Remaking a struggling company
Features

Remaking a struggling company
Over the course of a few years Switzer’s Nursery & Landscaping, Inc. went from 30 employees down to 3. They went from 5 installation crews and 1 maintenance crew down to 1 crew total, and they shut down the retail garden center that had been in the family for 50+ years. Today, the company is back up to 2 crews, and is more profitable. The garden center has been transformed into a wedding and events center...
Launching a cleaning/ stabilizing/ sealing business
Features

Launching a cleaning/ stabilizing/ sealing business
"I was sitting in a seminar 3 or 4 years ago, and the speaker put up a bar chart showing something like 7 billion sf of pavers installed in the U.S. Then he showed how little of it was being maintained. Less than 5%. And I thought, 'The opportunity there is unbelievable,'" explained Tony Lausas. He and his partner launched Paver Rescue, a new company devoted 100% to paver maintenance (restoration, cleaning, sand stabilizing and sealing)...
What's keeping you out of the water feature business?
Features

What's keeping you out of the water feature business?
A lot of the reasons contractors give for staying out of the water feature business just aren't valid anymore; some never were valid. So much has changed in recent years that water feature installation is now much, much easier. Kits have come on the market with everything you need. Products are made much better. Training is now widely available. The emergence of simple water feature products means they fit on any property...
How you can find superstar employees
Features

How you can find superstar employees
Over the years, I've taken careful notes about what works – and what doesn't work in solving the people problem. I've found it's critical to cast the widest net possible for hiring any worker. To do this I came up with 12 employee recruiting strategies. Many employers fail miserably initiating all these strategies at once. But that’s what you’ll need to do to generate enough qualified leads to ultimately find a quality candidate for the job...
How we use our outdoor showroom
Features

How we use our outdoor showroom
In 2004, we installed our first display of patios, walls and walkways by our shop. Today, we have 8,000 sf of patio and walkway displays, 1,000 face feet of wall displays, 12 pillars, 5 fire pits, 60 lighting fixtures, 7 seat walls, 1 putting green, 5 water features, decorative stone beds and granite steps and stoops. Why have we invested our time and effort into a showroom? There are a number of reasons...
  • Growth makes you busy; efficiency makes you profitable
  • Growth makes you busy; efficiency makes you profitable
  • Growth makes you busy; efficiency makes you profitable
  • Growth makes you busy; efficiency makes you profitable
  • Growth makes you busy; efficiency makes you profitable

Contractor Profiles

Are your designs falling from fashion?
June/July 2014

Are your designs falling from fashion?

Getting creative in paver design lets Farley Interlocking Paving appeal to more people in more markets. MORE


Lessons learned from years building walls
April/May 2014

Lessons learned from years building walls

Continually expanding skills and improving efficiencies ensures success in the constantly changing market. MORE


Someone in the office makes a difference
February/March 2014

Someone in the office makes a difference

Finally having a capable person managing the office spurs growth for a contractor focused on the field. MORE


Building a team that pushes for perfection
December/January 2014

Building a team that pushes for perfection

Quality website starts company on the right foot while uncompromising service and construction keep it growing. MORE


See More Contractor Profiles
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