LANDSCAPING
audience for merchants with those customers scared off previously by high-ticket items to complete the project.”
Merchants should emphasis the importance of choosing the right gravel size, colour and material type, all of these factors should fit into the customers ambitions.
Tidmarsh comments: “With any area that walks back to the home, we would always suggest using washed products. When
choosing aggregates for a patio area we would suggest a 14mm – 20mm size as this prevents stones from getting stuck in shoe tread and being tracked around the garden or being brought into the house.
“Slate Chippings also make a good budget alternative to gravels and are available in a range of colours. Slate is only suitable for pedestrian traffic, so if a customer is looking to tie it in with a driveway space a hardwearing gravel is going to be more suited to the job.” One of the positives of decorative aggregates is that they offer infinite possibilities when it comes to colour; this allows for the customer to create unique spaces.
“Our bestselling products are from the Premium Range, which encompasses products such as the more contemporary Flamingo and Black Ice chippings,” explains Tidmarsh. “A more traditional-looking premium aggregate is Apricot chippings, which are a timeless classic. For those looking for a brighter, lighter colour for areas of shade or to open out
smaller garden spaces, there are Polar White Chippings, along with products such as Polar Ice, or the popular Tuscan Sunrise. “These premium products account for nearly 48% of total sales from all aggregates (based on 2023 sales figures). Our Natural Selection display stands work really well in showcasing aggregate products to a Merchant’s customers to help them to more easily make the right decision for their project.”
Patios are so much more than spaces for people to sit on. Depth can be created around the perimeter of the patio area by using larger stones such as pebbles, cobbles and boulders to frame the space.
Tidmarsh adds: “The use of different-sized aggregates in families of products promises to complete the look and linked selling of can bring in additional sales for merchants. “Seating can be created from gabion baskets filled with aggregates and these also make nice boundaries to create individual and distinct areas in the garden.” BMJ
can by driving efficiencies into the supply chain, with state of the art bagging equipment powered by solar energy and 1/2cu m bags allowing up to 64 bags per articulated vehicle.” Another major benefit, Hill says, is that the Hallstone products are supplied to merchants on a sale-or-return basis. “There’s no risk. All they need to do is allocate the space and tell their customers about the benefits. Of course, we understand that selling a product that’s perhaps a higher price than a competitors, or than a merchant is used to, can take some time to get right. So, we don’t just supply the product and expect merchants to get on with it, we support merchants to achieve higher sales revenues with a range of sales tools, including product calculators, staff training sessions and
point of sale material. In addition, we also drive demand by promoting the products to UK builders and landscapers and directing all enquiries into our stocking merchants. It’s worth understanding a few reasons why it’s worth paying a little bit more to know you aren’t taking risks with your landscaping. “I always compare landscaping preparation to decorating. 90% of the hard work is in the preparation, get that right, then the rest is the easy bit. The quality of the topsoil you put into a scheme will determine the quality of the finished project. If the quality of the soil isn’t right, then even the most expensive turf laid on top of it will look fine to begin with, but, after a while, any problems with the growing media will show. By the time issues comes to
light it is usually too late, the landscaper will have moved onto another job, leaving the homeowner or whoever the end customer is, with a substandard installation.
“This is why we say to our customers take the risk out of the decision by investing in the right supplier.” BMJ
White Pebbles, Cobbles and Boulders
PRODUCTS SHOWN: Polar White 20mm
The UK’s largest range of decoraave aggregates for over 150 years
sales@longrakespar.co.uk
01629 636210 Long Rake Spar qp BMJ
Mar24.indd 1 March 2024
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net
www.longrakespar.co.uk 29/2/24 35 14:00
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