On the Road: Running the Business from the Lorry Seat & Weathering the Storms
A note from?George Davies:
Every cloud has a silver lining, as far as I am concerned. And yes, to hit our busy period with two drivers out of action is not ideal.
We had two options: hire external haulage to cover the situation or have myself jump back in the saddle! The latter was a no-brainer, and having the ability to meet many of our customers on-site over the last few weeks has been nothing short of amazing; I have really enjoyed seeing as many of you as possible.
We’re proud to say we have not missed a delivery or let anyone down, with 98.4% of our deliveries arriving on time. One of our drivers, Chris, is returning to work on Tuesday, 28th?May, so we can breathe again!?
Overcoming Weather Hurdles and Succeeding in Uncertain Conditions
I think we all found the winter rather long and tedious; the ground conditions were unworkable, and everything took so much longer. As a consequence, turf farms were late putting new seeds in the ground, ready for harvesting in Spring 2025. Then there were the spells of dry weather over the last eight weeks, and I think seven days is the longest dry spell we have had as April showers (or downpours!) have continued throughout May. The water table and ground moisture levels are still extremely high for this time of year, and it doesn’t take much for the floods to appear again. But the warmth from mid-January onwards has led to exceptional growth everywhere, and those lawns, flowerbeds, turf fields, and wheat fields that have had good drainage and plenty of fertiliser have thrived.???
The early part of the season created a coiled spring….and when the first signs of spring appeared in the week commencing 8th?April, we went from 160 deliveries to 262 deliveries within a week. Getting the team motivated and ready for this spike is critical, and every year, no matter how much preparation you do, it always takes you by surprise. But we power through with consistent communication, support, and well-deserved praise. The erratic weather at present is not conducive to consistent order levels, but bear in mind we have record temperatures on the way this summer (apparently). I will take all the rainfall we can get for now, and there is nothing we can do to change it. My business philosophy is to ‘Control the Controllables’, and the weather is not one of them!??
If you are struggling with any aspect of your landscaping project or garden, please call one of our skilled customer service team who can help turn your problem into a solution – it's what we do day in, day out.?
What's happening at GDT?
In the last four weeks, John Chand and Tom Clarke have joined our sales team, and customers should expect a courtesy call from either of them in the next few weeks or months to introduce themselves.??
The New Stone Yard is in full swing, with general tidying up in full flow, restocking of all products, new signage being erected, lorry livery being changed and training our customer service and sales team on new product ranges. It has been a whirlwind for the last six weeks, and I have managed to drive most of it from the lorry seat while out delivering. I am very excited to offer you all these new products with our exceptional levels of customer service for many years to come.??
领英推荐
On May 18th, we took part in the Bedfordshire Young Farmers Rally. For those who have never been, the Beds YFC do an amazing job, and it’s an absolutely wonderful country show. The support from local agricultural dealers is incredible, with millions and millions of ￡’s worth of kit on display and attractions throughout the day for all ages. Yes, the weather was ideal, and to WIN the Best Trade Stand in conjunction with GRBS was utterly incredible; I did not know there was a prize up for grabs! Next year, the event is taking place in Toddington near Junction 12 M1 on the 17th?of May, and everyone is welcome.??
Customer Project Spotlight
Hertfordshire Garden Design’s Eco-Friendly Transformations with Clover Turf
In Bricket Wood, Hertfordshire Garden Design worked on a project using our new Clover Turf. They’re experts in making gardens look amazing while being kind to the environment. This special turf they used isn’t just any grass—it’s like a superhero for gardens. It helps the plants grow strong without needing tons of water.
Hertfordshire Garden Design made the garden into a beautiful, eco-friendly space. They know all the tricks to make sure plants and flowers thrive while using less water. Plus, they’re skilled at making gardens that are easy to take care of. With their skills, they turned a regular garden into a green paradise that stays pretty all year long. If you live in Bricket Wood and want a garden that’s both awesome and easy to look after, Hertfordshire Garden Design is the way to go! And if you’re interested in buying Clover Turf for your own garden, you can find it at select garden centers or order it online through our website.
In case you missed it...
As June arrives and we all get sucked into the election spin, let’s keep our heads, enjoy our work, be thankful to work outside, and remember that our industry is the friendliest, most supportive industry I have ever worked in! Let’s hope it continues in that vein for years to come.??