4 minute read
Landscaper's Circle
It's showtime
Paula Warman shares her journey on creating a show garden
Advertisement
Landscapers and garden designers are fully into the show garden season. Whether the infamous RHS shows from Chelsea to Malvern or local events, up and down the country gardeners, designers and horticulturists will be trawling events for inspiration. This year is of particular interest to me as my landscaping and design business, Aura Landscapes, is designing and building our very first show for Gardeners World Spring Fair in Beaulieu.
What do show gardens do for business?
Show gardens are a great way to showcase a garden design and landscaping skills for potential clients to see. It is particularly fortunate if you can enter a show in your local area, as it can potentially offer the chance to attract quality clients within the local area.
Showing is great for recognition. For us the show garden and design will be judged on the first day of the show, to win an award would be fantastic and like the icing of a very stressful cake.
Taking part in local shows initally, it's great for getting experience in designing and building show gardens and if you want to build more as part of your company focus and strategy.
How do you prepare for a show garden?
Preparation tends to start many months prior to the show itself. In our case we were approached by the Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) to design and build a last-minute show garden in association with them.
Due to location being so close to us, we jumped at the opportunity and began preparing with only a few weeks before the event. The steps we took were: • Look at the brief and design an exceptional garden space to fit • Visit the site and ask necessary questions from APL • Delegate jobs to our team – sourcing products, sponsorship and marketing • Create a marketing plan for the
weeks leading up to the show and after the show utilising social media, emails and press releases • Send over all descriptions, sponsor logos and design description to the show organisers • Create banners for the site and leaflets detailing the garden to offer visitors on the day • Start building structures off-site ready to take to the build to save time • Ensure all staff were available to begin building from day one • Book in time to be present at the show during the whole event
You can use these steps not just for show gardens but tradeshows as preparation is key as is the marketing opportunity available to you and your business.
Creativity and commitment
Building a show garden takes planning, creativity, commitment and patience, alongside the additional hours on top of the day job. But the opportunity it creates is well worth it.
It is a joy to let creativity flow whilst fulfilling a brief. Plus, from a business perspective it can be a great boost for the business and your team.
In summary, if you are thinking about getting involved in show gardens my top tips are planning, preparation and marketing! This is an opportunity to really shout about your company and get in front of a large pool of potential clients so as well as focussing on the garden make sure you factor in the marketing in the lead up to and during the show.
Another tip is to look for sponsors who will help keep costs down. Finally, make sure you create space in the diary to breathe and take stock along the way.
n If you want help with show garden marketing, planning and preparation then get in touch with The Landscaper’s Circle. My vision is to support and mentor as many landscapers, garden designers and horticultural businesses as possible, through membership of The Landscaper’s Circle.
Left: Aura Landscapes Gardeners World Spring Fair in Beaulieu.
The Landscaper’s Circle is the only online platform exclusively for business owners in the landscaping industry to learn how to market and run their business better. Become part of the #TLCTribe today for training and support. If you need our help please email at info@thelandscaperscircle.co.uk | www.thelandscaperscircle.co.uk
OPTIMUM PERFORMANCE. LONG ENGINE LIFE. ETHANOL FREE. ƒ
PREMIUM PREMIXED FUEL: STIHL MOTOMIX.
STIHL MotoMix is designed for 2-stroke, 2-MIX and 4-MIX STIHL engines and is patented to be the best formulation for petrol machines.
The fuel has been optimised so petrol machines accelerate up to working speed even faster. It uses STIHL’s premium 2-stroke oil, HP Ultra, and has been formulated to provide better protection & lubrication for petrol engines. Plus, STIHL MotoMix has virtually no olefins or aromatic compounds, meaning it has cleaner emissions compared to regular fuels.
And best of all, STIHL MotoMix has a shelf life of up to 5 years in the original container in a cool, dry environment.
