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8 Deadly Sins to Avoid When Hiring a Contractor

1/4/2013

2 Comments

 
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The arrival of the new year signals a time to look forward.  It’s a time for planning, and a time to get things lined up for the coming year.  And if you’re like most homeowners, those plans will likely include hiring a contractor to complete a few projects around the house.

The projects may be varied.  Some may be simple like interior painting or fixture replacement.  Some may be involved like a new patio or addition.  And some may even be somewhat unexpected, like plumbing repairs or a new hot water heater.  But regardless of the project, you’ll still most likely find yourself needing the services of somebody skilled and qualified to help.

In my 12 years of running a landscape construction business, I’ve been fortunate enough to have a great client roster with very few missteps along the way.  But it takes work from both sides of the table to ensure a successful project, and it certainly takes an understanding of where both sides are coming from.

There are, fortunately, a few simple things that clients can do to help eliminate misunderstandings and help ensure a successful project and a pleasant home improvement experience. Here are the eight deadly sins to avoid when hiring a contractor.

1.  Give Yourself Enough Time: 
A successful project takes time.  Time to plan, time to design, time to install.  And most successful contractors will be booked out somewhat in advance, especially during the warmer busy season.  Start the process early, and eliminate the schedule crunch.  You don’t want to sacrifice quality or your desired design strictly because you’re up against the calendar.  Don’t wait until Memorial Day to start planning that new patio you wanted for your son’s graduation party in June.  And remember, a lot of work is weather-sensitive, so be sure to allow a slight cushion for everybody’s schedules.

2.  Licensing and Insurance: 
Before you even pick up the phone to schedule that initial consultation, make sure the contractor is licensed and insured.  In most states, including Pennsylvania, contractors are required by law to be licensed and to post their licensing info on any and all advertising.  That means yard signage, truck signage, business cards, etc.  The licensing system is in place to protect you, the homeowner.  If you don’t see any licensing info, be sure to ask if they are licensed and where you can find their license number.  PA licensing requires active insurance policies, which most reputable contractors will be happy to provide separately upon request.  PA licensing info can be verified via the PA Attorney General Hotline at 1-888-520-6680.  If the contractor isn’t licensed or insured, proceed at your own risk.

3.  Collect Multiple Bids: 
I’m always somewhat surprised when I quote a large project and find out the homeowner isn’t collecting at least one or two other quotes.  Personally I like to think that is because the client has the utmost confidence in my abilities and practices.  To which I say thank you.  But even still, even if you’re nearly 100 percent certain you’re going to go with a particular contractor, it can never hurt to get an extra opinion or idea. Maybe another contractor might have an idea or two which you haven’t even considered, an idea that could possibly be incorporated into the final project.  Maybe that new idea isn’t such a hot one after all, but it can’t hurt to talk about it, right?  The more discussions, the more ideas, -- good or bad – the more confident you will be in your project and the more successful the project will be..

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4.  Don’t Shop on Cost Alone: 
There’s almost always somebody out there who will do a project for less.  Just like there’s always a used car out there that will cost less than that new BMW you’ve been eyeing.  Maybe the lowball contractor isn’t as experienced as other quotes out there.  Maybe he’s unlicensed or uninsured.  Are his workers legal and on the payroll?  And don’t try to hold that lowball quote out there as pricing leverage.  Experienced contractors know their costs and know what they need to recoup those costs. “You get what you pay for” almost always holds true.


5.  Know your Contractor’s Skillsets: 
Just because a contractor does amazing finish carpentry doesn’t mean he knows squat about plumbing.  Carpentry, masonry, electrical work, plumbing, tree work – nearly all the trades have unique skillsets.  And true, many contractors may be well versed in more than just one area, but it’s worth asking and following up if need be.  Most experienced contractors will tell you they sub out specialty work to their stable of subs, or will at least tell you that’s not what they do.  But don’t just assume we all do everything.

6.  Is the Contractor A Good Match: 
Contractors come in all shapes and sizes.  Some may have multiple crews with a number of laborers and subcontractors coming in and out.  Others may be smaller artisanal outfits who do great work but may take a longer time. And others may have specific salespeople who work with you during the sales cycle but aren't involved in the field work.  Be sure to ask yourself what you’re looking for and what you’re comfortable with.  Just because somebody does great work doesn’t always mean they’ll be a great match with you. 

7.  Ask for References: 
Once you’ve met with a few contractors, collected the bids, and evaluated the estimates you’ll most likely be favoring one over the others. Now’s the time to get a few phone numbers of past clients and make a call or two.  If you have the time, see if you can set up a time to swing by and take a look at past projects.  True, some past clients may value their privacy, but they almost always will at least take a minute or two to tell you what they liked (or didn’t like) about working with a particular contractor.  Maybe the work was great, but the crew played the radio too loudly or they kept the jobsite untidy while the project was underway.  And most contractors will have a few local front yard projects available to look at without encroaching on people’s private yards.  Normally everything will check out just fine, but it never hurts to spend a few minutes knowing what you’re getting into.

8.  Stay Involved: 
It can be a fine line between hovering and micromanaging vs. being available to discuss changes as they arise.  Allow the contractors to have their space while they are working, but don’t just ignore the project as it unfolds.  Once the site is cleaned up at the end of the day take a few minutes to evaluate progress.  The project may have a slightly different look than you first anticipated based on the drawings.  If you see something you’re not sure about, feel free to ask or address it before it goes any further.  Most successful contractors make a point to involve their clients in every design choice and material selection before and during the project.  It’s usually pretty easy to make a minor change or two as it is occurring, but if you wait until the project is nearly complete, it may be too late, or may incur significant costs to re-do.  And nobody wants to hear “I wish we had done things differently” as the projects draws to a close.

So there you have it. Eight relatively simple steps you can take to ensure your projects will be a success.  No matter what projects you may have lined up for the coming year, I wish everybody a happy and successful 2013!

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2012 -- The Year in Review

12/21/2012

1 Comment

 
Well, we did it.  Another successful year under the belt.  And as we prepare for some much needed (and well-deserved) down time, I thought I’d take this opportunity to summarize and wrap up our 2012 season.

Thanks to an incredibly mild winter last year, we were able to kick off the season about 3 weeks earlier than our typical seasonal start-up.  We started in about mid-February with a sidewalk replacement project and never looked back.  Our early-season included a number of exterior landscape carpentry projects, including several fences and a number of deck projects including both new decks and extensions and a number of wood step projects. 
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The 2012 crew -- Nick, Russ, and Josh

By the end of April we were full into hardscaping mode, including a few paver stone walkways, several stone step projects and a few more sidewalk replacements.

And once Memorial Day hit we were fortunate enough to work on a couple of really nice, large (700 sf+) flagstone patio projects to complement some grand residences.
 
The large patio projects carried us straight through the bulk of the summer, with some more large patio projects coming together as the kids went back to school.  We sprinkled in a few more walkways, fence projects, a nice modular block wall project, and finished the year off strongly with a stone veneer wall project and flagstone walkway project, which we were just able to squeeze in before the Holiday break, wrapping things up earlier this week.

On the business side of things, the company has continued to grow, maintaining three full-time workers for the bulk of the season.
 
And so, as we wrap things up for the year I’d be remiss if I didn’t share a few pictures of a sampling of our projects from the year, and offer a few quick “thank you”s to everybody who helped make the year a success.

First I’d like to thank my crew of Josh, Nick and Russ for working hard to turn the designs and concepts into reality.  It was your manpower that made it all happen.  I’d also like to take this opportunity to wish Josh farewell and best of
luck as he prepares for the next chapter of his life when he reports to Ft. Benning GA in March to enlist in the US Army and begin Basic Training. Josh has been with me nearly three years and has been a key player in all of our projects during that time.  I know he’ll do just fine as long as he can still keep up with his beloved Flyers (if the NHL lockout ever ends).  Stay safe my man. (continued below)

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Composite Deck Steps
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Wet-set Flagstone Patio -- Linear Design
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Paver Walkway with Bluestone Steppers
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Dry-set Flagstone Patio with 6' Bluestone Steppers
I’d also like to thank my valued suppliers, most notably the crew at Galantino Supply Company.  I’m not sure just how much business I did directly with Galantino’s this year – I’ll tally the numbers come January -- but it was a sizeable amount and Carl, Anthony, Vince and the rest of the crew over there have always been a sincere pleasure to work with.

And most importantly, I’d like to offer a HUGE thank you to each and every one of my clients for the year.  Whether your project was a small sidewalk replacement or an enormous patio install, I can’t thank you enough for your business.  Without your business, none of this would be possible.  I’ve enjoyed getting to know each of you during the course of all of our projects, and I look forward to continuing seeing you around town, at the Co-op, the pool, school events, little league, and all the other opportunities we have to see each other here in and around Swarthmore.
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"Overflowing Vase" Fountain with Rock Garden
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Terraced Hillside -- Modular Block Walls
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Wt-set Flagstone Patio -- Irregular Design
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Stone Veneer Wall, Bluestone Steppers & Belgian Block
So again, thank you to all who helped make 2012 a success.  I’ll be taking a week off next week from my blogging duties as I spend some downtime with family and friends, but I look forward to returning in January with more weekly blog posts and beginning to gear up for the 2013 season.  

Happy Holidays to everyone, and best wishes for a happy, healthy, safe and prosperous new year!!!
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Fall is in the Air

9/21/2012

4 Comments

 
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I walked out the door the other morning to go to work, and I quickly did a 180-degree heel pivot to return inside and grab my hoodie, which had been laying untouched in my workclothes pile since about mid-April.  Yup, the first of the fall chill had moved in, and while my hoodie ended up being shedded pretty quickly in the day, it was a surefire reminder that the fall season is upon us.

The sales and business end of my business tends to go in ebbs and flows throughout the year, and I’m experienced enough to know what to expect and when to expect it.  And once we get past labor day I typically experience a significant bump in new calls coming in.  Homeowners are back from vacation, the kids are back in school, and people start looking at the calendar and realize that winter weather is just a few months away (AARRGGHHH!).  Limited time to complete those outdoor projects they’ve been putting off.

And, true to form, the calls started coming in a few weeks ago.  It’s a busy time of year for me, between after-work client meetings, estimate preparation, and of course managing my projects during the bulk of the work day.  All simultaneously while getting the kids off to school in the mornings and shuttling them off to extracurricular activities like soccer and Cub Scouts.

Fortunately, we still have some scheduling availability remaining for the fall – plenty of time left to get that new fence installed or hardscaping project completed before winter truly moves in.

We typically work straight through until about mid-December, give or take a week or two depending on when Old Man winter wakes up.

So at the risk of sounding too “advertising-y”, I want to remind people that if you’re thinking about completing a project before the advent of winter, now’s the time to contact to us to get the project ball rolling.  Whether it’s a new deck, flagstone walkway, paver stone patio, garden walls, or custom-built wood fence, fall is a great time to get these projects completed, so they’ll be in place and ready to go come the first signs of spring next year.

For a free project consultation and estimate give us a call and we’ll be happy to see what we can do for you.

4 Comments

Getting the Most from Your Tools

8/17/2012

5 Comments

 
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A Tidy, Well-Organized Jobsite at the End of the Day
There’s an old adage that states that in order to get a job done properly, you need the right tool for the right job.  For a landscape construction contractor, that means we need to have a lot of tools.  Carpentry tools, Stone mason tools, concrete finishing tools gardening tools, basic electric and plumbing tools, hand tools, power tools, small engine tools – I won’t bore you with the complete list – you get the idea.

And indeed, my arsenal of tools has grown considerably over the years.  Some of my tools are the bread and butter of what we do, they get used on a near daily basis and we couldn’t even begin to think about starting a job without them.  Things like shovels, wheelbarrows, mattocks, and digging bars to name a few.

Other tools may have been purchased at one point to complete a specific job, but now sit idly in my garage waiting for their next opportunity.

As you may imagine, I have a sizeable amount invested in my fleet of tools. It’s a necessary cost of doing business, and quite frankly I have no problem whatsoever investing in tools that will help me get the job done right and my business grow.

What I do have a problem with however is when tools get misused for the wrong job or not taken care of properly.

Let’s take the shovel for instance.  I’ve had shovels that have lasted me 10 years plus, getting used on an almost daily basis. I had one square shovel in fact that I finally had to replace only because the metal “scoop” part had worn down so much that I was left with just about 4” between the end of the shaft and tip of the blade. 

A shovel is meant to be used for digging.  Not chopping roots, not prying up large boulders, and not as a hammer. I don’t care how high-end your shovel is, a $30 shovel will break just as quickly as a $10 shovel if you don’t use it properly.  If you’re digging and come across a large stone, go get your digging bar and pry it out using the right tool.  If you come across a large root, go get your mattock.  A few basic handtools can expedite any job and last for a long time as long as you’re using each one for the correct application.

A screwdriver is not a chisel.  A pipe wrench is not a hammer.  A level is not a concrete screed.  You’re not going to be able to make clean successful finishing cuts with a sawzall. Not only is using the incorrect tool a potential safety hazard, the job probably won’t get done as well using the wrong tool, and the risk of damaging the tool is quite real.

And yes, sometimes when you’re in the throws of completing a job, it can be a pain to stop what you’re doing to walk over and grab the correct tool, and certainly tempting to use that shovel as a pry-bar.  Until it breaks.  And now not only do you still have to get your pry-bar, you also have to grab another shovel, or worse yet leave the site altogether and go spend money that shouldn’t be being spent on a new shovel.  Time and money out the door.  Use the right tool for the right job.

And speaking of time, keep your tools organized.  There is nothing more infuriating than being on a jobsite, identifying the correct tool for a project, knowing you have the tool, and then spending 15 minutes looking for it.  I like to keep all my tools organized by task.  I have a toolbox with all the basic everyday tools we need – hammers, screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers, etc.  I have a bucket specifically for concrete finishing tools.  Another one for chisels and stone hammers.  Another one for levels and string lines.  And a few other buckets and boxes for other various specialties.

When we’re done with the tools, they go back in the correct box or bucket. That way we’ll know where they are come the next time we need them.  Larger handtools like shovels and rakes get stored together, in a neat and orderly fashion, so when we need them the next time they’re easily accessible without disturbing a pick-up-sticks-style pile just to get that bow rake on the bottom of the pile.

Hoses, extension cords, and ropes should be coiled or reeled up neatly when not in use.  There’s nothing worse than spending 15 minutes or more of your valuable time trying to make sense of a rat’s nest mess of tangled up cords or ropes.  Or plugging in a 100’ extension cord only to realize that it’s now about 60’because of all the tangles and knots.

Tools that are used for concrete or mortar work should be rinsed and cleaned thoroughly following each job.  A $100 concrete bullfloat can be easily ruined simply by not wiping the float clean. One little concrete bump, one little knick in the surface, and you’ll never achieve a smooth finish.  Trowels, floats, finishing tools, levels and any other tools that may get a little“mucky” during the course of a concrete or mortar job should all be thoroughly cleaned following each job.  That way they’ll be ready and functional the next time we need them.

Follow these basic precautions, take a few extra minutes to grab the right tool for each job, take the time to keep tools organized and cleaned properly, and you too might just get 10 years’ plus service out of a shovel.


5 Comments

Landscaping Should Be Fun!

6/22/2012

7 Comments

 
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Remember to Have Fun Out There!
With the 2012 season in full swing, I often find myself running in about six different directions at once.  Managing my current project, ironing out details on pending projects, ordering supplies, picking up materials, managing labor, meeting with new prospects, and working on estimates.  All in an honest day’s work.

And sometimes in the heat of all that chaos its easy to forget why I got into this line of work in the first place – Because I really like working outdoors and creating fun, comfortable, interesting outdoor spaces.

And to be honest, I sometimes have to stop and remind myself of that.

Landscaping should be fun.

When I was kid I used to spend countless hours in our local creeks.  Building dams, catching salamanders and frogs, following the small runs through neighborhoods and discovering what creeks connected to larger creeks and where these creeks led.  It was fun, provided an imaginary escape, and was a backdrop to my youth.

I get home from work now in the evenings, and my kids are spending their free time exploring our yard and neighborhood.  Catching insects, playing in the sandbox, and digging in the dirt.

Playing with the earth, in one form or another, is a timeless rite of passage.  And as a landscape contractor I am privileged enough to have a job where I get paid to play in the dirt.  OK, it’s a bit more than just playing, there’s certainly some skill and some know-how that’s involved.  But I’m outside working with nature.  I can’t imagine a better workplace.

I hear people complain sometimes, “oh, these weeds, my back, this manual labor, the dirt, etc.”  To which I think to myself, I thought the whole point of working out in your garden was supposed to be an escape, a fun hobby, or a personal interest.

And to be honest, if you were to happen to catch me on the computer late one night as I finalize an estimate or work on my bookkeeping, you might hear a choice complaint or two come out of my mouth.  And when I catch myself doing that, I stop for a second and remind myself of those glorious 80-degree days, when we’re working in the mottled sunlight as commuters get up and drive to their office and fix themselves at their cubicles.

And the complaining stops pretty quickly.

Landscaping should be fun.

I’m fortunate to have a job that allows me to spend my days outside, working with the earth.  Amen to that.

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Living the Dream -- Running a Small Business

4/27/2012

5 Comments

 
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Whenever I speak with other people at parties or other parents at little league practice, the subject of what I do for a living always comes up.  And when I mention that I own and operate my own landscape construction business, people typically become slightly envious and reply with a comment along the lines of “How great it must be to own your own business and not have to work for somebody else.”

I can almost see the fantasy in their eyes as they envision cutting out early in the afternoon or taking leisurely hour-and-half lunches.  I rarely if ever have the heart to tell them that its not quite as glamorous as they envision.

In my home office I have a saying posted right above my computer screen.  “An entrepreneur is somebody who works 80 hours a week for himself so he doesn’t have to work 40 hours a week for somebody else.”

That about sums it up.

Not that I don’t enjoy what I do.  To the contrary, I absolutely do.  I can’t possibly imagine how somebody could put forth the time and energy to run a business if they didn’t love what they do.

But make no mistake about it, if you want to start your own business you need to understand the time commitment, and get out of the 9 to 5 mentality.  There is no 5:00.  And if you’re a parent too, -- in the words of Al Pacino from Donnie Brasco – "Fuhgedaboutit."

During the heat of the season, my days typically look something like this.  I'm up at 6 am to get the wife off to work and the kids off to school.  Once my parental obligations are done in the morning, there are emails and phone calls to return.  I then get to the jobsite, and ideally my guys are already at it.  Depending on the day and the project, the balance of the work day consists of working on the site and supply and material runs.  More often than not I schedule new prospect meetings in the evenings, meaning that after my workers head for home I’m off to meet with clients.  
 
And the nights I don’t have meetings?  Usually that’s because there’s a little league game or Cub Scout meeting
for my kids.

And then there’s just enough time for dinner before reading a story or two to the kids and getting them off to bed.

Now it’s time to unwind, right?  Not so fast my friends.  

Remember those meetings I had in earlier in the evening?  Well for every meeting there’s a new estimate that needs to be put together. And for every project there’s an invoice.  And for every month there’s income summaries. 
And bills to pay.  And marketing plans.  And this blog entry.  And a myriad of other tasks that need to get done sometime.  It’s not uncommon to be on the computer until 10 or 11 pm.  Or later.  And what doesn’t get done during the week, usually gets covered during the weekend.

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This post isn’t meant as a complaint or even a venting opportunity.  It’s more about explaining the time and work that goes into every project – from initial phone call to final clean-up.  Good things don’t happen overnight, they take a lot of time and hard work.  And even if your project hasn’t started yet in terms of shovels in the ground, there’s most likely already a lot going on behind the scenes.

So for anyone considering opening their own business, whether it’s in the landscaping industry, running a restaurant, opening a storefront, or any service-related endeavor, my advice is that you better love, I mean really LOVE, what you do.  You’ll be spending an incredible amount of time nurturing your livelihood.

And if you see me at a party or around town, and we start talking about what we do for a living?  Well first of all it most likely means my to-do list is growing because I’m not working right then and there.  And second of all, before you get too jealous just remember there’s a lot more to running a business than just what goes on at the jobsite.

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Oh the Weather Outside is Frightful (Sort of) -- A Landscaper's Winter

1/27/2012

1 Comment

 
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When we lived in California, my wife and I used to joke about how boring the weather was.  “84 degrees and crystal blue sky AGAIN!?”  It was enough to drive us nuts.  Or so we thought.

Having been back on the east coast now for more than six years, we’ve since come to realize that we had it pretty good out there.  The winters of 2010 and 2011 alone were enough to make anyone long for continuously warm and sunny weather.

This winter so far has thankfully been a mild one.  But it’s still winter.  Colder temperatures, gray skies, short days and long dark nights.  And a question I am asked continuously is just what I do during the winter months.

Just to set the record straight, no matter how mild the winter is I typically hold off on doing any landscape construction during January and February.  Fair weather can turn nasty in an unexpected heartbeat.  The last thing anyone wants, contractor or client, is to have a project underway only to come to an unexpected standstill once that snowstorm hits.  And even if the weather doesn’t turn, shorter working hours mean longer project durations, meaning added inconvenience to the client.  Working conditions can be compromised eliminating the necessary passion for a successful project.  The ground can be frozen or heaved.  Or excessively muddy.  Necessary hose outlets are often turned off from inside.  Material supplies may be limited.  There’s just too many risk factors that can add up.  Plus a little R&R is always good for the mind, body and soul.

And yes, the lack of significant income during these months can be a nuisance, to put it mildly.  That part certainly requires a bit of budgeting and planning on the contractor’s part.

Over the course of the year, I keep a running list, or running pile, or more accurately a running pile of lists of things that I just don’t have time to address when things are kicking.  Updating web listings, updating contacts, filing, budgeting, website revisions, marketing plans, advertising copy and layout, bookkeeping, and office clean-up to name just a few.  Winter is my time to knock these things out.

This year one of the big things to do on my list is clean up my garage.  I’m not necessarily talking about the fleet of bicycles and the canoe, although I’d be lying if I said that wasn’t part of the intended clean-up.  But as a small business owner, my garage has become my shop.  And that shop tends to collect all the things that are leftover from each and every project.  So as of now, my garage looks like my truck dumped a year’s worth of supplies all over.  20 leftover pavers from that job, 15 fence pickets from this job, a continuously morphing pallet of leftover flagstones of every shape and size imaginable, lumber, lumber, and more lumber, mortar bags, concrete bags, adhesive and glues, concrete form tubes, screws and nails, hardware of every conceivable type -- just to name a few of the things cluttering the garage right now.  And even though I make a strong effort to keep my tools organized, it’s somewhat inevitable that things can get put back hastily during the rush of the season.  All of that needs to get cleaned up and organized.  And that’s only going to happen during the winter.
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And there’s also the trade shows and classes.  In our industry most of our shows correspond with the slow time of year.  January and February are the time to get up to speed on new products, new trends, revised pricing, and new suppliers.  It’s never too late to learn a couple of new skills that we can roll into our services, so I usually take at least a few seminars and classes to continuously build up the skillset.

Networking.  Over the course of my travels throughout the year I always meet a wide range of interesting people.  And we always say how nice it would be to be able to get together and get to know one another better.  And then we have to get back to our crazy schedules.  January and February provide the time for us to finally have coffee or do lunch.  These meetings can help the business grow.

Once upon a time I heard a rumor that I have a family.  While these rumors often cannot be verified outside of a summer vacation or a few long weekends over the course of the year, the winter is time for me to spend with the family.  I spend a longer time with them in the morning before school, play family games in the evening, watch movies together, go to museums, and in general just get to know them better.  Turns out they’re pretty cool people!

Household projects.  My wife could probably shed light on this one better than me, but she keeps a running list, or running pile, or more accurately running piles of lists of all the household chores she wants me to get to.  There’s hanging the punching bag the kids got for Christmas in the basement, fixing the treadmill, fixing the dining room light fixture, installing a programmable thermostat, and, well I’ll need to go downstairs and check the list.  I regret to say (and inform my wife particularly) that very few of these projects have yet to happen.  Rest assured though, she’ll stay on me about them.

And remember that little money issue I mentioned earlier.  Well even though I may take off from most income-producing activities during the winter, I’ve discovered that mortgage companies do not.  Nor do utility companies, auto loan companies, etc.  So I do have to make a little bit of money.  So I also undertake a few handyman-type projects for various clients.  Interior trim installation, hanging drywall, and building a bookshelf are a few of the projects I’ve been keeping myself busy with this year.

And before I know it, spring is rapidly approaching and its time to get busy with client meetings, estimate preparation and inevitably the kickoff of the season.

So that “winter off” theory that on the surface sounds so enviable isn’t all that.  Do I wish I was lounging on the beaches of St Maarten or soaking up the sun in Key West?  Absolutely!  But don’t we all this time of year.  I may however still try to squeeze in cashing in on those massage gift certificates I got for Christmas.  Wish me luck.

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My Day at MANTS

1/20/2012

2 Comments

 
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The Main Exhibit Floor at MANTS 2012
Just to be clear, I’m not really a tradeshow guy.  Every time I hear the word “tradeshow” all I can think of are traveling salesmen, hotel bars, hollow schmoozing, and bad food.  I’m glad I don’t have to go to many of them.

But I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t any value in them.  It’s a great opportunity to catch up with colleagues, earn some continuing education cred, learn about new products and technologies, and discover new vendors.  So I usually try to hit up one or two each off-season.

Every tradeshow is a bit different.  The Mid Atlantic Hardscaping Trade Show (or MAHTS – we like to sound like we’re too important or busy to say the whole name) is light on the vendors but heavy on the classroom seminars.  On the other end of the spectrum is the Mid Atlantic Nursery Trade Show (you guessed it – MANTS), which I attended last week at the Baltimore Convention Center.

While MANTS offered no classroom seminars, the sheer magnitude of the numbers of vendors was amazing – nearly 3000!  The above picture does no justice to the incredible expanse of the show floor.  It just kept going and going and going.  Impressive it was.

And for this week’s blog post, I’d like to offer a number of random musings regarding the show.

First, the name is somewhat of a misnomer.  Let’s start with Mid-Atlantic.  While its true there were a number of vendors from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, there were also vendors from as far away as Florida, Texas, a surprising number from Tennessee, and Oregon.  Last time I checked there was nothing “Mid” nor “Atlantic” about Oregon.

And the term “Nursery”?  One would think that the show was limited to growers or distributors of plant material.  And yes, there were a large number of horticulture-based vendors present.  But there were also vendors who specialize in stone, equipment, tools, yard ornaments, ceramics, irrigation, soils, fertilizers, landscape lighting, pond supplies – you get the drift, it wasn’t just limited to nursery stock.

I also learned that the name Baltimore must be derived from the gaelic term for “you’re supposed to know where you’re going.”  Sure I got to the convention center no problem, but once I arrived there was very little signage as to where to park.  I had to drive around the surrounding blocks at least five or six times before finally finding a lot about a half-mile from the convention center.  A little signage would have been nice.  Especially since my morning coffee was REALLY catching up with me by this point.

Another thing to know about these tradeshows is that the vendors like to have plenty of give-aways to attract visitors to their booths at the show.  By far the most popular giveaway is pens.  I collected about 50-some odd pens last week alone, I stopped picking them up after a while because I was quite confident our junk drawer at home would be adequately stocked for the next year or two.

The best give-away last week?  By far the wooden pocket knives distributed by the ColorBlends Nursery.  I would’ve actually paid a few bucks for that one.  Other giveaways included those re-useable “enviro” bags that seem to be all the rage these days, hats, rubber bracelets, coasters, and keychains.  The strangest give-away? – the plastic combs distributed by some nursery from outside of Lancaster.  Combs?  I’m not even sure what to say about that one.

Vendors also like to hand out edibles, mostly hard candies and mints.  Apparently they must be concerned about our breath (Between the combs and the breathmints, maybe they're trying to tell us landscaper-types something about our personal hygiene).  The mini Snickers distributed by some vendors were a nice touch too.  But I owe a special thanks to Hopewell Nursery in Bridgeton, NJ.  I’ve never bought anything from you, but your prosciutto/olive/cheese/artichoke spread saved me from having to spend 10 bucks on a bad lunch from the food court.  Congrats, you win best of show, at least in my book.

The display booths the vendors occupy range from simple fold-up displays designed to travel easily with the traveling sales reps to elaborate sets that rival Broadway show sets.  The most impressive display items last week included the 35’ Red Maple tree (among a wide assortment of other plants) as the center piece of the Moon Nurseries display, and the Dakota Industries tree transplanter spade.  If you’ve never seen one of these they’re amazing – basically a huge four-pronged shovel designed to dig and transplant mature established trees with rootballs as big as 12’ in diameter and 11,000 pounds.  How the vendors got these large items set up as part of their displays must have been fun to watch.

The coolest new product I saw?  That would have to be the natural bluestone pavers from Diaz Stone and Pallet.  These are basically your typical paver stone used in a dryset application, but made from real natural bluestone as opposed to the typical high density concrete.  All cut to exact specifications in 6x6 and 6x9 sizes, 2” thick.  And the price was surprisingly competitive compared to typical paver stone products.  I would love a chance to lay a patio or walkway using these pavers, if you’re interested just let me know.

And the most unnecessary display at the show?  That would be the Jimmy Buffett cover band as part of the Belgard Paver display, or “Belgard-ita-ville”, as they dubbed themselves.  Somebody in their marketing department thought they were being really clever with that one.  It would’ve been nice if they had actually transported me to Key West and fed me with an endless source of boat drinks, but they didn’t, and the band was just annoying.  And that’s coming from me, who typically enjoys any opportunity to hear some live music.

So that was my day at MANTS.  $15 for admission, $23 for parking, $21 for tolls, and 198 miles driven (including the multiple laps around the block looking for parking).  Now it’s time to start prepping for the ’12 season.

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    Clark Kent Creations, LLC is a full-service landscape construction company servicing the Pennsylvania communities of Delaware County, Chester County, The Main Line, and the University City, Art Museum, and Manayunk/Roxborough neighborhoods of Philadelphia.  In addition to this blog page, additional information regarding the company and our services can be found on the subsequent pages of the site.
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    Clark Linderman is the president of Clark Kent Creations, LLC, a landscape construction company based in Swarthmore, PA.  He is a proud graduate of the University of Michigan.  In addition to his passion for all things outdoors, he counts Michigan football, Phillies baseball, Superman memorabilia, Memphis R&B music, and good craft brews among his many interests.  He currently resides in Swarthmore with his wife, Sheila, two sons, his dog Krypto, and a really, really messy garage full of work supplies and toys.

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    Clark Kent Creations, LLC
    Swarthmore, PA
    Design and Construction to Maximize Your Outdoor Experience

    707-290-9410
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    If you like the content of my blog posts, here are a few other blogs that I check in on regularly:

    Stone Soup:  A Master Stone Mason shares his craft.

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    Revolutionary Gardens:  A Virginia-based landscape designer shares his work and ideas.

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