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The enquiries you are getting are really unsolicited ie not instigated by the customer, but by your flier, and all you may have done is to give them a nudge in a direction they may not even have thought of. If they already have a gardener, it could be price comparison and nothing more. It could be just a matter of 'oo I wonder how much it willl cost' etc or getting an idea for future reference.
Either way, don't panic! Spring's coming and grass is waking up - so will your customers!
Robbie, well you got them interested, now engage them in conversation and do not be afraid to ask - "what are you looking to have done", "what do you need to make a decision to proceed ?" etc
If you get a disrespectful response in terms of costs, then you know they were not likely clients or are 'Price Tarts'.
Often they know they need something, are not sure what and sometimes embarrassed to ask...- your job is to tease it out, make them feel good and provide a professional and valued service.
Others may disagree, but it has always been my stance to get in early and build a dialogue during these 'quieter' months before every landscaper/gardener and his dog start waking up. Once spring comes its a free for all...so why not use this quiet time to promote your business and services...?
Your experience proves that it can work - you are getting calls while some are complaining its quiet ;-)
I dropped almost 250 flyers on hand selected village properties last month & to date I've had 8 enquries of which six have been a pay day so far.
One of those six has absolutely proven your words. I spent a lovely couple of hours with them, initially visiting to discuss the summerhouse they want. After walking round their garden with them, listening carefully, it became apparent that there was a much greater potential for work. I came back to the office & committed some free time to working up a proposal with a drawing.
Result? A budget of "between £8k-£10k" (their words) and the work is on.
A really pleasurable part of the job for me is listening to what people say. The challenge is to interpret correctly what is (and isn't!) said!
Cheers, Eugene