RETAILER OF THE MONTH 2: Blagdon Water Gardens

The history of Blagdon Water Gardens has been some what chequered, but don’t think trade has ever been bad. Nothing could not be further from the truth; with good management you could sell dead matches on that site and still make a profit. The site has tremendous potential and that is what the present owner David Smith is slowly coming round to exploiting.

What is making it a success now is the basic ideal behind the centre, that here is where you can get everything you need to create a water garden. You can even get the spade and shovel. Basic sand and cement you willThere is certainly no shortage of stock and if there is a compliant it is that you are spoilt for choice. need to get from a builders merchant, but from the liners to hose clips, from the underlay to planting baskets and aquatic soil, from plants to fish, it’s all here.

Fortunately the site and the shop are huge enough to give you, not only a complete range of all the products you might need, but also a choice of different ranges from different manufacturers so that you can choose products to suit your budget. Although they try to keep away from products that are so cheap they hardly see out their guarantees, they stock ranges of good quality products that are exceptional value for money. These are side-by-side with products that are renown for their exceptional quality and reliability and so carry price tags commensurate with their reputation. Even these are at exceptionally low prices though. Because they have the room to buy and stock in large quantities to feed the demand from the large customer base, they have the opportunity to negotiate keen discounts especially in the pre-season, when manufacturers are keen to off-load products and get them out of their warehouses. These discounts get passed onto the customers, which in turn feeds the demand.
Huge stocks of waterfall, pools and ornaments fill the outside enclosure.David describes the choice of product as largely customer led, but they are always willing to try anything new and up to date if they think their customers will like it. They like anything thatThe holding tanks for koi of all sizes makes for lower maintenance. Also if there happens to be something wrong with the design, they are impressed with manufacturers that fix it as soon as possible. Laguna and Blagdon are particularly good at this.
Oasis are moving with a demand for value for money products that have all that you need for the job you without too many fancy buttons and bells. The Oasis ‘other label’ is Velda, which is used for launching more ambitious concepts but very much in the budget arena.
Bermuda makes products that are exceptional value for money especially for the beginner because, for instance with pumps, they tend to supply every fitting and jet for every possible combination or conception.
The obvious old links with the products from Blagdon the manufacturer have been exploited to the extent that the Water gardens are the largest stockist of Blagdon products in the UK.
Liners come from the high quality manufacturer and wholesaler Gordon Low and Blagdon water Gardens is their biggest customer. The range of liners will be expanded this year with the new Green Seal liner.
Livestock lines include Israeli Koi of all sizes up to at least 30cm, some of them hand picked. They also stock all the common pond fish currently available within these shores. There is a tropical fish department, reptiles and insects and spiders, but the emphasis is pond. Marines are being saved for their development over in Congresbury where a new concession for pets and fish will open in March 2007.

STAFF AND ATMOSPHERE

Even though the shop seems huge, it always seems stocked to the gunnels. There is always seems to be something going on. Some major facelift, new product stocking, or shelf arrangement is always in progress, butRoger Smith and Dave Hewlett constructing the framework for a new pond at the beginning of 2006 despite that there is a friendly atmosphere to the place. Although David Smith is now the main ‘boss’ in control with a very much hands on role, Roger Smith is still around as consultant and is particularly useful at swinging deals. Dave Hewlett, manager in chief, ten years in the business here at Blagdon Water Gardens, is the main driving force for anything that happens on the shop floor and, because of his open friendly nature, is largely responsible for the comradery amongst the twenty of so staff that keep the shop running.

THE WATER GARDENS

The old water garden displays are being revitalisedThe well-known water gardens themselves, having left largely untended for nearly ten years are being slowly brought back to life and reinstated by the original designer and builder, now author of water garden books, Peter May. The original brief on the gardens was first of all to demonstrate to the public how to build different styles of water gardens, simple and effectively, but to make them big so that they would be visible from the road. The result was that there was a Japanese style, pool behind a large informal natural style water garden. Then there was a huge formal pool (now filled in for carparking) an alpine style stream and water falls next to an Italian style cascade and an informal patio pond. When new products came on the market, new water gardens were devised to demonstrate their effectiveness. This is still very much the case and so there are now over a baker’s dozen ponds (and rising) all working one spectacular way or other to give you every reason to come Blagdon Water Gardens even if you don’t want any pond products – just to see the beautiful gardens.

If you want to know more of the history of Blagdon Water Gardens click here.

 Water Garden Centre Details

Blagdon Water Gardens
Bath Road
Upper Langford
Nr Churchill
North Somerset
BS40 5DN

Telephone: 01934 852973
Email: blagdonwatergardens@yahoo.co.uk
Website: http://www.blagdonwatergardens.co.uk/
Contact: David Smith – owner, David Hewlett – main retail manager

The array of cold water fish in filtered tanks

The massive choice of fittings for every conception of plumbing.

The tropical department is well cared for by qualified and trained staff

The reptile department has had bred baby Chameleons this year. It must be doing something right.

OPENING HOURSFresh ground coffee and light meals are available in the friendly cafe.
WINTER
9.00 - 5.30, MONDAY TO SATURDAY
10.30 - 4.30, SUNDAY
SUMMER
9.00 - 6.00, MONDAY TO SATURDAY
10.30 – 4.30, SUNDAY.
CLOSED : CHRISTMAS DAY, BOXING DAY, EASTER SUNDAY

PRODUCT LINES
Koi – all sizes
Fancy Goldfish – goldfish, Shubunkin, Orfe, Sarassa, Comet, tench, sterlet,
Pond liners - Butyl, PVC(0.5mm,0.3mm), new Green-Seal Rubber from Gordon Low.
Fibreglass ponds – from Oasis
Plastic ponds – from
Submersible and surface pumps – Bermuda, Blagdon, Laguna, Oasis, Oase and others
Pond filters, pressure filters and U/V Clarifiers – Blagdon, Fishmate, Laguna, Oase, Oasis, Nexus.
Waterfalls and streams – Rockways, Atlantis, Blagdon.
Fish food – Blagdon, Dr Clarkes, Kusuri, Laguna, Nishikoi, Tetra.
Pond Treatments, fish treatments and water test kits - Interpet, Kusuri, Tetra, Oase, EcoTreat,
Tropical fish and associated products from Elite, Biorb, UNO/DUO, Fluval, Hagen, Marina, Nutrafin, Rena, Waterhome and many more.The new roadside display demands attention as you drive by.
Spares and accessories for a host of products that are on sale.
The stock fittings and fixtures for pipe work and electrics is second to none.
Books on pond building, fish tropical and reptiles.
Reptiles, snakes, tortoises and some amphibians, including all their food.
Spiders, beetles, mantis, stick insects and special species cockroaches.

Coffee shop and cafe and (for a water garden centre) the all important toilets.