Bruce WilsonNov 3, 2023
Among the frequently asked questions I receive is “What is the ideal crew size?” While on the surface it sounds like this should have a…
Kevin KehoeNov 3, 2023
Developing a sales machine is the most important investment a landscape contractor can make. Given pricing conditions and the negative impact this is exacting on…
Kevin KehoeAug 27, 2024
Making a profit today relies on your ability to sell. In the old days, the key to profit was production management. Sales were easier to…
Bruce WilsonAug 27, 2024
If you study employee behavior, as I have for most of my career, you cannot help but realize that much of it is habit-driven. I…
I like watching professional poker on TV. It is especially interesting to me that the young guns consistently beat the experienced pros. I think it’s…
Over the past 18 months, we have seen dramatic changes in the economic and political environment. These seismic shifts have affected all types of businesses,…
In current market conditions, where low prices dominate the landscape, contractors must look for more meaningful ways to cut costs — often just so they…
This past December, Eric Hansen drove to Livonia, MI, to receive the keys to a new, propane-fueled Ford F-350 from Jack Roush of Roush Performance.…
The phone doesn’t ring as much anymore. Does this mean there’s no demand for your services? No, of course not. But it does mean that…
Bruce WilsonAug 26, 2024
One of today’s biggest issues is the low-price environment that’s challenging landscape companies in most markets. This has been the case during past recessions, too,…
Kevin KehoeAug 26, 2024
We live in deflationary times. Simply put, there’s less money chasing many goods and services. It’s the opposite of inflation, to which we’re more accustomed.…
It's time to shift your business focus from defense to offense. Reducing costs is essential, but the easy cuts already have been made. Additional cuts…
At Wilson-Oyler, our philosophy in selling enhancements has always been "treat your clients' money like it was your own." In today's business environment, we believe…
It's hard to make money these days, but it's particularly challenging for mid-sized companies — those in the $1 million to $5 million annual revenue…
Many landscape contractors go to conferences, read books and hire consultants, seeking the "silver bullet" that will make them instantly successful. Many use the knowledge…
Price competitiveness is a function of cost control and revenue generation. Cost control is a function of personal productivity (revenue per employee must increase). Revenue…
Among the many challenges this and other industries face this year is trying to improve bottom-line results. Not only are we challenged by lower prices…
As our recession drags on, I am finding many companies are struggling to communicate with their employees. Companies have been affected in varying degrees, from…
In my April column ("Get high profits with design/build," page 60), I went to a bid opening where 38 landscape companies bid a school construction…
More and more companies have been hiring irrigation technicians to maintain and repair irrigation on their maintenance jobs. I think this is a great opportunity…
Market conditions are tough by any standard. Customers are taking a hard look at budgets; competitors are looking for new work to grow — and…
Part one of a multi-part series. I promised I would drill down into the high-profit benchmarks from my 2008 survey. So here's the first take-home:…
This year presents both challenges and opportunities when it comes to making capital expenditures for new equipment. Among the challenges are the trying economic times…
The 2007 Fiesta Bowl was what I (and millions of other fans) consider to be the best college football game played in recent years. That…
