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Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2014 5:06 pm
by Bec@LondonStone
Just wondering if anybody has experience of working on a show garden? If so, what was your take on it? Was it worthwhile for your business and did you enjoy the process? We've supplied a few the last couple of years and really enjoyed getting involved but I know that some companies just have a blanket 'no' rule when it comes to getting involved with them.
Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2014 5:31 pm
by Nigel Walker
I done my first show garden 3 years ago at the Holker Garden Festival. I was mulling for a few years whether I should do one or not.
Anyway, first garden was only 6m by 6m. Thoroughly enjoyed building it and manning the garden on the 3 show days. Very hard work, but worthwhile. I got around 3-4 direct jobs off the first show garden and lots of contacts who have since been in touch since wanting work done.
Second show garden at Holker was 15m by 15m. A lot more work, a lot more planting. Again, really enjoyed it all and got a quite a few leads
3rd show garden at Holker, I done with a good friend of mine and it was the most enjoyable one I have done. I was helped by Marshalls supplying me with their products. Not as many direct leads from this show
This years show garden was the most productive yet. I scaled down the size to about 50m2 using a circle design, again being helped massively by Marshalls
I have had the most response off this years show, but a lot of people have seen me over the previous 3 years and are now wanting work done.
Overall, a lot of hard work, a lot of time out of your normal schedule which you do not get paid for, very very tiring, but thoroughly worthwhile.
I know Holker is only a smallish show, but I think that is its appeal for me. I wouldn't fancy doing Chelsea, Hampton Court or Tatton unless I was a fully paid contractor. And then I don't think I would have as much passion
Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2014 8:45 pm
by DNgroundworks
The landscape architect i do alot of work is quite heavily involved in things like this, she is an RHS judge and i think has had show gardens at Tatton in the past.
Im not so sure whether it brings much in the way of leads though to the contractor, it almost sounds to me like a competition between the designers (which it probably is, i have no idea)
Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2014 10:34 am
by Bec@LondonStone
That's great that you got so many leads, Nigel. I haven't heard of Holker Garden Festival before, just Googled it and it looks interesting. The RHS shows can get a bit crazy, they're just so big, Holker looks like it might be a bit of a more relaxing day out.
Lead-wise, I think it has to do with the kind of garden you're building and the market that it appeals to. Some of the more 'arty' type installations probably don't generate as much interest for a contractor as something more practical would. Then again, a designer might fare better with a more conceptual garden to show case their skills. I don't really know, to be honest I've not been involved in it for long enough to make a properly informed judgement. It's good to get other people's takes on it though from experience. I do know that we had a few enquiries off the back of Hampton Court this year from one particular garden which was stunning but very practical and achievable 'in real life'. A lot of the contractors do seem to be fully paid, so perhaps that indicates that it is more beneficial for the designers like you say, DN.
Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2014 8:25 pm
by lutonlagerlout
from a personal perspective we have been approached twice by TV companies with a view to working free for the glory of being on TV
not for me
I didnt realise that the show gardens are installed for free Nigel?
most reports that Tony mcC writes about Chelsea despair at the quality of the paving installations
I suppose its worth it for a stone supplier or designer but how many real jobs will come from it for a contractor?
LLL
Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2014 9:03 pm
by Nigel Walker
The show gardens I have done have been fully designed and built by myself, in my own time at my own cost with the invaluable help of sponsoring companies like Marshalls who provide me with some materials
I have done them to showcase my business.
A winning garden does get prize money about £600 for a large gold
My designs are based around paving and hard landscaping , with a bit of planting thrown in lol. Although I am getting more clued up on all this horticultural stuff !!
I design gardens that the public can relate to and designs that are easily achievable for most people.
Because I showcase my paving, I get a lot of leads
The Holker Show is a more relaxed family friendly show. Occasionally you get proper garden designers doing show gardens, but mostly it is local paving/landscaping/building companies just doing what they are best at.
The Holker Show is judged by RHS judges and they keep on commenting on how high the standard of paving is. And also comment on how bad the paving is at the main RHS shows !
Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2014 4:46 pm
by Bec@LondonStone
LLL, I think there are some contractors who have made a name for themselves producing Gold medal winning gardens at the RHS shows and they charge full whack for their services. An awful lot though are providing their services for free as a form of sponsorship, the same way that we will sometimes supply FOC stone. The key in my (very limited as yet) experience is, as Nigel says, building gardens that appeal to the general public and are practical and achievable for most people with a standard garden space to work with.
Holker Show sounds great, Nigel. It's nice that it allows local contractors to showcase their talents and I guess the audience is more targeted as well with it being a regional show.