tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155881182024-03-07T03:00:07.823-05:00Landscape Management BlogWhere the editors of Landscape Management and a few Green Industry veterans give their take on the landscape and lawn care market. Visit <a href="http://www.landscapemanagement.net">www.LandscapeManagement.net</a> for daily news, business best practices and practical technical information.LM Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05909027184156038541noreply@blogger.comBlogger674125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15588118.post-39331414687124515042013-05-20T15:31:00.003-04:002013-05-21T10:49:57.644-04:00Techniques for increasing sales Pt. 2<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0YYxVs7ovwbMc0zewwJMj8pVtUDxaHflmTAzq5cAqEjrVlVLQ8WS5qPs0-40zqD-E1fbzNLVXuDIvmzjmcLQiq2fNsQCl1tyTZf2RiFrSJd0zrZk5-IId7rIPc7md8IMODa2P/s1600/jscott_cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0YYxVs7ovwbMc0zewwJMj8pVtUDxaHflmTAzq5cAqEjrVlVLQ8WS5qPs0-40zqD-E1fbzNLVXuDIvmzjmcLQiq2fNsQCl1tyTZf2RiFrSJd0zrZk5-IId7rIPc7md8IMODa2P/s200/jscott_cropped.jpg" width="148" /></a>By Jeffrey Scott, consultant<br />
<br />
Last month, <i>Landscape Management</i> published Part 1 of this post (<a href="http://landscapemanagement.blogspot.com/2013/04/techniques-for-increasing-sales-this.html" target="_blank"><b>Check it out here.</b></a>). Now, here is Part 2, a collection of more important ways you can stay on the right track this season.<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">1. Find out how they make decisions.</span></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It is important to know that you are speaking to the decision maker. But
it is not always polite to outright ask. In this case you can ask how they will
be making their decision? Will other people be involved in the process? Opening
up this line of questions also allows you to ask if they will be interviewing
other service providers as part of the process. These kinds of questions are useful
in sales: the more the prospect talks and you listen, the more targeted your
proposal can be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">2. Use pain to create urgency. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Pain is the ultimate motivator for hiring a contractor, especially for
switching from an existing contractor to a newer one. If you are not hearing
and exploring your prospect’s pain, then you are not practicing the refined art
of selling. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Your ability to create "urgency" is linked directly to the
amount of pain a client is feeling. You cannot pressure ("push") a
client into a sale, but you can create an environment where the client is
"pulling" you towards them, urgently asking you for a solution to
their problems. When you uncover a client's pain, dig into it and make sure you
understand it, and let your client simmer in their own pain. This will move
them urgently to action.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">3. Identify their priority.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Everyone places a different value on different parts of his or her
property. You might be surprised what they find important, and where they are
willing to spend more money. You can't assume that what you think is important
is the same as what they think is important. This is relevant on both extremes
of the sales process. 1) When you are trying to submit a tight budget, and 2) When
you are looking to expand the sale. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Knowing their priorities allows to you to propose higher margin add-on
sales, higher margin materials, and higher margin solutions -- especially when
it corresponds to services that you uniquely provide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">4. Set follow up dates.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">In the busy spring it is paramount to leave each appointment and phone
conversation with a follow-up date. You can raise your sales by up to 50% by
doing so, and concurrently free up more of your valuable time. Some prospects
will resist you when you try to do this, but don't let their lack of being
time-focused impede your need for working in an orderly fashion. Most of the
time you can ease a truly qualified prospect into agreeing to a follow up date.
By taking control of the conversation, you will separate out the shoppers from
the truly interested.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>5. Make the 3rd sale first.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">When making the first sale to a new client always think about the 3rd
sale. Treat your qualified prospect as if they are already a client; give them
great service and show them why you are the vendor of choice. Caveat, this
should be done on qualified (Green Light) prospects. Be prepared to let them
win on small points, and you focus on winning their trust and the sale. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">As I always say, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Treat prospects like clients and clients
like prospects</i></b>, and you can’t go wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="font-family: Times;">
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Jeffrey Scott, MBA, author and consultant, grew his landscape company into a successful $10 million enterprise, and he's devoted to helping others share the same success. He facilitates PEER GROUPS for landscape business owners who want to transform and profitably grow their business. For more information, go to <a href="http://www.jeffreyscott.biz/">www.JeffreyScott.biz</a>, email <a href="mailto:Jeff@Jeffreyscott.biz"><span style="color: #084de6;">Jeff@Jeffreyscott.biz</span></a>, call (203)220-8931 or log onto </i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.gettheleadersedge.com/">www.GetTheLeadersEdge.com</a>.</i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<!--EndFragment-->LM Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05909027184156038541noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15588118.post-17624230611317471722013-05-16T15:07:00.001-04:002013-05-16T15:07:45.983-04:00Attention LM blog readers: We've moved<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Thanks for reading<i> Landscape Management's </i>blog, which has been hosted here on Blogger for nearly eight years. We're now making the move to our <a href="http://landscapemanagement.net/" target="_blank">redesigned website</a>, so please <a href="http://landscapemanagement.net/category/blog-2/" target="_blank">visit our blog over there</a> so you don't miss out on any of the great posts, including:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">• <a href="http://landscapemanagement.net/tag/fd2b-talk-radio-insight-of-the-night/" target="_blank">FD2B Talk Radio Insight of the Night </a>posts by Jody Shilan</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">• <a href="http://landscapemanagement.net/?s=randy+newhard&x=0&y=0" target="_blank">Randy's Way posts</a> by Randy Newhard</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">• The latest from <a href="http://landscapemanagement.net/2013/04/17/techniques-for-increasing-sales-this-spring/" target="_blank">Jeffrey Scott</a>, the editors and more. </span>LM Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05909027184156038541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15588118.post-80325798153085767712013-05-13T11:15:00.000-04:002013-05-13T11:16:13.632-04:00FD2B Talk Radio Insight of the Night: Mark Chisholm<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.fromdesign2build.com/public/images/dept57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.fromdesign2build.com/public/images/dept57.jpg" height="89" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<style>
<!--
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
p.MsoHeader, li.MsoHeader, div.MsoHeader
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-link:"Header Char";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
tab-stops:center 3.0in right 6.0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
span.HeaderChar
{mso-style-name:"Header Char";
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-locked:yes;
mso-style-link:Header;
mso-ansi-font-size:12.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-size:10.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
</style></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Many of you may know that “girdling” may cause a tree to
fail over time. Girdling <span style="font-size: small;">occurs when</span> a tree root wraps itself around the trunk of the tree,
literally choking it to death<span style="font-size: small;">.</span> The
typical cause of girdling, according to Mark Chishol<span style="font-size: small;">m of <a href="http://www.aspen-tree.com/" target="_blank">Aspen Tree Expert Co.</a>,</span> is too much organic material, such as topsoil and/or
mulch, covering the root flair of the tree.</span></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This can occur naturally, but in <span style="font-size: small;">the suburban landscape it<span style="font-size: small;">'</span>s Green Industry professionals that often caus<span style="font-size: small;">e</span> the problem. This is due to the homeowner’s addiction to
mulch and our own annual spring process of over mulching<span style="font-size: small;">, which</span> creat<span style="font-size: small;">es</span> what<span style="font-size: small;">'</span>s
commonly referred to as mulch “volcanoes.”</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Although improper planting techniques and “mulch madness”
are part of the problem, the plants that you, the
landscape contractor, purchase from growers and re-wholesalers are often already in
distress<span style="font-size: small;">.</span> As <span style="font-size: small;">Chisholm</span> points out, the trees may be planted too low in the container or
when they<span style="font-size: small;">'</span>re balled and burlapped.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Show: Why Should I
Care About Tree Care</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Guest: Mark Chisholm,
<a href="http://www.aspen-tree.com/" target="_blank">Aspen Tree Expert C</a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.aspen-tree.com/" target="_blank">o</a>.</span>, Freehold, N.J.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">D<span style="font-size: small;">ate: May 1, 2013</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">To listen to the full show, <a href="http://www.fromdesign2build.com/public/Why-Should-I-Care-ABout-Tree-Care.cfm" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
LM Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05909027184156038541noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15588118.post-40554989447545006972013-05-03T17:32:00.001-04:002013-05-03T17:34:25.392-04:00Landscaper to the rescue<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh how I love stories like this. Stories about landscapers who've got their mind on the job, until they notice something askew and leap into the role of hero.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's what happened in Sturgeon, Mo., this week, when a vigilant landscaper showed up for work at a home and noticed three people he didn't recognize "tossing tools into the back of a vehicle," reports Missouri newspaper the <i>Centralia Fireside Guard</i>.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As the story goes, the perpetrators sped off as the landscaper neared the vehicle. The landscaper called 911 as he "gave chase" in his truck, telling authorities he had the thieves in his sights near a high school.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ultimately, two of the perpetrators fled on foot and the third, a 17-year-old, was arrested on suspicion of stealing and possession of burglar tools. The drama continued when the school was put on lockdown and authorities spent two hours hunting the escaped perpetrators down through aircraft and with tracking dogs, to no avail.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kudos to that brave landscaper for saving the day!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Read the full story <a href="http://www.firesideguard.com/?p=4479" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">—<i>Beth Geraci</i></span><br />
<h1>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></h1>
LM Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05909027184156038541noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15588118.post-77025324019755235342013-05-02T16:20:00.000-04:002013-05-02T16:20:38.256-04:00FD2B Talk Radio Insight of the Night: Jon Goldman <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.fromdesign2build.com/public/images/dept57.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.fromdesign2build.com/public/images/dept57.jpg" /></a>One of the many insights Brand Launcher's Jon Goldman discussed was the concept of looking at your business as a boat with you as the captain. The front of your boat is sales and marketing, the back end is teams and systems and in the middle is you, steering the boat with your belief structure. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />As he aptly points out, if you spend too much time on marketing, growing sales beyond your capacity to produce, your boat will be top heavy and sink. If you invest too much time and energy into your teams and systems but don’t have enough sales to support them, your boat will be bottom heavy and sink. <br /><br />Finally, as the captain, if you don’t have a clear MVP (mission, value, purpose) one of two things will happen. Either you’ll aimlessly drift in the water until you’re lost at sea or you’ll be tossed around until your boat is smashed on the shore. <br /><br />No matter how you slice it, if you don’t properly manage all three parts of your business boat, ultimately, you will sink.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />Show: Brandscaping – How to Create Your Own Brand </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Guest: Jon Goldman, Brand Launcher, Baltimore</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Date: May 1st, 2013</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">To listen to the full show, <a href="http://www.fromdesign2build.com/public/Marketing-Branding-and-Business-Building-Jon-Goldman-FD2B-Talk-Radio-Consultant.cfm" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>.</span></span></span></span> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>LM Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05909027184156038541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15588118.post-15310641519860626782013-05-01T08:54:00.002-04:002013-05-01T12:11:11.845-04:00Casting call: Opportunity to be part of a new TV series <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Calling all landscape company owners with 50-plus employees and multiple divisions ready to take their success to the next level. <a href="http://www.shedmediaus.com/" target="_blank">Shed Media</a><span class="Apple-style-span">—</span>a TV production company known for Emmy-nominated <i>Who Do You Think You Are?</i> on NBC, ABC’s <i>Supernanny</i> and many more<span class="Apple-style-span">—</span>contacted me to spread the word to our readers about its nationwi<span style="font-size: small;">de search</span> to cast a new documentary series for a major non-cable broadcast network.<span style="font-size: small;"> Shed is looking for a<span style="font-size: small;"> var<span style="font-size: small;">iety of small<span style="font-size: small;">- <span style="font-size: small;">and <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">medium-sized</span> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">business</span> own<span style="font-size: small;">ers<span style="font-size: small;"> from a variety of indust<span style="font-size: small;">ries. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Each hour-long episode will center on one medium-sized company as it participates in a management experiment intended to motivate and inspire, says Lauren Willems, casting producer. Viewers will see how that company runs its business and will meet the hard-working people who make up its workforce. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This series offers owners or other high-level managers the opportunity to gain a unique perspective on the inner workings of their companies, while celebrating some of the unsung heroes of their workforce and learning something about themselves in the process, Willems says. Ultimately, your company’s one-hour episode will provide high-profile exposure. What a great branding opportunity.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Are you ready for prime time? Please contact Willems for more details at 323-904-4680 x 2071 or email <a href="mailto:lwillems@shedmediaus.com">lwillems@shedmediaus.com</a> ASAP.</span></span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">—Marisa Palmieri</span> </span></span></i>LM Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05909027184156038541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15588118.post-3700500721162148072013-04-26T17:32:00.001-04:002013-04-26T17:33:32.375-04:00Brickman Group donates $10,000 to Hurricane Sandy recovery effort<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just a shout out to the Brickman Group's Long Island location in Holtsville, N.Y. The team there has donated $10,000 to a non-profit in the area in support of the organization's Hurricane Sandy relief and recovery program.</span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The non-profit, called Long Island Cares-The Harry Chapin Food Bank, aids Hurricane Sandy survivors in communities on Long Island's South Shore who still require food, pet food and supplies in the face of the storm's devastation.</span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="sharebar top">
<div class="headroom post-social-toolbar footroom">
<div class="pull-right mobile-no-float mobile-headroom">
<div class="social-tools small-social-tools clear-fix half-footroom">
<div class="pull-left" style="width: 80px;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="editor-tools more-footroom">
</div>
</div>
<div class="post-asset-block headroom">
<div id="asset-block">
<div class="relative-position">
<div class="js-asset-image" id="asset-image-holder">
<div class="the-asset " data-index="0" data-selector=".gallery-item" data-stream="" data-target="#modal-gallery" data-toggle="modal-gallery">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="April 2013: Gaston Nesci, Lisa Owens, Mayor Tom Brennan, Karyn Condoleo, Paule Pachter, Doug Reedy, Sam Brush and Ray Nobile (l to r) Credit: LI Cares" class="img featured-img" data-previewer="true" height="295" src="http://o1.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/PATCH/quality/86/resize/458x295%5E/http://hss-prod.hss.aol.com/hss/storage/patch/db868e7bcbb4747eb172a933013ea1aa" title="April 2013: Gaston Nesci, Lisa Owens, Mayor Tom Brennan, Karyn Condoleo, Paule Pachter, Doug Reedy, Sam Brush and Ray Nobile (l to r) Credit: LI Cares" width="507" /> </span><br />
<div class="asset-caption">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gaston Nesci, Lisa Owens, Mayor Tom Brennan, Karyn Condoleo,
Paule Pachter, Doug Reedy, Sam Brush and Ray Nobile (l to r) Credit: LI
Cares </span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="post-body headroom">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="post-body headroom">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"As
a family-owned commercial landscape company that's been based on Long
Island for more than 10 years, the devastation caused by this horrific
storm directly impacted our clients, our employees and all of our
families," Ray Nobile, Brickman regional manager, told Patch.com. "After we
did our part to clean up debris and destruction caused to homes and
properties across both counties, we felt as if we should do more to
assist in the recovery efforts."</span></div>
<div class="post-body headroom">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="post-body headroom">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Check out the full story <a href="http://lindenhurst.patch.com/groups/giving/p/brickman-group-gives-10k-to-support-li-cares-sandy-recovery-effort" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
<div class="post-body headroom">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="post-body headroom">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">—<i>Beth Geraci</i></span></div>
LM Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05909027184156038541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15588118.post-8145427041517952352013-04-26T11:20:00.002-04:002013-04-26T14:06:23.622-04:00Randy's Way: Giving thanks<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>233</o:Words>
<o:Characters>1329</o:Characters>
<o:Company>North Coast Media</o:Company>
<o:Lines>11</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>3</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>1559</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXd98R9US7IPYEWTWgI8mgkXY0PfrgObhS0sHwp3FbaWiljR9yQa8D5lS9QNxhCrkAFIbjziyeZFHBNUfHlsk33VlGfanxnbeehLjXLP4loN6zlBhacXsvd5xZzPhaXEsamp29/s1600/Randy+Newhard,+President.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" class="CSS_LIGHTBOX_SCALED_IMAGE_IMG" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXd98R9US7IPYEWTWgI8mgkXY0PfrgObhS0sHwp3FbaWiljR9yQa8D5lS9QNxhCrkAFIbjziyeZFHBNUfHlsk33VlGfanxnbeehLjXLP4loN6zlBhacXsvd5xZzPhaXEsamp29/s200/Randy+Newhard,+President.jpg" width="150" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By Randy Newhard</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What
a good Friday this will be. It’s our annual company picnic today. Our teams
come from all over southern California—from 11 satellite
offices—for a barbecue just for them. Today is all about the guys in the field. Our
regional branch managers and account managers cook up carne and pollo asada for
the more than 200 employees. This is a few-hour task over hot charcoal grills. It’s
a great time for me to see all of us gathered together in one place.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I
take the time to shake everyone’s hand and say “thanks.” We usually do this
after the long, hot summer, but this year we wanted to do it early and talk
about safety. Our new director of safety, Jonathan Matthews, will address the
team on how important it is for them to protect their body parts on the job.
Jonathan is an ex-Marine who fought for our country in Iraq. He knows how
important safety is. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We
have a raffle with an insane amount of prizes, including a big-screen TV donated
by our friend and attorney Joe Strazzeri. Other vendors donate a lot of prizes,
too. Our president, Kathryn DeJong, will speak about operations and about our
Wall of Fame, which is based on customers’ emails and letters of thanks about
the good job our guys do in the field. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lots
to be thankful for every day, but especially today. I’m thankful for the great
team we have at New Way Landscape & Tree Services. Today is my day to see
them all in one place and offer my gratitude to them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Randy
Newhard, CEO of <a href="http://www.newwaypro.com/" target="_blank">New Way Landscape & Tree Services</a> in San Diego, will begin blogging again for </i>Landscape Management<i>. Look for his "Randy's Way" insights weekly.</i></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->LM Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05909027184156038541noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15588118.post-77797836542715866992013-04-25T09:56:00.001-04:002013-04-25T09:56:25.366-04:00FD2B Talk Radio Insight of the Night: Chris Davitt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.fromdesign2build.com/public/images/dept57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.fromdesign2build.com/public/images/dept57.jpg" height="89" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Although most business owners and top management personnel want to be able to spend time every day to make sure their employees are recognized and supported for their hard work, the daily grind of business makes it difficult, especially when you have 750 employees. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.ruppertlandscape.com/" target="_blank">Ruppert Landscape</a> recognized this fact and created what President Chris Davitt calls additional “structure.” Instead of just wanting to <i>show </i>their support to employees, company leaders added structure to their weekly, monthly and annual calendar to make sure they actually <i>do</i> provide their employees with both the thanks and appreciation that employees need to be successful and continue to strive to be better employees and better people. <br /><br />Show: Developing an Employee-Focused Organization <br />Guest: Chris Davitt, <a href="http://www.ruppertcompanies.com/index.html" target="_blank">Ruppert Cos.</a>, Laytonsville, Md <br />Date: Wednesday, April 24th, 2013 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">To listen to the full show, <a href="http://www.fromdesign2build.com/public/Developing-an-Employee-Focused-Organization-with-Chris-Davitt-Ruppert-Landscape-FD2B-Talk-Radio.cfm" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>.</span></span></span></span> LM Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05909027184156038541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15588118.post-21875396858345130692013-04-24T15:28:00.000-04:002013-04-24T15:28:45.571-04:00Senke Lawn & Tree Care makes 'Tonight Show'<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.senske.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Senske Lawn & Tree Care</span></a> was featured on <a href="http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/video/headlines-part-2/n35772/" target="_blank">The Tonight Show with Jay Leno</a> on April 22 as part of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headlines_%28Jay_Leno%29" target="_blank">"headlines"</a> sketch where viewers submit newspaper headlines, signs and printed materials with spelling errors or other mistakes or sentence structures that make them funny. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtAyxsQDjNOQKsUfkEzYbYjiiASzo2CUim4f6dtzp_btXgiv-Qysa78fFPR6ambHszOWgryyKaQynht6y_5OMtSeNnVZSJUQGtXWGPKbnxJJtbxX995xvWIT5ZIBEMpPia_bgs/s1600/Senske_Pruning_Insert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtAyxsQDjNOQKsUfkEzYbYjiiASzo2CUim4f6dtzp_btXgiv-Qysa78fFPR6ambHszOWgryyKaQynht6y_5OMtSeNnVZSJUQGtXWGPKbnxJJtbxX995xvWIT5ZIBEMpPia_bgs/s1600/Senske_Pruning_Insert.jpg" height="320" width="251" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Senske Lawn & Tree Care's now-famous pruning promo piece.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
The punchline in the Senske bit came from a pruning flier that says, "Did you know... trees are tall plants made of wood?" [Starts around the 20 second mark in the video.]<br />
<br />
Despite Leno calling the company "Senke Lawn & Garden" (which is not its name), Patrica "Patt" Mosley, director of marketing and communications for the $21.6 million firm based in Kennewick, Wash., was pleased with the exposure. We got in touch with her today for a quick Q&A. <br />
<br />
<i>LM: Why did you go with a humorous approach to this promotional material?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Patt Mosley (PM): Being new to the industry, this was my first pruning campaign, and when I started to think on how we could promote tree pruning in a manner that would entice the reader to actually pick up the insert and<i> read</i> it, I struggled in the beginning. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What I needed to do was two-fold: First, find a way to "hook" the reader's attention about trees and second, convey to them our expertise and knowledge with tree pruning (we have certified arborists on staff), and hope they connect the dots, meaning, they start thinking about their own trees on their property and realize they probably should get someone out to trim them.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I decided on the "Did you know..." concept because I believe most people "want to know" and it gave me the ability to position both the hook<i> and </i>Senske as the subject matter expert at the same time. So I started looking for random facts about trees that did not necessarily have to be relevant to tree pruning per se, but just overall tree information. The factoids I chose to use were intended to be a quick read, amusing/interesting, but informational at the same time. Once I have the readers committed to picking up the insert to read it, then I felt they were committed to flipping it over to read more about our services and the promotion we were offering. It was definitely a different approach to take, but it did make tree pruning a bit more interesting! I will be honest, I honestly didn't know all of these facts about trees before this, and it did make me laugh every time I looked at the piece. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
<i>LM: Was the goal to get on the Tonight Show or was that just a surprise?</i><br />
PM: Not at all! When one of my colleagues sent us the link to the clip, I was actually worried at first, since I didn't know what to expect. But when I saw it, even though Mr. Jay Leno referred to us incorrectly (Senske Lawn & Garden instead of Senske Lawn & Tree Care), it made my day. I actually had to watch a few more times and each time, it cracked me up. While I realize their intent was to poke fun at our expense, it was still worth the exposure and I can probably assume that more people today will remember that trees are tall plants made out of wood!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
<i>LM: What has your clients' reaction been?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">PM: So far, I have not heard much other than one of our customers had called a branch office to say they saw us featured on the Tonight Show. I know that many of our employees were excited to see the clip and the national exposure we received with it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
<i>LM: Have you seen an uptick in website traffic or phone calls? How about sales?</i><br />
PM: Right now, it is still pretty early. And as you well know, this is our peak season, so we have several campaigns running concurrently. Once the season run ends, I will be collecting and measuring the data to determine impact of each campaign, including the pruning one.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">View the "headlines" clip featuring Senske <a href="http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/video/headlines-part-2/n35772/" target="_blank">by clicking here</a>. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">—<i>Marisa Palmieri</i></span><br />
<br />
<br />LM Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05909027184156038541noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15588118.post-56936771496197777372013-04-23T15:09:00.002-04:002013-04-24T15:29:57.838-04:00More photos from PLANET Day of Service<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here are some more shots of Hemlock Landscapes and the 135th Company of Ohio National Guard <a href="http://landscapemanagement.blogspot.com/2013/04/a-planet-day-of-service-project-in.html" target="_blank">in action during Day of Service</a> yesterday. Nicely done! </span><br />
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">—<i>Beth Geraci</i></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEise5ZrbF5hUh26dWlITbUFr0spCqjl0gLiMLqsuscNpI8FFT208WYjoEzlJd_DH1G4FyYdOQJMmAwcLvSh9LmzvpJ7dqp35HuDO8fkr3TAQQ2BgkovabNMT4AJZihiyDqo8EUa/s1600/DSC_0021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEise5ZrbF5hUh26dWlITbUFr0spCqjl0gLiMLqsuscNpI8FFT208WYjoEzlJd_DH1G4FyYdOQJMmAwcLvSh9LmzvpJ7dqp35HuDO8fkr3TAQQ2BgkovabNMT4AJZihiyDqo8EUa/s320/DSC_0021.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqolUdA99kJLB6t1BZsmaVcpAk02io3OwurTBB9miEO6XDwU9Cb_cpK85uUUb2EOO1qb4_SmZA86sD5iYJy-YD3LdHlTjTFrqfAqdZxB4kJwK_okxSwnz_0RaQO8ZsZb71WhG3/s1600/DSC_0028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqolUdA99kJLB6t1BZsmaVcpAk02io3OwurTBB9miEO6XDwU9Cb_cpK85uUUb2EOO1qb4_SmZA86sD5iYJy-YD3LdHlTjTFrqfAqdZxB4kJwK_okxSwnz_0RaQO8ZsZb71WhG3/s320/DSC_0028.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFmY_HipzaSlgjEw7_KNpADLToaW8pfJiuEmGxObUqUnY7Fs2EoqzW9tIlp_ZBvnE6MuODEqOb9PO60wJmVe4S8mxSlFYtbHNG2XwA_dyGbvzl6RkYTJ5gWxVi5qPfzw4yk9E-/s1600/DSC_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFmY_HipzaSlgjEw7_KNpADLToaW8pfJiuEmGxObUqUnY7Fs2EoqzW9tIlp_ZBvnE6MuODEqOb9PO60wJmVe4S8mxSlFYtbHNG2XwA_dyGbvzl6RkYTJ5gWxVi5qPfzw4yk9E-/s320/DSC_0031.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPiUdm3oo7KOVZeeHinns7BTxMTxBMlNAErtU-h3psyHDlwIR3ocGbw0YXJ50qwVL-FsvJv_e0DeE5AMmQX_-bR4M8f3AKHkafXAdWbUfW1xDk4ER584u83ZwmycAvi4MO44n/s1600/DSC_0038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPiUdm3oo7KOVZeeHinns7BTxMTxBMlNAErtU-h3psyHDlwIR3ocGbw0YXJ50qwVL-FsvJv_e0DeE5AMmQX_-bR4M8f3AKHkafXAdWbUfW1xDk4ER584u83ZwmycAvi4MO44n/s320/DSC_0038.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6aCvInLN2WuX5JOYPM3uY-qKauTEGrjOLhm9YBjx3fgLBmO3nSWCT7GJWCVveWVVw3kWAdliXyi37AlXTNgCmVNIibw2_mQdHYVKMMLVQ23R4hYLnbwost_zNVDk3DQL8onz/s1600/DSC_0040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6aCvInLN2WuX5JOYPM3uY-qKauTEGrjOLhm9YBjx3fgLBmO3nSWCT7GJWCVveWVVw3kWAdliXyi37AlXTNgCmVNIibw2_mQdHYVKMMLVQ23R4hYLnbwost_zNVDk3DQL8onz/s320/DSC_0040.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3QNWgYvkUuh8sHD7IXCjawlyo5xJPS2wb7bHqlVmPpMwSdKeRVfh-JYYJWW5eMV3qO7WpT_hPyqdTENXYDSyeea2twhhs3FtodHYHAvuVwxLNXI77xKH7aKaRhZ2DzLa_0hjb/s1600/DSC_0041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3QNWgYvkUuh8sHD7IXCjawlyo5xJPS2wb7bHqlVmPpMwSdKeRVfh-JYYJWW5eMV3qO7WpT_hPyqdTENXYDSyeea2twhhs3FtodHYHAvuVwxLNXI77xKH7aKaRhZ2DzLa_0hjb/s320/DSC_0041.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5kZO8Wr_hcwKbGb4jr8in4n8Fa6nacjh9BWQ7fP37dQKopIpup6keWt-U39uHkWSY7ghd0FM-HqXlN44HGqhmSv0qbAsa6Ajky67e0MHBkgHhAG6fgv0haW4aolixZgduxoV4/s1600/DSC_0048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5kZO8Wr_hcwKbGb4jr8in4n8Fa6nacjh9BWQ7fP37dQKopIpup6keWt-U39uHkWSY7ghd0FM-HqXlN44HGqhmSv0qbAsa6Ajky67e0MHBkgHhAG6fgv0haW4aolixZgduxoV4/s320/DSC_0048.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF6QGY1jE8P6X_duGT2VIx22Rm603hej4L1HjNaixJTnihyphenhyphenbnDhgkoqfDKZuAyNHztVS2C-j6FPNVn2Og23Vm61Ek9ewbbFSnJ6ZBuTw4fmqsfwEgTzKdOVyTuQrYRQHC1nHOc/s1600/DSC_0054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF6QGY1jE8P6X_duGT2VIx22Rm603hej4L1HjNaixJTnihyphenhyphenbnDhgkoqfDKZuAyNHztVS2C-j6FPNVn2Og23Vm61Ek9ewbbFSnJ6ZBuTw4fmqsfwEgTzKdOVyTuQrYRQHC1nHOc/s320/DSC_0054.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEzThAp7dT6_i1ONrNw6RxlfLdIfv2Wz_mp4hNJS08Va3ZnR3i6erUqayKY3SS7_7kHWM8je5srtHAffuLT1_-oAdNyZhtgwC_BarVTM1a2QPp7Fw6ty2O88Y95PwqHrk7TQf/s1600/DSC_0060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEzThAp7dT6_i1ONrNw6RxlfLdIfv2Wz_mp4hNJS08Va3ZnR3i6erUqayKY3SS7_7kHWM8je5srtHAffuLT1_-oAdNyZhtgwC_BarVTM1a2QPp7Fw6ty2O88Y95PwqHrk7TQf/s320/DSC_0060.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
.LM Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05909027184156038541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15588118.post-67821434452240698962013-04-22T12:51:00.000-04:002013-04-24T15:32:42.290-04:00A PLANET Day of Service project in action<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What a great morning it's been. <a href="http://www.hemlocklandscapes.com/" target="_blank">Hemlock Landscapes</a>, based in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, invited me along as they participated in the <a href="http://www.planetdayofservice.org/" target="_blank">Professional Landcare Network's (PLANET's) Day of Service event</a>. Hemlock donated staff, time and materials to the project, which involved sprucing up the grounds of the Ohio Army National Guard's 135th Military Police Co.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">National Guard troops worked alongside Hemlock staff, together mulching beds, raking, mowing, removing dead trees and planting new ones. Here are a few photos of the crew on the job. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">—<i>Beth Geraci</i></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFeRHoWLknsBE33GCcdw9FXmShSlIlZcS1zv7yp2ofSYIiSgdotT-11IJyr6gWHls4Mo4-w_54Jm_TeiatO9Avdkl0OFcHHxH-jcB9LTjkSNLx6tPV_A0TXkmBWtz-tUxQ0WWB/s1600/IMG_2879.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFeRHoWLknsBE33GCcdw9FXmShSlIlZcS1zv7yp2ofSYIiSgdotT-11IJyr6gWHls4Mo4-w_54Jm_TeiatO9Avdkl0OFcHHxH-jcB9LTjkSNLx6tPV_A0TXkmBWtz-tUxQ0WWB/s320/IMG_2879.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy4D3ln4cUcuWdwZmhqkghA5i1TQcBv2l6ZP1DY3-Hgeg9fFAbUcnYiaCDxbZtC451wQtfuu7kdhKDhQ_19b7Y1MsFZh6ivDFXPeDrcKxGTuA31AE7CM8bcI4Uke0OR50XWCQs/s1600/IMG_2886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy4D3ln4cUcuWdwZmhqkghA5i1TQcBv2l6ZP1DY3-Hgeg9fFAbUcnYiaCDxbZtC451wQtfuu7kdhKDhQ_19b7Y1MsFZh6ivDFXPeDrcKxGTuA31AE7CM8bcI4Uke0OR50XWCQs/s400/IMG_2886.JPG" height="277" width="400" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYLMJm-qahsElRCxk1-scLjzRqmw6Jj6dtb3Bt37cfMGuyOSUTy6AHcGsD3gfk4Kj3MdwsKYFiq_ruT0fkbSs4EO5BMGQMGMY5UiDYjnQUAD3vd9FOOtQCa3wFBTId-_z9sjz/s1600/IMG_2880.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYLMJm-qahsElRCxk1-scLjzRqmw6Jj6dtb3Bt37cfMGuyOSUTy6AHcGsD3gfk4Kj3MdwsKYFiq_ruT0fkbSs4EO5BMGQMGMY5UiDYjnQUAD3vd9FOOtQCa3wFBTId-_z9sjz/s320/IMG_2880.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
LM Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05909027184156038541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15588118.post-53894765031135037692013-04-19T17:19:00.003-04:002013-04-24T15:32:52.452-04:00Ohio landscaper leads cleanup at 'mud fest'<br />
<div class="DefaultStyle">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The annual Number Fest in Athens, Ohio, has pretty much built its reputation on being a mess. It's such a mess, in fact, that it's more commonly known in the area as the "Mud Fest." But we were heartened by a story we read in The Athens (Ohio) News that reports one landscaping company set out to make this year's fest, held April 13, the cleanest one ever on the books. </span></div>
<div class="DefaultStyle">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="DefaultStyle">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Joshua Kyae, the owner of Joshua Tree Lawn and Landscape, contributed labor and equipment to the 11th Annual Number Fest as part of a recycling
initiative meant to reduce waste sent to landfills.</span></div>
<div class="DefaultStyle">
</div>
<div class="DefaultStyle" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<div class="DefaultStyle" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="DefaultStyle" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kyae and his team took 55-gallon refuse drums set up at the event to a recycling center throughout the day, sorting the recyclables into separate containers for hauling, the newspaper stated. Kyae first thought to help after contemplating how much waste such a large festival would produce.</span></div>
<div class="DefaultStyle" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="DefaultStyle" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Depending on this year's overall results, Kyae told the newspaper, "I would be more than happy to do this on a more regular basis, especially if it's profitable."</span></div>
<div class="DefaultStyle" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="DefaultStyle" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Read the full story <a href="http://www.athensnews.com/ohio/article-39552-local-landscaping-company-hopes-to-clean-up-at-11-fest.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
<div class="DefaultStyle" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="DefaultStyle" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">—<i>Beth Geraci</i></span></div>
<div class="DefaultStyle" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<br />LM Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05909027184156038541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15588118.post-66961636092521308392013-04-19T12:13:00.001-04:002013-04-19T12:14:12.824-04:00FD2B Talk Radio Insight of the Night: Richard Heller <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There's a common misconception that “green roof” and “rooftop garden” are one and the same. Although there are some similarities, there are significant differences, explains Richard Heller, CEO/CFO of <a href="http://www.greenerdesigns.com/" target="_blank">Greener by Design</a> in Pelham, N.Y.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.fromdesign2build.com/public/images/dept57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.fromdesign2build.com/public/images/dept57.jpg" height="89" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Green roofs are intended to reduce energy costs by helping regulate temperatures within the building, keeping them cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. In addition, they're designed to absorb as much as 80 percent of the rainfall that lands on the roof, significantly reducing the amount of water that flows into the city’s sewer systems and treatment plants. <br /><br />Many times green roofs are as simple as a drainage membrane that's laid upon the existing roof and then covered with “trays” of a groundcover like sedum, which requires very little maintenance once it's established. They may or may not be accessible. <br /><br />Rooftop gardens, on the other hand, are designed to create useable and functional space for the building owner and its occupants and may or may not take on the qualities of a green roof. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><br />Show: Go To Heller For Green Roofs <br />Guest: Richard Heller, <a href="http://www.greenerdesigns.com/" target="_blank">Greener By Design</a>, Pelham N.Y. <br />Date: April 17, 2013</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">To listen to the full show, <a href="http://www.fromdesign2build.com/public/Estimating-and-Growing-with-Mike-Rorie-FD2B-Talk-Radio-Go-iLawn.cfm" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>.</span></span></span> </span>LM Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05909027184156038541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15588118.post-46907472865125740792013-04-17T10:02:00.001-04:002013-04-17T13:02:49.269-04:00Techniques for increasing sales this spring<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>628</o:Words>
<o:Characters>3581</o:Characters>
<o:Company>North Coast Media</o:Company>
<o:Lines>29</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>8</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>4201</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-language:JA;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvZp1T-sffZa2ngZwOB0eQCxEfleMggYlqT-QIsU-iexthSNGMFymSHN05my89Hn0YcQ8KB0X6CfO6hjGYBP3hfOIZjWV08Z_3Gfg06HiHAkf2gxLxezANe3XSm7T19c0WYnx/s1600/jscott_cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvZp1T-sffZa2ngZwOB0eQCxEfleMggYlqT-QIsU-iexthSNGMFymSHN05my89Hn0YcQ8KB0X6CfO6hjGYBP3hfOIZjWV08Z_3Gfg06HiHAkf2gxLxezANe3XSm7T19c0WYnx/s1600/jscott_cropped.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">By Jeffrey Scott, consultant</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">1. Profile your Red Light clients.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">In the heat of the spring it's easy to get swept up in the leads that
make your phone ring. But how will you service them all with adequate
attention? You will be best served if you can create a filter that will remove
the unqualified (Red Light) leads from your pipeline. To do this you need a
profile of the type of prospect you will NOT try to sell. To create this
profile, ask yourself the following questions:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">• Who have I bid in the past that I never seem to sell?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">• </span>What is the bottom 5 percent or 10 percent of current clients that I wish to grow
beyond? (You can’t reach the high fruit if you hang onto the rotten apples lying
on the ground.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">• </span>Is there a client type that I have sold in the past that consistently
loses money for me?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">• </span>Is there a type of client that buys only partial services and ends up
being unhappy and thus distracting my time and focus?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Create a profile and screen out these appointments by phone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">2. Reach “conceptual agreement” first<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Before you make a proposal, and in order to maximize your chances that
your proposal will be accepted, it's imperative that you reach "conceptual agreement" with your prospect. To do so you need to ask enough questions to get
at the root of: </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">• </span>Why they are buying?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">• </span>What's their priority?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">• </span>Is
your solution solving their problems and meeting their needs? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">If you write up proposals without first going through these steps,
you're far less likely to close the sale, and you're more likely to waste
your time in useless follow-up appointments. You will work far more efficiently
if you can gain "conceptual agreement" first, then write up and present your
proposal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">3. Separate emotions from money.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The only thing worse than a prospect who's price shopping is a
salesperson who's emotionally tied to the price of his or her product. Stop worrying
about the price, stop defending the price, stop obsessing about the price, and
instead, have quiet confidence in your fee structure. Give your clients options
and different price points, and for those who want to spend less, show them an
option that meets their budget. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Don't negotiate with yourself and don't lower your
margin just to get a client to say yes; instead, ask better questions and make
targeted recommendations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">4. Make small sales on the spot.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Some products simply don't deserve a follow-up appointment. The cost of
going back to your office, working up a proposal and emailing it back to the
client costs much more in time and opportunity cost than is often admitted.
Give yourself permission to make small estimating mistakes. Add a field estimating contingency of 5 to 10 percent to estimates presented in the field. Jobs of
$1,000 to $5,000 and even more can be estimated and sold in the field. Moreover,
selling by email is not selling at all. You're much more likely to
uncover and deal with objections if you present the price in person. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Make it enticing, so the client will say "yes" on the first visit. Throw in a
low-price/high-value add-on if they sign on the spot. Or, bring a copy of your
schedule and show them how you can put them on the schedule and save their spot
if they give you a down payment or sign up now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">5. Don't be an order taker. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">When clients tell you succinctly what they want, it's not always in
your best interest to simply react to their request for a price. Don't be an
order taker. It puts you in the position of being compared with the next
contractor your prospect is interviewing. Change the prospect’s assumptions.
Show your value by negating one or two of their assumptions and adding in one
or two of your own. If they come to the meeting with a solution, challenge
their solution, dig deeper to the underlying needs and present your own
solution. Be a leader. Good clients like to follow a leader.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">6. How can I help you? What would you
like to accomplish in today's meeting?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">This is a good two-part question that can be asked and re-asked over the
course of a sales appointment. It allows the prospect to think more deeply about his
or her needs.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Times;">
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Jeffrey Scott, MBA, author and consultant, grew his landscape company into a successful $10 million enterprise, and he's devoted to helping others share the same success. He facilitates PEER GROUPS for landscape business owners who want to transform and profitably grow their business. For more information, go to <a href="http://www.jeffreyscott.biz/">www.JeffreyScott.biz</a>, email <a href="mailto:Jeff@Jeffreyscott.biz"><span style="color: #084de6;">Jeff@Jeffreyscott.biz</span></a>, or call (203)220-8931. </i></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Times;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.gettheleadersedge.com/">www.GetTheLeadersEdge.com</a>.</i></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<!--EndFragment-->LM Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05909027184156038541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15588118.post-20601869352723966522013-04-16T10:20:00.002-04:002013-04-16T10:21:25.574-04:00Non-traditional landscape industry marketing tactics<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Two interesting marketing-related items came across my desk (or should I say inbox) today, and I couldn't resist sharing them ASAP. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Driveway drop <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.kentucky.com/smedia/2013/04/16/07/49/r94XC.AuSt.79.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://media.kentucky.com/smedia/2013/04/16/07/49/r94XC.AuSt.79.jpg" width="190" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Plus Lawn and Landscape's "driveway drop" wallets</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Residents of Central Kentucky may be finding black wallets in their driveways this spring, but they shouldn't be alarmed or try to call the police, <a href="http://www.kentucky.com/2013/04/15/2601765/did-you-find-a-wallet-in-your.html#storylink=cpy" target="_blank">reports Kentucky.com</a>. They should open them up and at the very least get a kick out of the guerrilla marketing tactic employed by <a href="http://www.apluslawnlandscape.com/" target="_blank">A Plus Lawn and Landscape Inc.</a> of Lawrenceburg, Ky. Looking for an alternative to direct mail, owner John Rennels devised this "driveway drop" program because, as the reporter points out, "People most definitely will pick up a wallet."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Radio star</b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://mjstoreylandscape.com/index.htm" target="_self" title="M.J. Storey Landscape Construction,">M.J. Storey Landscape Construction</a> in Southern Maine, has effectively added a more traditional marketing medium (though not necessarily traditional for the Green Industry) to its mix: radio. The results have been impressive: "We experienced a 45 percent growth in one year
once we went on the radio," owner Michael Storey says, <a href="http://www.portlandradiogroup.com/Radio-Results/bid/280549/Radio-Helps-Maine-Landscaping-Company-Grow-45-in-One-Year#emart-form-anchor" target="_blank">as reported by Portland Radio Group's blog</a>. Listen to the award-winning commercial here: <a href="http://snd.sc/ZnMczJ">http://snd.sc/ZnMczJ </a></span><a href="http://snd.sc/ZnMczJ"><br /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;">—<i>Marisa Palmieri</i></span></div>
<br />
<div style="color: black; font: 10pt sans-serif; height: 1px; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-transform: none; width: 1px;">
<br />
Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2013/04/15/2601765/did-you-find-a-wallet-in-your.html#storylink=cpy#storylink=cpy</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="color: black; font: 10pt sans-serif; height: 1px; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-transform: none; width: 1px;">
<br />
Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2013/04/15/2601765/did-you-find-a-wallet-in-your.html#storylink=cpy#storylink=cpy</div>
<div style="color: black; font: 10pt sans-serif; height: 1px; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-transform: none; width: 1px;">
<br />
Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2013/04/15/2601765/did-you-find-a-wallet-in-your.html#storylink=cpy#storylink=cpy</div>
LM Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05909027184156038541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15588118.post-41626900092290063312013-04-12T16:43:00.001-04:002013-04-12T18:41:38.786-04:00CNN poll shows 6-year high in optimism<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 27px;">In a week full of bad news ranging from school shootings to menacing behavior from North Korea, we're happy to report that a silver lining finally emerged in a CNN poll released today. For the first time in six years, 50 percent of Americans polled said they're optimistic about the way things are going in the U.S. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 27px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 27px;">“The number continues an upward pattern since the summer of last year, when only 35 percent were optimistic about the country’s conditions,” CNN Polling Director Keating Holland stated in the CNN story on the matter.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 27px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 27px;">Despite the country's 7.6 percent unemployment rate, with the stock market climbing the way it's been, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 27px;">Americans haven't felt so upbeat since January 2007, "when 57 percent felt the country was in good shape," the story stated. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 27px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 27px;">Are you feeling optimistic too? Please tell us what you think! And c</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;">heck out the full CNN story </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"><a href="http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/04/12/mood-of-the-nation-six-year-high-in-optimism-cnn-poll-shows/?hpt=hp_t2" target="_blank">here</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;">.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;">Have a great weekend!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;">—<i>Beth Geraci</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span>LM Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05909027184156038541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15588118.post-72212111804114910222013-04-11T09:36:00.000-04:002013-04-19T12:14:47.415-04:00FD2B Talk Radio Insight of the Night: Mike Rorie <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Even at a young age Mike Rorie, former CEO of GroundMasters, realized the best way for him to be successful was to choose a specific segment of the landscape market and build a business to serve it. He saw an incredible opportunity in the commercial maintenance market in the Cincinnati area, which is where he grew his company to be one of the most prestigious and successful landscape maintenance companies in the area, eventually selling to The Brickman Group in 2006 after 27 years in business. <br /><br />Rorie attributes much of his success to focusing on his target market and not trying to be “all things to all people.” While many businesses did and still do fight to be the lowest price service provider, he preferred his brand to be known for its quality of service, which was offered at a higher price point than his competitors'. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.fromdesign2build.com/public/Estimating-and-Growing-with-Mike-Rorie-FD2B-Talk-Radio-Go-iLawn.cfm" target="_blank">Listen to this week's show </a>to gain even more insight as Rorie explains how he grew his landscape business from an $11,000 residential maintenance service company to a $30 million commercial maintenance dynasty. <br /><br />Show: Go Mike Rorie <br />Guest: Mike Rorie, Go iLawn/GIS Dynamics, Cincinnati, Ohio <br />Date: April 4, 2013 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">To listen to the full show, <a href="http://www.fromdesign2build.com/public/Estimating-and-Growing-with-Mike-Rorie-FD2B-Talk-Radio-Go-iLawn.cfm" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>.</span> </span>LM Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05909027184156038541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15588118.post-76489261395027274312013-04-05T17:39:00.002-04:002013-04-11T09:37:42.791-04:00North Carolina landscaper plays role in community fountain<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A 10-foot-high fountain under construction in Hendersonville, N.C., will spring to life May 1, and a local landscaper is playing a part in it. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When it's completed, the fountain will be in the shape of three local Blue Ridge mountain ranges. And its foundation of native boulders is being helped along by Hendersonville landscaper Steve Haun, owner of Tanbark Landscape Company. Haun is helping the fountain's artist, Berry Bate, to integrate 500-pound granite boulders into the fountain's metal structure.</span><br />
<div class="article_text article_paragraph0">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Each piece has “to be set just right” for the fountain to flow well, he told Emily Weaver, a reporter from the Times-News newspaper, who wrote about the project. It “has to all tie together,” he added.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
When the fountain is finished, "waterfalls will flow down the mountains in several places,
over a cropping of stones, illuminated by artificial and natural lights
to add life to the piece," Weaver wrote. Ultimately, the fountain evokes those things in this North Carolina region residents appreciate most—waterfalls and mountains.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
For more on the fountain and Haun's involvement, check out Weaver's complete story <b><a href="http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/20130403/ARTICLES/130409950/1042/NEWS?Title=Fountain-taking-shape-at-Sixth-Ave-and-Main-St-" target="_blank">here</a>.</b></span></div>
<div class="pagholder">
<div class="article_text article_paragraph1 google_elide">
<div class="pagpag1" style="display: block;">
<br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">—Beth Geraci</span></i></div>
</div>
</div>
LM Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05909027184156038541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15588118.post-70129350511787486372013-04-01T13:01:00.000-04:002013-04-01T13:01:00.959-04:00Pew survey: Most Americans say immigrants should stay<a href="http://www.people-press.org/2013/03/28/most-say-illegal-immigrants-should-be-allowed-to-stay-but-citizenship-is-more-divisive/3-28-13-1/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="3-28-13 #1" class="attachment-large" src="http://www.people-press.org/files/2013/03/3-28-13-1.png" height="423" width="297" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A new survey from the Pew Research Center finds that seven-in-ten Americans (71 percent) say there should
be a way for illegal immigrants to remain in the U.S. if they meet certain requirements, while 27 percent say they should not
be allowed to stay legally. <a href="http://www.pewhispanic.org/2013/02/04/ii-recent-trends-in-naturalization-2000-2011-2/" target="_blank">There are approximately 11 million illegal immigrants in the country</a>. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">President Obama <a href="http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/27/17490075-obama-optimistic-on-immigration-legislation?lite" target="_blank">recently said </a>he's
confident an immigration reform bill would pass by the end of the
summer if a draft of the bill is released in early April. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Most who favor providing illegal immigrants
with some form of legal status – 43 percent of the public – say they should be
allowed to apply for citizenship, but 24 percent of the public says they should
only be allowed to apply for legal residency. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The national survey by the Pew Research Center, conducted March 13-17
among 1,501 adults, finds that overall attitudes about immigrants in
the United States are more positive than negative, despite the nation’s
struggling economy. </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>--Marisa Palmieri</i></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />LM Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05909027184156038541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15588118.post-8441095411579931432013-03-29T16:45:00.001-04:002013-04-11T09:37:20.055-04:00ValleyCrest and IFMA pitch in for those with developmental disabilities<br />
<div class="post-685 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-in-the-news tag-green-day tag-ifma tag-international-facilities-management-association tag-life-experiences tag-valleycrest-landscape-company" id="post-685">
<div class="entry">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">We were happy to hear this month that ValleyCrest and the </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;">International Facilities Management Association (IFMA) collaborated on a landscaping project supporting people with developmental disabilities. The project took place on March 20, the first day of spring.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://lifeexperiences.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/greenday3-225x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="IFMA and Valleycrest Landscape Company Green Day" border="0" class="alignleft wp-image-688" height="400" src="http://lifeexperiences.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/greenday3-225x300.jpg" style="margin-top: 5px;" title="IFMA and Valleycrest Landscape Company Green Day" width="299" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;">ValleyCrest and IFMA donated their time and equipment to the project, beautifying the grounds of Cary, N.C.-based non-profit Life Experiences, Inc. The non-profit helps employ people with disabilities and empowers them through their work.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;">Here are a couple photos of the project in action, courtesy of Life Experiences, Inc. Nicely done!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;">-<i>-Beth Geraci</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<a href="http://lifeexperiences.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/greenday1-300x225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="IFMA and Valleycrest Landscape Company Green Day" border="0" class=" wp-image-686 alignright" height="239" src="http://lifeexperiences.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/greenday1-300x225.jpg" style="margin-top: 5px;" title="IFMA and Valleycrest Landscape Company Green Day" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br /></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://lifeexperiences.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/greenday2-300x225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="IFMA and Valleycrest Landscape Company Green Day" border="0" class="alignleft wp-image-687" height="299" src="http://lifeexperiences.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/greenday2-300x225.jpg" style="margin-top: 5px;" title="IFMA and Valleycrest Landscape Company Green Day" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
LM Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05909027184156038541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15588118.post-70035034075778078032013-03-29T10:44:00.000-04:002013-03-29T10:44:03.220-04:00FD2B Talk Radio Insight of the Night: Rich Arlington<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After being discharged from the Marine Corps for medical reasons, </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Rich Arlington of <a href="http://www.richarlington.com/" target="_blank">Rich Arlington & Associates</a>, Erie, Pa., </span>struggled with trying to figure out what to do with the rest of his life. He sought help from a Marine physician who listened to his concerns and then gave him some good solid advice that still drives him to this day. He said, “Suck it up Marine. Overcome, adapt, improvise and make it happen.” And that’s exactly what he did. <br /><br />According to Arlington, anybody can complain. That’s easy. When adversity does hit you, in business or in life, you need to remember that there's always is a way to overcome it, there's always someone who's had the same experience and pushed through it and there are always people willing to help you, if you just ask. <br /><br />The bottom line: That which does not kill you makes you stronger. <br /><br />If you don’t believe this, just listen to the entire interview or <a href="http://www.richarlington.com/books-and-articles/" target="_blank">read Arlington's book, “Why Not You?"</a> Proceeds from the sale of the book are used to help veterans throughout the U.S. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Listeners are also eligible to win a free autographed copy of “Why Not You?” or the student version of DynaSCAPE Software. <br /><br />Show: "Why Not You?" with Rich Arlington <br />Guest: Rich Arlington, Rich Arlington and Associates, Erie, Pa.<br />Date: March 27, 2013</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
To listen to the full show, <a href="http://www.fromdesign2build.com/public/Why-Not-You-with-Rich-Arlington-FD2B-Talk-Radio-landscape-financial-management.cfm" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
<span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Editor's note: As part of a partnership between </i>Landscape Management<i> and </i><i><a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/fd2b" target="_blank">FD2B Talk Radio</a>,
we'll be posting an "Insight of the Night" every Thursday from the
previous night's radio show. FD2B Talk Radio is a Green Industry radio
show that broadcasts live every Wednesday at 7 p.m. Eastern. Its host
and founder is </i><i> </i>LM<i> columnist Jody Shilan, who's also the editor and founder of <a href="http://fromdesign2build.com/">FromDesign2Build.com</a>. </i>
</span></span>
</span></span>LM Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05909027184156038541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15588118.post-18466334240081660082013-03-26T14:02:00.000-04:002013-03-29T10:44:32.308-04:00Think like an owner Part 2<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirSJyJYfbmoTE8_TufCLrjgPidf-LIfnpax2-SJs5MNrI0k6Z62eTdnNnn7O0GjQ9JYWSQZepC5dzXbZf4OO-_CQJoOyFCGr4D8426ITMz9-yxNmP72S0X7saVJINNlwCGfA1Z/s1600/jscott_cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirSJyJYfbmoTE8_TufCLrjgPidf-LIfnpax2-SJs5MNrI0k6Z62eTdnNnn7O0GjQ9JYWSQZepC5dzXbZf4OO-_CQJoOyFCGr4D8426ITMz9-yxNmP72S0X7saVJINNlwCGfA1Z/s200/jscott_cropped.jpg" height="200" width="148" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By Jeffrey Scott, consultant</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Earlier this month, <i>Landscape Management</i> featured Part 1 of this two-part blog series. Now, it's time for Part 2—three more valuable tips on how to think like an owner.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>352</o:Words>
<o:Characters>2012</o:Characters>
<o:Company>North Coast Media</o:Company>
<o:Lines>16</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>4</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>2360</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-language:JA;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Generate referrals<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Your clients will refer you when they are wowed by your work
and by the impression you leave with them each day when you come onto and leave
their property. Every customer contact is an opportunity to make them happy
they hired you. It starts with a genuine smile and a wave hello, and an extra
touch like picking up their paper or garbage blowing around. It is further
supported by a genuine question to see if there is anything else they need, and
it ends with a job site cleaner than you found it. For those in the office,
making your client feel 'special' each time they call will go a long way. When
you find out the clients name, repeat it and give them a phone-hug,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"Mr Smith, I am SO glad you called, how
can I help you today!" Say this with enthusiasm, and you will be
remembered and referred. I guarantee it! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Learn valuable
skills<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Would you like to increase your chances of earning a raise?
One thing you can do: learn new skills that your company needs in order to stay
competitive. What skill would help you become more productive and help your
company win more work? If you are not sure, ask your supervisor for
suggestions. The more you learn and apply in a productive manner, the more you
can earn. But don't do it just for the money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Life is a
journey, punctuated by learning new skills," Jeffrey Scott<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The more skills you master, the more you will feel motivated
and satisfied by your work, and the more confident you will be. Do it for the
internal satisfaction! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Bring a higher
standard to work.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Owners like employees who are focused and want to do things
right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But since no one is perfect,
there is always room to improve. Where can you improve your focus and
workmanship? Where do you have go-backs, or where do you spend excessive time?
Where are your clients not 100% thrilled with your work?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Start with reflection:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Friday think about one thing you could
improve from the previous week, and commit to improving on it the following
week.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Make notes at the end of each day on how you did
to improve.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Keep a little black book of improvements.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>Find one specific area each week to improve on.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By the end of a full year you will have improved in over 50
areas! Wow—that will have a huge impact with yourself, your clients and your
company! Sweat the details, and your clients and boss will notice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Times;">
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Jeffrey Scott, MBA, author and consultant, grew his landscape company into a successful $10 million enterprise, and he's devoted to helping others share the same success. He facilitates PEER GROUPS for landscape business owners who want to transform and profitably grow their business. For more information, go to <a href="http://www.jeffreyscott.biz/">www.JeffreyScott.biz</a>, email <a href="mailto:Jeff@Jeffreyscott.biz"><span style="color: #084de6;">Jeff@Jeffreyscott.biz</span></a>, or call (203)220-8931. </i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Times;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.gettheleadersedge.com/">www.GetTheLeadersEdge.com</a>.</i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
LM Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05909027184156038541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15588118.post-52485983842577884372013-03-21T13:51:00.002-04:002013-03-21T13:52:06.239-04:00FD2B Talk Radio Insight of the Night: Jeff Korhan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.fromdesign2build.com/public/images/dept57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.fromdesign2build.com/public/images/dept57.jpg" height="89" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">According to consultant and author <a href="http://www.jeffkorhan.com/" target="_blank">Jeff Korhan</a>, you need to look at social media marketing as a three-legged stool. The first leg is attraction, the second is engagement and the third leg is conversion. If you have all three, your stool will remain perfectly balanced. If not, it will tip and wobble and be completely ineffective. <br /><br />As Korhan explains, people go to the internet for two reasons: to be entertained and to solve problems. <br /><br />If you're providing original content online that does both of these things well, then search engines like Google are going to quickly find you and significantly raise your rankings. <br /><br />Korhan demystifies social media marketing and breaks it down into a simple process that's similar to what you're doing right now with your traditional marketing efforts, such as developing new leads through recommendations and referrals. His new book, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Built-In-Social-Essential-Marketing-Practices/dp/111852974X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1363192391&sr=8-2&keywords=built-in+social" target="_blank">Built-In Social</a>,</i> is due out next month from Wiley.<br /><br />Show: Converting social marketing practices into everyday profits</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Guest: Jeff Korhan, True Nature, Naperville, Ill.<br />Date: March 20, 2013<br />
To listen to the full show, <a href="http://www.fromdesign2build.com/public/Converting-Social-Marketing-Practices-Into-Everyday-Profits-FD2B-Talk-Radio-3.cfm" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Editor's note: As part of a partnership between </i>Landscape Management<i> and </i><i><a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/fd2b" target="_blank">FD2B Talk Radio</a>,
we'll be posting an "Insight of the Night" every Thursday from the
previous night's radio show. FD2B Talk Radio is a Green Industry radio
show that broadcasts live every Wednesday at 7 p.m. Eastern. Its host
and founder is </i><i> </i>LM<i> columnist Jody Shilan, who's also the editor and founder of <a href="http://fromdesign2build.com/">FromDesign2Build.com</a>. </i>
</span></span>LM Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05909027184156038541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15588118.post-69367615140925523312013-03-15T16:54:00.002-04:002013-04-11T09:38:40.819-04:00A much nicer tree story<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last week on this blog, we wrote about a heartbreaking tree-related story (Check it out <a href="http://tinyurl.com/amuowqn" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">here</span></b></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">Now, we relay one that's much more positive. South suburban Chicago paper<i> Southtown Star</i> recently wrote about </span>Jim Tresouthick, a landscape maintenance supervisor for the village of Homewood, Ill., who's taking a stand against the emerald ash borer and planting an urban forest to last generations.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
Nearly 2,600 of the town's ash trees were impacted by the emerald ash borer. Now, Tresouthick is busy planting a "forest of the future" in the village. His goal, he tells the paper, is to plant between 42 and 80 tree species that are able to thrive in an urban environment—"something that will be here for generations."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
It's nice to read about someone who's taking action and really making a difference. Read the full article and learn more of Tresouthick's efforts, <b><a href="http://southtownstar.suntimes.com/18365028-522/landscaper-plants-trees-that-will-last.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">here</span></a>.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b>
--<i>Beth Geraci</i></span>LM Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05909027184156038541noreply@blogger.com0