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  Lisa Valentine June 1, 2010 at 3:20pm

  Theres a good trade nursery in nottingham. I'm not sure if it's too far away but it's called dw frosts. You can google them. You will have to take id with you to show that you are running a business - a cheque book or letter head or something, however this is so they know that you're not retail and can give you a discount. But they are pretty good and do help with advice. Went just this weekend so fairly up to date info. Hope not too far away from you.
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  Claire Brown June 1, 2010 at 4:04pm

  IME it is actually better to find a retail nursery than a wholesaler for the kind of thing you are talking about - a retail nursery is one where they grow on from their own stock plants, or from plugs, usually they will have a specilism, e.g Geraniums.
  A wholesale nursery will often buy their plants in from abroad, and will have a wider range of sizes, including specimens, but not usually a wide range of varieties.
  A wholesale nursery doesn't expect to give help and advice, whereas a retail nursery will usually be run by individuals with a love for their plants, - getting to know them will get you plants that will be right for your clients gardens, so won't fail, and will be worth any extra money that they cost you (although they would normally discount to you from full retail price)
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  Nic Johnson June 1, 2010 at 5:12pm

  Hi Claire I'm from Melton Mowbray Leics I find Welland Vale nurseries at Uppingham very helpful email them for a looking good list, which is a list they have with everything they sell with prices. I usually speak to Lawrence he's helpful and you can go and look round and pick up what you want if you want to do it that way. Or Coles nurseries search for them on the internet they both have websites. Wellands site is good you can acces the looking good list each week when your registered as trade free as well. hope this helps where have you been before?
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  Nic Johnson June 1, 2010 at 5:34pm

  just to add this is a large nursery and trade prices you can add 100% mark up onto plants and still be cheaper than garden centres. they supply gates garden centre near oakham amoung other large garden centres
  
  nic johnson said:

  Hi Claire I'm from Melton Mowbray Leics I find Welland Vale nurseries at Uppingham very helpful email them for a looking good list, which is a list they have with everything they sell with prices. I usually speak to Lawrence he's helpful and you can go and look round and pick up what you want if you want to do it that way. Or Coles nurseries search for them on the internet they both have websites. Wellands site is good you can acces the looking good list each week when your registered as trade free as well. hope this helps where have you been before?
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  T & S Plants June 1, 2010 at 6:52pm

  Hi Clare,
  
  As you are a Trade customer, I was a little disappointed to read your comments about your local trade Nursery being less than helpful. Also Claire Brown's comments, not to expect help in a Wholesale Nursery, why?
  
  Back in the dark old 1980's the standard reply at most Nurseries was "oh you've come for your plants, they are over there". Sadly it appears that some are still stuck in the '80's.
  
  Working in a wholesale nursery for the best part of 30 years, this is not the way to win and retain customers. Sure there are some Nurseries that concentrate on Garden Centre sales, and to them Landscapers and Designers are a pain, as they are not geared up to deal with them.
  
  However, look around, there are some very good suppliers out there, geared up to deal with people, and realise that we now live in 2010.
  
  It's just a case of going through suppliers guides, internet searches, whatever to find your right supplier of plants.
  
  If any Wholesale Nursery does not offer you advice and support, perhaps you should consider changing supplier, to find one that does!
  
  You are the customer, and if one particular Nursery does not want your money, there are plenty out there that do.
  
  When you find your supplier, buying properly at Trade prices, you should be able to double on mark up, making more money for yourself. Buying from a retail Nursery at a 10% discount is a bit of a waste of time, when you should be buying properly as a Trade customer.
  
  You are not a doormat, so don't be walked upon.
  
  Best regards,
  
  Steve
• PRO

  Geoffrey King June 1, 2010 at 8:47pm

  We made a site visit to what was formerly Sakata Ornamentals (wholesale) today near Thirsk, who also operate cash n carry for trade customers.
  
  A plug tray of 480 begonias was £26 +vat Individual 9 cm bedding was 50 -63p ea, they could not have been more helpful and friendly.
  
  I find that the further you go up the chain, the more surly, unhelpful attitudes become towards 'trade'.
  
  Where we could expect to get 20-30% discount at a production nursery, growing from plugs up tp 2-3l, when you get to the retail nursery / garden centre they tend to offer 10%.
  
  SO plant costs 0.05 (plug) sold at £2-3 trade becomes £6-8 retail.
  
  You should book a trip to the Four Oaks Show, we will be going for the 3rd time this year, loads of nurseries, trade prices galore, lots of good nurseries are based in Cheshire.
  
  Try to find someone who supplies in 9cm or 1l pots and you will save a lot of money, but make sure they use a good compost. Some nurseries cut back on the fertiliser, they expect a fast sale, plants suffer after 6 weeks. A good nurseryman will tell you about his mix.
  
  Quality supplier eg. http://www.kernock.co.uk/
  
  http://www.fouroaks-tradeshow.com/ in Cheshire
  
  If you have a look at the above website, look at 'News' page listed are exhibitors, contact details, loacation,etc
  also the http://www.ganshow.com/ held in February in Dorset each year
  
  Most wholesale nurseries operate cash n carry sections, these can be your best option
  
  Good luck
  
  Geoffrey
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  Sarah Russell June 1, 2010 at 9:02pm

  Try www.theplantco.co.uk - they are a wholesale and retail nursery based here in Sussex, but they have just recently launched their mail order website, and they offer really fantastic trade prices - and will I am sure be really helpful. It is a relatively small nursery, so you get personal attention!
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  Keith Barker June 1, 2010 at 9:14pm

  Finally quizzed the missus - the only nursery she'd add to the list I gave earlier would be:
  
  Seagrave Nurseries - Barrow upon Soar. They specialise in larger specimen shrubs, topiary, palms, tree ferns etc
  
  Regarding Rosebank in Measham - they do sell herbaceous and shrubs, but you have to work your way through all the bedding plants to the back of the site. We've always found them to be quite helpful.