Buying Roses

To be honest, while I bow to the great marketing success that David Austin has built up, I don't really see what the desire is to buy from them. There are hundreds of specialist rose growers who sell really excellent roses, in huge ranges, and a lot cheaper than David Austin. Also I've, personally, have never seen any Garden Centres selling David Austin roses cheaper than them, in fact just the opposite!!
I buy from either local growers or, the last 5, from on-line after a recommendation from a GC member. Is buying from David Austin's a kind of "Statement", or like a buying a tin of beans...i.e. the marketing has been so good that a majority of people automatically reach for Heinz?

 

Oh, it's each to their own, Jenny, and browsing through catalogues of plants is something nearly every Gardener enjoys and it keeps us going until Spring giving us new ideas and ambitions.
I hope Merlworld will forgive me but her comments seem to show how successful Dave Austin marketing campaign has been because she seems to be inferring that she loves the shapes, scents and colours of the roses because they're David Austin roses. But if you were to take the labels off and mix up the roses with other lesser known, but equally skilful and knowledgeable commercial rose growers you wouldn't be able to tell the difference.
But like I say when you think of Roses you think within seconds of David Austin, when you think of David Austin you automatically think of shapes, scents, and colours of Walt Disney proportions and, of course, quality...........and that's what's imprinted on even a person's mind who never bought a rose from David Austin or visited them.......so that's how powerful and influential their marketing has been.

 

I agree, Kristen, and I've bought named roses from a local reputable Plant Nursery who has a stall on the Nantwich Market and was selling stock that hadn't "moved" at the price asked at the Nursery.....and I got them for £3 a piece, lovely roses, lovely price!!

 

Good evening all my friends I have taken the Liberty of emailing David Austin asking him why are his Roses so expensive and why are so much more expensive than the David Austin Roses at other nurseries,Just thought I would go straight to the Boss When I get an answer I will post it here

 

I thought other sellers of David Austin roses were under a commercial agreement to sell the roses at either the same price or higher???........obviously wrong

 

My apologies to you, Merleworld, my friend, for misinterpreting your comments about buying roses I deliberately left myself some "wriggle room" by saying your comments "seemed" to say that you were influenced by David Austin marketing.
But my point about the imprint in peoples minds regarding Roses and David Austin does remain valid I think