Denise Putnam, owner of Hands to Work Hearts to God in metropolitan Detroit, knows she lost potential business simply by the way she handled cold calls. So she changed her whole approach. “Whenever I got a cold call, the first thing they always wanted to know was how much I charge per hour,” says Putnam. “In the beginning, I made... read more
By Tom Crain Western Horticultural Services, Houston, TX, makes safety job No. 1. It has been recognized as a leader in the annual Safety Recognition Awards Program sponsored by the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) for maintaining a consistent accident-free and “no days lost” work record for its crews. “We stress safety every day,” says owner John Catapano. “We bring our... read more
Container gardening has proven to be a successful add-on service for Christensen Landscape Services, LLC in Northford, CT. In fact, container gardening has brought to light some additional opportunities, such as container storage and seasonal plant displays, in which the company can continue to drive revenue in the off-season. With all of the service possibilities container gardening brings to the... read more
By Jamie J. Gooch When Glenn Goldsmith opened his greenhouse to show off his new varieties to customers in 1967, he could not have predicted it would start the ball rolling on what would become the California Spring Trials. Visitors who preregister for the trials can make their way from Gilroy, CA (where the Goldsmith family began the trials and... read more
Question: How do you get homeowners to tell you what they want to spend on a project without being pushy ? — Amanda Bell, Landscape Designs by Amanda, Red Lion, PA Answer: One common problem for landscape designers and contractors is trying to find out what a client is budgeting for a particular project. Clients are hesitant to throw... read more
