It’s easy to say that we go the extra mile for our customers. But do we? Driving business forward often means more than just bending over backward. It can often require making compromises that don’t make sense financially but pay off in the long run. Throughout my career I’ve based my customer relationship philosophy on the value of my worth,... read more
Companies are being “pitched” daily to spend money on web marketing, and there are many confusing options. Ask yourself this question: “Is my company even on the grid?” If I’m a prospect and I don’t know your name or company, can I find you if I’m searching for a resource? If you’re not on page one as one of the... read more
Talking to the Klausing brothers is like addressing two sides of the same brain. On the left is the oldest, Roscoe Klausing, 37, president and CEO of Klausing Group, a $2.8 million commercial grounds maintenance firm in Lexington, Ky. He’s genuine. Logical. A planner. On the right side younger brother Brook Klausing, 36, owner of $1.5 million, New York City-based... read more
How landscape professionals are using Porch, a new online home improvement platform. Like many small business owners, most of Mike Champagne’s leads come from word-of-mouth referrals—75 percent, he says. It’s not that the owner of American Blade Runners Lawncare in Charlotte, N.C., hasn’t tried other means of marketing. There was the time he distributed 5,000 fliers, but that only got... read more
Company owners protect their assets with noncompete agreements. When Dennis Topo discovered a former employee of Allison Lawn & Landscape Service was trying to recruit clients from the company to start his own business, he issued a cease and desist letter on the grounds that the individual was in violation of a signed noncompete agreement. The contract bars former employees... read more
Irrigation and landscape pros can brighten their futures by acting as resources to water quality managers. The green infrastructure movement is growing in communities throughout the U.S. as a way to manage stormwater in urban environments while having a positive impact on the ecosystem. To be more specific about what green infrastructure is, the Irrigation Association’s (IA) John Farner turned... read more
