Targets…

Wednesday, February 1st, 2012

A question that seems to keep cropping up … ‘what are your targets for 2012’….

Well – if someone said you can do exactly what you did in 2011 I would be more than happy. As a businessman I would be lying if I said I didn’t want to expand, take on more projects, take on more staff and carry on growing the company…

But I’m not sure that the ‘Japanese Knotweed Industry’ has the capacity?

I don’t believe that the problem of Invasive Non Native Species has been ‘tackled’ …or is in any way under control…but…I don’t believe that there is a demand for a company that is massive or has huge numbers of staff.

I do believe that there will always be a requirement for ‘specialist’ companies offering bespoke services to clients who have problems with invasive species. These services should only be offered by experienced companies with a depth of knowledge about the environment and a depth of knowledge in the behaviour of these ‘alien’ species.

It’s not enough to know what Japanese Knotweed looks like.

It’s not enough to know what chemicals will kill Japanese Knotweed.

It’s not enough to have a qualification in spraying.

It’s not enough to have a BASIS qualification.

My ‘target’ would be to have a team that ask the questions that need to be answered prior to any programme of weed control.

Why is Japanese Knotweed growing here?

Where has the plant come from?

What existing plant has been precluded by the growth of the alien species?

Are there other groups of plants that will take over the area once the target species has been eradicated?

How can we return this piece of land to its ‘natural’ condition?

So maybe that should be my answer to ‘what are my targets?’…an increased depth of knowledge within the teams at JKSL and a better service for all of our clients…

…and if I could be a millionaire by the time I’m 40 that would be great…

Mike C

Posted in JKSL | 1 Comment »

2012…End of the World?

Wednesday, January 18th, 2012

As we start the year I find myself wondering what the next few months will bring? I wonder how long the Government can relentlessly tell us all that we are in for a difficult time in 2012 without some sort of knock on effect on businesses?

Here at JKSL the last year has been hard work… yet…we have succeeded in having our best year ever. Despite the constantly depressing news about the Euro, the constantly depressing news about growth forecasts, and the devaluing of the pound in our pocket due to inflation…

If I wasn’t bombarded by bad news I would be planning for a bright and positive 2012 – but because of what I read I am planning for very little other than trying to keep what I have. If I can maintain my current workforce and make do with vans that have done high mileage – keep the current web site for another 12 months then perhaps we can avoid the problems that the rest of the UK industry is experiencing?

But…I also find myself wondering…perhaps this is all just bad press and bad Government?

If we are to believe that there is a housing shortage and that thousands of young people are just waiting to get on the property ladder then surely houses need to be built?

If we are to believe that brownfield sites up and down the country are to be released for development and planning restrictions are to be lifted then surely there is space for houses to be built?

If all of this promised development would start - then I would be expanding my workforce and buying those new vans and investing in the future…and maybe this would have a knock on effect on all those other industries that are connected and everything would start to move forward to the benefit of everybody…

As it stands we all will be stuck in the glue of a static economy and nobody will be doing anything…

Mike C

PS I know it’s not that simple.

Posted in JKSL | 1 Comment »

Birth of a new industry – Baby gets adopted by Dodgy Parents…

Wednesday, December 14th, 2011

I have been proud to be one of the first people to recognise the problems with Invasive Non Native Species in the UK. I also believe that I was THE first person to recognise the commercial potential of Invasive Non Native Species – and THE first person to set up a company solely to deal with the problems that thee plants present.

As such I feel uniquely positioned to comment on the development and growth of what is basically a ‘new’ industry. We have been doing this for ten years.

Nothing else – just Japanese Knotweed.

There are many arguments about ‘nature’ and ‘nurture’ – the difference between how a child is raised and the way parents teach their offspring about right and wrong and what impact the environment surrounding the child will impact on its growth.

For a new business these factors are just as important.

The Japanese Knotweed treatment market was created to combat the lack of understanding in the construction/development field about how to deal with difficult plants. The specialists were brought in to advise how to avoid making their problems worse and how to avoid being fined by the various legislative bodies. The market for our services grew during a time of rapid development and a buoyant economy.

Unfortunately the industry has taken a step which I believe is akin to being adopted by a wicked stepfather…

As with any successful industry ‘other’ businesses will look at the market and think … ‘I can do that’…

Well – as I have always said…. ‘dealing with highly invasive plants is not like building a wall – it’s not about bricks and mortar – it’s about understanding our environment’.

We are on the brink of having a set of new rules introduced to govern the behaviour of Japanese Knotweed Contractors - the new rules have unfortunately been ‘adopted’ by some ‘dodgy parents’.

Those that are involved have seen fit to get in bed with a group that mainly deals with ‘damp proof services’. Now correct me if I wrong – but what the f**k do damp proof contractors know about Japanese Knotweed.

F**k all.

Japanese Knotweed Solutions Ltd will continue to offer the best services and the most viable solutions to your Japanese Knotweed problems.

We will not be offering advice on damp proofing.

Mike C

Posted in JKSL, Japanese Knotweed Info | No Comments »

Tip to Losing Weight…

Wednesday, December 7th, 2011

Here is my Christmas tip for losing those extra pounds!

We have recently been asked to visit a site in South Wales to price a project for a good new client. We dropped straight on to the project free of charge producing drawings, survey information, levels and detailed calculations for earth moving volumes.

We returned our price within 24 hours of the request.

We were the best price.

We came with the highest of recommendations.

We lost out because one of our competitors lied.

If that doesn’t make you sick to the stomach then I don’t know what will…

Bluuuuurrrggghh

Mike C.

Posted in JKSL | 1 Comment »

These are my Principles – and if you don’t like them – I have others…

Wednesday, November 30th, 2011

I have recently found myself in a bit of a moral dilemma.

I like to make money, I think of myself as a good judge of character and a pretty good businessman….but occasionally I make mistakes. One such example occurred recently when I was approached by a gentleman who showed an interest in working with Japanese Knotweed Solutions to offer a niche service to his domestic clients.

Always keen to explore new markets, I met and worked with the gentleman but soon became increasingly aware that he had a simple agenda of …taking over the world. He lied, he cheated – he was aggressive and used bullying tactics which simply bored me…(anyone will tell you that I’m not that easy to bully).

I walked away and didn’t worry too much about them.

However – and now comes the dilemma -  It appears that ‘others’ have been taken in by his outwardly smooth appearance.

Do I tell them?

Naah – they deserve what’s coming.

Mike C

Posted in JKSL | 2 Comments »

Jeremy Vine show

Wednesday, November 16th, 2011

Yes you may have my autograph…

So …the other week I was approached by the Jeremy Vine Show to be interviewed by Vanessa Phelps for a piece on Japanese Knotweed. It all happened very quickly – phone call at 11 then on air LIVE at 1.30….aaarrrrghhh

Weird how many of my mates now listen to Radio 2 – as I was talking live on air my phone was bleeping away with incoming texts and my computer started to fill with incoming messages. It was funny reading … ‘you’re sounding good Mike’…whilst I was still talking!

(NB I am taking this as confirmation that I am Middle Aged – Radio 2 – bloody hell… I used to listen to John Peel during the days of punk…what happened?)

Joking aside – I do get annoyed by the scare monger tactics of the reporters. Nobody wants to hear the truth about Japanese Knotweed, they just want horror stories…

I hope I was the ‘voice of reason’, the feedback that we have received has been positive…

Mike C

Posted in JKSL, Japanese Knotweed Info | No Comments »

Sorry…

Tuesday, November 1st, 2011

Occasionally I have a go at one or two companies in the invasive weed control market, I don’t really mean anything by it – it’s just a bit of banter. Occasionally I go on about warranties and occasionally I go on about some of the wheeling and dealing that goes on.

And occasionally I go too far.

So in this instance I apologise to the parties I upset.

Mike C

Posted in JKSL, Warranty | No Comments »

Coming to America….

Wednesday, October 19th, 2011

In an effort to take over the world… Mike Clough will be Keynote speaker at two conferences in America next year!

Yes really – America – USA

It appears that the problems we have in the UK are issues which other countries have also been experiencing. It also appears that the UK are seen as being creative in the field of eradicating some of these problem plants – and are obviously ahead of other countries when it comes to bio-control….

So I shall be hitting the road/sky/Greyhound in March of 2012 with my trusty laptop and memory sticks…and my cue cards.

As I am writing this I’m wondering whether I actually have become an invasive species? Turning up where I’m not wanted and out staying my welcome…?

If anyone would like to see the ‘America 2012 Tour’ we will be producing a video/DVD with footage of the highlights - sales are expected to be non-existent …so don’t bother pre ordering!

Mike C

Posted in JKSL | No Comments »

Have you left it too late?

Wednesday, September 21st, 2011

We here at Japanese Knotweed Solutions spend all year dealing with awkward plants, so we always say… ‘whatever the time of year – it’s always a good time to deal with your Invasive Weed problems’.

However – if pushed for the most ‘effective’ time of year to deal with these plants yourselves then late Summer and early Autumn are the best times of year to control Japanese Knotweed.

To have the most effective control, apply herbicides when the plants are not under stress. If the plants are already stressed they will not absorb the herbicide quite as well and you may not get the results that you are looking for. Believe it or not, many stands of Japanese Knotweed this year have suffered from drought stress – therefore applying herbicides after a good afternoon shower can be an ideal time to achieve maximum uptake of poison.

Japanese Knotweed starts to use more of its energy stored in its rhizome in late Summer and early Autumn so the herbicides are transported to the roots quicker – giving better results for your application. Apply the herbicide before the leaves start to show any colour change. If the plants are turning yellow or brown and are displaying Autumn colours then the uptake will be less effective.

For Japanese Knotweed herbicides with the active ingredient Glyphosate are the most effective. Glyphosate is a non-selective herbicide – killing or damaging all plants that it comes into contact with. It is absorbed by the leaves and freshly cut plant stems but has no soil activity – so it is not absorbed by the roots.

Ready to use products requiring no mixing are available form garden centres – these have lower percentage ‘active’ ingredients than professional products – but can be effective if you persevere.

Mike C

Posted in Invasive Weeds Info, JKSL | No Comments »

We have a www.web site – www.we must be experts then…

Wednesday, September 14th, 2011

Yeah right. Most of them are just www.w***ers.

If you are talking to one of our competitors – ask them where they first came across Japanese Knotweed. Most of them – if they are honest –should tell you that they went on our website. Most of them copied the text from our website, half of them copied the photographs – and some of them even copied the testimonials (nice one Dan and Dave – you know who you are)…

So really you are talking to one of these people – they haven’t got a clue…unless it’s a borrowed/copied clue.

I will be honest here – when I first came across Japanese Knotweed some fifteen years ago – I didn’t know what it was either.

The difference between me and our competitors is that I didn’t then go and look at someone else’s website (there weren’t any for a start!). I had to do some genuine research. I had to look at plant taxonomy, I had to look at dust covered books and talk to various ‘experts’ in the field of plant identification. I then began to do my own research and set up my own little greenhouse of unusual plants that I couldn’t recognise.

I created a website.

I started to write articles.

I started a company called Japanese Knotweed Solutions.

I travelled the country talking about Japanese Knotweed.

I held seminars.

I talked to more experts.

I’m a bloody expert.

I didn’t copy anything.

If you want the genuine article – speak to us. …speak to the experts.

If you just want a cheap photocopy….then ring someone else …

Mike C

Posted in JKSL | No Comments »