Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Nick Steele on July 1, 2010 at 18:41

Ofer El said:

Hi Kerri,
I started importing recently plants, I sell them direct and to garden centres. I can offer you the best quality and prices in the UK for some really attractive plants, it can actually an offer for all of you in Lj . Our plants list is about 30-40 plants : small and big plants inc palm trees, huge range of olive trees and plants and more.
Min order is only one trolley.
for more details please contact me : 01630 673860 ofer

Hi Ofer - Where do you store them? Are they from Israel? Are they hardy? Do you have an availability list?

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Permalink Reply by Jamie Sessford on July 1, 2010 at 18:53

Mahoods landed at 3.50 today with a delivery. Different guy to normal but still very helpful.He had 3 trolleys and four shelves. I gave him a trolley with 4 shelves on it and the rest I had to unload by hand. Plants went straight out onto the sales area and the driver helped me to do so, asking where does this go and that etc. Talking about his runs this week. Not bothered in the slightest. Didn't catch his name, the normal guy is called Mick

Nick Steele said:

Kerri Dall said:

I now have been in touch with the UK CC trolley people and found out about long term lease etc.

Hi Kerri

I'll be interested to hear what conclusions you reach after you've considered the cost of renting cc trolleys.

We've always taken the view (entirely intuitively) that it would be a waste to spend money on hiring equipment that would spend 99% of its time just cluttering up the nursery.
We've yet to come across a supplier who stipulates that we use the cc trolley system, and so far, haven't come across a driver who was worried about waiting while we unloaded (in fact, without exception so far, they've all helped!).
If you're anticipating deliveries of lots of trolleys, with lots of shelves on each, then I can see that manual unloading would be impractical, but until you reach those dizzy heights, I'll be surprised if you think its worth it.

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Permalink Reply by Nick Donaghey @ Garden Gurus on July 1, 2010 at 19:59

Oh well, that proves that all drivers are willing to do this.

Jamie Sessford said:

Mahoods landed at 3.50 today with a delivery. Different guy to normal but still very helpful.He had 3 trolleys and four shelves. I gave him a trolley with 4 shelves on it and the rest I had to unload by hand. Plants went straight out onto the sales area and the driver helped me to do so, asking where does this go and that etc. Talking about his runs this week. Not bothered in the slightest. Didn't catch his name, the normal guy is called Mick

Nick Steele said:

Kerri Dall said:

I now have been in touch with the UK CC trolley people and found out about long term lease etc.

Hi Kerri

I'll be interested to hear what conclusions you reach after you've considered the cost of renting cc trolleys.

We've always taken the view (entirely intuitively) that it would be a waste to spend money on hiring equipment that would spend 99% of its time just cluttering up the nursery.
We've yet to come across a supplier who stipulates that we use the cc trolley system, and so far, haven't come across a driver who was worried about waiting while we unloaded (in fact, without exception so far, they've all helped!).
If you're anticipating deliveries of lots of trolleys, with lots of shelves on each, then I can see that manual unloading would be impractical, but until you reach those dizzy heights, I'll be surprised if you think its worth it.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kerri Dall on July 1, 2010 at 20:48

I am still unsure! Like you say Nick I don't think it's going to be a problem in the short term as the volumes we'll be buying of non-bamboo plants will be relatively small. As long as I know deliveries are coming I can unload them on arrival....we have had a few deliveries over the last couple of years on trolleys and we have done just that. At least I now understand the whole cc trolley system and where to get trolleys if and when i need them!

Nick Donaghey @ Garden Gurus said:

Oh well, that proves that all drivers are willing to do this.

Jamie Sessford said:

Mahoods landed at 3.50 today with a delivery. Different guy to normal but still very helpful.He had 3 trolleys and four shelves. I gave him a trolley with 4 shelves on it and the rest I had to unload by hand. Plants went straight out onto the sales area and the driver helped me to do so, asking where does this go and that etc. Talking about his runs this week. Not bothered in the slightest. Didn't catch his name, the normal guy is called Mick

Nick Steele said:

Kerri Dall said:

I now have been in touch with the UK CC trolley people and found out about long term lease etc.

Hi Kerri

I'll be interested to hear what conclusions you reach after you've considered the cost of renting cc trolleys.

We've always taken the view (entirely intuitively) that it would be a waste to spend money on hiring equipment that would spend 99% of its time just cluttering up the nursery.
We've yet to come across a supplier who stipulates that we use the cc trolley system, and so far, haven't come across a driver who was worried about waiting while we unloaded (in fact, without exception so far, they've all helped!).
If you're anticipating deliveries of lots of trolleys, with lots of shelves on each, then I can see that manual unloading would be impractical, but until you reach those dizzy heights, I'll be surprised if you think its worth it.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kerri Dall on July 1, 2010 at 20:52

Nick I've just been on your website - can you send me an availability list of the trees you have? We are looking to add some interesting trees (tulip, silk tree, foxglove etc..) - can you help?

Nick Steele said:

Kerri Dall said:

I now have been in touch with the UK CC trolley people and found out about long term lease etc.

Hi Kerri

I'll be interested to hear what conclusions you reach after you've considered the cost of renting cc trolleys.

We've always taken the view (entirely intuitively) that it would be a waste to spend money on hiring equipment that would spend 99% of its time just cluttering up the nursery.
We've yet to come across a supplier who stipulates that we use the cc trolley system, and so far, haven't come across a driver who was worried about waiting while we unloaded (in fact, without exception so far, they've all helped!).
If you're anticipating deliveries of lots of trolleys, with lots of shelves on each, then I can see that manual unloading would be impractical, but until you reach those dizzy heights, I'll be surprised if you think its worth it.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Nick Donaghey @ Garden Gurus on July 1, 2010 at 21:02

I guess it comes down to your mid- to long-term plans, Kerri; if you feel that you have the potential to be accepting decent-sized deliveries and/or you don't have the staff/time to unload and sort the deliveries then I would definitley recommend investing in them. It's very hard to see the true value of the system until you are able to compare it to the alternative.

I spent a year working in a garden centre in New Zealand a few years ago where the plants were delivered on trolleys or handballed off trucks and then offloaded on to pallets which were dragged around the garden centre while the plants were placed in their respective areas - it was utter chaos!

All about economies of scale I guess; you could always do a basic time-management study to weigh up your staff costs dealing with deliveries now (remember to give a realistic value if it is you that is doing the work, ie a high value!) compared to the cost of cc's minus time saved.

Kerri Dall said:

I am still unsure! Like you say Nick I don't think it's going to be a problem in the short term as the volumes we'll be buying of non-bamboo plants will be relatively small. As long as I know deliveries are coming I can unload them on arrival....we have had a few deliveries over the last couple of years on trolleys and we have done just that. At least I now understand the whole cc trolley system and where to get trolleys if and when i need them!

Nick Donaghey @ Garden Gurus said:

Oh well, that proves that all drivers are willing to do this.

Jamie Sessford said:

Mahoods landed at 3.50 today with a delivery. Different guy to normal but still very helpful.He had 3 trolleys and four shelves. I gave him a trolley with 4 shelves on it and the rest I had to unload by hand. Plants went straight out onto the sales area and the driver helped me to do so, asking where does this go and that etc. Talking about his runs this week. Not bothered in the slightest. Didn't catch his name, the normal guy is called Mick

Nick Steele said:

Kerri Dall said:

I now have been in touch with the UK CC trolley people and found out about long term lease etc.

Hi Kerri

I'll be interested to hear what conclusions you reach after you've considered the cost of renting cc trolleys.

We've always taken the view (entirely intuitively) that it would be a waste to spend money on hiring equipment that would spend 99% of its time just cluttering up the nursery.
We've yet to come across a supplier who stipulates that we use the cc trolley system, and so far, haven't come across a driver who was worried about waiting while we unloaded (in fact, without exception so far, they've all helped!).
If you're anticipating deliveries of lots of trolleys, with lots of shelves on each, then I can see that manual unloading would be impractical, but until you reach those dizzy heights, I'll be surprised if you think its worth it.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Nick Steele on July 1, 2010 at 21:29

Kerri Dall said:

Nick I've just been on your website - can you send me an availability list of the trees you have? We are looking to add some interesting trees (tulip, silk tree, foxglove etc..) - can you help?

hi Kerri - no sorry, we only sell from site - no facilities to deliver (except locally!).

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Permalink Reply by Kerri Dall on July 1, 2010 at 21:30

Just thought I'd ask!

Nick Steele said:

Kerri Dall said:

Nick I've just been on your website - can you send me an availability list of the trees you have? We are looking to add some interesting trees (tulip, silk tree, foxglove etc..) - can you help?

hi Kerri - no sorry, we only sell from site - no facilities to deliver (except locally!).

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jamie Sessford on July 2, 2010 at 6:09

Nick

"Maybe NE Scotland isn't as much of a backwater as you think?"

I would say I know Scotland fairly well as I have family from these parts. I would say where I am in Cumbria is about as similarly populated when it comes to horticultural retail establishments as these parts. Horticultural trade is not as rich in these parts as it is the further down south you go.

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Permalink Reply by Nick Donaghey @ Garden Gurus on July 2, 2010 at 8:25

I've no idea why you decided to dredge this comment up from earlier in the thread, but let me remind you what you said :

"I doubt there would be many other deliveries for a lorry heading upto NE Scotland"

This is patently wrong.

There are a large number of horticultural establishment in this area requiring constant deliveries from nurseries and wholesalers further south.

You think the fact that you have family "in these parts" means that you have a grasp on the horticultural industry here? The very fact that you assumed that there wouldn't be "many other deliveries" shows this not to be the case. On what did you base the assumption that the horticultural industry in Cumbria is similar to that in NE Scotland? Your many years of experience? Extensive research? The first thing that popped into your head?

You're just starting out on a career in horticulture but for some reason you think you have all the answers; if I were you I'd sit back and listen to the people on this site who, as this site intended, share their EXPERIENCE. You might actually learn something.

I'm not going to answer your posts any more, Jamie, as I really should know better than to be baited like this.

Jamie Sessford said:

Nick

"Maybe NE Scotland isn't as much of a backwater as you think?"

I would say I know Scotland fairly well as I have family from these parts. I would say where I am in Cumbria is about as similarly populated when it comes to horticultural retail establishments as these parts. Horticultural trade is not as rich in these parts as it is the further down south you go.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jamie Sessford on July 2, 2010 at 8:48

Nick

I have not at all intended to frustrate you and apologise if so. I joined this site to seek advice from people like yourselves and provide input where I thought I could.

No I have not done any extensive research, however wherever I go i look at what buisnesses are around and what they offer. It was these comparisons only of which I have used.


Kerri

Sorry my apology to Nick must be shared within your discussion.

Nick Donaghey @ Garden Gurus said:

I've no idea why you decided to dredge this comment up from earlier in the thread, but let me remind you what you said :

"I doubt there would be many other deliveries for a lorry heading upto NE Scotland"

This is patently wrong.

There are a large number of horticultural establishment in this area requiring constant deliveries from nurseries and wholesalers further south.

You think the fact that you have family "in these parts" means that you have a grasp on the horticultural industry here? The very fact that you assumed that there wouldn't be "many other deliveries" shows this not to be the case. On what did you base the assumption that the horticultural industry in Cumbria is similar to that in NE Scotland? Your many years of experience? Extensive research? The first thing that popped into your head?

You're just starting out on a career in horticulture but for some reason you think you have all the answers; if I were you I'd sit back and listen to the people on this site who, as this site intended, share their EXPERIENCE. You might actually learn something.

I'm not going to answer your posts any more, Jamie, as I really should know better than to be baited like this.

Jamie Sessford said:

Nick

"Maybe NE Scotland isn't as much of a backwater as you think?"

I would say I know Scotland fairly well as I have family from these parts. I would say where I am in Cumbria is about as similarly populated when it comes to horticultural retail establishments as these parts. Horticultural trade is not as rich in these parts as it is the further down south you go.

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