Sam from Consilium Hortus is building a business that’s designed to last both creatively and commercially.
Based in Essex, the company focuses on luxury garden design, transforming spaces into lifestyle-driven outdoor areas. With five years under his belt, Sam now wants to scale up. His aim is to take on fewer but bigger projects, strengthen his in-house team and build a brand that can one day be passed down to his children. The challenge is generating better-quality leads and converting them efficiently, while keeping the brand’s personal touch intact.
Core business model
Consilium Hortus specialises in high-end garden design and landscaping, operating across Essex and the Southeast. Project values can exceed £120,000 for flagship builds, and demand is at its strongest from March through to July.
Approach to marketing
Marketing plays a big role in the business. Each year, Consilium Hortus exhibits at Grand Designs Live with bespoke, pre-built displays that showcase their expertise.
They have built a strong organic presence on Instagram and LinkedIn, supported by monthly professional photo and video shoots. Sam himself appears in face-to-camera videos that build trust and recognition, while client testimonials and CGI walkthroughs are used effectively in Meta ads. Previous exposure at RHS Hampton Court has added further credibility, and referrals and word of mouth continue to deliver warm leads.
Standout initiative
The standout marketing initiative so far has been the use of CGI walkthroughs in Meta campaigns. These videos allow prospective clients to visualise complex, high-end builds before committing. They position the brand as polished and forward-thinking, and they help qualify higher-intent leads by showcasing aspirational results upfront.
There is clear potential to evolve these walkthroughs into fuller case studies and storytelling pieces that highlight the entire project journey.
Current marketing investment
Sam currently invests between £3,000 and £4,000 per month into marketing. Around £80 a day goes into Meta ads, while Google Ads were previously tested at £30 a day but have been paused. The annual budget also covers events, photography, videography and freelance support. The mix leans heavily towards Meta, with organic content filling the gaps.
Digital marketing opportunities
There are clear opportunities to build on this foundation. Documenting entire project timelines from consultation through to completion would provide powerful content for both YouTube and short-form reels.
Reintroducing Google Ads with a tightly geo-targeted approach could capture high-intent search traffic. The website could also become more personal by bringing Sam and the team to the forefront alongside reviews and testimonials.
Offline opportunities are equally important, such as delivering high-quality brochures to affluent postcodes and adding referral incentives when reaching out to past clients. Tidying up digital basics, like fixing broken social links, will also help.
Growth strategy focus
Looking ahead, the focus is on hyper-local positioning in affluent areas of Essex and Suffolk.
Storytelling and personality will be central to building trust and improving conversion rates. The business will prioritise quality of leads over sheer volume, using each completed project as a springboard for content, print outreach and referrals. By being visible across both digital and physical spaces, Consilium Hortus can continue to build authority in its niche.
Summary
Consilium Hortus is well-positioned to grow, with a strong brand identity and a portfolio of standout work. The next stage is all about consistency. Refining how the story is told, improving lead qualification and maximising the impact of every project through content, ads and referrals will help Sam scale the business sustainably.
By combining his authentic, personal approach with a structured digital strategy and thoughtful offline outreach, Consilium Hortus can continue to thrive while staying true to its roots.
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