Ones to Watch: Austen Associates
What is it?
Austen Associates is an award-winning landscape-architecture design practice run by Tim Austen, a professional landscape architect and judge on the RTÉ television programme, Super Garden.
The practice, which is based in Wicklow
town, was founded in 2007 and has a team of four landscape architects and
garden designers. The company specialises in landscape planning, design and
project- management work in the public and private sectors.
The garden-design division of Austen Associates undertakes garden design and construction and has evolved from Tim's desire to create beautiful gardens using his award-winning design style which has its roots in classical, romantic and naturalistic gardens.
Who's behind it?
Tim Austen is a multi-award winning landscape architect and the owner of Austen Associates. Austen is currently appearing as a judge on Super Garden, the new TV programme broadcasting on RTE One every Wednesday at 8pm. He has over a decade of experience working on high-profile public and private landscape projects, as well as an extensive portfolio of garden designs for individual clients across Ireland.
Financial situation?
Austen Associates is 100% owned by Tim Austen. The company has established a solid client base and has a steady demand on its services.
Turnover and gross profit of the company is up year on year since 2007. Austen comments that: "2010 should remain profitable despite the down-turn...this is a direct result of the Austen Associates' efforts to deliver both a high-quality and personal level of service to its clients".
As a result of this, Austen Associates achieve both repeat business and new referrals in equal measure.
Future plans?
This year, Austen Associates added a new division to the company called Austen Flowers & Events which brings cutting edge, creative and unique floral design to corporate and private events nationwide.
In addition, on the back of their award-winning show gardens at Bloom, Austen Associates intend to exhibit a show garden at one of the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society garden shows in 2011, with a view to expanding into the UK garden-design market.
