The Story
A Young Man With A Potty Passion
Welcome! My name is Thomas and thank you for being interested in my business.
From day 1, my mission has been to grow a business with two main focuses; Providing quality terracotta pots at competitive market rates... backed up by unbeatable service. Running this business all on my own means that I handle each and every order. You know exactly who you are dealing with and should anything ever go wrong, you know exactly who you can speak to. You can contact me on my mobile any time, 07557 902675.
Since opening the gates to Tom's Yard, I've been fortunate to supply many passionate gardeners. From Country House estates to space-restricted balconies - my pots now reside across England, Wales & Scotland. Some have even made their way into Europe, with orders in France, Germany and Belgium!
On a more B2B aspect, I've worked with some of the countries leading garden designers and horticulturalists (including RHS Chelsea Gold medal Winners), supplied Amazon, the BBC, Channel 4, ITV along with other independent productions, toured some of the areas most renowned gardens, and supplied leading hotels in the South such as The Newt In Somerset.
Many of my buyers love to stay up to date with my movements on Instagram. Follow @toms_yard to make sure you don't miss out on anything. I'm very active showing the gardens I deliver to, promoting plant fairs and delving into behind the scenes action.
2020
Tom's Yard first opened in an overgrown compound next to the family-business' home furnishings store. For the next 3 years I spent my time here importing terracotta pots from Crete, dealing in garden antiques and dipping in and out of other product lines. At 23 it was a big leap of faith into the unknown. Though from day 1 - my pots always proved popular.
As you can imagine, the start was far from easy. The pandemic didn't help and having started with a small product line on a shoe-string budget - it was a challenge. Though when I really want to do something, I don't give up.
The next 3 years were spent actively growing the business. I've never been good at standing still, so rather than sitting back waiting for buyers to visit the Yard - I took a more proactive approach; attending fairs, visiting gardens, making contacts... I grew the business through what I refer to as 'the old fashioned way'.
It took a while to work, but word began to spread.
2023
Fast forward 3 years and in 2023 the business took a leap forwards. Firstly, I expanded my range and began importing a new collection of quality terracotta pots from a Pottery in Italy. Alongside imports from Crete, the Yard now began to hold a very diverse range.
Then I made the jump and moved into Tom's Yard 2.0. This brand-new compound on a local farm was larger, easier to access and ultimately proved far more suitable to meet the needs of the growing business.
Though that move really taught me a lesson... moving hundreds of pots over one weekend isn't a job to do more than once in a lifetime!
2024
2024 is looking to be a very exciting year. For a start, I've booked on for some major Plaint Fairs including the Shrewsbury Flower Show and RHS Malvern... with even more specialist plant shows dotted throughout the year.
This was the first year I'd already amassed orders for Spring before the year started - which gave me a great boost of confidence in getting through 'the long Winter'.
Although the business has moved on from where it was in 2020, two aspects haven't changed and hopefully never will. Tom's Yard will continue to focus on selling quality terracotta pots at competitive market rates. And I will forever aim to provide my buyers with the most personal & passionate service.
Around Work
I'm happy to say that I'm an Industry Coordinator for the YPHA - Young People in Horticulture Association. The body now holds over 700 members across Britain and is a fantastic group for bringing together and celebrating young people working in Horticulture. If you know of anyone, do get them to sign up - it's great and 2024 is looking to be an exciting year.
Through the business and my close proximity to a local garden, The Laskett Gardens, I'm a Perennial Partner. Perennial is the UK’s only charity dedicated to those who work in horticulture, and their families, when times get tough. The Gardeners’ Benevolent Institution (now Perennial) was founded in 1839 and still exists today in the aim to carry out it's mission to support all of those who work in Horticulture.
A Bit About Me
From a young age I've been raised in Herefordshire and it's a county I passionately love. The landscape and the people make it such a marvellous place to be. I'm certainly an outdoorsy person, enjoying walks with our dogs, picking wild berries and making all sorts of concoctions in glass jars stored around our cottage.
After finishing my studies at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester, the 'RAU' (or even the RAC to some!), I headed back home to join the family home interiors business. Selling furniture, paints and flooring (as I had done for the past 10+ years), I've always enjoyed helping people. In fact, when I was younger I dreamed of becoming a butler. An odd choice to the usual fireman or astronaut...
After coming back home I eventually spread my wings and went off to work with Europe's largest retailer of Decorative Antiques and Garden Ornaments. Running their main Tetbury showroom, I was immersed into the world of period and decorative antique furniture. It was here that I developed my knowledge as I assisted Private Clients, Interior Designers and Dealers from around the globe in their hunt for beautiful and authentic pieces.
It was that experience that had a strong part to play in deciding to be my own boss.
Outside Work
Outside work I'm a keen reader, regularly going through books on gardening (specifically garden history) and other subjects around Horticulture. History has always been a topic that intrigued me and I'm slowly getting round to writing my first book on a subject that fascinates me. Watch this space!
Gardens aside, I'm an active member of Hereford Round Table. A local charity fundraising money with the aim to distribute funds around local causes. Here's the gang at our 2023 Rock The Barn fundraiser. That year we raised tens of thousands of pounds for local causes around Herefordshire. Something I'm very proud and passionate about.
Many people say that I never stop... I probably agree!
