If you’re struggling to hire or retain employees, it’s possible you may need to revisit the way you do things. Today, the post-millennial generation (Generation Z) is arriving in the workforce—and their wants and needs are quite different than you might be used to. That means if you’re still employing yesterday’s approach to hiring and […]
Shayne Newman, founder and president of YardApes in New Milford, Connecticut, credits his upbringing to his ultimate career choice in landscaping. Having spent so much time outdoors as a kid made it seem virtually impossible to choose a career that involved the confines of four walls every day. “I don’t just like being outside; I […]
There are a couple of effective ways to price your work for profit—and we do not recommend bidding all jobs at the same hourly rate (figured on your overhead and desired profit). In a competitive market, you’ll need to go deeper with pricing. Let’s illustrate how three different companies can price jobs three different ways. […]
For years, H. Jaclyn Ishimaru-Gachina, president and CEO of Gachina Landscape Management, was by her husband’s side as he ran the company. A “Game of Thrones” fan, Ishimaru-Gachina jokes that she was like the “hand of the King.” Though she was at home raising her boys, Ishimaru-Gachina’s husband, John, spoke about every aspect of the […]
What does it take to achieve great accomplishments in the lawn and landscape industry? Here are 7 valuable insights industry consultant Jeffrey Scott suggests to help accelerate your landscape business growth. Landscape Business Growth Truth #1: Nice Guys (and Gals) Finish First Some of the most attractive and compelling leadership traits are those of optimistic, […]
There are many ways to grow a business. And in the landscape maintenance industry, referrals are a common way to gain new customers. Today, these referrals come from social networks just as often as from noticing a landscaper’s truck at a neighbor’s house. But you can’t depend on referrals alone. Sometimes, referrals come from across […]
The dramatic setting overlooking Smith Mountain Lake in Huddleston, Virginia, lent itself well to big ideas, stunning design and creative landscaping. The Coopers were looking to maximize usable outdoor space by building a connected, flowing design that enabled interaction and incredible views for entertaining guests. They wanted luxury lakeside living. Over the course of two […]
During a UPS strike while Ben Carruthers was working there, he needed a way to make some additional money while attending college. He started mowing lawns and quickly found that he liked the outdoor work. In fact, he enjoyed it so much he decided to switch from a business major to horticulture. That ultimately led […]
Trying to keep a finger on the pulse of a company’s financial health can be difficult for a lot of landscape business owners. Sometimes, the everyday tasks of the business just get in the way of keeping up with the financials. But ignoring that information can be detrimental to your success. James Huston of J.R. […]
Landscape sales objections are opportunities. They open up conversations with prospects and give you an “in” to address concerns and validate your expertise. Objections are also a sign that a prospect needs more information to make a decision—and you can supply that by answering their questions. Ultimately, objections can lead to closing a sale because […]