Re: Starting a nursery

Well said, David! Having had much experience with both snail mail and  
internet order, a caring vendor who actually communicates with you  
and explains what happens, even when you are disappointed, means  
repeat orders from me, and referrals.

Cathy, west central IL, z5b

On Aug 17, 2005, at 12:33 AM, David Franzman wrote:

>
> I think more important than how many plants or varieties you have  
> is that you are able to deliver the plant to the customer in  
> excellent shape.  And when something does go wrong...and it  
> will...that you are right up front with them and you ship them off  
> new plants immediately without so much as a whisper of argument.   
> Because the computer is inherently impersonal and the customer is  
> taking a real chance by placing an order with you you have to go  
> way out of your way with customer service trying to make your  
> business as personable as possible.  Plants, especially flowers,  
> put a smile on peoples faces.  Bad service or bad product does the  
> opposite.  Plants are emotional products rather than hardware and  
> you can make or break your customers satisfaction by doing just a  
> little extra that costs you little but puts smiles on faces and  
> money in the register.
>
> David
> http://www.atouchofthetropics.net
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Christopher P. Lindsey"  
> <lindsey@mallorn.com>
> To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
> Sent: Tuesday, August 16, 2005 8:39 PM
> Subject: Re: [CHAT] Starting a nursery
>
>
>
>>> In general you're locked into the way the wholesaler sells them.  
>>> Walters
>>> likes 25s and some 20s, while other suppliers sell in 16s or  
>>> 32s...or
>>> whatever fits the plastics they use. Bluestone gives price breaks in
>>> 10cent increments. One price for 6, another at 18 and another at 36.
>>> That's one nice thing about Sunshine. Yes, he sells in 100s, but  
>>> you can
>>> make up that 100 any way you want - 6 of this and 30 of that.
>>>
>>
>> But what I mean is, how many should I have?  If someone sells them in
>> groups of 6, should I only carry 6?  What's considered normal  
>> inventory
>> for a new mailorder nursery?
>>
>> For example, I only have 4 Aronia prunifolium right now.  Is it worth
>> getting more?  I think it's a great landscape plant, but I obviously
>> don't want to end up stuck with more expensive inventory.  And only
>> 10 Geranium 'Tiny Monster'.
>>
>> I know it's a guessing game, but I'm trying to figure out the  
>> upper and
>> lower limits.  Is a successful plant going to sell 12?  24?  I  
>> know that
>> I won't sell more than 12 Dennstaedtia punctilobula or 6 Eupatorium
>> purpureum 'Little Joe' because they're not particularly mainstream  
>> right
>> now, but what about the hottest new Tricyrtis?
>>
>> Or am I wrong?  Will I sell lots of those plants that I mentioned?
>>
>> Chris
>>
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