PEOPLE MOST IMPORTANT
Highfields Garden Centre value their customers and staff above all else
The Highfields Garden Centre has been an integral part of the Highfields community since at least 1985, with Matthew Bartkowski and his partner as proud owners for the last six and a half years.
With six dedicated staff, this small family-owned local business has developed a reputation the larger organisations can only dream of.
“We don’t have an unlimited corporate advertising budget with unlimited backing nor shareholders to placate,” Matthew said.
“Our customers and our staff are the most important parts of our business.”
“We give personalised service, and have extensive knowledge and experience to back us up,” he said.
To Matthew, it’s the little things that make all the difference.
“We carry products to customers cars and have a plant identification and problem-solving service,” he said.
“We can give recommendations to customers looking for tradespeople to do all types of work, we order plants for people from all over Australia including Melbourne, Perth and Darwin and we deliver seven days a week.”
A typical day can see Matthew doing anything from serving customers, answering phones, loading stock, ordering, bookkeeping and invoicing.
And, if that isn’t enough, there’s still deliveries, advertising, vehicle maintenance and the day to day decision necessary to keep a business running successfully.
Matthew said he gets genuine satisfaction out of helping a customer with their needs.
“Particularly when they’ve been let down elsewhere or told that it can’t be done or isn’t available,” he said.
With a wide selection of stock, Highfields Garden Centre has established itself as ‘go-to’ destination.
“We get told all the time that our plant nursery is the best in the region and that we have all different plants to what everyone else has,” Matthew said.
“Many people tell us they’ll only shop here, nowhere else. We have people that come from all over the Toowoomba area, including the opposite side of town and most drive past our competitors to come here.”
Matthew said their business was constantly evolving and improving.
“Our main focus is on customer service, high quality products at realistic prices,” he said.
“In six-plus years, this business has been transformed into what it is today and that process is ongoing.
“Our small, locally owned, family business is here to stay. Come and check what we have, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.”