LANDSCAPING L
inked selling of products that complement garden landscaping can bring in extra profit margins for merchants. Many landscapers have seen
the sense in accessorising a garden paving design with decorative aggregates to break up the look, and add interest. Ben Summerhill, commercial director of Long Rake Spar says that the decorative aggregates sector has moved upmarket, with the company’s ‘Premium‘ range continuing to sell well. “Black Ice, Polar Ice, Ice Blue, and Flamingo are at the top of the list in terms of volume of sales. These products account for nearly 25% of the total sales of all our aggregates,” he says.
“Families of products seem to be gathering momentum as well, so we see, for example, Flamingo Chippings and Flamingo Pebbles, or Ice Blue Chippings and Ice Blue Pebbles being used together. The use of different-sized aggregates of the same family brings a new dimension and texture to a garden space and brings that extra dynamic that customers are now looking for.” Any of the products that complement Charcoal / Slate / Grey ranges of paving proving popular, with Black Ice and Polar Ice selling particularly well, he continues. “Hence why we’re introducing our new Dapple Grey and Midnight Pebbles to capitalise on this market. However, I don’t believe Slate is as popular as it was. Also, sales of Multi-Mix are not as brisk as they once were, with the later and more contemporary aggregates being favoured by today’s customers.”
Summerhill says that finishing off a hard landscaping area of paving with unique
NOT JUST THE HARD STUFF
Landscaping sales for merchants aren’t just about selling patios, paving slabs and decking boards. Add-on products bring both design interest and margin opportunities, as BMJ finds out.
decorative aggregates, sets projects apart from those without. “This is particularly so when the cost is relatively low compared to the paving, with the aggregates adding value to the overall project, as well as being aesthetically pleasing.” The ability to be fully in control of the supply chain is a fundamental part of the long-term strategy at Long Rake Spar, he continues, which, he says has put the company significantly ahead of many competitors in terms of stock holding and ability to supply.
“Due to our multi-site approach, with four production facilities and three further dock- side sites, Long Rake Spar can hold large volumes of stock. We currently have a stock holding in excess of £5m, enabling us to supply demand with ease. Even during the height of the pandemic, we had ample to stock carry us through unprecedented times and keep supply flowing to our merchant customers. The
Azpects’ EASYTileAlign updated
The tile levelling system from Azpects has a new look for 2023, with bright, attractive new colours. It’s a simple-to-use levelling system that incorporates a tile spacer and levelling cap, plus optional protective shield. After use, the screw caps and shields can be reused from job to job. The new colours will be: Blue (3mm), Yellow (5mm) and Orange (7mm) with new Purple caps.
2023 will also see the introduction of a new 7mm tile spacer, perfect for some natural stone paving and those who prefer a wider joint for aesthetic reasons.
Jeff Carter, associate director, says: “Azpects are proud to introduce more environmentally friendly products into our range. Our jointing compound tubs have been made from 30% recycled plastic since 2019, and we’re introducing this to the rest of our range where possible. Due to the strength requirements, EASYTileAlign cannot be made from recycled plastic, so we made sure that all elements of the system could be fully recycled. In this time of economic uncertainty, we believe that it’s important to support British manufacturing, and we manufacture in the UK whenever we can.”
24 New Colour
current strategy allows us to react quickly and dynamically to demand for products, with stock delivered in a timely manner. Having the ability to pull stock from multiple locations reduces vehicle miles and the carbon footprint of our products,” he says.
“By offering the largest range of products in the UK with new unique products being introduced for the 2023 season, we provide products that supply emerging trends and there is something to suit all tastes and projects,” Summerhill continues.
3mm New
Colour Coming Soon
5mm New
Colour
The company’s new 2023 end-user brochure showcases the products to an end user and is often a valuable tool in aiding a merchant’s customer in securing aggregate sales. The key aim is to assist merchants to maximise their aggregate sales and the one of the ways to do this, along with the Stockist Finder on the website, which has facilitated over 5,200 leads for merchants.
7mm New Size
He adds: “We offer market-leading support for our merchant partners in the form of retail display stands, pallet display stands for aisle runs and gate banners for the yard. For those merchants who have an external hard landscaping display, we also offer support for
A supplement to builders merchants journal March 2023
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68
