Hardscape Growth

When it comes to landscaping, you can’t understate the importance of planning. From dumpster availability to material orders, being prepared pays ten-fold. To give their take on planning, working from a van, and staying organized as a small business, I invited Sean Collinsgru and Catherine Lippincott from Premier Outdoor Living, to sketch out their process for success.  In this episode, we discuss:  What led to the decision to create a fully administrative role and hire an industry outsider  Benefits of an outsider on the team  Their customer intake and design initiation processes  The importance of stopping the action to plan, to communicate, and to start growing the business intentionally  Tune in on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

A picture is worth a thousand words… That’s nice — but wouldn’t you prefer if it was a thousand leads? Well, it can be… if you step up your social media game. To help you do that, I invited social media maven Vanessa Angell, Owner at Social Media by Vanessa, to lay out a winning path to social success for   hardscapers.  In this episode, we discuss:  The importance of images on social in this industry  How social media fits into — and ultimately shapes — the buyer's journey  The importance of engagement (and more than 3 words)  Tune in on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

How often do you speak with your team throughout the course of a project? Sure, at the beginning of the day, everyone is on the same page… But if you’re not   checking in, gradually the plans can start to drift apart. Today, I’m joined again by the team behind the Hardscaper Showcase Case Study Project: Tony   Zambito, Brandon Taunton, Peter Wesholowski, and Tyler Walsh, who discuss the challenges and lessons that came with designing and building the feature-rich   project that will be the focus of the 2022 Hardscaper Showcase and Summit events. We get into why being involved in this project was so important, some of the design considerations and how they impacted the build.  We discuss:  The difficulties that come with new tools and working in such a small space  What the team would do differently if they had to do it again  The importance of organization and communication to the success of any project  And be sure to register for these upcoming events here.

Why design a six-figure hardscape with all the bells and whistles? It allows you to show what is possible — both for your customers and the industry. And once   you see it in all its glory, you can’t unsee it. Today, I’m joined again by the team behind the Hardscaper Showcase Case Study Project: Tony Zambito, Brandon Taunton, Peter Wesholowski, and Tyler Walsh, who discuss what went into designing and building the feature-rich project that will be the focus of the 2022 Hardscaper Showcase and Summit events. We get into why being involved in this project was so important, some of the design considerations and how they impacted the build.  We discuss:  Why upsells can benefit you and your customer  The difference between a Hardscape builder and a creator of experiences    The feature-rich possibilities hiding within a tight, urban space  And be sure to register for these upcoming events here.

No matter how good you are in your field, you don’t know everything. But that’s OK — it means there is always more to learn. And one of the best ways is by   getting together with others and teaching each other. Today, I’m joined by the team behind the Hardscaper Showcase Case Study Project: Tony Zambito,   Brandon Taunton, Peter Wesholowski, and Tyler Walsh, who are always excited to learn from others at Showcase — and certainly learned from one another   taking on this challenging project.  In this episode, we discuss:  Why everyone can’t wait for the Hardscaper Showcase and Summit events  The importance of building relationships with others in your field  The design considerations that went into the project  And be sure to register for these upcoming events here. If you want to be the first to know about educational events coming up in your area, sign up for Hardscaper News.

Kevin Moore is the VP and COO at Carroll Landscaping Inc. and is responsible for operations, sales and project management. His belief is that leaders in all positions, be it owner, manager, project manager, foreman… exist to serve their teams. To facilitate their work. Therefore, a project manager facilitates the execution of a project. A big key to this? PROACTIVITY. He believes this role should aim to never be putting out fires, never be reactive. Over his 30+ year career   in the industry, some basic actions have made his life easier. Relying on his well-worn clipboard, Kevin is an avid note-taker and list-maker.  In this episode, we asked this project management master how he stays ahead of the current challenges with material shortages. He answered the bell with some good, actionable tips from his own business.  Things we covered:  Daily game plan prepared the night before Scheduled and consistent communication with teams Transparency and empathy when setting expectations Proactive approaches to purchasing materials Importance of a strong network  If you want to be the first to know about educational events coming up in your area, sign up for Hardscaper News.

Courtney Schild is the president of Dutch Barn Landscaping and Pools in New Lenox, IL. He acquired the company in 2018 after founding his own landscape company a few years earlier. He joined us on the show to talk about how he’s addressed the two biggest issues plaguing the industry today: material and labor   shortages. For both, his solution has been simple. Be proactive. We started the conversation with how he goes about stocking inventory to supply his projects. How that has helps his operations run smoothly and what implications inventory and inventory management have on his business. We looked at the steps he took to build a plan and how he executes it. We ended the conversation talking about his approach to hiring, training and retaining people. He’s not afraid to get   the best talent available, even if they don’t have industry experience, because he’s willing to invest time and resources into them. His belief: investing in them now will pay larger dividends later.  Referenced in this episode: Investing time in training your teams with tools like Hardscaper.com

Becky Fidler (@beckyfidlerfitness on Instagram) joins me on the show to talk about her journey in the hardscape industry and the role that fitness and nutrition   play in the continuation of her career. Becky joined the hardscape industry in 2011 after deciding that desk jobs and low pay were not for her. She was seeking a career that would be more personally fulfilling and improve her ability to provide for her family. It’s no secret that the industry is a male-dominated one. It’s also one where, historically, brute strength and prior experience were absolute pre-requisites for the job. That’s what makes Becky’s story so special. In the beginning, she had never laid a paver and barely weighed more than some of the materials that she needed to handle. To say she wasn’t welcomed with open arms is an understatement. Her first weeks on the job were physically and mentally demanding as she tried her best but would feel like she was letting the crew down because she wasn’t good enough. Her lowest point may have been when she couldn’t even get a wheelbarrow up the ramp into the dumper and would need to wait for someone to help out. That’s when she doubled down. Committed to succeeding in the trade and being a valuable member of the team, she began to focus on physical fitness and nutrition. While working, she earned an Associate’s Degree as a Physical Fitness Specialist and became a Certified Personal Trainer, all with the intentions of becoming a better laborer on site. Today, Becky still finds herself on the job every day and helps with hiring and training of new team members. We wrap up the interview with helpful tips for improved mobility and health through proper stretching and dietary supplements.

Chad Quenneville started Natural Design Landscapes in Cornwall, ON, ten years ago. Early on, a lot of the company’s work was small and lacking in creativity. Gradually, Chad started taking design chances, which led to greater satisfaction in his work and improved profits for his company. By elevating his company’s project “standards” he was able to attract a more discerning clientele that was willing to hire him for his expertise and his creativity. Another key lesson he learned in the process was to go the extra mile to make his clients happy. For example, he filled in the planting beds with quality topsoil, even if it wasn’t part of the original project scope or contract. Sometimes, those smaller details go a long way in building a reputation and earning quality testimonials and referrals, the latter being Chad’s only form of marketing.  In this episode, you’ll also hear about:  Shaking off the starving artist mentality  Doing cool stuff to gain referrals instead of advertising  Balancing larger corporate jobs with smaller artistic jobs  Building an amicable reputation among competitors  Chad’s million-dollar company has a phenomenal reputation and a strong relationship with their vendors, sub-contractors and other tradespeople. He may have grown his company backwards according to business wisdom, but his art speaks for itself.  Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:  Natural Design Landscapes is a certified Techo-Pro  Find photos of Chad’s work on Instagram  Find this interview and many more by subscribing to Hardscape Growth on Spotify, on Apple Podcasts, or on our website.  Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Hardscape Growth in your favorite podcast player.

This recording is with our first returning guest on the show, Matt from Hardscape Ottawa. He was featured in our second episode released on Feb. 5. The   conversation revolves around a book by L. David Marquet, a retired U.S. Navy Captain, called “Turn the Ship Around!” based on a true story of turning followers into leaders. Matt and I got on this topic as we have had many conversations over the years about building a better company through its people. Through a few stories, Matt walks us through the leadership ladder and the 3 C’s (Confidence, Control and Competency), and provides some practical advice on how to instill these principles within a team.  Follow Matt @hardscapeottawa on Instagram or visit his website at www.hardscapeottawa.com.  Find this interview and many more by subscribing to Hardscape Growth on Spotify, on Apple Podcasts, or on our website.  Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Hardscape Growth in your favorite podcast player.