OVERALL PERFORMANCE year-on-year

As we dust off the memories of the last twelve months, we stepped forward into a whole new year. Whilst there’s a few things we are carrying over into 2022, the pandemic for starters, and the supply shortage continuing to contribute towards material price rises, participants are concerned about how these factors will affect demand this year.

Nevertheless, the mild weather in January seemed to have also helped get the year off to a good start, and participants reported this helped increase their sales for the month.

UK Landscape Barometer key highlights included:

On average

• Turnover increased by 11%
• Enquiries increased by 67%
• Projects increased by 10%
• Conversion rates rose by 42%
• Garden designers saw an increase of 68% in enquiries
• Turnover for commercial landscapers rose by 18%

Domestic landscaping

For domestic landscapers, projects increased by 5% and enquires increased by a significant 50%. However, turnover saw a decrease of -12%. Some respondents mentioned they were having trouble finding good quality staff, which is said to be restricting growth. One participant added: “We could be adding 20% to our turnover if we had more qualified staff.”

The average lead time was 3 months.

Commercial landscaping

Commercial landscapers saw an average increase of 18% in their turnover, and enquiries rose by an average of 62%. This is believed to be due to lock down restrictions being fully lifted.

Projects also increased, by an average of 28%, and conversion rate were up by 31% – indeed, a very positive month for commercial landscapers.

Garden designers

Turnover increased by 38% and enquires also rose by significant 63%. However, project levels remained static for garden designers, one participant explained: “January felt like a quiet month, but we still had a lot of enquiries. We’re expecting to get busier each month, though plant and tree prices are rising continually which is making client’s return to get quotes down.”

Design and build

Design and build companies experienced a decrease of -1% in turnover this month. Participants mentioned there is a gradual slowing of enquiries and a growing concern for the continuous price rises. Fear is circulating around how this will affect demand in the near future.

Nurseries

Anecdotal evidence from nursery respondents suggested the sector experienced a greatly positive month. With 100% feeling more confident, nurseries benefited from the mild and dry weather in January, and forward booking is “remaining encouraging.” One respondent said: “The prolonged period of good planting weather resulted in a record month for turnover in January.”

Overall, nurseries saw an increase of 17% in turnover, and 16% in quotes.

If you would like the full report or would like to contribute to the UK Landscape Barometer moving forward, please send an email to Gemma Lloyd on gemma.lloyd@eljays44.com or call on 01903 777 594.