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.
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Answer in one word re getting business - "no"
However it is good to get perspectives from other local small businesses and see how they are doing - they also get me "out of the office" so to speak so I get to meet others and can chat, have a coffee/drink, etc.
If only there was one on whenever we have heavy rain it would be good :)
Totally agree here with Adam.
They are not a quick route to gaining work, rather they should be viewed as a long term investment that may generate contacts who know contacts etc.........but can be a great source of moral support, sounding boards and a relief from solitary work life.
If you go, be prepared to get involved, practice a few short ‘pitches’, have basic contact details to hand etc and you need to be good at initiating a conversation and small talk.
Be aware some can be quite ‘Masonic’ or clicky and you‘ll be the focus of consultants offering all sorts of ‘advice’ ;)
and watch out for the sharks lurking.... pension, investment and money advisors :)
I would start looking at community events, Fairs, small garden shows etc - ie events where your target customers are likely to be rather than business netwotk event if you need more instant results?
At a local Farmers market I regularly see various conservation groups, a garden designer, an ‘eco’ based tree surgery business.
They pay for the spot and rent the gazebo from local town council. How successful they are is hard to determine other than they get reasonable interest but it’s the follow up that would be key ......
Yip I attend a BNI group every Wednesday and I've had just under £25k in business in a year
Been good for you then. Has that come direct from the group or as a result of leads they have generated for you.
About 12k direct from members in the room the rest from them referring us to their family or clients
Sounds good. I'm looking to do this in Shrewsbury where a lot of people know each other so could work. Looked at it 20 years ago when I was in the south east and it was a lot like Gary and Adam said. Loads of sharks.
I've been going to one for a few years but not had a massive success. This is mainly down to my lack of networking skill and being able to approach "clicks" of people who are all finance/solicitor/accountant types. We do look after the grounds for one of the offices of the host, a firm of solicitors. So I probably go more out of obligation than desire. But that's just me not getting my head in the right place! Interestingly, my friend goes to a BNI group and is always trying to recommend people to me. I have tried a couple of her referrals and they were useless. I think she is under pressure to refer regardless of having personal experience of them for fear of public flogging if she doesn't meet her quota :-)