Water Gardening Articles For The SA Trade

Water Gardening Articles For The SA Trade

Profit from water gardening Five years ago I was staggered to learn that only 10% of UK gardens had water features in them and the market was growing at about 15% per year. This information was shared with me by the then MD of the UKs leading water garden products supplier.  From the independent survey conducted the company identified that water gardening as a category within the larger gardening market was projected to have at least double the growth rate of all other garden categories combined.  Today major water gardening companies worldwide report extremely high growth and profitability.   Growing through water gardening  USA , UK and European water gardening sectors are getting stronger and stronger in relative terms. Leading retailers are experiencing up to 25% growth per year in the USA reported at the Pondapalooza trade event in Atlanta in July this year.  The European total gardening market at the same event was reported to be worth $4.1 billion per year with water gardening representing 13% of this. Hardware products ie excluding fish, plants and food accounted for $180 million per year  ***** Europe is estimated to account for 38% of the worlds aquatics market. 27% of European turnover is completed through the hardware trade only 9% through garden centres. Now that was an eye-opener for me.  At the Chicago Hardware show in August this year TruServ reported 20% per annum growth in water gardening (Truserv claims to be the biggestmember-owned hardware co-operative in the world with annual sales of $2.2 billion).  So what about South Africa?  Despite having the ideal climate with no closed water gardening season the retail gardening and hardware sector as a whole has not yet embraced water gardening as a valuable growing specialized gardening category.  Highly significant profit is there for the taking but it is not a matter of placing a few extra low cost pumps on the shelves. Those retailers who have given up the chase for cheaper and cheaper pumps, those who have taken to selling lifestyle and those few who treat water gardening as a true category are leading the way.  The following are the factors that matter for water gardening retail success Appeal to the female shopper first ***** Display concepts and working ideas for ten fold sales increase Develop knowledgeable staff Offer appropriate and correct advice Sell on total cost not just initial cost Sell system benefits not just product features Sell solutions and vision not products crystal clear ponds, waterfalls, fountains not just pumps Embrace the concept dont play with it, invest in it and then pocket the profit.The easiest way for a retailer to make a R1,000 profit and look different sell working water features.