“A shot of salt” from our August Snow & Ice Guide investigates adding salt brine to your deicing arsenal. Read on to learn how to make the liquid yourself, and visit our downloads page for a packet on the basic steps to brine making, provided by Diana Clonch and the Iowa Department of Transportation. There’s no need to whip out a recipe card... read more
Our August cover story, “At your fingertips,” centered on four Uber-like mobile technologies entering the Green Industry. Recently, we came across two more landscape/snow industry mobile startups that are closing the gap between homeowners and contractors. Lawn Love With the pilot program launched in San Diego this summer, Lawn Love has since spread to Los Angeles, Orange County, Calif., and San Jose, Calif. When a homeowner... read more
“Do you know what Uber is?” I’ve found myself asking people that question often over the last few months as I’ve worked on the cover story for this issue of LM. No, not uber, the German word for “over.” Uber, with a capital U. If you’re not in the know: Uber is a smartphone app that connects people who need... read more
For many property owners, the benefits of natural turf may not be clear. Misconceptions about grass abound. As a partner in caring for a client’s grounds, landscapers can educate customers about suitable options to enhance their surroundings. By arming customers with better information and recommendations, landscape professionals expand opportunities to grow their businesses. One of the first questions likely... read more
A healthy company is a productive place where staff members feel valued and empowered. This is possible because there’s a cohesive leadership team who behaves in a functional way. Leaders are aligned around the company’s mission and know what they need to do to make the business perform. After a career of working for a mix of landscape companies, I’ve noticed... read more
At the end of a sales presentation the words, “We like your numbers; we’ll get back to you,” are the kiss of death. It’s in this case my third habit of successful salespeople—be direct—would come into play. (See Web Extra for all six habits.) Selling is a process of successive trial closes designed to manage the prospect’s “objections” and help... read more
