Landscape Juice

Did your landscaping association stay open over Christmas?

Watching my Twitter stream this morning it's apparent that the majority of businesses in the landscape sector shut down for two weeks over Christmas. It makes sense and I have to admit that it was the one time of year during my landscaping career I was happy to close the office door for a few days and not be too bothered about the phone or email. During my annual summer holiday it was different as I always fretted and kept in touch with the office, just in case. But at Christmas I always felt able to switch off and enjoy... Read more →

BALI in crisis as member takes a swipe at merger talk

The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) appears to be heading for a crisis as one of its members warned other organisations about trying to get close. Writing in the November edition of the Pro Landscaper magazine (page 24) managing director of ISS Facilities Services Landscaping, Phil Jones, said that having seen the BALI board in action at the recent BALI AGM that he said he came away feeling far from being part of 'well-run, professional organisation'. Jones said that at the AGM meeting lacked engagement, clarity and management professionalism. It was more like a scene from the Vicar of... Read more →

Landscape Collaborative Working Group proposals

Has anyone read the article in Hort Week last week - Landscapers band together to stand up for the industry? It talks about proposals that encourage all groups to work more closely together. On the face of it it all sounds very agreeable. Not many people with argue that a more integrated approach is needed if the landscape industry was to become more serious about promoting itself to the widest possible audience. However, these (new?) proposals come from small groups working for the benefit of small groups. I haven't seen any invitation that asks the entire landscape industry practitioners to... Read more →

Rogue trader convicted for a second time for fraudulent use of logos

A Darlington based rogue trader has been prosecuted for the second time in four years for the misuse of a trade organisations' marketing material. Shane Shipton, who traded as Darlington Driveways, was fined £80.00 for falsely claiming he was a Marshalls Register approved contractor. In 2010 Shipton - trading as J Groves Gardening Services - was sentenced to a 12 month community order, with a condition to complete 150 hours of community service, and ordered to pay £100 costs for the misuse of the BALI logo. Read more →

Landscape industry's lone voice pushes for Vat change

I've just returned from a meeting at the Houses of Parliament, where the Cut the Vat Coalition launched a new report highlighting how a cut in Vat - from 20% down to 5% - for building renovations and repairs on private properties could kick-start the economy, as well as create thousands of new jobs. You can read about my visit and the launch of the report by Experian here. I signed up as a supporter to the Cut the Vat Campaign over a year ago so I was greatly saddened that Landscape Juice was the sole representative of the landscape... Read more →

BALI has lost its way says founding member

Managing Director of ISS Facility Services Landscaping, Phil Jones, has criticised BALI saying he believes the organisation "has lost its way and no longer does any good for its larger members, except for those perhaps who are represented on the Board of BALI and a few others". Speaking in the February issue of the Pro Landscaper Magazine (page 15) Jones also said "I see sufficient indications that we are still an insular group of people who have a passion for what we do, but with an inability to effectively engage with the outside world". This is the first time I... Read more →

Which? Trusted Traders questioned

The Which? Trusted Trader scheme has faced some questioning since its launch in early October. When we first reported the launch of Which? Trusted Traders, Managing Director, Stephen McCluskey was quick to join the conversation, saying: "We have set up Which? Trusted Traders in line with our policy of addressing consumer detriment in the market. We are doing this by introducing a thorough vetting process and marketing the scheme very actively. The fees are to cover the Assessor visits and assessments and the subsequent marketing. We believe that this will be to the benefit of both the consumer experience and... Read more →

Why Landscape Juice's open policy is the right one for the landscape industry

I've often been accused of dumbing down the landscape industry because of Landscape Juice's open policy - we do not vet or inspect businesses, instead opting for encouraging members to be open and honest about themselves and their abilities. Our peer mentoring and information sharing has quite simply added a unique dimension that was never available before. It's still unique in its concept and remains totally independent of landscape trade groups and industry media. I am proud of Landscape Juice's achievement and I'm buoyed daily by the feedback I get from industry practitioners telling how their business life has been... Read more →

Trade association model in downward spiral

If you are regular reader of my Landscape Juice blog you will already know that I'm certain the trade association model is a dying one. In the days before the internet the intellectuality property stored behind a physical and mental firewall was a commodity so highly valued. The old and wise, who had worked over many years gathering together skills, experience and business practices, would pass information down to the newbies as they entered - or should I say, allowed to enter - their hallowed halls. It was an unchallengeable stronghold and there was no circumnavigating the route of entry.... Read more →

Niche communities are a strong business tool

I work with social media every single day. Although I've had to make a concious effort to remove myself from in front of the computer screen due to overload, even my weekends are spattered with a touch of social interactivity in some shape or form. Even if I leave the house to go into town or partake in some other activity it's very rare I'm without my web enabled mobile (or should that be smartphone?). Today's web and media savvy people (and that isn't just youngsters) seem to be increasingly at one with their mobile device and probably less so... Read more →