EDITORIAL: The Honest Truth - From Our Readers

For 27 years, Lawn & Landscape has been conducting in-depth research into the professional contractor market. With the help of our ardent readers, we collect insight into market trends, growth contributors and detractors and pricing tactics. We annually pull this research together into a report known as the State of the Industry.
 
This month, you’ll find our report in a special section beginning after page 50. Key findings, regional influences and economic indicators are detailed. Our research is complemented by interviews with contractors nationwide as well as charts to help you track patterns.
 
The numbers and comments pretty well tell the tale of the tape, but it’s always interesting to me to read the verbatim comments that we collect from our research. Some of the comments are amusing – made in jest – while others are contributed in a more reflective state of mind. Regardless, the remarks are generally made with profuse truth.
 
In answer to the question: What factors are limiting your company’s ability to grow or diversify? Quality labor, escalating fuel costs and charging bona fide prices topped the list.

Here’s an assortment of other comments:“Eroding dealer base; and lack of expertise backing up products.”  

“Finding a profitable niche.” “Finding the ideal client who is willing to invest in their landscape on a large scale.” “Commercial truck insurance.”
 
“H2B programs in jeopardy.” “Illegal workers taking jobs away from legitimate companies.” “Keeping immigrant labor and drivers’ licenses.”
 
“If you want me to say gas prices – I’m sorry, my customers pay for the gas I use. My most urgent problem is weather.”
 
“Increased regulation.” “Not enough water.” “Inflation and people wanting to save their money.” “Lack of professionalism.” “Lack of training.” “Lack of profit.”
 “Macro market factors in the housing industry.”“Liberal Congress.”
 “Our need to be truly a green industry.” “Overhead costs.”
 
“Rolling capital and high energy costs.” “Uneducated customers and fly-by-night companies.” “Underbidding. Prices are significantly lower than they should be for landscape installation and maintenance.”
 
We also asked our readers: What is the most urgent problem facing the lawn and landscape professional?
 
“A business plan.” “Advertising costs.” “Debt.” “Cash to advertise more. Labor is abundant as I sub everything out.”
 
“Ability to find and retain strong middle management.” “Capital or finance to purchase better equipment in order to grow.”
 
“Cost of land for storing equipment.” “Finding supervisors with drivers’ licenses.”
 
“Finding new customers and a marketing program that has a direct correlation of  dollars spent to getting new customers.” “I have lost trust in employees and am just burnt out.”

“I’m growing like crazy; just not enough hours in the day.”
 
“Inability to attract quality designers to a small company.”
 
“Lack of experience with setting up business books correctly. I am too fussy with my  work and underestimate.”
 
“Making the jump to a year-round operation.” “Working capital.”
 
Understanding your costs, operating your businesses efficiently and making a
profit are the core strategies of the editorial content in Lawn & Landscape. In the coming months, we’ll take an in-depth look at the key factors limiting your ability to grow and suggest how you can keep the needle moving forward.
 
Thanks for sharing your concerns with us. Please contact me – any time – with ideas, concerns or just to say hello. You can reach me at ccode@gie.net.