February 2015
What's your employee training strategy?
Over 55% of green industry firms plan to hire new team members in 2015. These companies forecast growing demand for their services and are adding personnel to meet the need.
Having a structured approach to on-boarding new team members will help you ensure they're productive from the start.
Build these things into your training plan:
- An employee manual - spell out your policies and processes so they're organized and easy to learn.
- Web training resources - there is a wealth of video content on YouTube for training. Set up your own custom playlist curriculum. Access it 24/7.
- On the job training - establish a specific checklist of job tasks new team members need to learn. With a checklist, you have an organized approach to delivering knowledge.
Watch this newsletter for training resources all season long.
Let us know how we can help you.
The Team at MPR Supply
Ask Us for a Tool Catalog!
A cheap shovel is seldom a bargain. When it breaks, you've got an unproductive employee and a job behind schedule. We're hearing from contractors that the low-grade shovels from the big box stores just don't hold up.
Take action: Before the season starts, take inventory of your tools and then visit with your MPR representative to choose pro-grade solutions. We offer durable products from brands like Structron, Seymour, Midwest Rake, Kenyon and more.
We can place an order for your spring tool needs including shovels, grading rakes, pruning tools, tampers, sprinkler head trimmers, valve keys, mulch forks, wheelbarrows and much more. We have access to the top contractor brands in the industry and can get you the exact styles and features you need.
A pro-grade tool costs a little more, but can last for multiple seasons. That's a smart bargain!
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New at MPR: EasyTurf Synthetic Turf
MPR now offers the EasyTurf line of UltimateGrass line of products.
UltimateGrass offers a variety of solutions for:
As an EasyTurf Authorized Distributor, MPR has the backing of the largest, most influential synthetic turf manufacturer in the industry, offering expertise to sell EasyTurf's superior products and to access FieldTurf's innovative product development technology.
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New from ADS: Bend-A-Drain Pipe
Bend-A-Drain can be installed quickly and efficiently with less cuts and fewer fittings. Use it for:
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FREE Winter On-Line Training from Aquascape
Aquascape Inc. is excited to offer 20+ years of water feature industry expertise through Aquascape Academy Online!
Aquascape has depended on the likes of Build-a-Pond Days and classroom seminars to share our knowledge on building, selling, and maintaining water features - the exact same way that we did back in 1991. It's now 2014 where the internet, smart phones, tablets, and social networking have shifted the way the world works. We're embracing the digital frontier and are now providing you with more content and training than ever before - available on-demand, 24 hours a day - right at your fingertips!
Aquascape Academy Online offers a variety of free courses to help beginner to seasoned water feature professionals succeed and prosper with water features. Course segments will continuously evolve for varying degrees of experience and knowledge and include video sessions, tutorials, a variety of digital resources, PowerPoint presentations, and quizzes to test knowledge gained throughout the coursework.
Additionally, as you complete courses and activities in the online training, you'll earn badges that can be shared on social media and your own websites to proudly display your achievements. Water feature professionals are even able to access the online training platform to help fulfill requirements for becoming a Certified Aquascape Contractor!
To get started, log onto www.aquascapeacademy.com. |
Try K-Rain's Newest Rotor Innovation  The innovative RPS75i from K-Rain is available now. The new RPS75i retains all of the features and benefits of the RPS75™ and delivers even more!
To reduce the radius and distance in other rotors on the market, the nozzle must be changed or the break-up screw must be engaged.
These steps limit the maximum reduction to 25% and cause uneven watering.
With the RPS 75i, a simple turn of the patented Flow Shut-Off controls distance and water flow proportionately-up to 50%.
The RPS 75i delivers even water distribution, eliminates dry spots and provides better zone performance while saving water.
All of this in just one rotor-the right rotor for every landscape!
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Spring Backflow Start-Ups Made Easy with Wilkins 300 Series
Springtime brings irrigation systems start-up. The service line leading to the backflow should be flushed to prevent debris fouling, thereby eliminating clean-out costs. The Blow-Out/Flush feature of Wilkins 300 Series Backflow Preventers is specifically designed to provide easy start-up flushing - just remove the pressure vessel and install the BOF, turn on the water to flush, and then reinstall the perfectly clean pressure vessel. No down time and no headaches!
The Wilkins 300 Series is available in ½" - 2" sizes on Model 350 Double Checks and Model 375 Reduced Pressure Principle Backflow Preventers.
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5 Ways to Improve Your Internet Marketing in 2015
Here are five things to do in 2015:
1) Improve your ranking in search results. The fastest way to accelerate leads is with a Google AdWords campaign. Quickly catapult your company to the top of the results for the search phrases that you select. You pay Google for this service, so you'll want to get professional help to select keywords and to configure the set-up.
2) Update your Google+ Local Profile
If you want to show up in Google's maps (so important for today's smart phone users!), you need to make sure your Google Local page is up to date.
Google+ Local offers you the chance to add details about your business, like hours, brands carried, payment methods, etc. Get a free guide on how to do this here.
3) Enhance your website. Make sure the pictures, descriptions and other information on your website reflect the quality, breadth and experience of your company. Be sure there's a clear path for potential customers to easily request more information or to schedule an estimate. Customers love to see images, make sure your site has beautiful examples of your work. |
