Hanging baskets

[WHARTY]

Hello everyone.

I was thinking today that hanging baskets seem very expensive (well at least they are in Bridgemere Garden World) They were around £30-£40.

I then wondered if a good little sideline would be to make them up yourself and sell them door to door?

You could put the baskets up for people too and in the Autumn/Winter you could go back and put plants in for that season?

Surely this can be done cheaper?

I am sure some older people may be interested that can't get out as much or just busy people who want the house to look nice?

In essence a hanging basket service all year round that you don't have to manage yourself?

Cheers

Lee

 

[CherylDavis]

You could give it a trial and see how it goes!

 

[Subbynet]

Don't forget to factor in the baskets which don't sell and just rot - part of the markup will have to account for this. You can reuse the basket, but you'll have to buy new flowers for it, and obviously there is a cost in labour too.

As for the service part - gardeners will already sort out hanging baskets, so I can't help but think you'll struggle trying to push this alone. There will probably have to be some other aspect to it.

Mind you, I could see a few businesses going for it, say cafes and pubs with outside areas they wish to smarten up. If you can supply, hang and maintain the baskets you might get some customers. They'll probably need watering daily I would have thought, so I can see this being labour extensive rather than a sell and forget situation. (Or perhaps factor in the cost of watering systems)

 

[StratBee]

This seems like a good business idea but, I think that it will greatly, help you to do some research first, initially!

The "face to face" concept could be of significant benefit as, people can see what they are buying and the quality. First Impressions count! Plus, there are other sales channels that are low cost which you may not have considered.

Hanging baskets £30 - £40 is daylight robbery! You can get hanging baskets (easy fill I might add) on Ideal world for less than that.

 

[WHARTY]

This seems like a good business idea but, I think that it will greatly, help you to do some research first, initially!

The "face to face" concept could be of significant benefit as, people can see what they are buying and the quality. First Impressions count! Plus, there are other sales channels that are low cost which you may not have considered.

Hanging baskets £30 - £40 is daylight robbery! You can get hanging baskets (easy fill I might add) on Ideal world for less than that.

Yea i could maybe do a deal with a local garden centre and see how many i can sell for them? Not got any land of my own or a greenhouse so that would probably be the only route.

I have a van that i can use too or maybe an old milkfloat would be pretty cool with the baskets already hanging!

 

[StratBee]

Yea i could maybe do a deal with a local garden centre and see how many i can sell for them? Not got any land of my own or a greenhouse so that would probably be the only route.

I have a van that i can use too or maybe an old milkfloat would be pretty cool with the baskets already hanging!

I think partnering with garden centres should be a last resort idea (Make sure as, much profit as possible comes back to you first).

If, you could dress/arrange the milk float, showing off "ready to hang baskets" that will give you a highly attractive sales display! (Who doesn't like to see flowers!?) Drive it through the right areas and you might just surprise yourself!!

Start small and see how it goes? You can always expand.

Do you know anyone with garden space that you could, borrow or patio area?

 

[Doodle-Noodle]

Yea i could maybe do a deal with a local garden centre and see how many i can sell for them? Not got any land of my own or a greenhouse so that would probably be the only route.

I have a van that i can use too or maybe an old milkfloat would be pretty cool with the baskets already hanging!

Sounds like a great idea to me - I hate gardening, don't like dirt, worms or rain & I can't grow anything. I also work long hours and can't be ar*ed.
I do, however, like a nice garden and would love to have nice hanging baskets and pots in full bloom - especially when we're having friends over on a weekend for a BBQ or something. There must be more like me, surely? Maybe it's worth your while looking into it.

 

[WHARTY]

Sounds like a great idea to me - I hate gardening, don't like dirt, worms or rain & I can't grow anything. I also work long hours and can't be ar*ed.
I do, however, like a nice garden and would love to have nice hanging baskets and pots in full bloom - especially when we're having friends over on a weekend for a BBQ or something. There must be more like me, surely? Maybe it's worth your while looking into it.

Just looking over the road at my neighbours and they all have hanging baskets but are empty!

I think to try the idea i could partner with a garden centre to start with and maybe borrow an old milk float?

could hang the baskets all over the milk float and maybe sell and fit brackets too? I am sure i could offer other services too like potted plants ready to go etc?

Uhmm i like this idea lol

 

[WHARTY]

Getting a little excited about this idea! lol

Found a milk float! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SMITHS-CA...255?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2a1f53874f

I know a sign writer too that does canal boats and canal pottery painting so could have it painted real nice!

 

[Fred_the_frog]

You'd need to offer a watering service too. I don't think the old people will be able to lift a watering can above their head to water it, and hoses might make too much of a mess (if they are near windows).

You might also need to offer to put a bracket up too.

 

[Jeff FV]

Don't water your hanging baskets - just pop a handful of ice cubes in the basket instead. Much easier, less mess, less waste water.

I think its a great idea.

Jeff

 

[Sobie]

At our garden centre we charge between £5 and £20 to refill hanging baskets. Or between £5 - £30 for brand new completely filled baskets. We charge less than this for volume orders to local pubs, resturants, shops, nursing homes, cafes, etc. there is at least 2 other places within 10 miles of us that also offer this service.

Just to give you an idea:
our £20 baskets contain 21 plants that cost between £1 - £1.49 each to buy at our centre. Hanging basket plants cannot be grown from seed as they are not true to type so they have to be grown from cuttings. most of the cuttings have plant breeders rights so loyalities have to be paid to the breeder for every plant sold.

Then our baskets have a liner that costs between £1.50 - £3.

We also use the very best compost £6 for 60ltrs (which makes about 5 large baskets)

we add water retaining crystals £3 for a tub that will do about 5 baskets.
we add slow release fertilisers £4.99 for about 15 baskets.

So really If one of my customers was to exactly replicate one of my baskets it would cost them: £21 for plants (cheapest ones) £1.50 for a liner (cheapest) £1 compost, £1 feed & water retainers = £24.50.

We grow the baskets on from late March for when our customers require them, which in our area is normally mid may to be frost free. so we also have a minimum of eight weeks of watering, liquid feeding and deadheading whilst paying rates on the area these baskets are stored and believe me they take up a lot of space.

Work it out for yourself based on local prices what you could buy the stock for etc. You may find a local nursery will be prepared to do all of the work for you, but then your customers will probably use this nursery too and cut you out.

sorry not trying to beat down your idea but judging on one garden centre (part of the most expensive chains the garden centre group) which is "possibly the largest garden centre in the UK" (their claim) really isn't a good indicator of price they will most definately be one of the most expensive places to buy these sorts of "service" products .
Off topic but I certainly wouldn't want to see their overheads, their wage bill must be astronomical!. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Garden_Centre_Group

and further off topic:
Lloyds bank lost 100million this year selling of the garden centre group at a loss to terrafirma. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/...-as-Terra-Firma-buys-Garden-Centre-Group.html
but this kind of gives you an idea of why they are so expensive - they have to be.

And I've started .... hosepipe bans in this area really affected basket plant sales this year. most people have opted for pots rather than hanging baskets because being on the ground pots are easier to water than hanging baskets with a watering can. Now people are thinking hosepipe bans are over its far too late for summer baskets, we start on winter baskets in three weeks time

 

[fashionprintdesigner]

My mom usually has hanging baskets but because of weather hasnt bothered.

However she does often twitter on about getting fake hanging baskets that are pretty all year round.

Mandii

 

[WHARTY]

At our garden centre we charge between £5 and £20 to refill hanging baskets. Or between £5 - £30 for brand new completely filled baskets. We charge less than this for volume orders to local pubs, resturants, shops, nursing homes, cafes, etc. there is at least 2 other places within 10 miles of us that also offer this service.

Just to give you an idea:
our £20 baskets contain 21 plants that cost between £1 - £1.49 each to buy at our centre. Hanging basket plants cannot be grown from seed as they are not true to type so they have to be grown from cuttings. most of the cuttings have plant breeders rights so loyalities have to be paid to the breeder for every plant sold.

Then our baskets have a liner that costs between £1.50 - £3.

We also use the very best compost £6 for 60ltrs (which makes about 5 large baskets)

we add water retaining crystals £3 for a tub that will do about 5 baskets.
we add slow release fertilisers £4.99 for about 15 baskets.

So really If one of my customers was to exactly replicate one of my baskets it would cost them: £21 for plants (cheapest ones) £1.50 for a liner (cheapest) £1 compost, £1 feed & water retainers = £24.50.

We grow the baskets on from late March for when our customers require them, which in our area is normally mid may to be frost free. so we also have a minimum of eight weeks of watering, liquid feeding and deadheading whilst paying rates on the area these baskets are stored and believe me they take up a lot of space.

Work it out for yourself based on local prices what you could buy the stock for etc. You may find a local nursery will be prepared to do all of the work for you, but then your customers will probably use this nursery too and cut you out.

sorry not trying to beat down your idea but judging on one garden centre (part of the most expensive chains the garden centre group) which is "possibly the largest garden centre in the UK" (their claim) really isn't a good indicator of price they will most definately be one of the most expensive places to buy these sorts of "service" products .
Off topic but I certainly wouldn't want to see their overheads, their wage bill must be astronomical!. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Garden_Centre_Group

and further off topic:
Lloyds bank lost 100million this year selling of the garden centre group at a loss to terrafirma. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/...-as-Terra-Firma-buys-Garden-Centre-Group.html
but this kind of gives you an idea of why they are so expensive - they have to be.

And I've started .... hosepipe bans in this area really affected basket plant sales this year. most people have opted for pots rather than hanging baskets because being on the ground pots are easier to water than hanging baskets with a watering can. Now people are thinking hosepipe bans are over its far too late for summer baskets, we start on winter baskets in three weeks time

Information like this is why i love this site. Thanks, very informative.

 

[Litherland]

I think it sounds like a nice idea.

Id like door to door sells with that as itll make the house look nice and as you said some people cant get out all the time or dont know how to make the hanging baskets look pretty so if you have the skill then i think theyd be an investment for the summer time.

Especially as i enjoy having people round and hosting garden parties id love to have hanging baskets all decorated in my back garden. £30-40 seems alot but for £10 or £15 each id buy them. You could even do a leaglet drop with say 6 pictures of the baskets you create and a website or telephone number for people to put their orders in.

 

[mhall]

Can't really add much to the discussion other than a few years ago we started buying our baskets from a family run "Centre" in Hatton, Derbyshire and were happy to travel the 30 odd miles to collect because of the quality - most years they last from May through to December. They have massive cloches where they grow the young plants. Five years on and we buy around 25 a year as more and more neighbours put their orders in. The market is there but I think it's a lot of hard work to get the plants looking good in the first place and it's actually quite a short selling season, although our people also do winter ones.

EDIT: I should add that we pay between £26- £36 a basket, depending on whether they are refilling our own baskets.