Preparation Is the Key to a
Successful Spring and Summer
The busiest season of the year for green industry contractors is fast approaching. Are you ready?
Last month, Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of winter, but he’s only accurate about 30% of the time. So, it’s time to get going!
Here are a few tips to help prepare you for the hectic months ahead:
Have a Clear Vision
Your business model must have a clear and direct vision — one that all staff members can embrace. Schedule meetings and team huddles to review your strategies for optimizing sales.
Strike While the Iron Is Hot
During the busy season, you’re, well, busy. But when business is booming, you’ll want to keep it that way. Now’s the time to showcase your company through social media, reviews, and testimonials. (Note: Always obtain the homeowner’s permission before posting images of their property!)
Peak season is a perfect time to pump up brand awareness and engage with customers. You may discover new ways to enhance your interactions with them, further streamlining the sales process.
If you develop a stellar reputation with your customers, they’re more likely to recommend you, leading to more sales during slow seasons.
Busy season is also the ideal time to grow your database of leads. Then, when the slow season arrives, you have time to reach out to these prospects via email marketing or other communications. This will keep your brand top-of-mind and help convert more leads to customers when business slows.
Source: KCTV5 Marketing
Use a visual timeline illustrating the past year, your current situation, and your expectations by the end of the season. When reviewing the past year, identify areas where your plans succeeded and where there’s room for improvement.
Indicate short-term goals that can be achieved along the way to accomplishing your season-end objectives. Celebrate small victories. Each accomplishment can help rouse morale during the dog days of summer. Keep detailed records so that next year’s preparation is even easier.
Staff and Support
If you need to hire additional staff this year and haven’t already begun your search, now’s the time. Participate in job fairs and leverage online job posting sites. Get the word out!
Motivate your current staff by helping them understand the value of their contributions to the team. You want employees to identify with the business. You’ll be set for the season if you can tap into and maintain this team spirit.
Spring Training
Take the time to properly train your field crews and liberally allocate time to reviewing procedures with your staff. Mistakes are more likely to occur without a comprehensive training program, whether it consists of an hour here and there or a week-long seminar. Getting this done now will set the tone for the season ahead.
Get Into Gear
Inspect your equipment thoroughly. Could you break out the heavy machinery tomorrow if you wanted to? Look for structural damage, weak joints, or loose bolts. Just because the engine starts doesn’t guarantee your gear is “good to go.” Run some tests. Identify any potential problems now so you won’t worry about them next month.
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Take Stock
Take the time to thoroughly review your inventory. Do you have all the necessary supplies to sustain your busiest season?
Did You Know?
- Annual revenue of the U.S. landscaping industry measured more than $176 billion in 2023.
- Between 2018 and 2023, the industry’s market size grew by about 8% annually.
- General commercial and residential landscapers comprise the largest share of green industry workers.
- In 2023, there were 33,370 landscaping and irrigation workers in the state of Ohio.
- The employment of landscaping workers is projected to grow to 1.33 million by 2032, a growth rate of about 3%.
Source: Consumer Affairs
Identify irrigation and landscaping trends for the summer season and determine which items you’ll need most. Purchase the materials in advance to ensure that supply chain issues don’t adversely impact your business.
Procure the most necessary supplies first. Purchasing all new supplies at one time could drain you financially. Instead, prioritize the most essential materials.
Don’t Panic!
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when considering all the tasks that must be achieved when gearing up for your busiest season. But don’t panic! Instead, focus on your company’s vision, staffing, training, equipment, and inventory for smooth sailing through the long summer months.
Sources:
Featured Image: Adobe, License Granted
HindSite
Merchants Insurance Group
Consumer Affairs
