Finding that "niche" in the market place

There have been quite a few postings on the network recently regarding moving the business to the next level and in some cases the work has dried up.I think we all agree that our industry is very competitive. If we are honest gardening is an easy level of entry into business and with the general downturn in other trades and services we are and will continue to see more one man bands with B&Q mowers in their estate cars.I don’t want to drum the industry down but the basic stuff is something that a lot of people can do without a lot of experience and there will always be a market for the untrained “gardener” and I use the term loosely particularly at the lower scale of the price bracket.Whilst the true professionals will always achieve a higher hourly rate and will quickly grow their business by referrals there comes a point when perhaps we may want to branch out or offer additional services.Other than selling the same “service” to potential new clients and drumming home our USP’s why not consider a related service that hardly anyone else offers?Over the last few months I have seen a healthy demand for the following:Installation of irrigation systems.Seasonal decoration of gardens – not just Christmas lighting but “mood enhancing lighting”. (Sorry if this sounds a bit like an M&S advert!)Garden pond construction and maintenance.Artificial lawns.And no I haven’t come across much demand for 'vertical gardening”!So if you want to grow your gardening business why not consider offering something slightly different – None of the above are “new” but could offer another revenue stream, help to give you the competitive edge and to have that “niche” in the market place.

Cat, that is a truely terrifying idea - sends shivers right through me, some of my customers over the years ..... How about Interior Landscaping - not like gardening as I know it but if you understand a bit about plant life and its requirements, it can be well paid and is very pleasant on winter days/evenings inside a warm building waltzing around with a mister and polishing leaves. I haven't properly looked into it but I would imagine it would take some to get off the ground.
A relative of mine with two floors of office asked us to come look at his ailing collection. What a sad sight, either drowning or parched - we ditched a lot of them - got flared zinc planters and some lovely big plants from Tesco - this is great, we'd got the books and were thinking about self watering systems when he screwed it all up and had to go into hiding!

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Comments

Sustainable Land Management June 9, 2009 at 6:23pm

Great post - couldn't agree more with comments. We have found a niche by way of the sustainable angle but operating in every element ie forestry, surfacing, soft landscaping etc.,.

I firmly believe that any professional in the industry should be able to beat the b & q mower one man bands by way of being able to prove credentials more easily than can be done at present. LJN is a great way of doing this, but the time is ripe for a new organisation to come along.

Whatever niche someone decides on stick with it, market strongly and do as much research as possible.
Cat Fereday June 9, 2009 at 11:40pm

I'm thinking relationship management - can your clients call you from a garden centre to ask if the geranium that they've picked up off the delightful little display will go in that spot by the pond? And sourcing - can your client ask you to find them a particular variant? And being a general helpline - I've bought XYZ, where do I put it (always a challenge to answer reasonably if you're in the middle of cooking dinner, but, hey, life is full of tests)! If you're working as a regular in domestic gardens, then you're in someone's personal space and chances are they're going to see you as more than just an employee / contractor.
pete June 10, 2009 at 10:01am

Cat, that is a truely terrifying idea - sends shivers right through me, some of my customers over the years ..... How about Interior Landscaping - not like gardening as I know it but if you understand a bit about plant life and its requirements, it can be well paid and is very pleasant on winter days/evenings inside a warm building waltzing around with a mister and polishing leaves. I haven't properly looked into it but I would imagine it would take some to get off the ground.
A relative of mine with two floors of office asked us to come look at his ailing collection. What a sad sight, either drowning or parched - we ditched a lot of them - got flared zinc planters and some lovely big plants from Tesco - this is great, we'd got the books and were thinking about self watering systems when he screwed it all up and had to go into hiding!
Graeme @ BGS June 11, 2009 at 7:26pm

I'm on call 24/7 as it is Cat - Wouldn't like to start taking calls from Mrs Jones on a Sunday regarding geraniums unless now it was a premum rate number they called! :-)
Andrew Fereday June 11, 2009 at 8:23pm

As far as my clients go, I have let them know that they can call me if they have any questions about plants etc while they're in the garden centre. Mostly, they'll just go ahead and buy what they want then expect me to find a place for it.

This is what I refer to as the 'Magpie' approach to plantbuying...
Shadow Hall June 11, 2009 at 9:21pm

This year has become especially bad for lots of brand new one man bands some are great but others havent a clue and at cut prices customers fall for until its to late. Its not just gardening everyone and his dog seems to think they can buy a van and become a removal man at the mo. Its hurting my husbands business and we have had so many people come back and say they wished they had gone with him as it took twice as long, things got broken/stolen and they had no insurance.
As well as garden design and maintenance I offer Topiary hire and interior landscaping, I agree with pete its great on a winters day. It all helps :)
Graeme @ BGS June 11, 2009 at 9:25pm

I'm thinking of writing adverts for M&S in the winter. Quite liked the "not just Christmas lighting but mood enhancing lighting”
claudia de yong June 11, 2009 at 9:47pm

Think that would be a good move Graeme-no dogs to annoy you!
Graeme @ BGS June 11, 2009 at 10:03pm

I hope it's just the dog you were refering to and not the quality of my work :-)

I did see Leo this afternoon and he chased me around whilst strimming and you have to be careful with one eye out for his "presents".

Trying to get him locked up for a day so can get some treatment down or should I just dose it up and say nothing :-(
claudia de yong June 11, 2009 at 10:15pm

Funny-perhaps we should suggest a dog run when the new garden is in place?