Biggest problem with roses in the UK

Hi all, I just joined the forum, I'm young outdoor enthusiast with programming capabilities currently building tools for everyone that likes some garden DIY's, including landscapers and garden designers. The tools I create are free and ad-free too. The real value is building the portfolio.

This is just to say Hi, but if you have few minutes to type the most-common issues you face when ordering roses online?

Either way I with everyone a lovely weekend.

Best regards,
Hard_Stone

 

Price.

 

@hard_stone_84
I've never had any problems when ordering roses online.
What has been your particular problem with buying roses online.

 

I would say my biggest issue was always price as well, I was sourcing it from abroad too sometimes.

 

Rose breeding is an extensive exercise, hence the price.

 

I'll never understand why everyone wants to buy online, ok if you have no means of transport, but just get out there and look round like real people did before covid if you can.

 

There is a much bigger selection online @pete

I have never encountered a Penelope Lively in a garden centre before for instance, and that is my best performing David Austin rose.

Also, I have never seen bareroot roses being sold in person.

@hard_stone_84 I don't know if it will help you much, but one issue for me is the impact of hiring - or not - a good photographer. I suspect that some of the Peter Beales roses for instance might be really beautiful in real life, but the images on the website are boring (and so is the website in general). In contrast, the David Austin website has gorgeous photography, and that makes the comparison difficult. It would be useful to have similar photos for all of them perhaps, so that it's a level playing field.

 

black spot makes the leaves ugly by end of year, only some are effected though.
otherwise they are quite resilient. some people spray them for aphids but this seems pointless and a waste of time anyway since predators clear any infections later anyway. maybe there are rose viruses going around they are worried for: ive never noticed any.

ive taken some from cutting, seems easy enough with a humidity dome from an old coca cola bottle.

 

I suspect that David Austin roses has a bigger marketing budget to gain a competitive advantage over their rivals @CostasK, rose breeding and selling is a highly competitive business.

 

I go to Peter Beales for roses, it's only about 20 mins from OH's cottage in Norfolk. There is a huge variety from lots of different rose breeders as well as their own. I've been to David Austin too. The roses were gorgeous but less variety and more were bred by Austin's though they did have old roses and roses from other breeders.

Sorry, not what you asked but I don't buy roses online in the UK. I buy them online for my garden in France. They are much cheaper in Europe.

 

I agree @Plantminded but I don't understand why. For a large company like Peter Beales, it wouldn't be that expensive to take some nice photographs of their roses, and it would pay off in spades, sales-wise. I am not saying they need to do the full marketing that David Austin do, but just have good photographs and a decent website. I don't think that's too much to ask.

 

Since Brexit that's a non starter for most people.

 

I agree with you @CostasK, good photographs and a decent website are key to successful online sales. Maybe Peter Beales relies more heavily on other channels like direct sales and distribution through retail and is happy with its website design and content.

 

Most varieties you can find for sale on multiple sites. I usually look at the photos on various sites, and Rose Search and then buy from where it is cheaper.
There are at least two small rose growers near me in Cheshire whose bareroot roses are about half the price or less of David Austin's. There are also good suppliers on eBay.

 

Peter Beales was having difficulties because Brexit upset a lot of their business so it was sold to a huge plant nursery in Lincolnshire. Most of their staff stayed though. That may be why the website isn't as good as it could be.