has taken since June 2006 to build the kind of publicity that LJ now enjoys and it is something I think that would cost many many tens of thousands of pounds to achieve - just think about how it can be levered against the obstructions that form a barrier to a unified and transparent industry?
A small group of people worked very hard to try to get the show garden off of the ground and a lot was achieved.
It was decided to shelve any plans until a later date. Factors for the decision ranged from general economic decisions to a little apathy.
I reckon the exercise was a valuable one though and I think that all of those who involved themselves learnt something. Maybe something for the future to resurrect?
Reading through thread by Phil have no doubt that LJ is in a good place , finance has been a hot topic in the latter stages of 2009 the site costs money to run & donations/membership fees should not be seen as negative but looked upon as a way of relieving the financial burden on an individual, had only joined LJ in September of 2009 have contributed happy to do to this & will do so again as I have benefitted from the experience of others on LJ. Would be helpful to have a ball park figure for sliding scale membership I know this was polled but with the amount of members on LJ fees would hopefully not be excessive.
my 2p worth
All the best.
I have truly enjoyed and valued all the advice and support and general friendliness of this site. I know it must have taken a lot of work to get it this far.
I have to agree with the point made below
'I think the format is about right, but how about looking to 'sell' the site more to the non-gardening fraternity, i.e. our potential customers? I am not at all computer technical - but could there be a way of potential clients contacting us through this site, and if we gain work from this, we pay a % of our fees to LJN?? I would be more than happy with this as a marketing/sales tool to build the business'.
But also that people have to expect to pay a membership for any premium services and again agree with the comment made about a £25 per year fee for these.
The problem you have, and I am glad its not me that has to do this, is how to introduce this paid for service without chasing off all those who would not want to pay.
The way it works now will continue to attract people because it is free and such a great resource but you cant be expected to work this hard for no return. Its hard to do but maybe someone could be drafted in to help out otherwise you will end up working yourself to hard and then we all lose out.
Keep up the good work
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