A Kent garden centre manager is seeking marketing assistance from The Learning and Business Link Company to launch a new product with worldwide potential

During 16 years running his own garden centre, Brian Neal became increasingly frustrated at the amount of damage that occurred to his plants when they were blown over in strong winds. With no adequate solution available, he decided to invent one!

After years of development and trials the production version of the Tollgate Plant Saver" (TPS) was finally ready to sell. Even though he had run a number of successful companies in the agricultural sector Brian recognised that his personal marketing expertise was inappropriate to launch the TPS and that he needed professional help. 

That's when he turned to The Learning and Business Link Company's Personal Business Advisor Tony Bartlett for advice, Tony says: "For a new product with the worldwide potential of the Plant saver it is essential that Tollgate tackles the product launch and international marketing with the best help available. Using the expertise and services available from The Learning and Business Link Company will ensure that a world beating product, developed and manufactured in Kent, gets the best possible start".

Tollgate Nursery of Woodchurch in Kent has recently launched a new product called the Tollgate Plant Saver, designed to overcome one of the plantaria manager's biggest headaches, that of plants tumbling over in the wind. The TPS, as it will be known, can take pot sizes of one to four litres. Other sizes are in the pipeline, the company says. "I designed the TPS with a view to reducing stock damage problems and time wasted standing up plants that have been blown over at my centre which is in a very windy location," said Tollgate's Brian Neal.

The Horticultural Trade Association (HTA) is currently negotiating special deals for this useful aid on behalf of the membership and details will be available very soon.