Landscape Juice

William Hill offer 5/1 on there being a hosepipe ban in 2013

Happy to year to you. I'm sitting at my desk looking out into a light mist but with bright blue sky evident above. It's rather weird because we've just endured a warm festive period with light southerly to south-westerly winds bringing in a very comfortable 14-17°C. We've not even had a hint of frost and even this week is still forecast at 9-15°C through the day with a minimum night temperature of 3°C. Even as I approach the ninth anniversary since selling my landscaping businesses I still get flashbacks to the days when we'd turn in for work when all... Read more →

Blue skies ahead for Marshalls?

I get the feeling (and it's only a hunch) that we will start to see some improvements at Marshalls in the coming months. Marshalls' revenue for the ten months ended 31 October 2012 was £279 million (2011: £298 million; 2010: £278 million) a decrease of 6 per cent. Current trading continues to be in line with expectations. Although the group's latest interim statement reports revenue down a further 6% on the ten months ending 31 October 2012 there's one little clue which screams that trading is picking up. In what is still an uncertain macro economic climate worldwide, Marshalls' message... Read more →

Marshalls domestic results decline 14% after wet period

Landscape material manufacturer Marshalls have reported a drop in sales for the period April 2012 through to the end of June. The group cites poor weather as the main reason during what Marshalls says is a very important business window. Sales to the domestic landscaping market were down 14%. The weather impact has resulted in an estimated reduction in sales in the second quarter of approximately £10 million (equivalent to 6 days' installations). Due to the £8 million investment in Belgium, net debt has increased to £84 million (2011: £71 million). Marshalls says: "In response to continuing macroeconomic uncertainty the... Read more →

Gareth Robinson of Marshalls talks e-commerce

Gareth Robinson is the head of e-business at Marshalls Plc and is part of the current fast moving generation making big changes to the way we are buying online. Gareth has been with Marshalls for just 18 months but in this interview he talks about how Marshalls are leaders in the way product manufacturers sell landscaping products online but more importantly how they, as a company, are engaging with social media to interact with employees and customers. listen to my interview with Gareth (approx 10 mins) A bit about Gareth Graduated with a masters degree in computer science and marketing... Read more →

Jobs to go at Marshalls as trading conditions become more challenging

Thirty jobs are to go at Marshalls as the company reveal trading conditions have become even more challenging. I first got wind via an anonymous source before the weekend that there would be more redundancies. My source claimed up to sixty jobs would go - a figure refuted by a company spokesman. Speaking to a company spokesman yesterday I was told that four members of staff left the sales team last week and management have opened a period of negotiation with union representatives at their West Lane site. The job losses represent just over 1% of Marshalls' workforce. Late last... Read more →

Marshalls Cobbletech sett to change the landscape

You can imagine, I get sent an awful lot of product news by companies who want publicity for their products and services. I do tend to avoid publishing unless I really do feel a product has a viable use for the landscape industry. I got an email from Claire Blake, who is the senior product manager at Marshalls, asking the best way of adding details of their new Cobbletech driveway sett system to the Landscape Juice Network. It's at this point I have to declare an interest and make a disclaimer. Marshalls sponsor the network and pay me some money... Read more →

Poor weather hits Marshalls sales - caution remains

The landscape industry sees little signs of picking up as proved today by the release of Marshalls' interim trading statement. Sales were hit hard by poor weather and a flat commercial market. In this morning's statement release Marshalls report a 3% decrease in revenue compared with the same period last year. Citing poor weather, Marshalls said: "After a satisfactory first quarter, sales did not show their usual post Easter uplift. Working conditions in April were disappointing, hampering sales and obscuring underlying market trends. The rainfall in April of 138 mm* (2011: 14 mm; 2010: 27 mm) has been an important... Read more →

Mythbusting - Stone versus Concrete

Chris and Dan at Marshalls discuss the advantages of Stone and Concrete patio paving to help homeowners better understand the options that are available to them. Read more →

Maurice Smith & Sons win Marshalls Register Contractor of the Year 2011

Marshalls has celebrated excellence in hard landscaping design and installation at its annual Marshalls Register Awards held recently. The national awards covers a range of categories from ‘Best Driveway Transformation’ to ‘Best Use of Marshalls Fairstone’, with this year’s awards attracting over 800 project submissions from its 1,000 strong associated Member companies from all around the UK. The day culminated in the presentation of a brand new Toyota Hilux Double Cab to ‘Marshalls Register Contractor of the Year 2011’. This year’s award winner was Darren Smith from Louth based Maurice Smith & Sons, for his driveway project of Marshalls Drivesett... Read more →

Massive discount off greenhouses this spring

Get a massive discount off greenhouses this spring when you buy through the Marshalls online shop using discount Code LANDSCAPEJUICE. Marshalls are slashing 50% from their greenhouse range as a spring promotion on their recently refurbished online shop and they are giving away a further 7% reduction to Landscape Juice readers. Remember to use discount code LANDSCAPEJUICE when checking out Read more →