Boggy Blogging from Nicky and the Team @ GardenImprovements.com
Here is an article I wrote for the much celebrated Landscape Juice Network back in February 2009. I think much of it still holds true currently for the many businesses, established and start-up alike in the landscape and garden design industries.
Landscaping through the recession : Landscape and garden expert.
Originally posted 2009-10-13 13:19:17. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Tue, February 15 2011 » Industry Comment » No Comments
Being new to the landscaping and design business it was always going to take me a while to get used to the different aspects involved, none more so than the design process; fiddling about on the laptop with the design software we use was all well and good- but it couldn’t prepare me for the real life problems presented by an actual client and project.
by Matthew Thomson
Originally posted 2009-06-24 17:00:58. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Tue, February 15 2011 » Industry Comment » No Comments
The winter months are in fact the best time to arrange to have a landscaping project scheduled for your garden; ensuring everything is in place for the new season to start and getting a real head start on enjoying your home outdoors!
by Nicky Patterson (more…)
Originally posted 2008-12-24 10:18:03. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Tue, February 15 2011 » Industry Comment, Promotions and Client Information » No Comments
As landscapers and gardeners up and down the country shake off their festive hangovers and head back out – we find that country is frozen solid – but surely we aren’t ALL down in the dumps about 2009?
by Nicky Patterson (more…)
Originally posted 2009-01-06 21:10:50. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Tue, February 15 2011 » Industry Comment » No Comments
Much of Glasgow has been bought, pulled down, built upon or developed in these past ten years and there have been tens of thousands of new properties built around the city. New properties with gardens of course are where my interests are focused since they instantly require some form of landscaping and we have designed and landscaped more than a few in these past 4 years, but there seems to be a trend in the condition of the garden left to the new owners by the developers: If you have recently purchased a new-build property or are thinking of buying one; how much thought or relevance do you, or does the developer attribute to the garden at the point of sale?
by Nicky Patterson (more…)
Originally posted 2009-03-01 12:39:21. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Tue, February 15 2011 » Industry Comment, Promotions and Client Information » 1 Comment
As a designer I have found it difficult to balance the time between the daily MUST-DOs required to keep the business on track and design time, also crucial to the business’ success but never quite as pressing (that is unless deadline day is looming!).
In the first few years of GardenImprovements.com I had been doing design work as-and-when I could, fitting it in around site-work, site-surveys and administration. Designs were infrequently submitted to clients late.
Recently I have begun scheduling a set 2 and a half hours per day per design (maximum 2 designs) and treating this time exactly like an appointment – where I don’t allow distractions and only answer vital calls. This has meant that designs can be completed in just over 2 weeks allowing a few extra days for for embellishment or any time lost from emergency site call-outs (when the bat-signal has gone up!).
Here is an excellent article that should help us designers out and improve our efficiency:
Hope it helps! Source: Getting Creative Things Done: How To Fit Hard Thinking Into a Busy Schedule :: Tips :: The 99 Percent.
Originally posted 2010-11-22 08:47:16. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Tue, February 15 2011 » Industry Comment » No Comments
Introducing our newest blogging author Matthew Thomson; also a trainee garden designer and a landscaper, whose recent experience at an introductory meeting with the Glasgow Guerilla Gardeners has indeed left him inspired and keen to spread the good word.
by Matthew Thomson (more…)
Originally posted 2009-03-19 00:13:20. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Tue, February 15 2011 » Industry Comment, Influence and Inspiration » No Comments
As a designer I am frequently invited to people’s homes to discuss their requirements in the garden. Many, who have contacted me with landscaping projects in mind, simply want A patio, or A deck or A driveway and it must be THIS shape and must go HERE, THERE and THERE: but if we look at the garden in it’s entirety as part of our property; then it becomes another room – albeit an outdoor room. I wonder; would people upgrade their old and worn out bathroom by simply replacing the bath alone? It might be a whopping great shiny bath but would it not outshine the rest of the bathroom fittings and therefore actually make the room far LESS attractive – surely the opposite from the desired effect?
by Nicky Patterson (more…)
Originally posted 2009-01-27 22:20:03. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Tue, February 15 2011 » Industry Comment, Promotions and Client Information » No Comments
Having read some of the many articles on the effects of the credit crunch on small businesses, I wonder how it will affect my small business and how other garden designers and landscapers around Glasgow, and indeed around the UK, will cope with the coming year.
by Nicky Patterson (more…)
Originally posted 2008-12-31 13:02:16. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Tue, February 15 2011 » Industry Comment » No Comments
So after much practise and a couple of knock-backs, I finally had come up with a design that a client felt worthy of having built in their garden…phew! The customer was Mary G from Busby on the south side of Glasgow, and not only did she like the design she loved it enough to go over budget to get the project going!
by Matthew Thomson (more…)
Sun, October 11 2009 » Gardening, Industry Comment » No Comments
