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Entrepreneurship:  Garden Designer, Anyone?  |
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Stellaraye
Farmgirl in Training
25 Posts
Stella
Grande-Digue
NB
Canada
25 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 10 2006 : 2:02:27 PM
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I want to start my own Garden Design company, and am wondering if anyone here has done this. I have horticulture, plant science, herbalism, and of course, gardening in my experience and educational background, plus design.
Any tips?
Would love any help you can give me.
Thanks!
Stella in Australia |
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Tina Michelle
True Blue Farmgirl
6948 Posts
Tina
sunshine state
FL
USA
6948 Posts |
Posted - Jun 10 2006 : 2:11:42 PM
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I would suggest start taking pictures of actual gardens you have designed with the layouts and plant specimens listed and start creating a portfolio of sample garden designs that you have done to show to future clients. That would be a first step. Then start compiling a list of sources you wish to use for the plants/fountains, garden accesories you will be offering to your clients. Have never done this before but that's a few suggestions for you. Start listing your sources, start compiling references for future clients to actually see what you can do for them. Draw up your business plan, what you want to offer and how. Start putting your ideas down on paper first..this is a much overlooked but necessary step when thinking of going into business for yourself..chart out your ideas.dreams and goals and the costs involved..where you will get your supplies, the hours you aim to work..your expenses and what you aim to charge a client. o.k. that's my 2 cents worth then some.;0) ..and all for free..I didn't charge you anything..:0)
~Seize the Day! Live, Love, Laugh~ |
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Stellaraye
Farmgirl in Training
25 Posts
Stella
Grande-Digue
NB
Canada
25 Posts |
Posted - Jun 11 2006 : 1:10:28 PM
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Thanks, Tina!
That is very helpful, actually. I have plenty of ideas, but it's to figure out which comes first that puzzled me. You've suggested details, though, that I hadn't thought of.
Presentntly I'm working at a 'plant farm'- a huge nursery that will provide all the resources I will need. I can't start my own business until I quit working there, because that would be conflict of interest, but I will remain a good customer!
Thanks again ~
Stella |
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santa_gertrudis_gal
True Blue Farmgirl
198 Posts
Kim
Groesbeck
Texas
USA
198 Posts |
Posted - Jun 11 2006 : 2:48:52 PM
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I think the most important drive in any business is desire.
First, every word written by Tina is the honest truth about having your own business. Follow that advice to the letter.
Desire, it's what drove us. Desire for a better life, desire to put our children through college, and the desire to have our dream retirement our ranch.
We chose a sector of the economy here in the states that is as vital as agriculture. Trucking. We chose expedited trucking, or as we call it "hot shot". Freight that was needed yesterday before the company knew they need it then and delivered yesterday. We chose to align ourself with a company that specializes in moving oil field equipment. The first two years we worked 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Enter the desire...it's what never made us quit. This September will be five years. We have been the fastest growing terminal in Venture Transport since we started. We are the biggest commission terminal with Venture. At one point last year we were the largest revenue terminal in Texas for both Company and Commission terminals. We started with a fax machine in our house and a business plan. We exceded our ten year goal in 18 months. We've never made a new one, as we just keep doing what works. Two years later and sick of the business and my house, we leased an acre of land in the business district of Angleton, purchased and moved a 12x20 portable building there. Relief to have our home to ourselves again. Early last year we purchased a 1600 sq. foot office about 300 yards south of what we call our yard (where the old office is). We now are just shy of 60 trucks leased to Venture by owner/operators. We also have diversified into the general commidity market, what we consider outside the oilfield supply. We have since specialized in service. It is the only thing we have to sell. Our customer base knows we are a little more expensive but we provide a quality of service unlike any they will experience. Our service has garnered us contracts both within and outside the oilfield supply sector. We have been able to recapture contracts with companies that were no longer doing business with Venture and handle all of their logistics operations. This year we will move between 10 and 15 millon dollars worth of freight. We are responsible for the livelihood of close to 100 individuals and their families. At times we would just like to get out, tired of listening to whining owner/operators who are making a better living then they can anywhere else in trucking. Last summer the portable power suppliers for relief of hurricane Katrina, Rita and Wilma found themselves forgetting where they shipped their equipment. If they shipped it with us, we knew where every piece of equipment was. With other companies it took them far longer to find their equipment in some cases not until March of this year. As a result we will be the primary carrier of these companies this year. They have also put satellite tracking on their equipment.
Our desires are coming true...kids are in college and they won't have to worry about loans to pay back when they get out. We have purchased our dream ranch. We look to paying it off in three years. As much as we dislike our business at times, we never stop beating the bushes for more trucks, more customers. We want the business big enough to sell to live on in retirement and leave something for the kids to retire on. Lofty goals, but worth the desire and the dream.... You must be have the desire to stop what you love to make the business work. Do the physical labor, the customer service, the grude work until your big enough to hire someone to do some of the work.
I wish you all of the best in your new endeavor, Stellaraye!
Kim
Heaven is a day at the ranch with my Santa Gertrudis! |
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Stellaraye
Farmgirl in Training
25 Posts
Stella
Grande-Digue
NB
Canada
25 Posts |
Posted - Jun 12 2006 : 1:42:39 PM
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Wow ~ Now that is INSPIRATION!!!
I was just reading about 'desire' and wanting it bad enough in a book just this morning. Title? "Creative Visualization"... And yes, I do want it with all my heart, body and soul. My DH is himself just starting to get customers for his website creating business, and staying home with him working on my dreams is looking better and better all the time.
Thanks so much for sharing your story. I do appreciate this!
Stella |
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Entrepreneurship: Garden Designer, Anyone? |
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Garden Designer, Anyone?
