Business Barometer October/November 2008

These responses came from a Sept. 8, 2008, survey and originally appeared in the October/November 2008 issue of Water Garden News.

New Trends in Bog Plants, Rain Gardens
A wholesale grower in Pipersville, Pa.
Sales are down in ornamental aquatics. They were hot eight years ago, but they have been going down for the past five years. The economy and housing market definitely attribute to the decreased sales.

We supply the retail garden centers as a wholesale grower. Our most popular requests are waterlilies and parrots feather. In the spring, it is marigold, irises, Japanese veragada and forget-me-nots – really anything with a bloom that week will sell.

Bog plants and rain gardens are the trend right now. The trend is not huge like pond plants were, but there is a growth in that group.

We do not have local competition. Our closest real competitor is in Maryland. Otherwise, the pre-packaged deals with nice tags cut into our business a bit. We do things more simple, though, and provide better quality plants.

Offering Other Products Pays Off
A contractor in Medford, N.Y.
Our sales skyrocketed since switching over to decorative concrete and we now have a niche market. We always did ponds and rock work for interior and exterior ponds, fountains and water gardens, but in the last couple years we added decorative concrete and interior features. We’re up 250 percent from last year.

Our customers ask us most for our concrete that looks like wood. It offers an organic feel with a traditional and rustic look.

This climate created a tremendous boom in the materials available and with clients. Much of the fabrication is cost-effective and available immediately.

Many people are going green. Interior water features are good for the interior environment. They are a kind of wave of the future.

We install original work or use prefabricated habitats (a mix between an aquarium and a water feature – a complete environment and eco-system) with water features, waterfalls or tanks. Customers can buy the complete kit from us as a do-it-yourselfer, or we install it for them.

Pre-fabricated systems are easier to care for than pond maintenance. They are natural systems that only require grooming maintenance. You can get more use out of your water feature in the northern climates, as well. We also include water features within the kitchen because it’s a place where most people congregate.

As for the future, I think we’ll maintain our sales and growth. We are unique because we have a blend of products. We are sought after by commercial and high-end residential clients. I know of many guys who have slowed down, but adapting to the market and considering concrete is a good way to accessorize your product line.

The recession did hit business, but for us it was kind of in a good way. It slowed down. We might have grown a lot faster than was good for business. For those slowing down, look at other products you can offer clients and see that it will pay off in the near future.

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Business Barometer October/November 2008

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