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each quote is tailored to the individual customer.
90% of the time we purchase via importers, which brings in an element of risk as you cannot be exactly sure of sizes…however, as we do not sell on then that is a chance I am willing to take.
Do agree with Steve’s comment about clients finding prices via the net, however, I would point out to your clients that whilst they might be able to source more cheaply, at what cost will that be long-term?
Great Issue, in the past In Israel I spend a bit of time on sourcing good wholesale suppliers-mainley the ones that supply to garden centres. And bought plants for about half the retail price. That was about the mark up.
I made it clear to my customers that I have better supplier and this is part of my living.For me it was important part of it.
Once I worked with customers that wanted me because they were impressed with my jobs at their friends or they heard about it from other people and so a presention of jobs that I did,they were happy to pay what I asked.
It is like what I read this week- that if money was the only important thing, we wouldnt see people driving in new cars- there are many good used cars that cost less and work well. but low price is not always the issue.
we can make a good profit, but we need to be good enough to be worth it- to offer a great design even if it is priced as well, and the confident that you worth it. Sure to work with customers that can afford the work.
In the UK ,I was struggling to find a good wholesaler first, that can offer good selection and be competitive, I worked with one that required big orders and few weeks ahead.
On the four oaks trade show I was surprised to see that there are many nurseries/wholesaler that were happy to supply plants in wholesale prices.
mark up is 20-40 %. usually up to the gap from retail to wholesale.
But it's also true that clients are not only paying for the plants but for you to go to the relevant nurseries, hand pick the best specimens and make sure they're from a trusted source.
In the current economic climate i think we're probably all going to have to think a bit more carefully about these things...
I have some good wholesale suppliers in Surrey who i've been using for a long time but i guess it wouldn't hurt to regularly check how my marked up price compares with available retail prices.
Heidi
this is what i do .
plant them well , charge say 20% extra from your trade price. buy good/reliable quality and maybe guarantee them ? for hedging quote in a few over for yourself at the same time ,then you have a few if any may die......then add your hourly/daily rate plus say 20pound for delivery (1hr) as your saving them a whole day going around checking and pricing and taking delivery !!
never buy cheap or old stock as customer is paying anyway for quality.....charge for your value added job.
-i just completed a job(£1500) replacing 50- 5ft beech(potted) and 130 units 60-90 cm hornbeam bareroot. £1000 for stock & compost/fertiliser/delivery.
i bought cash/ good price to get job and might now have to quote for fencing other areas. £2300 for fencing (hopefully).