LM StaffNov 3, 2023
In five words or less, describe the current state of the landscape and lawn care market. Landscape Professionals Richard Bare Arbor-Nomics Turf, Norcross, Ga. “Coming back with a vengeance!” Bill Bemus Bemus Landscape, San Clemente, Calif. “Time to raise prices.”…
Bruce WilsonNov 3, 2023
Big change has been brewing in our industry for more than a decade. It started when consulting firm McKinsey & Co. began examining ValleyCrest in the late 1990s. It proved itself with a private equity firm merging ValleyCrest and Brickman…
Labor is, as we all know, the single largest cost on a maintenance company’s financial statement. With that in mind, it’s imperative to implement good management strategies for reducing labor. There are two labor transition cycles for a warm-season…
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…
There’s hardly a contractor who’s not concerned with pricing challenges and the negative impact they have on gross margins. The competitive environment has put enormous pressure on service companies to find savings wherever possible. As a result, many maintenance companies…
The Brickman Group/ValleyCrest Landscape Cos. merger is on everyone’s mind. Is this a game changer, I’m asked? Or, as in the past with LandCare USA and ServiceMaster, will it be a mess? One thing is certain: What this represents as…
LM StaffNov 9, 2023
The Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) named members of the 2014/2015 PLANET Academic Excellence Foundation (PLANET AEF) board of directors. They are as follows. Officers: President—Tom Fochtman, Ceibass Venture Partners, Arvada, Colo.; VP—Miles Kuperus Jr., Farmside Landscape & Design, Sussex, N.J.;…
Are you getting the most out of your investment in production supervisors? In many cases the answer is no. The position has evolved into more of a firefighter or a gofer for account managers. To be effective, the person in…
Marisa PalmieriAug 15, 2023
With reports swirling of a blockbuster deal that could merge the ValleyCrest Cos. with the Brickman Group—forming a nearly $2 billion national landscape company—landscape contractors and consultants are weighing in on the likelihood the deal will go through and what…
Spring comes every year, and with it a seasonal surge that brings stress to landscape contracting businesses. No matter how much companies prepare for the inevitable, operations may unravel under pressure. Work teams and managers become overwhelmed. In less disciplined…
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…
Early December headline in the Wall Street Journal: “Employers Gain Confidence to Hire.” The national unemployment rate has dropped below 7 percent. For many, this is really good news and an indication the economy is finally coming back. This news…
Our customers are using technology to research and communicate with us online; our suppliers are using technology to make more efficient equipment; and many of us are managing our businesses, irrigation programs and operating strategies with cloud-based programs. Everywhere you…
Having a good financial dashboard is among the best practices used by successful companies to make better business decisions. Knowing what parts of your business are working, where your operations are aligned and what needs your attention is essential. It’s…
Whatever your economic outlook, ending your business year positively is important. Avoid slipping from a good year into a so-so year by never letting your guard down. It’s imperative, when things are looking up, not to ease up on the…
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