Giving plants as xmas presents

A little bit 'off the wall' -

3 years ago I started a project to receive donated plants to sell on for charity (more detail at facebook page: Charityplantsevesham). Its moderately successful ( my total is running at around £1500 raised this year so far).
However the last 2 years of marketing my inexpensive plants as christmas presents has fallen on deaf ears.
Why do people not want to give plants (ie ceramic potted house plants) as gifts and contribute to two local charities (Birmingham Childrens Hospital and Cotswold Riding for the Disabled)?

 

I think some might be the time of year. It's hard to get motivation for growing anything when it's is as dark and miserable outside. When we see a bit of sun I think things change.

We did a little charity sale for a few years and Christmas was a good time for amaryllis and potted indoor hyacinths. We also took little orders on outdoor potted bulbs from October onwards which meant we could buy in bulk and get them out around Christmas. We didn't do many houseplants and I don't remember a great amount of interest in them.

 

Plant gifts can be tricky at the best of times. I don't give them and don't like receiving them, unless I've bought them for myself .

 

I'm not a fan of plants as presents especially for the garden, at any time of year. The exception being if you know me and my garden and you know something I want.

 

Sounds like a great project @MrHappyDays ams I’m sure your donations are appreciated.

Many people don’t ‘do’ plants or don’t value them. We are the opposite on here of course! Is your marketing on-line? I wonder if going to markets or fayres would achieve better results?

 

Yes mainly online

Yes online via facebook. I can sell out from an advert in 30 minutes however it ebbs and flows at times- think it might be to do with facebook policy re- the number of people who see the advert. PLus facebook always want cheap! cheap! cheap!

Yes, some fairs, although they do take time to prep. I ve done an early sunday morning car boot every year and the perennials go quite well (a local nursery donates overv a 100 a year to me).

 

Thanks for the tips!

 

I've had a quick look at your Facebook page, not being registered on there I can only scroll down so far, but from what I can see your prices are certainly reasonable .

Not being social media savvy, I can't really suggest other means of advertising apart from maybe the local Nextdoor app.
As previously mentioned, we have had at least half a dozen Christmas fairs around here that local charities or fund raisers can attend, it might be a little late this year though.

I wish you luck in your efforts, and would also agree that pots of bulbs such as hyacinths or Narcissi might be good sellers.

 

Is it possible everyone in your selling area who wants them has already bought your plants so doesnt want any more?

Bulbs are good cause there is way more space for them to put around. Try cultivating our native squills if you want something nobody else is selling. they behave like crocuses

 

You can never have enough plants! But seriously, people become aware of my project all the time - some are once time buyers, however a lot of customers are repeat customers. Think rise in the green revolution has helped. I do have 1 or 2 serious plant nuts, who can't stop buying. One guy said 'I just build another shelf'; a woman said " My husband moans like hell, so I just buy another plant and move my collection around to 'absorb' the impact of one more".

Several customers are on benefits and find them therapeutic; a number are disabled; 80% are middle aged to silver foxed women.

Here's me saying its a problem of lack of sales at Xmas, then 2 people yesterday asked for plants as Xmas pressies! I'm just a little frustrated because , with 2 weeks to go before end of year, I'm £120 short of last year's sales!! Sorry for the ramblings. Happy days! Bryan

 

The shops always have arrangements of plants in baskets or whatever, trimmed up with ribbons/bows/general glittery tat, and they seem to sell well. I fear most of them will barely last longer than a bunch of flowers though.