What are the 5 keys to success in the horticulture business?

I would like to share the five most important lessons that Harvester Ed Laflamme and I have learned after collectively spending 100 years working in the “garden” or the lawn and landscape industry. While the Harvester Group has certainly learned hundreds of lessons and continue to learn more, we hope to answer, "what are the keys to success in the horticulture business?" We are certain that if these lessons are in place and practiced at your organization, they will provide the needed foundation for building and sustaining a successful business. 

Key #1: It all starts (and stops) with the leader

The leader serves as the center of every business. Most businesses get their start from the leader or owner, and either continue to grow and prosper from this beginning or reach different levels of success or even stagnation because of the leader. In the beginning stages of a business, leaders simultaneously serve multiple levels in the organization from worker to crew leader to supervisor to manager. As the business enjoys success, the leader and their managers learn how to deal with the challenges and obstacles that businesses face. As the business scales up, the leader’s role becomes more of a true leader’s role and less of the manager’s role within the organization. 

At the core of a true leader are the Big 3: integrity, humility and generosity

• Integrity: Leaders are honest, have strong moral principles and are accountable for their actions.
• Humility: Leaders that serve with humility are respectful, often self-effacing, open-minded and non-imposing. 
• Generosity: Often this is perceived as the giving of money or donations, but what it means for a leader is generosity of their time helping, supporting and developing others. Time is valuable and non-replaceable. True leaders are generous with their time.   

Key #2: Get the right culture

This lesson comes next as leaders of an organization play an integral part with culture. Culture is generally defined as the shared beliefs, values and behaviors of your team. Whether or not you have these beliefs defined and in practice, every organization has a culture. In more common terminology, culture is the vibe and personality of your company. It’s how we deal with each other and with our customers in good times and during challenging times calling for a resolution. 

Certainly, we have witnessed good culture. This includes a well-defined vision and mission statement, along with core values and successful behaviors that are expected throughout the company. Once again, it starts and stops with the leaders to make it a positive culture. 

Key #3: It’s all about people

There is a good reason this is the centerpiece as we answer, "What are the keys to success in the horticulture business?" The essence of building a successful business is all about people! Having the right people in the right position, doing the right things, doing the right things right and treating them right will in turn deliver the right results.

We have witnessed that the most successful lawn and landscape companies have mastered finding, attracting, onboarding, keeping, growing and surrounding themselves with the right people. This is the best path to a successful horticulture business.

Also consider other people who can have a positive effect on you and your organization. This includes suppliers, subcontractors, peer groups, advisers, customers, consultants and even friendly competitors. Each of these relationships can provide insight, advice and knowledge.     

Key #4: Systems rock

Having the right systems in place and regularly practiced will help provide a significant framework for organizational success. Systems include SOPs, policies, procedures, processes, programs, etc. The key is to understand the need to constantly review and tune up to keep up with market changes. 

Key #5: Adapt, change, innovate — or get out of the way

In today’s world, things are changing quickly. Leaders should focus on how the company can continually improve. They should create urgency but not chaos to adapt, change and innovate. Consider operational efficiency, going electric, using AI, drones, building out differentiators from your competitors to recruit team members and land the right customers. 

Get better by adapting, changing and innovating — or get out of the way of those that do.  

Please take a good look at and implement these five keys to success, and you'll see how your horticulture business grows. Thoughts, questions and comments are welcomed if you have more ideas to address, "What are the keys to success in the horticulture business?"

Cream of the Crop features a rotating panel from the Harvest Group, a landscape business consulting company. Bill Arman is a landscape business consultant who spent nearly 30 years at one of the industry’s biggest companies. He can be reached at bill@harvestlandscapeconsulting.com.