DESIGN AND BUILD
OUTLOOK 2016
PHOTO BY SMSHOOT
06 /DESIGN
From conversations with people working in all aspects of the design and build sector, it would seem we have reason to be optimistic. Enquiries, sales and spend all seem to be on the up. In the words of one unnamed horticulture professional, ‘Remember the last time you asked, and I said I was really busy? Well now I’m actually busy, doing tangible stuff, and not just running about the place thinking I’m busy’. A tongue-in-cheek comment of course, but one which does capture a sense of what’s happening in horticulture-related businesses across the country. So are we right to be optimistic? Is that little bump in sales enquiries replicated across the country, across related horticulture sub-sectors? To gain a real insight, we asked a number of key industry figures to share their thoughts on the current trading environment, the opportunities and challenges they face and activities their representative bodies have planned for the year ahead.
THE CONTRACTING PERSPECTIVE Thomas Crummy, Chairperson of the ALCI and proprietor, Thomas J. Crummy Landscaping
I
am writing this the day before Election 2016, which is relevant, particularly for our West Coast members who have not yet felt the benefit of the alleged economic improvements. Our viability depends strongly on the type of government we elect and the way they manage “our projects”. Fine Gael and Labour have initiated some infrastructural development which has started but I fear quality landscapers such as ALCI members might not reap the
rewards unless the current plans are put into action and fast. ALCI is a National Association of reputable landscape contractors. Initially I was going to report on what percentage turnover had improved among our members region by region, but most are reporting little or no improvement or a slight improvement from a very low base, other than the exception of Dublin where margins are still very tight but at least contractors are back at work. The general consensus is optimistic, the glass half full. We are all of the belief that there is work in the pipeline, but that it has not commenced or has not reached the “landscaping stage” just yet. Competition in the Maintenance arena is still very strong. There is the suggestion that current rates are below sustainability levels when return on investment in mechanisation is taken into account. As always barriers of entry into the market are rock bottom. The power of buyers remains high which is also fuelling competition. The cost for clients switching between suppliers of landscape services is
Spring 2016 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED
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