Britons have always had a passion for gardening. However, now the gardening industry is undergoing somewhat of a renaissance, fuelled by a number of factors that should see it maintain sustained growth over the coming years. An aging population has swollen the ranks of potential gardeners in need of supplies, while the economic pinch has seen a resurgence of ‘growing your own’ food amongst all age demographics. Furthermore, with hard-hit Britons increasingly being priced out of more costly pastimes, domestic substitutes are gaining traction, and gardening certainly fits the bill.These trends have translated into appetising figures; in 2011, online sales of gardening supplies exceeded £200 million, with forecasted increases of 15% per annum until 2016 at the earliest. Add to this the fact that the online space accounts for only a small fraction of the value of the total gardening market and one can only conclude that it offers lucrative opportunities for franchisees seeking to enter it.
Not surprisingly given its enormous potential going forward, the gardening market in Britain has seen several franchises attempt to stake their claim, some of whom can be accessed through Franchise Direct. Colourfence, for instance, provides gardeners with ornate alternatives to both embellish and safeguard their garden with its tried and tested steel fences. The product – honed to perfection in the company’s indigenous Australia – is impervious to the worst that the British weather can throw at it and as a result has met with great success in the UK since first arriving in 2003. Furthermore, its composition precludes the need for yearly upkeep, giving it an advantage over wooden counterparts that has seen it achieve popularity with British gardeners, a fondness that could see a Colourfence franchise constitute a profitable proposition.If constructing and maintaining a garden is more your forte, Franchise Direct can provide through Diamond Gardens. This exciting franchise opportunity offers you the chance to earn a living through crafting gardens and landscapes for your clients, having received full training in the trade from an experienced and reputable franchisor. Ed’s Garden Maintenance is another franchise plying its trade within this niche, offering franchisees an immediate revenue stream and all the support needed to build their business.Also falling within the threshold of gardening franchises is surely one of the most unique opportunities to be found on Franchise Direct. Hire a Hive was founded not only as a means of reversing the declining honeybee population, but also of affording its franchisees a lucrative revenue stream derived from both private and corporate clients. Any gardener worth their salt will tell you that bees – through their integral role in the pollination process – are an essential addition to any garden, and their collapse in numbers worldwide could even endanger future food stocks. Hire a Hive allows gardeners to reap the full benefits bees can ring to their garden in exchange for a fee, forging a unique business model that generates as much personal pleasure as it does income.