In the January 2014 issue of Landscape Management, landscape contractor Jim Lewis wrote about how companies can manage their online reputations. Here, he specifically addresses asking customers for positive reviews. What’s the best way to get a positive review from a client? Ask for it after the job is finished, right after a customer has given you a big compliment.... read more
Have you ever had one of those days or weeks where multiple bits of information—all with the same message—seem to materialize out of thin air, like they’re screaming, “Hey, you! Pay attention to this!” It feels like fate, but it’s really just a matter of the brain’s ability to recognize and call attention to patterns. It’s called frequency illusion or the Baader-Meinhof... read more
The National Wildlife Federation aims to certify 300 Green Industry pros by the end of the year. National Wildlife Federation (NWF) launched its Certified Wildlife Landscaping Professional (CWLP) designation late last year as an offshoot of its Certified Wildlife Habitat, Schoolyard Habitat and Community Wildlife Habitat programs. The new program certifies landscape professionals who commit to supporting ecologically sound and... read more
AmericanHort, the Green Industry’s new trade association, formally began Jan. 1, following the closing of the consolidation of the American Nursery & Landscape Association (ANLA) and OFA–The Association of Horticulture Professionals Dec. 31. The more than two-year effort to bring the groups together was initiated by the volunteer leadership of the legacy organizations. OFA and ANLA members have been automatically... read more
Having trouble talking with your marketing team? We may know why. The first question can make or break the interview. “What is it we’re selling?” broke the ice. “Why, it’s beautiful spaces, healthy living and artful gardens,” said the new-to-the-industry candidate experienced in marketing but whose wilted houseplants clearly meant landscaping was a risky career move. “No,” said the marketing... read more
Weed Man USA’s strategy banks on planning, processes and people. How you can learn from its model. While visiting with his neighbor one evening in the mid-1980s, Roger Mongeon ventured down to the man’s basement office to take a look at his business. The neighbor ran a two-truck Weed Man franchise from his home in Ajax, Ontario, outside of Toronto.... read more
