Tips for a gardening business - how to get more customers, higfher profit and more satisfaction- part 1 - LJN Blog Posts

It is a Big title- so why do I think I can tell you about It?I decided that I will write on this blog every 2-3 weeks and under this title tips that can help you to get a better business.First I would like to explain why I want to do it?1. I got lots of help from other people and would like to help too there are lots of ways that I can not because I am more clever just because I tried many ways of marketing a gardening business.2. I hope it will make people to want to help- add their ideas to the blog- and maybe even help me.I started my business as a student that study 5.5 long days a week - I had no money to invest and no much time - I charged about £3.00 an hour ( 50% more than minimum wage at that time there).3 years after I finished my studies we were 3 teams (7 stuff and 5 temporary for the summer) for maintenance we charged about £20.00- 25.00 an hour ( Intact we charged per job or for yearly maintenance but that was the way we calculate it).Economy at the time was really bad and at every traffic light you could see near you private cars with lawn mowers and tools.It took lots of work but we learned lots of marketing and we tried lots of things.To be honest I changed my business to garden design and build many gardens later on as that what I really liked to do. and these days trading with gardening products- just in case you didn't know.So first tip for today:Try and think how long will you keep your business- Is it worth invest a bit of time ( when you got a bit- or to create a bit) to create a system that will bring more customers to you? something that will need only a bit of work but will mainly work for itself.Yes there are animals like that, but the important tip is that the best thing is to create few of these that will bring more customers /jobs and money.Most people will tell you that the secret is word to mouth very big true butIt does not mean that you can not do anything about it.One of the Keys of winning is to understand that people Like to hear about you but not from yourself.Look at moses the one from the bible a great leader maybe even one of the greatest- and give attention to one fact he used his brother to speak for him.It usually work better If someone will say that you are great man, professional and you did a good job for him, than you saying it about yourself.I will next time give better examples of what you can do- as I do not want to make it too long

I was snowed under with to do lists, selling edgings but still on the edge myself, but would like to keep on share some tips how to dill with landscaping/garden design at hard economy:

there are 3 main keys to your success now: wonderful presenting of your abilities, great networking and added value to your services/products.

If you have these you will do well at any time.If you have a good website or even a good slide show on a cd you can tick the first box just make sure to explain there what is your added value compare with the rest of the market.

At this economy people usually go to someone that was recommended or compare few options -you do not have to be the cheapest to be chosen. the opposite never be cheap as to upgrade your prices will be very very hard . what you have to do now is to show not just quality but the added value.
what do I mean by added value?
for example I used to say when I was meeting customers that wanted a new garden that If I do the design and the job itself they benefits few things.( saves costs and guarantee success and so on into details) you can offer to come and visit the garden once a year to do professional maintenance once a year.
When I did maintenance it was fertilizing the garden for free as part of the service twice a year.
(All of these were after my customers saw a lot of photos, qualifications, lists of services and more.)

Only when people see that you are great and have an added value and some other people recommended about you they will be happy to let you work pay you well and will keep recomed about you.

So the first thing to do is to find what extra value you can offer: 4 seasons gardens, easy care gardens with low cost maintenance or maybe other ideas.
now make sure you it is in your presentation and that your presentation show your customers your benefits.

The next stage and most important is to built your networking- it should include all your happy customers , friends and new people that might have an interest to help you ( if they have contacts with potential customers even better.
It does not happend in a day. keep a list of those - make sure they all saw what can you offer( on your website or so) and that they all know your strong keys.
Try and help them so they would like to help you - keep in touch with them- do not bother them but once a while to ask how are they can be nice.If you ask for help you will find people that would like to help you - sure if they where happy with the job you did.

give a good service- it might sound clear - but simple things like ringing back when a customer ask you or trying to help customers questions will give you important credit points these points might be very important these days.

what not to do - do not spend your time giving up or just reduce prices.
(you can explain a new cutomers your added value and that you are willing to reduce the price on part of your work or for the first few times just for the good feeling that usually show that you understand your customers but you know what you worth.

"Personally I think it's gardeners time to cash in we've been cheap for to long and now that people are lazy we have the pick. I've got 9 big jobs on a waiting list for when I have a gap.not to mention all the small gardens I'm at £35hr now and…"

"I bought a no name petrol blower on eBay for £30 as temporary fix. I expected it to last 6 months but 2 years later it's still going strong. It's a copy of the Stihl Bg 56. You don't always get what you pay for. "

"Hat's off to you for persevering with them Graham. Surely one of the best aspects of British life is blokes patiently and skillfully fixing things in the shed. Sounds a nightmare product to me, whether it was a blower or something else, I wouldn't…"

Comments

Ofer El-hashahar April 14, 2009 at 8:34pm

I was snowed under with to do lists, selling edgings but still on the edge myself, but would like to keep on share some tips how to dill with landscaping/garden design at hard economy:

there are 3 main keys to your success now: wonderful presenting of your abilities, great networking and added value to your services/products.

If you have these you will do well at any time.If you have a good website or even a good slide show on a cd you can tick the first box just make sure to explain there what is your added value compare with the rest of the market.

At this economy people usually go to someone that was recommended or compare few options -you do not have to be the cheapest to be chosen. the opposite never be cheap as to upgrade your prices will be very very hard . what you have to do now is to show not just quality but the added value.
what do I mean by added value?
for example I used to say when I was meeting customers that wanted a new garden that If I do the design and the job itself they benefits few things.( saves costs and guarantee success and so on into details) you can offer to come and visit the garden once a year to do professional maintenance once a year.
When I did maintenance it was fertilizing the garden for free as part of the service twice a year.
(All of these were after my customers saw a lot of photos, qualifications, lists of services and more.)

Only when people see that you are great and have an added value and some other people recommended about you they will be happy to let you work pay you well and will keep recomed about you.

So the first thing to do is to find what extra value you can offer: 4 seasons gardens, easy care gardens with low cost maintenance or maybe other ideas.
now make sure you it is in your presentation and that your presentation show your customers your benefits.

The next stage and most important is to built your networking- it should include all your happy customers , friends and new people that might have an interest to help you ( if they have contacts with potential customers even better.
It does not happend in a day. keep a list of those - make sure they all saw what can you offer( on your website or so) and that they all know your strong keys.
Try and help them so they would like to help you - keep in touch with them- do not bother them but once a while to ask how are they can be nice.If you ask for help you will find people that would like to help you - sure if they where happy with the job you did.

give a good service- it might sound clear - but simple things like ringing back when a customer ask you or trying to help customers questions will give you important credit points these points might be very important these days.

what not to do - do not spend your time giving up or just reduce prices.
(you can explain a new cutomers your added value and that you are willing to reduce the price on part of your work or for the first few times just for the good feeling that usually show that you understand your customers but you know what you worth.