Mail order plant retailing business.
Allwoods is a long standing, well known, respected brand in the gardening sector and has over 100 years of trading to the general public. Currently the company has a database of just over 32,000 customers. In the early days the brand was established by exhibiting at major flower shows and was one of the original exhibitors at Chelsea Flower Show. For the last few years it has been run more of a lifestyle business the flower shows were stopped as the owners wanted to spend time with family rather than away exhibiting and for the last few years the only flower show attended has been the Sandringham Flower Show, held on the Sandringham Royal Estate and the show’s patron HRH The Prince of Wales being a keen dianthus grower usually visits the display.
The present owners took over the firm in 1994 and moved to its current site in 2001 since that date it has traded successfully supplying both young plant modules and cut flowers on a mail order business. In the last few years they have expanded the range grown from being purely a Dianthus nursery stocking over 200 different varieties, to now housing a unique and impressive collection of Pelargoniums over 500 varieties and also a range of choice Succulents which it supplies on a mail order basis.
By concentrating on mail order an easier life style has been established. The vast majority of the plants offered in their catalogue are produced on their own nursery using the plant collections for mother stock. Two full colour catalogues are produced in house each year, using photographs taken from the extensive photo library taken in house on the nursery. Mail order sales have been expanded over the last few years, however it could be greatly increased by increased marketing. It has two in-house websites to cater for both sides of the business and a computerised order processing system that can accommodate more volume of orders. If kept on site it currently has a 2-line phone system.
The business is currently trading and propagating plants for the spring season, the 2019 catalogue will be released early January. The business is offered for sale, offers over £XXX plus sale of stock plants by negotiation.
The owners are looking towards retirement, but they would consider a partial sale to a new owner retaining some involvement in the business or could be around to assist on some form of consultancy basis to advise a new owner. As a mail order business, it is possible to relocate the business to another premise if that suited the new owner.
Location
Allwoods is located at ordnance survey grid reference TQ303168, it lies on the eastern side of the A273 which links Burgess Hill with Brighton. The nursery is situated approximately 300 meters to the north of Hassocks.
Hassocks is a large village with a population of 7667 people (2011 census). It is located approximately 7 miles to the north of Brighton, Hassocks has a mixture of shops, a community centre called Adstra Hall, Hassocks has a railway station which is served by Thames Link and Southern, providing regular train services to Brighton, London and Bedford. The station was rebuilt and redeveloped in 2013.
Other facilities within the village include 2 primary schools, secondary and further education is provided close by. The village also has an 18 hole golf course, with pay and play facility.
Accommodation
Allwoods Nursery comprises a wood constructed office, with flower packing facility and chill store, gross internal area 5.34m x 8.88m giving 47.48m².
There are two fording bridge tunnels with a total of 120ft wide x 100ft long giving 12,000ft² (0.275 acres) 1,114.6m². Equipment within the polythene tunnel include static benching, overhead irrigation and heated propagation benches and heating system.
The other is a stock tunnel 60ft x 80ft giving 4,800ft² (0.11 acres) 445.8m². The stock tunnel is equipped with overhead irrigation and static benching. Both tunnels are frost protected.
Terms
SERVICES - Mains water, electricity are connected to the property. Foul water drainage is by septic tank.
TERMS - A commercial lease will be available for the two tunnels and office building with access to the common areas on the nursery, mains water supply is shared with other users on this site.
RATES - Allwoods is regarded as being an agricultural property, it is therefore not rated.
VAT - Allwoods (Hassocks) Limited is a VAT registered business.
LEGAL COSTS - Each party to bare their own legal costs associated with the preparation of the sale contract.
PLANNING - The nursery is regarded as permitted development.
Specification
- Mail Order Plant Retailing Business
- Specialising in Dianthus, Pelagoniums and Succulents
- Sale of Stock Plants by negotiation
- Nursery comprising tunnels and office building
- Asking rent £XXX per calendar month