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01829 740194 | [email protected]

  • Home
  • About
    • About Us
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    • Why Choose Us?
    • Team
    • Partners
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    • Domestic Projects
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    • Outdoor Living
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Blog

For Better Or Worse: Being in Business With the Other Half

September 29, 2020

Team-Mark-And-Holly

They do say never work with children and animals… but what about husbands? Most people would probably say no way – but is that the truth? Is there a formula to making it work? Anyone knows that being in business can be stressful enough, but what happens when you add your other half to the equation?

I’ve been lucky enough to meet some great couples in the industry who manage to work closely together at work and at home, juggling kids, households and the demands and strains that running a growing business puts on a relationship, so I do know it’s possible. Personally, I have found there are positives and negatives. For example, we end up talking shop far too much. We have to consciously refrain from discussing work issues when we should be enjoying our own time to relax and unwind – rather than winding each other up! The home/work life boundary has become more blurred for us too.

Team - Holly

We also have to be mindful and try to refrain from reminding each other what needs to be done (better known as nagging). No-one likes being told what to do in a relationship, we have our respective areas of responsibility in the business and we can often chase each other to do things… so tread carefully is all I can say. I wonder sometimes what the rest of the team think, as we can ‘have our moments’ in the office and tension can be impossible to hide. I suspect they are used to it, however we do have a great team around us who read us well and know not to worry.

Over the years, we have learnt a lot about each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Both of us are control freaks and perfectionists in our own way – some things complement each other and some clash. Don’t get me wrong, we can irritate each other – regularly, but overall it works if you make it work. If both of you are prepared to compromise and you can accept criticism from each other (that bit is NOT easy).

Personally, I think the fact that we are already a husband and wife team is a huge benefit to the business as we can bring our compatibility into the director-director relationship. I’ve seen so many company partnerships break down through disagreements, differences in vision or lack of respect, but when you’re living together it’s easier to work out a compromise, simply because you have to.

Over the past few years we have both come across different opportunities through people we meet throughout the wider industry. We are able to support and encourage each other to grow which I don’t think you would necessarily have if you weren’t in a relationship with a business partner.

Sometimes I wonder what it would be like if we worked in different places – maybe it would be a nice surprise to hear about how each other’s day went. But, honestly, I wouldn’t change the fact that we are on this rollercoaster journey together, supporting each other in a thriving, friendly and hugely diverse industry, with new and exciting opportunities to explore around every corner. It’s great to be able to share the journey with someone.

Full-Group-Photo

Month

    November

    • Urban Director talks work and personal life in Pro Landscaper Magazine

    August

    • Penthouse Roof Terrace – Liverpool
    • Covid-19 announcement

    July

    • Benefits of Commercial Landscaping: Draw in customers and boost sales
    • 6 Reasons To Install A Fire Pit In Your Garden

    May

    • The Renson Canopy Range
    • Why You Should Have An Outdoor Kitchen
    • Kamado Joe Ceramic Grills offer

    April

    • Urban Landscapes continue to follow government guidelines

    March

    • Urban Landscapes Covid-19 Update
    • Urban Landscapes Coronavirus Policy

    February

    • Whatever the Weather: preparing for adverse weather conditions
    • Learning to adapt
    • Attracting more valuable projects
    • The First Steps to Employing Staff
    • Don’t Forget the Plants: Soft Landscaping Design
    • Being Tech Savvy For Your Business
    • The Health Benefits of Outdoor Spaces
    • Let’s Hear it From Holly and Mark Youde
    • Our exciting partnership with London Stone
    • Growing Ranks

    June

    • Make The Right Choice: The Do’s and Dont’s of Recruitment
    • All For Show: Why Industry Shows are Good for Your Business
    • Entering Awards: The Pros and Cons of Taking Part in Industry Awards
    • When Opportunity Knocks
    • Growing Pains and Gains: Growing Your Own Business

    September

    • For Better Or Worse: Being in Business With the Other Half
    • We’re Pro Landscaper Business Award winners!

    January

    • How to create cosy outdoor living spaces for all year round
    • Basic gardening tools everybody should have
    • Planning a Dementia Friendly Garden
    • Marshalls Register Award for Best Driveway Transformation over 70m
    • A Week in the Life of a Cheshire Landscaping Company

    October

    • 42 Under 42
    • 2018 BALI Awards
    • Modern day love of Fire Pits
    • MUD SLINGING AT WORK
    • THE BENEFITS OF RECRUITING AN APPRENTICE
    • WE MUST BE MAD …!
    • WE ARE PROUD TO BE A MEMBER OF THE LANDSCAPING INSTITUTE
    • IS THERE A HOSEPIPE BAN?
    • AWARDS UPDATE JULY 2018
    • Award Winning Landscape Design
    • Commerical Landscaping, Wilmslow
    • Pro Landscaper Business Awards

    December

    • Festive Wishes
    • APL Awards
    • Commercial Landscaping, South Manchester
    • Landscaping Services, Cheshire
    • Fire Magic Outdoor Kitchen, Cheshire
    • Outdoor Living Area, Cheshire
    • Commercial Landscape Contractors, South Manchester
    • The Silver Lining
    • Flower Power
    • Compact & Bijou Outdoor Cooking
    • Outdoor Living on the Wirral
    • RHS Tatton – Show Garden
    • An unexpected guest
    • Exclusive Event 30th March 2017
    • Outdoor Living Area, South Manchester
    • Blistering Ovens
    • Pullover Power
    • Shropshire Lad
    • DoubleTree by Hilton, Chester
    • Teaching an old dog new tricks!
    • APL Membership

Categories

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Our Work

  • 01
  • 02
  • 03
  • 04
  • 05
  • 06

Heathlands Care Home

Directly with the client, we constructed and installed a beach themed garden, suitable for Dementia patients

Penthouse Roof Terrace – Liverpool

Roof terrace with garden studio and different areas to enjoy, including a seaside themed area

Contemporary Garden Chester

A cool contemporary project on a new build property in Chester.

Contemporary Courtyard Chester

In this small courtyard development in Hoole, we created a cool split level space for the client who wanted a modern feel.

Urban Landscapes HQ

Urban RHS Tatton

Our Work

Commercial
Heathlands Care Home

Heathlands Care Home

Directly with the client, we constructed and installed a beach themed garden, suitable for Dementia patients

Read More
Large Project
Penthouse Roof Terrace – Liverpool

Penthouse Roof Terrace – Liverpool

Roof terrace with garden studio and different areas to enjoy, including a seaside themed area

Read More
Medium Project
Contemporary Garden Chester

Contemporary Garden Chester

A cool contemporary project on a new build property in Chester.

Read More
Small Project
Contemporary Courtyard Chester

Contemporary Courtyard Chester

In this small courtyard development in Hoole, we created a cool split level space for the client who wanted a modern feel.

Read More
Outdoor Kitchens
Urban Landscapes HQ

Urban Landscapes HQ

Read More
Outdoor Living
Urban RHS Tatton

Urban RHS Tatton

Read More
 
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