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  claudia de yong January 25, 2009 at 10:03pm

  Stuart Marler said:

  Who asked for that?
  
  I have a FREE review from BusinessLink in a couple of weeks. They will advise on any problems I have and advise on queries I might have - i.e. taking on staff, loans, finance etc. Looking about 2 hours for this.
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  claudia de yong January 25, 2009 at 10:06pm

  Oops-sorry if i sent the same message back! Getting used to this site. The new London College of Garden Design has a talk on Tuesday which looked quite interesting on how to improve your business in difficult times but the cost is £130
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  Kev Thompson January 25, 2009 at 10:17pm

  hi claudia,
  personally, i wouldn't pay for someone who isnt in our market,doesnt understand your business and only speaks broadly.
  theres loads of people out there now that seem to have just the formula,
  praying on people that to be honest have never known the effect of a severe downturn.
  recessions are a natural business cycle no matter how much gorden brown denies it
  its a way of thinning out.....allowing the stronger to grow and fill the new space.
  advice .....if your good at it....keep doing it
  turn the news off
  dont drop your prices it devalues you
  diversify
  this advice is based soley on my own meandering experiance and a guarantee that life is full of twists & turns
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  claudia de yong January 25, 2009 at 10:22pm

  Thank you I agree with you. I am a bit sceptical about any of this sort of thing anyway but I was interested how a new college was opening with it's first talk and charging that amount.
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  Jackson's Landscape Design January 25, 2009 at 10:58pm

  Lordy lord, £130 ?? including refreshments, lunch and plan your business strategy to take advantage of the economic upturn when it comes.
  
  Keeping overheads to a minimal and remaining open, now thats a plan.
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  Lawncare-4u.co.uk January 25, 2009 at 11:44pm

  he he £130.00 will pay them not to go into recession !!!
  pay for new college and staff- they probably get all sorts of Grants etc etc local authority funding / government and european train to gain !!
  
  who gains?
  loads of expert advice on here its superb.
  like phil voice said ''try to keep overheads low'
  diversify - do any ? work up , down sideways .
  dont lower prices i agree - You cant do a cheap job for nothing , it will ruin our reputation.
  business-link are great - look on web www.businesslinkwm.co.uk - west midlands area.
  ???????? i would be in serious debt if i said yes to all the calls i get for advertising/ schools/web-sites/health and safety/guilds etc etc Its better in your pocket (as they say)
  
  was it for a 10 week course - not bad if your bored/ its raining i suppose lol. All the best for 2009 rob
  
  i think we will be having some POSITIVE discussions on here on 1st March.............................
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  claudia de yong January 26, 2009 at 11:58am

  Yes it is the the New College and as you say they are emminent people in their field and there may be some good advice but I still feel the cost is a bit excessive especially at this moment in time.And no lunch. What I really beleive should be encouraged on another level is more craftsmen and women.We are loosing so many trades. We read about all these bankers that want to change career and go into design and landscaping and new courses being offered. Perhaps they believe it is an easier life! I think it would be better to encourage more trades and an interest in proper plantsmanship. I am not sure passion can be learnt from a course.
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  Andy Cole January 26, 2009 at 1:19pm

  I have use business link advisors as well as an indipendand advisor. The cost of the independand advice was £450 for two visits and a report. The best 450 i have ever spent. my turnover went up by 20% and the profit trebbled last year, so i had no hessitation in using that person again this year. The talk at £130 is money well spent if you gain enough advice to obtain an increase in work or profitability as a result. The problem is that there is no garentee it will work. As the saying says you pay your money and take the choice.
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  jonathan stollar January 26, 2009 at 10:45pm

  If you can afford it go. If you have to stretch dont go. I am a little sick of people trying to sell me talks ect. If you feal guilty about not going to talks then go to one., at least then you know the truth. I went to a BNI meeting. It was very unhelpful but it is nice to have onre less thing that I think I should do.
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  Anthony George January 27, 2009 at 8:09am

  As has been said their credentials are very good. I'm sure if you asked Andrew Wilson for a day's advice on your garden his fee would be a lot higher.
  Alternatively you could get some advice from your bank, They have a great track record!!!