Supplier Catalogs - your favourite suppliers please

[ideasguy]

As you may have read, you are invited to participate in our Ideas Genie practicals to run during Winter 2008-  a series of walkthough sessions to explain how to achieve objectives using the software.
The first Session will be on using Catalogs to select and buy our seed and plants for next year.

As a reminder, heres how to see what Catalogs are available.
On IG, IG Pro, FG and Bonsai Genie, click the Catalogs tab on your menu.
Start the program Supplier Catalogs - GA040
Click the More Catalogs button
This web page appears:
http://www.garden-software.co.uk/SupplierCatalogs/suppliercatalogs.html

Currently, I have set up 2 catalogs which can be downloaded and used for the course.
I'd like to expand on that selection, to include the catalogs of more of our favourite suppliers.

Post your favourites under this topic. UK, US, Europe, Australia, etc etc.
I will make contact with the supplier, and request a list of their plants. If they are supportive of the project and supply a list, I will set up the downloadable catalog.
Simple!
 
Ive been testing the water this past few days, to see what reaction to expect from suppliers.
I'm delighted to say Ive had a very positive response from Chiltern Seeds:
http://www.chilternseeds.co.uk
Ive exchanged emails and had a couple of telephone conversations with Pat at Chiltern.
Today, I'm delighted to say I received a copy of their entire plants list in Excel format.
Ive converted it into the format I need for Catalogs, so will have the Chiltern Catalog added to the above list ASAP.
I'm very excited about that particular catalog. Chiltern supply seeds to UK Europe and US, so will be of interest to most of us on the forum.

Suppliers (members suggestions) I have contacted in relation to this project, and current status
Review this first message in this topic regularly as I will update this Status to keep you informed.

Supplier	Location	Web Site	Status
USA
Annies Annuals	USA		Email sent. Awaiting response
Jung Seed Company	USA	http://www.jungseed.com	Not contacted as yet
UK
Chiltern Seeds	UK	http://www.chilternseeds.co.uk	Approval given. Plant list received. In progress
Imberhorne Lane Nursery	UK	http://www.treepeoniesonline.co.uk	Downloadable (Draft only) See link below
Gower Fuchsias	UK	http://www.gower-fuchsias.co.uk/	Downloadable (Draft only) See link below
Thompson & Morgan	UK & USA	http://www.thompson-morgan.com/	Email sent. Awaiting response
Mr Fothergills	UK	http://www.mr-fothergills.co.uk/	Email sent. Awaiting response
Farmyard Nurseries	Wales, UK		Email sent. Awaiting response
Ireland
Future Forests	Ireland	www.futureforests.net	Email sent. Awaiting response
Coillte Nurseries	Ireland	http://www.coilltenurseries.ie	Not contacted yet
Seedaholic	Ireland	http://www.seedaholic.com	Not contacted as yet

Download catalogs here:
http://www.garden-software.co.uk/SupplierCatalogs/suppliercatalogs.html
To use the Catalogs you may need to do some downloads.
See my posting on 6th April in this topic (on the forum):
http://www.flowergenie.co.uk/ideas/forum/index.php/topic,563.0.html

Over to you folk. Lets get this project moving.

[NightHawk]

UK Suppliers:

(1)  Mr Fothergills - (Also, will supply seeds only to Canadian addresses.)
My mother-in-law has used this company for many, many years and is highly delighted with them.

(2)  Thompson and Morgan - (International supplier too.)

(3)  Suttons

Kathy has ordered previously from (2) and (3), (and Chiltern Seeds already mentioned), through their respective web sites.

Laurie

[ideasguy]

Good choices, Kathy and Laurie.
I'd dearly love to have them aboard. Ive worked with Chiltern for a couple of years now, to get to the stage where they sent me that plant list. I hope I can convince the ones youve nominated.

Hold off from ordering seeds until we get the catalogs made up. I'd like you (and other members) to place their orders using our Catalogs system, to make the Suppliers aware of our Catalogs on CD and in particular that it generates orders for them. May make them throw weight behind the project, and that would be to everyones advantage.

More Supplier suggestions please (Toby, Tom, Malcolm, Eric, Andre, Peter, Brian, Chriissie  and all out there)

[Palustris]

Sorry George, but we do not buy either plants or seeds from Catalogues so we have not tried any of them to be able to recommend any.

[ideasguy]

Thanks for your response Eric. I would have been wondering if you hadn't posted.

[bossgard]

George:

I do not purchase either my vegetable or flower seeds from a catalog, but from a nearby retail Garden Center. Being the frugal gardener that I am, I watch their sales advertisements right after the first of the year for various discounts on packets of seeds. They will have one sale early-on in the seed starting season offering 50% discount from regular retail as printed on the seed packets. I make up my shopping list from their website.

However, I get quite a few seed catalogs through the mail, would you like me to give you a list of those? I have only received one so far this year, but have last year's issues from suppliers.

- Toby

[ideasguy]

RE:

I make up my shopping list from their website.

Thats what I'm looking for. Can you give a link to the web site?

[roiphil]

Hi
Just purchased ideas genie pro, after evaluating flower genie, and after a converstaion with george over the phone and i told him about my plans to buy seeds and resell when plants are about 1 - 2 years old depending on success rate and the plants he asked me to put here where i have purchased any plants from or any sites  that i know off
www.futureforests.net irish site
http://www.coilltenurseries.ie

the seeds i have purchasede from sellers on ebay
supreme_seeds_gb
JAPANESE MAPLE - Acer palmatum
Japanese Maple "Small Leaf - Acer palmatum

**ladybird**-gardens
FATSIA JAPONICA (Japenese Aralia)
MEXICAN FAN PALM SEEDS 
CORDYLINE -"GREEN" SEEDS
CORDYLINE AUSTRALIS PURPUREA SEEDS

toffipop
BANYAN TREE SEEDS - AMAZING!!
Red Fountain Grass - Seeds
Pennisetum alopecuroides Seeds
Snowy Woodrush - Evergreen Grass Seeds


at the moment the seeds idea is a trial to see what actually grows, being on the edge of the gulf stream their apears to be more of your tropicals, palms, etc i told george that i will keep him updated through the forum on success rate etc and what i have to do to them

[ideasguy]

Well done Philip. You found the topic!
Thanks for posting those links. Ive visited both and nice to see Irish nurseries on the scene.
I'm delighted youve gone for IG Pro. After our phone conversation and learning about your plans, I think you'll find it just the job.
Just follow oue newly announced winter Sessions and you'll get a good feel for the whole system.

[bossgard]

George:

Try this: http://www.humeseeds.com/

- Toby

[ideasguy]

Nice one Toby
Ive just sent them an email, so keep fingers crossed!
Have you been to their educational gardens?
http://www.humeseeds.com/edgarden.htm

I told them about Covington water using the Ideas Genie software:

Its used by the Covington Water District to document their Demonstration Garden since that time. http://www.covingtonwater.com/conservation_outdoors_demo_garden.htm
On that page, click the Plants List link to view plants List created by Covington using Ideas Genie.

Nice autumn colour on their web site 
Have you ever been to the Covington display garden? If you do, be sure to say hello to Katie for me! I gave her a demo at the Northwest Flower & Garden show and she got Covington to but the copy.

[ideasguy]

Philip
Ive emailed both Future Forests and Coillte Nurseries. I'd be very keen to make up a catalog for them. I'll let you know if they show interest.

[roiphil]

Philip
Ive emailed both Future Forests and Coillte Nurseries. I'd be very keen to make up a catalog for them. I'll let you know if they show interest.

Thats good future forests do a lot of bare root plants which personally i prefer especially if they have to come through the post, because they dont weigh as much as potted plants

[roiphil]

Been searching for irish seed suppliers that will post items
http://www.suttons.co.uk UK firm but they will post abroad

http://www.suttons.co.uk/FAQs.htm
g. I live abroad ? can I still order?
We are able to deliver seeds to addresses within the EU. The minimum order value is £5 and the charge for delivery is £3.95.

-----------------------------------------

http://www.mr-fothergills.co.uk

George you may find this of interest for your catalog
http://www.mr-fothergills.co.uk/export_sales/

Mr. Fothergill's Seeds Ltd is one of England's leading supplier of packet flower, vegetable and herb seed to the hobby gardener. Mr. Fothergill's high quality packet seeds can also be purchased in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Republic of Ireland, Russia, Japan and no less than 20 other countries around the world.

As a company we list several thousand varieties of seed, sourced from all over the world!

Mr. Fothergill's Seeds is able to produce packets in various languages and to source seed suitable for growing in different climates. In Canada, for example, all Mr. Fothergill's seed packets are printed bilingually in both French and English. Mr. Fothergill's varieties sold in Australia give growing advice suitable to the wide and varied Australasian climate.

Mr. Fothergill's Seeds is constantly looking for business partners/distributors to successfully develop seed sales in countries of the world not currently supplied.

Interested? Then get in touch with us and join the many other international seed businesses that have benefited from our experience and assistance.

----------------------------------------
http://www.unwins.co.uk UK site cant find any info on delivery to EU countries

[bossgard]

Here is another link to a source that I ordered some Begonia Tubers from. Service was excellent, and freebie seeds, too.
http://www.jungseed.com/

Re: Hume seeds, Ed Hume, the founder, lives  not too far away from me. When I had my retail business he was a very good customer of mine, but I never did get a chance to meet him, wish I had now. His son, who lives in Puyallup WA (US) close to Tacoma WA is in charge of the seed packaging business. They do a very good job of marketing their seeds, display racks are all over the area. To me, Ed Hume is "the garden authority" in this area. Have not been to their gardens. They have redesigned their web site, will go back in a study.

Re: Covington, we started to go to their gardens once, but it was at the time that gasoline prices were at all time high, and is quite a ways away. We will see if we can get there somtime next growing season. I might telephone the lady.

- Toby

[bossgard]

George: Try this one, seed inventory looks huge.

http://www.tmseeds.com/product/9064.html

- Toby

[ideasguy]

Thanks Toby
That's the US outlet of the well know Thomson & Morgan supplier with roots in the UK.
I explored your link, and found this article.
http://www.tmseeds.com/history.html
What a lovely story!
A very striking point to note. The secret of success, and keeping to the forefront is obviously due to the team effort - botanists and business gurus.
Some other points:
Heres where your order comes from Toby

The company's operations expanded with the opening of offices and warehouse space in Jackson, New Jersey in 1982. If you live in the US or Canada, your order comes from here.

RE

Customers have said time and again they keep our catalog long after ordering as a reference guide. We are very flattered by that compliment

As a compulsive hoarder, I can be counted in that group 
In the days when I had time to browse and enjoy, my old T&M and Chiltern catalogs were well bookmarked, with lots of "wee notes". How COULD you throw something like that away 

we believe genetically modified seeds (GMOs) are bad and have proudly signed the Safe Seed Pledge

Interesting!

Finally

Our biggest yearly event is when we open our Ipswich trial grounds in July to the public. Gardeners and horticultural societies from all over travel to preview next years seed range, receive technical advice from our staff and listen to guest lecturers who are renowned in the industry. We are excited to demonstrate various ways to make your garden shine. If you are ever in England during Open Trials, you should visit us. We'd love to see you there!

Now that looks like a real good day out!
Has any of our members been to that event?

[roiphil]

George here is another irish based seed company http://www.seedaholic.com/ just bought some seeds from them via ebay, ladies name is sue if you do make contact regarding a catalog you can blame me  ebay user name roiphil

[ideasguy]

I have to say I'm impressed with their website and their product range. Nice one Phil. I'll send them an email.

[roiphil]

Excellent, do you mind me asking how many companies you have contacted and how many were Ireland based

[ideasguy]

Good idea Phil.
Since this topic will "meander" Ive done an update to the original posting in this thread.
I will maintain that list to keep members up to date.

You'll notice there are some I havent contacted.
You only get one shot at getting a response from some Nurseries, so I'm holding off to see the response to my first "wave" of emails. I will review that message content if response is not good, then go another wave.

[ideasguy]

Update on Catalogs.

Apart from Chiltern Seeds, response from the first wave of Suppliers has been disappointing. Perhaps they dont need the business.
I'm not following up on my initial emails as Ive realised I have more than enough on my hands with the Chiltern Catalog.

Ive decided to concentrate on making a good job of the Chiltern Catalog, and hold that up as a shining light next time I approach Suppliers.
Needless to say, your support in making the Chiiltern Catalog a success will be very much appreciated.
If you are planning to buy seed, please hold off for a few days until I release the Catalog. I'd like you to test the FG and IG software to place an order through "our" Catalog system.
It will be available for download within a few days.

Chiltern have an extensive range of seed, and quality and service is exceptional. I'm delighted to have this oppportunity to work with them on this project.

[roiphil]

here another seed one http://www.secretseeds.com/index.html

[ideasguy]

Nice one Phil
They have some very nice photos of their products.

Any suppliers added to this list will be contacted at some stage. Presently, I'm concentrating on the Chiltern Seeds catalog.

[roiphil]

yep i,m just adding to the list for you, finish one catalog first as a demo masterpiece to show other companies what can be done