South Africa is a country rich in biodiversity with a perfect climate for growing things. This means that garden centres across the country are full to the brim with exciting stock for eager gardeners to buy.
If you have always wanted to run your own garden centre, why not read this to find out the ins and outs of the process.
Finding the right business
Before you begin your search for the perfect garden centre for you, you need to have a very clear plan of what it is that you are looking for. Do you want to run a garden centre that has the space for a café? Or do you want to have a nursery in the back where you can grow plants to stock in your centre?
You can certainly adapt the business after you have taken it over, however, you need to make sure that there will be the space and resources to do so.
Decide how your business will stand out to customers. It’s all about the extras that will act as a draw for customers to your business. What about a potential business will be able to provide you with this?
Access the quality of the stock that the business has if it will be included in the sale. Take into consideration the access to the business. Your customers will want to be able to park close by if they are loading up on purchases.
Conducting thorough due diligence will also be a vital part of the buying process. Don’t leave any rock unturned while you look through a business’s records.
Essential skills
Running a business such as this will require knowledge of horticulture. Not only will you need to keep your stock healthy while it is in your care, but you will also need to give your customers advice on what to buy, when and how to care for it.
A passion for plants and landscaping is the bare minimum that is needed if you are going to get into this sector. If this is the case, however, it can be useful to employ staff that have the necessary expertise.
You will need to have someone that can advise you on the right plants to stock at the right time of year and how to keep your stock healthy.
A lot of your business will be interacting with customers and other general retail services. You will need to be open on holidays and weekends and be on your feet for long hours.
The buying process
Don’t shy away from getting the help of professionals when it comes to the valuation and due diligence. Relying on someone who has done this before and has the expertise and know-how when it comes to buying a business will pay off in the long run.
Find a business that you are passionate about, however, make sure that this passion is backed up by facts and research that suggest this passion will be coupled with financial success.
Plants are part of popular culture, whether among the older generation in their perfectly manicured gardens, or among younger consumers who have a penchant for indoor plants. If you are able to understand the customer base of the business you are looking to buy, you can tap into what they want and, coupled with the right marketing, reap the rewards.
