|
|
 |
Trade Secrets
Every Tuesday morning we email a practical and profitable tip, technique, or strategy that you can apply to your landscape business. The tips are short, to the point, and best of all--FREE. To sign up for the weekly Trade Secrets, use the sign-up form to the right.
We value your right to privacy, and we will never sell or share your email address with others. Unsubscribe instructions are included with every tip.
|
Online Portfolios -- Show Off Your Best Work - Professionally
Mike Swift
Many landscape professionals and firms have web sites. It is very common for these sites to include portfolios of sample work. The portfolios range from a series of photographs of various project sites to organized collections of photographs organized by project or type of work . . . keep reading
|
Co-opetition-
The value of working with your competition
Jody Shilan, Editor
Business 101 has always taught us that your primary goal is to "beat the competition" at any and all costs. With the current state of the economy, the pressure to sell work is greater than ever and having a competitive advantage has never been more critical . . . keep reading
|
Bag of Tricks -- What you should bring to every new appointment
Jody Shilan, Editor
Last week's Trade Secret was entitled "Travel Heavy", where we discussed the importance of your crews having all of the tools and materials on their truck that are necessary to properly complete an installation. This week I want to discuss the same idea but explore the concept as it relates to your designers and sales people . . . keep reading
|
Bid is a Four Letter Word
Jody Shilan, Editor
Throughout my career I have never been one to participate in the bidding process. I know that for many landscape contractors "bidding" is a very successful business model, but clearly less so these days. . . . keep reading
|
Too Much Information (TMI) -- When less is truly more
Jody Shilan, Editor
In the early stages of my career I used to bring every piece of sales paraphenalia I had to my initial client meetings. Sample drawings, my leather bound portfolio of my installation work with my resume as the first page, and so many brochures and marketing pieces that I often had to take two trips to my car just to bring everything into the client's house . . . keep reading
|
The Not So Odd Couple -- Landscape Design and Production
Jody Shilan
The ultimate goal of any landscape design is to see the "plan" ultimately installed. The role of the designer is to create a vision of the client's goals and desires and develop these "dreams" into a thoughtfully created landscape plan. The role of production is to take that plan and build it . . . keep reading
|
Happy New Year
Jody Shilan
With 2010 almost upon us, I'm sure you're doing what most landscape contractors are doing this time of year. Thinking about where you are going to celebrate New Year's Eve . . . keep reading
|
Duck Season, Wabbit Season -- Trade Show Season
Jody Shilan
As many of you know, based on the title of this Trade Secret and previous Trade Secrets, I spent an extraordinary amount of time watching cartoons when I was younger. The reason you know this is because the above reference is from an episode of Bugs Bunny and the "third season" is actually "Elmer Season". (Be vewy quiet, I'm hunting Elmers) . . . keep reading
|
Adopt a Tree
Jody Shilan
The holiday season is a time to be thankful, reflect and to help others. So staying with the holiday gift giving "Trade Secret" theme I want to give you another great idea that is not just "good will", but good karma and great publicity . . . keep reading
|
A Special Gift to Our Members
Jody Shilan
With the holidays coming up quickly, once again it's time to start thinking about how to thank your clients for their patronage this year. No matter what size your company is this is always a stressful, expensive and time consuming task. Each year you ask yourself the same questions: . . . keep reading
|
Goose, I Think it's Time We Buzzed the Tower
Jody Shilan
Saturday night I had the honor and distinct pleasure of providing 3 scholarships on behalf of the New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association (NJLCA). These scholarships were made possible by the Turfgrass Association and Cook College @ Rutgers University. These outstanding "green industry students" were being awarded for their academic excellence and leadership skills . . . keep reading
|
Try an Open Landscape
Jody Shilan
Forget about an Open House -- How about trying an "Open Landscape"? One of the biggest concerns and issues these days is how to generate more business, just to stay in business. With all of the competition and price cutting going on out there, it's difficult to get work, let alone profitable work . . . keep reading
|
|
|
|
|
About this Site
