A better store of wealth than gold?
I spoke to a well known art dealer this week who suggested that, “Bonsai may become the next hedge against inflation…”
So what do you write about when the rain hammers endlessly on the kitchen window? I had intended to do some work on my Scots Pines, which are definitely ready for candle reduction and shoot selection but I suppose I can discuss some of the issues that have arisen from ‘the virus…’
The most obvious relates to the sharp rise in bonsai prices – especially those varieties that appear to have stopped being imported – Trident Maple being the most obvious. Back in February, when I was updating my stock records and reviewing prices, it became very apparent that the major bonsai dealers were struggling to maintain stock and their prices had risen steeply. Even on Ebay it was clear that something had changed.
I was concerned enough that I removed my internet shop from both Facebook and this website until I could establish what I considered to be a fair price. I have always maintained that sales are secondary for me. Bonsai is truly my love and my hobby so the last thing I want to feel is that I am ‘ripping’ someone off with hugely inflated prices.
Expressions of Grace is more than just the bonsai – it is also a way of life.
I have used Trident Maple as the subject for this research and tried to match up age and general characteristics. These all range between 40 – 50 cm in height and ages average around the 10 year mark. There were a couple of cheaper options available for ‘obviously’ younger stock – but only reducing the price to £99 (inc P&P).
I have similiar Tridents for sale and, up until very recently, they were marked up for between £45 – £55. I put one of these on Ebay and it sold for £120.
Herons and Greenwoods Bonsai had nothing under £950, though WillowBog (a Scottish importer) did have some Tridents at around £450. Clearly these are the quality premium examples – they had nothing at the budget end.
So is it the same for other varieties?
Again, I carried out the same research on Chinese Elms. Though they are much more ‘available’ the prices have definitely doubled. Smaller examples are retailing at between £28 – £35 (up to 30cm) and then prices increase as the relative heights do. What is also clear is they no longer seem to be available at your local garden stores. A manager told me they could no longer justify purchasing them.
I therefore tried a few sales on Ebay and the price results were confirmed when one of my smaller Elms sold for £40 and the next size range up went for over £60. So we are definitely seing inflationary prices but what are the major importers telling us?
Greenwoods Nursery (Nottingham):
Hello Xavier,
A lot of businesses are finding it harder to buy in stock. A combination of freight prices form Asia sky rocketing and far more restrictions in imports since we left Europe I am afraid.
Regarding Trident Maples specifically when trying to buy them in Europe most nurseries react like they have never even heard of them, so they pretty much exclusively come from Japan/Korea/China. We have not managed to source any new cheaper ones this year. A nursery we had some from last year have none this year.
Hopefully with time availabilty will improve, but while freight costs are still up to 10x what they were a year ago you are going to see an inevitable price creap for a bit. We are still, as always, doing our best to get in as much as possible at sensible prices, but it is currently harder than ever.
Regards,
Paul Tomlinson
Wattston Bonsai (Scotland):
On the subject of costs Covid 19 seems to be a convenient excuse to increase prices, example, my shipping costs is normally £ 2500, due to supply and demand ( so I’m told) my costs have risen to £9700 for the shipping alone, assorted fees i.e Vat, Import duty, moorage, freight forwarding etc, has still to be added, it was extremely difficult to find a ship willing to come to Grangemouth. Before I started to Import I was told you could buy Bonsai on every street corner ( if only), and that Bonsai could be bought cheaply, this is utter nonsense…
(excerpt from their blog dated 3 March 21)
Kaizen Bonsai (Great Yarmouth):
A little point that has not been reported on by the media is the fact that a container, shipped from China to the UK has gone up from about £1600 last summer to about £6000 today, some have been quoted up to £10,000…
That is just one of a dozen simply incredible circumstances that is about to change life in the UK forever. Take Akadama, there is simply not enough to satisfy the world and lead times can be literally months on end, the price is rising and the shipping has increased by up to 500%…
One of our European tree suppliers was charging us under £200 for a massive pallet up to 8 feet high. Pointless customs documentation and delays has now added exactly £250 to that price and by the time I get it cleared through an agent I expect another £125 this side of the water. Assuming 50 little trees that increases the price per item from £4 to £11.50 which is £13.80 including the VAT you have to pay. That’s actually more than the cost of a lot of little starter trees. Add UK shipping and you are up to £21.45. Add a decent cardboard box at £1, a glue slug at 75p and you reach £23.20. I then have to photograph and list the tree, we have to pack it and label the box and at a paltry £10 an hour that adds another £10.80 which brings us to £34 and so far there is not a single penny in there for the plant, it’s all just processing costs and with overheads running at around 40% of sales value…
(Excerpt from Graham’s blog: The Irony of my Life)
My summary:
I apologise for the length of this blog but I felt it was important to share what information I had collected from experienced, high reputation bonsai importers. The truth is that the days of regular low cost Asian imports has practically gone. Akadama is now costing £10 more a bag which certainly puts it beyond my means for repotting at £26/bag. This year I used 8 bags – kittydama (cat litter) is certainly the way forward!
I am sure bargains may still be found but I think the time is rapidly approaching when we all need to look to our own varieties. At this time I am concentrating most of my efforts on developing stocks of oak, hornbeam, ash, beech and of course…Scots Pine. Japanese Larch saplings can also be purchased and grown on – it just requires a little time.
In the meantime – look after any imports you do have. They may be as great a store of wealth as gold 🙂
Keep smiling
Xavier 🙂
