Chris Posted June 28, 2008 Share Posted June 28, 2008 We are looking to start up a family nursery in Brittany, offering a wide range of hardy garden plants (including some specialised items not currently available in France), trying to interest both visitors and local gardeners of whatever nationality. We'd like to learn a bit more about the wider horticultural 'scene' in France - what is up and coming, what is different about gardening interests in France compared with Britain, etc. We have anecdotal impressions from visits etc., but these aren't enough to be sure of starting off in the right direction to make a success of a commercial venture.The only advice we've had is to read French gardening magazines - but these aren't exactly easy to get in the UK! We'd like to get as much insight as possible BEFORE considering such a huge move across the Channel - has anybody done this and succeeded? (Or failed and willing to share with us what went wrong?!) We are tuned in to the process of starting a business in France, and realistic about the amount of work involved and the need for good language skills, but really want to get a wider view of the industry as it operates in France. All suggestions regarding contacts, associations, useful websites would be gratefully received. Thank you!Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitty Posted June 28, 2008 Share Posted June 28, 2008 Gardening in France:http://www.frenchentree.com/france-gardening/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitty Posted June 28, 2008 Share Posted June 28, 2008 Specialising in one type of plant is a good business idea, for example hydrangeas, especially if you are in Brittany.http://www.gardenworld.co.uk/hydrangea.asp The above link is included for interest as this history states that France "put hydrangeas on the map" but that they were from North America and Asia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted June 28, 2008 Share Posted June 28, 2008 Isn't hydrangea's in France like coals to Newcastle ?[:)]I think there may be an appeal for what is called 'English gardening'[IMG]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/russethouse/IMG_0417.jpg[/IMG] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted June 28, 2008 Author Share Posted June 28, 2008 Thank you - I can see the sense of this. Years ago I lived in Betws y Coed, North Wales. In this substantial village there were five shops selling different kinds of climbing boot, and they all thrived. Somebody came and perceived a need to supply basics like groceries, but soon went broke - climbers came from miles around to buy boots there, but groceries depended on local custom, which had already gone elsewhere. So, start by specialising in things already in local demand, then aim to expand the market with new varieties. I like it - pity I don't much like hydrangeas!Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 Last Sept I was in Brittany (where I took the pic) and every man and his dog already seemed to already have them, and since the vase on the table is filled with blooms from the same plant, I think they must cross polinate etc........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted June 30, 2008 Author Share Posted June 30, 2008 Right then, since my last posting I've been hard at work teaching myself to like hydrangeas, and I'm wondering if the French market has access to some of the newer more subtle Japanese hybrids. We've already been involved in a plant swap with the owner of a Chateau near Normandy, and he was keen on almost everything we could offer. I lay in the bath last night, dreaming of a van round, criss-crossing France touting fabulous rarities to the owners and gardeners of the great Chateaux of the land - much less stressful than trying to undercut B & Q on trays of bedding plants!Thanks for the comments so far - any more ideas?Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 David Austin style English roses - yes I know the French have great rose nurseries too. The nursery 'Rushfields of Ledbury' wasn't always in Ledbury but was started from a bungalow in Reading.They used to specialize in plants with interesting foliage - that was a new slant, after all foliage lasts a lot longer than flowers.There is a picture of their stand on this page:http://www.rhs.org.uk/WhatsOn/Events/londonshows/londonapril2003.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony F Dordogne Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 Chris, most the chateaux are already sorted I think, unless they're highly specialist plant centres and then many of them that are already have their suppliers if they don't breed their own varieties. If you can buy them in the UK, we can certainly buy them in France, all you need to know is where to look.The advice about French gardening magazines is very sound and you can subscribe to them if you live in the UK, just costs a bit more - I certainly subscribed to the bio mags before moving here and dropped the UK mags as soon as I could.There are so many specialist plant suppliers here - you name it and you can get it here already - I'd look at stuff like hardy plants (like those covered by the Hardy Plant Society), the rarer herbs (there is a brilliant herb supplier in 24 who occasionally posts here, now there's a boring and untapped market in France) but not the general plants because you can buy them all, as cheaply as or cheaper than B&Q (I was the manager of several B&Q garden centres before coming here).However, be warned, we had an excellent English Garden Shop fairly local to me here in 24 where there is an equally large Brit population - he lasted two years and despite excellent advertising etc closed down because everything he supplied - excellent but at a premium - could be bought cheaper from French nurseries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patf Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 Good advice up to now. As others have said though, you are going to face competition, so do some thorough research in your chosen area before committing yourself. Another source of competition are the markets where you find two or three stalls selling top quality plants.The french are avid gardeners, perhaps even moreso than the british. The gardening magazine I subscribe to, Rustica, can be sent by post to the UK and it's full of interesting information. Good luck [:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted July 1, 2008 Author Share Posted July 1, 2008 More good advice, thank you both. Rustica looks excellent and we will follow this up.I wasn't being rude about B & Q, I hasten to add - it's just about the economies of scale..... I was surprised to hear that everything obtainable in England is also to be found in France (other than by mail order from England of course..). I was basing my view of the available range on the ASPECO website, which I was told was the nearest equivalent to the 'Plant Finder'. We found several species we know and grow not even listed there, and we grow unlisted varieties of a number of species which are listed there. Is there a fuller 'Plant Finder' equivalent out there which we have missed?Perhaps we would need to aim to create an interesting and distinctive garden to draw visitors in our direction: looking at French gardens open to the public, woodland gardens seem to be rather less common, so there might be a niche there. And it seems to me that there is scope to encourage French gardeners to lengthen their gardening year - winter flowers and colours for example. All we need now is a good source of money in the meantime until we get established, an oil well would be ideal.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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