Tag Archives: Fir
Quality control
Matt Brooks and Mark Black both worked for a large lawn care maintenance company in Illinois’ Metro East area outside of St. Louis. When a national chain acquired the company, the revenue-centered structure presented a dilemma of whose interests to serve: customers or shareholders? With the goal of putting customers first, Brooks started Country Club…
The shrinking of the American lawn
The American house is growing. These days, the average new home encompasses 2,500 square feet, about 50 percent more area than the average house in the late 1970s, according to Census data. Compared to the typical house of 40 years ago, today’s likely has another bathroom and an extra bedroom, making it about the same…
Equipped for all seasons
Brady Smikles isn’t exaggerating when he says that winter takes up half the year at his firm. Located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Smikles Enterprises faces long winters and short landscaping seasons. “Between getting ready for winter, waiting for snow to melt and doing snow removal, our winters are six months,” Smikles says. “Typically, we don’t start…
Bayer offers to buy Monsanto for $62 billion
LONDON — Bayer of Germany said on Monday that it had offered $62 billion in cash to acquire Monsanto in a deal that would combine two of the world’s biggest companies in the businesses of crop seeds and pesticides. The transaction, if consummated, would create an industry giant whose products include antibiotics, genetically modified crops…
Horizon opens first Maryland store
FREDERICK, Md. – In its hometown of Frederick, Md., Wright Manufacturing’s commercial lawn mowers can now be purchased just five minutes from where they are manufactured. Horizon, a national landscape equipment dealer, has just opened a 10,000 square foot facility at 1569 Tilco Drive in Frederick. Geoffrey Conway, Horizon’s Mid-Atlantic zone manager, says the…
HRI now accepting scholarship applications
WASHINGTON, D.C. and COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Horticultural Research Institute (HRI) is accepting scholarship applications for the 2015-2016 school year. These scholarships are made possible by seven special HRI endowment funds that aid students who are seeking a lifelong career in horticulture. HRI and its member firms consider graduating students in horticulture to be…
Belgard partners with the USO
ATLANTA, Ga. – Belgard Hardscapes has partnered with the USO in support of its efforts to build fulfilling lives for troops transitioning back into civilian life. Through its new Welcome Home initiative, Belgard aims to provide more than $150,000 in both financial donations to the USO and in-kind services provided to U.S. military families. This…
Smart Finance Guide
Champagne taste on a beer budget Offering financing options can help customers afford the landscaping designs they want. story by Katie Tuttle | illustration by Justin Armburger When it comes to designing projects for customers, your team may find itself in a rut when it comes to what it thinks up and what the customer…