Recession Planning

I agree. If things go a bit quiet I always increase my advertising and then throttle back a bit when things pick up again.

I think their will be always people who choose their gardener on price. Their will also be those who prefer to spend a little more and get a better and more comprehensive job done, recession or no recession.

Cesare Harradine said:

This is the third recession I've been through and it's going to be a tough one. A lot of people will turn to the garden trades to earn a crust. A lot of clients will employ them because they're cheap. However, when things eventually improve, the serious gardeners still standing should have a clearer market.

As for strategies I agree with every one else. One thing I will say is try not to cut back on advertising. However do take a long hard look at weather your current advertising is truly working for you and cost effective. I'm seriously considering cancelling my yellow pages add as it just is not bringing in the work to justify the cost.

We found yellow pages stopped working for us about four years ago, stopped it altogether about two years ago haven't missed any work as far as I can tell. For those with an overdraft it may be worth considering switching some or all of it to a fixed rate loan before the interest rates go up.
Otherwise pretty much agree with what has been said, I have read a pretty good book called Success in Recession, by Richard Lomax worth every penny of its' cost in my opinion.

Cesare Harradine said:

This is the third recession I've been through and it's going to be a tough one. A lot of people will turn to the garden trades to earn a crust. A lot of clients will employ them because they're cheap. However, when things eventually improve, the serious gardeners still standing should have a clearer market.

As for strategies I agree with every one else. One thing I will say is try not to cut back on advertising. However do take a long hard look at weather your current advertising is truly working for you and cost effective. I'm seriously considering cancelling my yellow pages add as it just is not bringing in the work to justify the cost.

Replies

PRO

Paul @ Ashgate Garden Care May 9, 2010 at 11:05am

Same as now really.

Don't buy anything on credit, keep a keen eye on costs and keep putting a bit away for a rainy day.

I'm not to worried about what the future holds as after surviving last winter and the credit crunch before that I'm positive that I should be able to muddle through.
Cesare Harradine May 10, 2010 at 7:29pm

This is the third recession I've been through and it's going to be a tough one. A lot of people will turn to the garden trades to earn a crust. A lot of clients will employ them because they're cheap. However, when things eventually improve, the serious gardeners still standing should have a clearer market.

As for strategies I agree with every one else. One thing I will say is try not to cut back on advertising. However do take a long hard look at weather your current advertising is truly working for you and cost effective. I'm seriously considering cancelling my yellow pages add as it just is not bringing in the work to justify the cost.
PRO

Paul @ Ashgate Garden Care May 10, 2010 at 8:12pm

I agree. If things go a bit quiet I always increase my advertising and then throttle back a bit when things pick up again.

I think their will be always people who choose their gardener on price. Their will also be those who prefer to spend a little more and get a better and more comprehensive job done, recession or no recession.

Cesare Harradine said:
This is the third recession I've been through and it's going to be a tough one. A lot of people will turn to the garden trades to earn a crust. A lot of clients will employ them because they're cheap. However, when things eventually improve, the serious gardeners still standing should have a clearer market.

As for strategies I agree with every one else. One thing I will say is try not to cut back on advertising. However do take a long hard look at weather your current advertising is truly working for you and cost effective. I'm seriously considering cancelling my yellow pages add as it just is not bringing in the work to justify the cost.
Fenlandphil May 10, 2010 at 8:39pm

We found yellow pages stopped working for us about four years ago, stopped it altogether about two years ago haven't missed any work as far as I can tell. For those with an overdraft it may be worth considering switching some or all of it to a fixed rate loan before the interest rates go up.
Otherwise pretty much agree with what has been said, I have read a pretty good book called Success in Recession, by Richard Lomax worth every penny of its' cost in my opinion.

Cesare Harradine said:
This is the third recession I've been through and it's going to be a tough one. A lot of people will turn to the garden trades to earn a crust. A lot of clients will employ them because they're cheap. However, when things eventually improve, the serious gardeners still standing should have a clearer market.

As for strategies I agree with every one else. One thing I will say is try not to cut back on advertising. However do take a long hard look at weather your current advertising is truly working for you and cost effective. I'm seriously considering cancelling my yellow pages add as it just is not bringing in the work to justify the cost.