The 'Credit Crunch' knocks out a 'Tooth' in Garden Design

I have just been reading Horticulture Week Online and the recent liquidation of Trevor Tooth's garden design practice and with it, the loss of twenty jobs.

The Credit Crunch has been blamed after the buyer of Tooth's Lloyds TSB Chelsea show garden pulled the plug after apparently suffering financial problems themselves.

The downturn and possible recession has not arrived all of a sudden -The writing has been displayed on the wall larger than one of Banksey's graffiti art.

My advice to any business that has employees to protect would be to rein in spending and cut out high cost projects such as show gardens and concentrate on finding solid tangible projects in real gardens.

How long does it take to get the message home? For any business to remain competitive there needs to be clear leadership and the implementation of a plan that has been drawn up well in advance.

Mark Gregory, owner of Landform (formerly Landmark) is quoted on the HortWeek site as saying “The bottom of the market is suffering but we’re above the cloud line, although a lot of big projects have been put on hold.

“Short-term pain is long-term gain for the industry.”

I am concerned by this remark by Gregory! - As Assistant Chairman of the Association of Professional Landscapers (APL), Gregory needs to clarify exactly what " above the cloud line" means?

If there is an inference that he and his company is beyond the reach of the tentacles of financial ruin caused by the effects of a toppling of a proverbial pack of cards, then I feel Gregory is very much mistaken.

As this slump deepens, it is the larger companies that are more at risk, especially if those companies rely on commissions from others who are considered at even greater risk - the chain of events from a failure at the top can either ripple through to or crush those dependant on an orderly supply chain below.

There are going to be more casualties in the Landscaping and Garden industry for sure and possibly members of the APL and BALI who may be below the 'Cloud Line' and are in need of their associations help right now.

Comments

[Stuart]

Be honest with your employees!.. sounds silly but if you want loyal staff.. tell them whats going on. Secretive meetings just make people feel shut out and rumours start and then people leave on the basis of a rumour. Remember that your staff have families to protect too and at least if it all go's tits up! they are prepared to deal with easier. Also you will find out who really are your loyal employees. Think about winning not just surviving. Think of it this way, if your good at what you do think of this as not a downturn for business but a good chance for you to shine and come out on top. This will sort out the rubbish and they will vanish but the companies with ambition will come out on top.

Make sure you make customers aware that they are dealing with a good strong company that will still be here after this ressesion and mean it..

If you don't already do it, keep customers deposits in seperate accounts to your main account and leave them alone.

[Philip Voice]

Stuart offers some rally good advice and honesty, a foundation we are building the network on, is the key.