Candid Company: The Verdant Growth of Tim Davies Landscaping
Meet the man behind the Perth landscaping company, which grew from a one-man band to a company with 110 employees
Julia Fairley
30 April 2019
Chief Sub-Editor and Writer, Houzz Australia and New Zealand. I love design and architecture that is thoughtful, sophisticated and champions an element of the unexpected. Before graduating with a Bachelor of Arts at UNSW and becoming a journalist, I studied interior architecture. For over a decade I have interviewed inspiring creative minds from around the world to write about design in its many different forms. Recently, I have also become an accidental gardener, to everyone's surprise.
Chief Sub-Editor and Writer, Houzz Australia and New Zealand. I love design and architecture... More
Tim Davies’ story is the stuff of entrepreneurs’ dreams – the transformation from sole trader to a thriving business, and the growth of said business into a company 110 employees deep. Houzz caught up with the man behind the eponymous landscaping company to track its growth from a seed of a business to a Perth household name.
Tim Davies, managing director of Tim Davies Landscaping in Perth, WA
What do you do?
I am the managing director of Tim Davies Landscaping. I oversee all aspects of the business and still get involved in the design of certain projects and with clients who I have dealt with for the past 20-plus years.
What do you do?
I am the managing director of Tim Davies Landscaping. I oversee all aspects of the business and still get involved in the design of certain projects and with clients who I have dealt with for the past 20-plus years.
Southern River garden, WA
What distinguishes your work?
We have a contemporary approach to our work. We are different from other landscapers in that we are a design, construction and maintenance business. We’re an end-to-end landscape solution, with our work leaning towards a modern and contemporary feel.
What distinguishes your work?
We have a contemporary approach to our work. We are different from other landscapers in that we are a design, construction and maintenance business. We’re an end-to-end landscape solution, with our work leaning towards a modern and contemporary feel.
City Beach garden, WA
How did you enter this field of work?
I grew up on a station north of Carnarvon, WA, and fell in love with the land. When I finished my schooling, I did a horticultural apprenticeship at Kings Park Board in WA (now the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority), and while I was completing my Certificate of Horticulture I formed Tim Davies Landscaping.
How did you enter this field of work?
I grew up on a station north of Carnarvon, WA, and fell in love with the land. When I finished my schooling, I did a horticultural apprenticeship at Kings Park Board in WA (now the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority), and while I was completing my Certificate of Horticulture I formed Tim Davies Landscaping.
City Beach garden, WA
When did you start Tim Davies Landscaping?
I founded Tim Davies Landscaping in 1983. It has been an interesting journey in that it has been a steady progression since then.
When did you start Tim Davies Landscaping?
I founded Tim Davies Landscaping in 1983. It has been an interesting journey in that it has been a steady progression since then.
Burns Beach garden, WA
How has your business changed?
When I started the business, I would do pool and garden construction and maintenance works for groups of home units and office buildings on the weekends.
I started working seven days a week at the early age of 18 and slowly built up the business. I formed from a one-man band, gradually building up the company to a couple of people, then to five, to 30, to 75, to where we are today with 110 employees.
Fundamentally, our focus remains on the design, construction and maintenance of commercial and residential properties across the Perth metropolitan area, much like it did 35 years ago. In saying this though, how we run the business has changed considerably as many factors have changed over the years, one being the reduction in homes’ block sizes.
How has your business changed?
When I started the business, I would do pool and garden construction and maintenance works for groups of home units and office buildings on the weekends.
I started working seven days a week at the early age of 18 and slowly built up the business. I formed from a one-man band, gradually building up the company to a couple of people, then to five, to 30, to 75, to where we are today with 110 employees.
Fundamentally, our focus remains on the design, construction and maintenance of commercial and residential properties across the Perth metropolitan area, much like it did 35 years ago. In saying this though, how we run the business has changed considerably as many factors have changed over the years, one being the reduction in homes’ block sizes.
Swanbourne garden, WA
Can you identify a turning point for your company?
There have been a few turning points within the business, one being employing a general manager 20 years ago, who brought systems and processes to the business that enabled us to grow considerably.
Another turning point was taking on a senior landscape architect to run the design area of our business.
We have had amazing clients and staff throughout the years. The key to our success is the quality and calibre of our staff, they are people who are passionate about what they do and people who strive to make a difference through their work.
Can you identify a turning point for your company?
There have been a few turning points within the business, one being employing a general manager 20 years ago, who brought systems and processes to the business that enabled us to grow considerably.
Another turning point was taking on a senior landscape architect to run the design area of our business.
We have had amazing clients and staff throughout the years. The key to our success is the quality and calibre of our staff, they are people who are passionate about what they do and people who strive to make a difference through their work.
Hillarys garden, WA
What has proven the greatest professional challenge?
My greatest professional challenge has been growing the business with our systems and procedures, and there has not been any magic ‘silver bullet’ to fix or overcome it – it continues to be a process and challenge moving forward.
What has proven the greatest professional challenge?
My greatest professional challenge has been growing the business with our systems and procedures, and there has not been any magic ‘silver bullet’ to fix or overcome it – it continues to be a process and challenge moving forward.
Nedlands garden, WA
What have you learnt about your industry that you wish you knew when you started?
It is through pain that we come at wisdom.
What have you learnt about your industry that you wish you knew when you started?
It is through pain that we come at wisdom.
Swanbourne garden, WA
Talk us through the process of an average landscaping job, from start to finish
Talk us through the process of an average landscaping job, from start to finish
- Initial enquiry.
- Paid on-site or complimentary in-office consultation.
- Design (promote this on social media channels – watch the journey of the project):
- Fee proposal
- Site survey
- Sketch and estimate
- Concept design and quote
- Construction sign-off.
Swanbourne garden, WA
4. Construction of landscape design (promote this on social media channels – watch the journey of the project):
5. Maintenance – regular and continual visits if required by the client.
6. Photography of selected projects after a minimum of one year (to allow plants to grow into the space).
7. Create a project profile on our website, Houzz and Pinterest.
8. Continually update social media channels such as Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
4. Construction of landscape design (promote this on social media channels – watch the journey of the project):
- Mobilisation
- Demolition
- Set-out and pre-layouts
- Excavation and levels
- Walls and structures
- Irrigation and lighting
- Planting
- Paths and decking
- Lawns and mulch
- Clean up and sealing.
5. Maintenance – regular and continual visits if required by the client.
6. Photography of selected projects after a minimum of one year (to allow plants to grow into the space).
7. Create a project profile on our website, Houzz and Pinterest.
8. Continually update social media channels such as Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
East Fremantle garden, WA
What is the most common misconception about landscaping that you wish more people understood?
The common misconception about our industry is around planning the landscape in conjunction with the architecture. There is a perception that we plan the landscape late in the piece as the project is nearing completion.
Instead, we should be involving a landscape designer or landscape architect at the architectural design concept phase of the project. The best projects we have been involved in are those that engage us at the initial stage of concept design.
What is the most common misconception about landscaping that you wish more people understood?
The common misconception about our industry is around planning the landscape in conjunction with the architecture. There is a perception that we plan the landscape late in the piece as the project is nearing completion.
Instead, we should be involving a landscape designer or landscape architect at the architectural design concept phase of the project. The best projects we have been involved in are those that engage us at the initial stage of concept design.
Wembley garden, WA
When choosing sub-contractors or clients, what do you look for?
We look at every project individually to see how we can add value. Ensuring we work with people who are passionate about their project and who appreciate landscapes and what we do is essential to completing the project to the highest of standards.
When choosing sub-contractors or clients, what do you look for?
We look at every project individually to see how we can add value. Ensuring we work with people who are passionate about their project and who appreciate landscapes and what we do is essential to completing the project to the highest of standards.
Iluka garden, WA
What are the deal breakers that make you reluctant to work with clients?
We do not want to work with people who do not have a high level of integrity.
What are the deal breakers that make you reluctant to work with clients?
We do not want to work with people who do not have a high level of integrity.
Shelley garden, WA
What’s the best advice you can offer about managing a team?
My best advice is having a team of people who have a ‘can do’ attitude and who strive for the best, because if they have this you will also be able to achieve the right outcome. How you manage that group is about having open, clear and honest communication both ways.
What’s the best advice you can offer about managing a team?
My best advice is having a team of people who have a ‘can do’ attitude and who strive for the best, because if they have this you will also be able to achieve the right outcome. How you manage that group is about having open, clear and honest communication both ways.
City Beach garden, WA
How do you plan to grow or maintain your level of success?
We are going to continue to do what we have always done, which is listen to our clients and provide the best solution to their needs and we continue to be in a very changing and demanding time in the marketplace. We cannot rest on our laurels, we need to continue to put our best foot forward for every project to be successful.
How do you plan to grow or maintain your level of success?
We are going to continue to do what we have always done, which is listen to our clients and provide the best solution to their needs and we continue to be in a very changing and demanding time in the marketplace. We cannot rest on our laurels, we need to continue to put our best foot forward for every project to be successful.
Subiaco garden, WA
Any recommendations for software or apps that help you run your business well?
Unfortunately, as of yet I have not found a ‘quick fix’ app or software that does everything we require, but I can’t wait to see what the future holds. At the moment we use Microsoft Dynamics CRM system for tracking client information and associated job information, and Microsoft Navision for all things accounting.
Any recommendations for software or apps that help you run your business well?
Unfortunately, as of yet I have not found a ‘quick fix’ app or software that does everything we require, but I can’t wait to see what the future holds. At the moment we use Microsoft Dynamics CRM system for tracking client information and associated job information, and Microsoft Navision for all things accounting.
Mosman Park garden, WA
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I only wish I could afford this Company & they would come to Albany!!!