Following on from the last question, do you think, generally speaking, Irish horticultural businesses are marketing themselves effectively?
K. No. And the reason they aren’t is that most are too busy keeping on top of the day-to-day operations to find time to sit down and put an effective marketing programme in place. I’m lucky that I work in a partnership; we’ve got an complimentary skill set and can bounce ideas off one another, which is vital in developing a comprehensive approach. It’s important for nurseries not to get too caught up in the moment and to plan for the future; as they say, it’s when the wind is behind you that you need to watch your back. B. What concerns do you have for the nursery stock sector? K. The rising costs of labour, transport and mechanisation set against a background of a downward price trend. I recently refused a relatively large order, as the price they were seeking was just too low, I reckon they were chancing their arm. Price pressure will have a greater effect upon the smaller grower but in the long term it affects everybody. The sector also needs to refocus its advisory elements. With s
