Complete Pizza Express!

Wednesday, November 19th, 2008

Have you ever noticed when going to Pizza Express that the Pizzas they serve aren’t always the same? Some Pizza Express restaurants serve hot fresh Pizza’s, some serve cold soggy unappetising Pizza’s…yet they are all called Pizza Express….?

That’s because it’s a ‘franchise’, you don’t have to be particularly good at making Pizzas so long as you have the money to buy the name.

You can’t be creative and make your own Pizza’s based on what your customer requires - because its not allowed as part of the franchise deal. You aren’t even allowed to talk about new and different Pizzas because it’s not allowed as part of the franchise deal.

Controlling Europe’s most invasive weed cannot be a lottery. You cannot deal with Japanese Knotweed properly by buying a recipe - you need years of experience and skilled trained staff to get the results that your sites require - fast, efficient, guaranteed eradication everytime.

So next time you want the same quality of service on every site that you work on, don’t go to Complete Pizza Express, go to Japanese Knotweed Solutions - Independently owned, Independently run - get the quality of Pizza you deserve!

NB Some names may have been changed in this article to protect companies that give a poor service.

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Get Plotted!

Wednesday, November 12th, 2008

Do you live near a stand of Japanese Knotweed? Do any of your clients have Japanese Knotweed adjacent to their property?

Have you noticed how quickly it spreads?

Have you ever wondered what would happen if it grew through your boundary fence, came up on your drive or worst case scenario grew through your floor in your house or office!

In these difficult times, surveyors who note a Japanese Knotweed infestation when carrying out a valuation - may reduce the value of the property based on the cost implication of eradication and removal…often £££ thousands of pounds.

If you have to re-mortgage or use your property as a guarantee against borrowings it is essential that Japanese Knotweed problems do not reduce the value of your property.

The best way to fight back against the problem weeds is to have evidence!

Prove where the plant originated from and you can claim for damages and get your costs back.

The first question that is always asked in legal circles is ’where did the plant originate from?’ It is at this point that everyone points the finger at each other and blames the adjacent landowner.

So give Japanese Knotweed Solutions a call and get plotted! Have a detailed drawing produced which highlights where the infestation is - the drawing will be updated every year showing where your problems originated from giving clear undisputable evidence that will save you £££ and a serious headache!

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Where we lead; Others follow!

Wednesday, November 5th, 2008

You may have noticed a huge increase in the number of companies offering Japanese Knotweed eradication? The internet is awash with warranties and guarantees and what seem to be ‘new’ strategies and ‘new’ ideas.

What appear to be ‘new’ thoughts are unfortunately simply a re-hash of established strategies and what appear to be warranties and guarantees are simply sales talk and twaddle.

Japanese Knotweed Solutions have been in the business of eradicating problem weeds for longer than any of our competitors - (not counting those that have simply changed their name!). We were the first Knotweed eradication company to advertise on Google and are still listed on page 1 of both the sponsored and non-sponsored links proving that we generate the most interest from our website.

We have recently had to take legal steps to have a competitor’s website withdrawn after they simply cut and pasted the content of our site onto their name!

Japanese Knotweed Solutions were the first company to recognise the problem and continue to be the best service provider in the industry.

Japanese Knotweed Solutions are still the only company to specialise in Japanese Knotweed eradication.

Japanese Knotweed Solutions were the first company to offer an insurance backed warranty and are still the only company who can back this statement up with solid guarantees.

For the original and best Japanese Knotweed Solutions - call 0161 723 2000

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Ireland–a new market place?

Wednesday, October 22nd, 2008

Japanese Knotweed Solutions are proud to be involved in the developing market for Invasive Weed Control in Ireland.

Initial development of new websites aimed at the specific market in Ireland has already seen several projects underway and a number of surveys in the pipeline. Senior Surveyor Alex Dayes stated that on a recent site visit Ireland has a ‘significant invasive weed problem with only a basic understanding of the complex issues involved.’ 

One of the major drawbacks is that currently we are told, Ireland’s nearest landfill site licensed to take Japanese Knotweed is in Scotland!!

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How are we Doing?

Wednesday, October 8th, 2008

Lets not beat around the (President) Bush, though beating him up might be tempting! The damage that the American problems have caused the financial markets has made things extremely difficult in the sector in which Japanese Knotweed Solutions (JKSL) operates.

Our main customer base has historically been the housing market which currently has hit a funding problem and all but dried up. New build projects have struggled to get finance and many projects programmed for 2008 have simply not happened. We continue to work on the large London project programmed to open in 2012 however there has been a struggle to get enthusiastic about the works as our advice is not being followed. 

The year started slowly and has stumbled along with peaks (new projects) and troughs (clients businesses failing). Competitors have tripped and fallen and new companies have arisen to take up the challenge.

However the main message from this blog is that Japanese Knotweed Solutions continue to hold their head up high! We have managed to diversify our market and have sought new customers by hard work and a willingness to go out and chase new business.

Each and every member of the team at JKSL have given their utmost to ensure that the service that we provide is second to none. This has shown in increased customer confidence and a healthy order book taking us into Autumn 2008.

Hopefully things will pick up for everyone by Spring 2009; in the mean time plan ahead, plan for new development, plan for new projects - and ensure that you are one step ahead by clearing all your invasive weed problems whilst projects are on hold.

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Stand up and Shout about it….!

Friday, September 12th, 2008

Japanese Knotweed is here to stay - how many times do I have to tell people!

Last week I gave eight (yes… count them) presentations to various authorities, councils and developers - as part of CPD (Continued Professional Development) training - all wishing to learn more about management and eradication of Japanese Knotweed.

This week I have given a presentation at the Lancaster Environment Centre as part of our continued links with the University and Envirolink Northwest.
The audience consisted of interested professionals and members of the contaminated land remediation sector.

Anybody wishing to have a presentation or discuss Japanese Knotweed or other invasive weeds please contact Mike Clough or Helen Todd on 0161 723 2000.

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Insurance Backed… Smoke and Mirrors!

Monday, August 18th, 2008

I’ve written about this before and no doubt will do so again…..

We have recently asked our insurance company to carry out a survey of what our competitors are offering regarding warranties and guarantees… and can confirm that the majority don’t actually have anything at all!

If you go onto the search engine websites and request information on Japanese Knotweed you will be bombarded by companies who have copied our website, copied our text, copied our photographs and even copied the wording on our tagline! ‘Insurance backed guarantee’ seems a favorite catch phrase to pull people in…

However… do not be fooled, do not be taken in – check what their warranties really are! Ask the questions – how much does your warranty cover? Who is the guarantor? Are the company directors personally guaranteeing the work?

Professional indemnity cover will not pay for re-growth of Japanese Knotweed, public liability insurance will not cover for re-growth of Japanese Knotweed.

Each and every insurance backed warranty that we give is PERSONALLY GUARANTEED by the Managing Director Mike Clough and backed by HCC International Insurance Company PLC

This means that in the worst case scenario if Japanese Knotweed Solutions Ltd were to cease trading - then I personally would be liable for any costs incurred in treating re-growth of Japanese Knotweed on your site. If I were not able to fund these costs then our insurance company guarantees that funds will be available to cover any shortfall.

Compare that to what others are offering…then call us – the original Japanese Knotweed Solutions Ltd.

Where we lead others follow.

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There will be blood!

Friday, August 1st, 2008

Make no mistake its tough out there…

Japanese Knotweed Solutions as a stand alone company have been trading since 2002 however the Directors have been around for a much longer time. Mike Clough qualified as a Landscape Architect in 1980 and has run a Landscape Design practice since that time. During this period the world has been through a series of ups and downs with the economy being like a roller coaster.

As a company Director you get to roll with the punches and have to make difficult decisions at times to ensure that the Company survives. It is these decisions that make or break the business and divide the ‘wheat from the chaff’.

Some Companies will not survive the current trading conditions and will make the wrong decisions about how to weather the current tightening of the market.

Do you really want a recurring invasive weed problem being dealt with by somebody who won’t be around next year?

Japanese Knotweed Solutions offer ten year insurance backed warranty which will cover the costs of any problem that you may have – even if we are no longer around!

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Family Run & Owned, Daughter on reception!

Thursday, July 31st, 2008

As the continued demand for the services of Japanese Knotweed Solutions continues to rise (even in these difficult times) a new voice is heard answering the phones!

Japanese Knotweed Solutions is wholly owned by Mike Clough with support form co-director Pam Clough and in true family tradition Jamie my eldest daughter will be on reception during Summer 2008 taking a break from studies at Manchester doing a Degree in Fine Art.

Anyone calling during this period please take pity on her…. the boss makes her work hard for very little money!…(and she has to brew up)

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Science not Sales

Tuesday, July 15th, 2008

Japanese Knotweed Solutions Ltd (JKSL) does not employ salesmen, we don’t have a sales team and we don’t have sales meetings or even sales targets…

I set up Japanese Knotweed Solutions as a stand alone business having come from a background as a landscape architect. I had often come across Japanese Knotweed on site and been amazed at its ability to spread and survive standard weed control. Japanese Knotweed can lay dormant on site for years then suddenly re-grow through tarmac, concrete and often building foundations! Japanese Knotweed is extremely difficult to control – that is why there is such strict legislation in place and such heavy fines for those that ignore current legislation.

As demand for our services has grown I have expanded the business from the point of providing quality of service and a huge amount of experience in invasive weed management. Nobody at JKSL goes on a ‘sales course’, but everybody has to work in the field and get hands on experience in control and eradication of invasive weeds. Nobody gets to talk to our customers unless they have the experience to do so, and nobody will tell you something that isn’t true – just to get an order!

As such we come at this from the point of view of giving our customers the best and most viable answers to dealing with Japanese Knotweed without the need for salesmen or sales tactics.

Japanese Knotweed doesn’t conform to sales targets and doesn’t perform the same way on each and every job – that’s why we offer a ten year insurance backed warranty for peace of mind – and thats why we are the number one service provider for Japanese Knotweed eradication.

Don’t believe the sales hype – this is a complex and difficult plant to eradicate – not double glazing!

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