Author: Casey Payton

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Casey Payton

Payton is a freelance writer with eight years of experience writing about the landscape industry.

Photo: J. Barker Landscaping Co.

Diversifying with demo work

One landscape company found new work amid the foreclosure crisis. In 2008, the economic downturn left many landscape business owners wondering if they would survive. As businesses and homeowners cut back on expenses, landscaping services often got the axe. Many companies were looking for ways to diversify. Around this time, J. Barker Landscaping Co. in […]

Case Study: Appreciation celebration

Why one landscape company turned a one-time thing into a monthly event. What started as a one-time celebration to reward the team for a job well done has turned into a monthly event for A+ Lawn & Landscape, headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. A few years ago after a good month, management rewarded the team […]

Could adding composting services be beneficial for your business?

A teen’s startup shows how composting services could be a fit for landscape firms It all started with two high school sophomores who wanted to ensure they could work together during the summer before their junior year. Uncertain that a job at a local business would allow them to remain a team, pals Grant Berman […]

Photo: SNOW & SONS TREE & LANDSCAPING

Using co-ops to find potential future hires

Participating in co-op programs helps one company get ahead of the workforce. Cooperative education programs—also known as co-ops—can be a great way for students to gain real-life working experience while also receiving their education. And for landscape business owners, who often cite “finding employees” as one of their biggest challenges, a co-op can be a […]

On the same page

How hand-off meetings help estimating and production staffs succeed. Bob Franey, president of RF Landscape Services in St. Louis, Mo., has learned that having a system of communication is important when selling design/build work. Although plants and materials bring in a small profit through markups, successful landscape business owners know true profit is derived when […]

The owner of DC Freeman got the jobs he wanted by targeting high-end clients with a new marketing piece.

Making the most of direct mail campaigns

How one business owner landed larger, higher profile jobs with direct mail. After 30 years of serving the same client demographic—upper-middle-class residential—Dave Freeman, owner of DC Freeman, based in Millburn, N.J., says he felt “stuck” in a certain niche. With referrals being what he calls his “bread and butter,” Freeman was challenged to find a […]

Photo: Boreal Property Management

Focusing on client retention

How a Wyoming company builds a community among second-home clients. Experts say attracting a new customer costs a company five times more than retaining an existing one. With this in mind, the owners of Boreal Property Management, a full-service property care company in Jackson, Wyo., have put an emphasis on client retention. By hosting an […]

Photo: Landscapes USA

Team effort: How one company involves employees in charitable acts

How one landscape company involves employees in its charitable donations. Dennis Dautel wanted to get employees involved in his company’s ongoing charity efforts. So five years ago, the CEO of Landscapes USA, headquartered in Austin, Texas, launched the Giving Back Program, which lets employees choose the recipient of a weekly company donation. “This is really […]

Photo: Tulikivi

Bringing masonry skills inside

Chad Turpin has always enjoyed the comfort of having a wood-burning fireplace in the home. However, he became frustrated to find they can actually work at a negative efficiency—drawing hot air up the chimney and leaving the rest of the home chilly. About a decade ago, the co-owner of Turpin Landscaping in Coatesville, Pa., was […]

 Photo: The Green Scene

Moving trees proves profitable for one landscape company

One landscape business owner has found a unique service in moving large trees. Two decades ago, Drewe Schoenholtz’s clients were putting on a home addition that would require them to cut down a beautiful blue spruce. Schoenholtz, owner of The Green Scene, remembers thinking, “There must be a way we can move this tree.” And […]

Case Study: Party time

Party prep has been a fun and easy add-on for CLC Landscape Design. After being asked several times to help clean up properties before clients’ parties or events, Richard Cording Sr., LIC, owner of CLC Landscape Design in Ringwood, N.J., realized he had a new service on his hands. Though it remains small—less than 1 […]

Photo: flickr.com/photos/billjacobus1

GPS: Beyond maintenance

Texas Turf Management invested in a GPS tracking system as a vehicle maintenance solution, but it got much more. The Problem: Nolan Butterfras, owner of Texas Turf Management in Houston, was tired of having to take his diesel trucks into the local lube shop for oil changes and routine maintenance. Remembering to check the little […]

Case Study: Finding a way to keep good employees year-round

Finding a way to keep good employees on staff year-round has been a positive investment for one landscape firm. The Problem: Chris Demato, owner of Rock Bottom Landscaping & Fencing in Somerset County, N.J., was sick of worrying about losing valuable employees to other lines of work during the offseason. The Inspiration: Navigating the January […]

Case Study: Motivational monday

What started as an email to a small group has grown into a nearly decade-long commitment. When Mark Svozil was promoted in 2007 from branch manager to regional manager for Davey Tree Expert Co. in Kent, Ohio, he sought a way to maintain connections with his former co-workers and clients. As a fan of motivational […]

headshot: Leigh Townsend

Case Study: Using an employee recognition program to boost morale

Recognizing well-deserving employees boosts morale at J.W. Townsend Landscapes. Leigh Townsend, president of J.W. Townsend Landscapes, is always looking for ways to invest in his people, and he’s willing to learn from ideas that have been successful at other companies. When he heard in his peer group about a successful employee recognition program at another […]

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