Ive, been dabbling in plant propagation on a very small scale but want to
take the next step and begin to make a profit .Mmmm ? Has anyone any
recommended sites for begginers . Anything even basic stuff to avoid
mistakes , maybe someones online diary .

Thanks in anticipation .

"Mike" wrote in message ...
Ive, been dabbling in plant propagation on a very small scale but want to
take the next step and begin to make a profit .Mmmm ? Has anyone any
recommended sites for begginers . Anything even basic stuff to avoid
mistakes , maybe someones online diary .

Hello Mike

I do not have any tips or hints for you, but I do have some questions
of my own. Sorry if it appears that I am hijacking your thread.

My questions relate to the feasibility of doing ths on a small scale.
I have been tempted down that route myself, then I look at the prices
in the mainstream outlets (DIY sheds and Garden Centre chains) and
wonder if it is possible to make a living in this way.

My conclusion was that there is room as long as you go down the
specialist route. So you become a well known name in the Gladiolus
field, for example. You do Glads and not much else, You therefore
attract people who want something special and you avoid competing head
on with the mass producers.

Have you managed to sell any of your production yet. Who to, friends
neighbours ?

How do you plan to get your name known?

Do you have a 'day' job to support you through the quiet times?

Its a fascinating idea and one which will attract more people as the
down-shifting exodus from the metropolis takes off.

Phil

Philip wrote "............Hello Mike

I do not have any tips or hints for you, but I do have some questions of my
own. Sorry if it appears that I am hijacking your thread.
My questions relate to the feasibility of doing this on a small scale.
I have been tempted down that route myself, then I look at the prices in the
mainstream outlets (DIY sheds and Garden Centre chains) and wonder if it is
possible to make a living in this way...."

Just think that "IF" you could make 50% on all you grew then to make a
modest living of say £15,000 a year you would have to sell £30,000 of
produce a year.
--
David Hill
Abacus nurseries
www.abacus-nurseries.co.uk

On 10/8/04 14:12, in article , "David Hill"
wrote:

Philip wrote "............Hello Mike

I do not have any tips or hints for you, but I do have some questions of my
own. Sorry if it appears that I am hijacking your thread.
My questions relate to the feasibility of doing this on a small scale.
I have been tempted down that route myself, then I look at the prices in the
mainstream outlets (DIY sheds and Garden Centre chains) and wonder if it is
possible to make a living in this way...."

Just think that "IF" you could make 50% on all you grew then to make a
modest living of say £15,000 a year you would have to sell £30,000 of
produce a year.

It might be possible to do it as a side line and perhaps to specialise in
e.g. Herbs or something. But nurseries are NOT a way to get rich and in
fact, nor are garden centres it seems now. One huge garden centre here is
struggling and has laid off 5 staff recently, we hear from trade chatter and
we heard the other day that 5 nurseries are up for sale in Devon alone. The
general word going around among the trade and this includes suppliers to the
trade, is that times are not good. Perhaps people are feeling the credit
pinch and non-essentials to sustaining life are going by the board. House
prices and sales are slipping back, too and tourism is not having a
wonderful time, either.
I would query whether this is a good moment to be starting *any* new
business that is expected to be a sole source of income.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)

Sacha wrote in
:

It might be possible to do it as a side line and perhaps to specialise
in e.g. Herbs or something. But nurseries are NOT a way to get rich
and in fact, nor are garden centres it seems now.

The OP mentioned 'garden centre' in his title, but his post suggests that
he really just wants to start selling things he has propagated himself.

Mail order might be a possibility? I don't know about garden stuff
specifically, but Ebay traders can make a decent living, if not a
fortune?

Either is likely to be lower-risk than setting up in face to face retail,
which as Sacha suggests, needs a fair bit of initial investment, and
would probably involve expensive and fiddly things like hiring staff.

Anyone starting up a business which they expect to do more than provide
pocket money, should talk to:
a lawyer,
an accountant who knows a bit about personal tax and small businesses
Business Link
any local Enterprise type organisation.

(they will probably contradict one another, but it's handy to note the
points of disagreement!)

Tip: lawyers and accountants are used to everyone they meet being bored
or irritated by what they do. If you already know one, try looking
flatteringly interested and they can be tempted to hand out extremely
useful free advice & anecdotes. Beer helps.

There are grants around for all sorts of mad things these days. If you
can bear the paperwork, there's surprising amounts of cash swishing about
for some things: check for publically funded bodies in your area/market
who can point you in the right direction.

Victoria

"Mike" wrote in message
...
Ive, been dabbling in plant propagation on a very small scale but want to
take the next step and begin to make a profit .Mmmm ? Has anyone any
recommended sites for begginers . Anything even basic stuff to avoid
mistakes , maybe someones online diary .

Thanks in anticipation .

Hi Mike,

I'd suggest having a chat with a local independant garden centre near you,
if you approach a multiple like Wyevale or Notcutts, their purchasing power
is restricted by head office (at least it was when I was in the trade). See
if they will purchase the stock you grow, they'll also know if there is a
retail market for the particular plants that you intend on growing.

If you are looking to start up on your own, then go and work (part or full
time) at a garden centre (again an independant) for a while, it's hard work
but you'll get a good idea of what's involved, without burning huge amounts
of cash.

Remember that like any business, garden-centres can be cut-throat, and the
sheds and multiples would rather put all the independants out of business,
so if there is a large profit in what you grow, you can be sure that one of
the large chains will wise-up and instruct one of their foreign or domestic
growers to try and steal your business.

Lastly, the world is shrinking when it comes to plant supplies, our local
garden centre gets a daily delivery of plants and flowers from Holland and
thousands of roses are imported to the UK from Kenya. So unless your produce
can only be grown in your specific locale, you'll have to watch your back.

Good luck with your plans.

Cheers

Nick
http://www.ukgardening.co.uk

On 10/8/04 15:59, in article
, "Nick Gray"
wrote:


"Mike" wrote in message
...
Ive, been dabbling in plant propagation on a very small scale but want to
take the next step and begin to make a profit .Mmmm ? Has anyone any
recommended sites for begginers . Anything even basic stuff to avoid
mistakes , maybe someones online diary .

Thanks in anticipation .

Hi Mike,

I'd suggest having a chat with a local independant garden centre near you,
if you approach a multiple like Wyevale or Notcutts, their purchasing power
is restricted by head office (at least it was when I was in the trade). See
if they will purchase the stock you grow, they'll also know if there is a
retail market for the particular plants that you intend on growing.

This is a good suggestion but I'd like to add a rider. Under NO
circumstances would I suggest that anyone puts their stock output into the
hands of any one outlet, either supermarket or garden centre or local
garage. You are entirely at their mercy and if they choose to reject your
goods, you have no other market for them.
One thing that the OP and people like him could consider is growing plugs
for selling on to nurseries but that takes green houses, heating and some
considerable investment. Some nurserymen go into that because with modern
machinery they can go into wholesale only, reduce staff and be pretty sure
their outlets won't let them down, unless real disaster strikes their stock.


If you are looking to start up on your own, then go and work (part or full
time) at a garden centre (again an independant) for a while, it's hard work
but you'll get a good idea of what's involved, without burning huge amounts
of cash.

Good idea.
snip

On Tue, 10 Aug 2004 14:12:34 +0100, "David Hill"
wrote:


Just think that "IF" you could make 50% on all you grew then to make a
modest living of say £15,000 a year you would have to sell £30,000 of
produce a year.

And that's a *lot* of plants/work unless you're in the top end of a
highly specialised niche market. Like Sacha says, not an easy way to
riches.

=================================================

Rod

Weed my email address to reply.
http://website.lineone.net/~rodcraddock/index.html