DIARY
JAMIE SHIPLEY
JAMIE SHIPLEY,
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR, HEDGES DIRECT
A MONTH IN THE LIFE OF HEDGES DIRECT – ‘BEHIND THE E-COMMERCE’
WEEK 1 – 19TH JUNE
This week it’s all about ITV’s ‘Love Your Garden’.
We’ve worked with Alan’s team for several years now
supplying plants for various episodes. Monday we visit the
programme team on site at a garden ‘reveal’. We meet with
producer Paul to get some pre-reveal shots of our plants
in context, but it’s a challenge amidst the finishing touches
being applied by the huge team of gardeners, designers
and builders. Feeling like the plant paparazzi we try to
get our shots, landing lucky with a swiftly engineered
‘celeb’ shot with Mr T next to our plants for the team. The
episode for this reveal airs on 13th September so Mum’s
the word for now…
On Wednesday night however the first episode aired.
Highlighted is the lovely Black Bamboo we supplied so
the avid watchers among us are excitedly live tweeting,
supporting the show as part of the online community.
Aside from this, the commercial and marketing team focus
on our newest venture – a garden tool range. Design and
marketing discussions commence.
WEEK 2 – 26TH JUNE
Networking is the theme of the week. The commercial
team take advantage of our low season by touching base
and visiting our network of growers in the UK and Europe,
strengthening existing and forging new relationships; it’s
an opportunity to research and future-proof our product
offerings and ensure the quality of the plants.
Midweek, Hedges Direct are in attendance as proud
awards sponsors for Horticulture Week’s Custodian
Awards held at stunning Woburn Abbey. It’s a fantastic
opportunity to network with many individuals, teams and
trusts and to support the recognition of the invaluable
conservation, restoration, education and management
work that they undertake at parks and gardens throughout
the UK and abroad. Inspiring projects.
The week finishes on a fun note with the HD team
‘hedging their bets’ at the Chester Races company day out.
I win on every race, except when backing the horse with
my wife’s name…
WEEK 3 – 3RD JULY
Out with the old, in with the new. The old faithful barn
at the HD nursery is finally consigned to the wood pile
this week, and plans for a shiny new one (well maybe not
so shiny) are in the offing. But, with increasing business
demand on our storage and despatch facilities, it’s
definitely time to renew and upgrade.
In the office, it’s also time for our annual professional
development reviews, for planning and looking at future
projects: product photography, new websites, new product
lines and most importantly any up-skilling opportunities
for the team. We’re a busy bunch and thrive on new
challenges, and there are many day-to-day in
this business.
WEEK 4 – 10TH JULY
More despatch investments and innovations. “We have
to move on”, says Mike, our MD, as we investigate
conveyor belts to aid despatch. The humour isn’t lost on
us. But move on we have with the roll-out this week of a
brand new packaging box for our plant deliveries that is
completely ‘green’ – made from 100% recycled materials
and 100% recyclable. A pivotal moment.
Whilst all is smooth sailing elsewhere, the office hits
a crisis. Milk-gate ensues. The innocent remark of ‘Oh,
we’ve no milk’ from the kitchen, is followed by stunned
silence and an air of disbelief. “What happened to all the
milk?” someone whispers. “Well I’m guessing you drank
it” states another bright spark. No milk, no caffeine, no can
do. It’s fortunate that Tesco is next door to keep the HD
machine rolling.
August 2017 | Landscape Insight
19