Tackling the Employee Recruiting Challenge
Greetings!
Be proactive to maximize your opportunities this fall season and to book some extra profits before the year is over.
Fill remaining openings in your schedule. Got room to squeeze in more work? Pick up the phone! You'll be surprised how many sales you can close just by calling and checking in. Even if you don't make a sale, a check-in call reinforces business next season.
Sell additional autumn services. Think beyond leaf cleanup and focus on bigger-ticket services too. Offer wi-fi controller upgrades with your irrigation winterizations, landscape lighting installations and pre-sell holiday decorating services.
Get going on contract renewals. Being proactive locks in the business early. Client communication is important year-round, but is especially critical at decision-making time.
Let us know how we can help you have a great finish to your season.
The Team at MPR Supply
Earn Gift Cards with Our Kichler Holiday Promotion
For each $2,000 in Kichler purchased on a single invoice, receive your choice of: $100 gift card to Sugarfire Smoke House BBQ
or
$100 gift card to Honey Baked Ham.
Limit 2 gift cards per company. Offer valid October 30-November 30, 2018.
Yes, We Have Wholesale Holiday Decor In-Stock
Stop By Now to Get Pro-Grade Supplies
It's prime time to remind customers that you'll be installing holiday decorations this month. They're seeing holiday displays in stores - and they're ready to buy. We are fully stocked with the best and latest holiday decor products to help you have a successful season.
MPR offers full lines of LED lights, bulbs and retro-fit LED lamps, greenery and pre-lit greenery, large displays and various accessories, such as clips, wire and plugs.
Download our 2018 Holiday Decor Catalog.
Ask About FREE On-Line Training Resources: We offer comprehensive training on estimating, marketing, installation and more in our holiday decorating on-line training. Ask for a login to our on-line training portal
MPR Invites You to the Missouri Green Industry Conference
The Missouri Green Industry Conference will held November 28, 2018 at the St. Charles Convention Center in St. Charles, MO.
The one day event includes seven educational tracks and vendor expo. This year's tracks include ornamentals, lawn care & landscape, sports turf, equipment maintenance & safety, irrigation, golf, and more.
This year's topics are what you need to get ahead and the speakers are some of the best in the industry. Take advantage if you are part of the landscape and green industry!
Time to Adjust to Changing Prices
Being too shy about increasing your prices is only cheating yourself. It's common for successful contractors to be too slow in adjusting their prices to reflect new costs. They don't want to cause trouble with their loyal clients, even when their clients are willing to pay more.
Cost increases are happening quickly in these three areas:
Manufacturer material price increases. Almost every major industry manufacturer - and plenty of the smaller manufacturers - have announced price increases of up to 10%. Some are planning additional increases this fall. Others say that once they start to receive post-tariff inventories, we could see components go up 25% or more.
Employee costs. Keeping your best people should be your top concern. You will need to invest more in wages, benefits and work environment. Raising prices helps you generate the profits you need to build a stronger business.
Have you adjusted your prices upward to cover these new increases?
Mitigating Water Hammer in An Irrigation System
Irrigation systems often experience water hammer, which occurs when an irrigation valve rapidly closes as it shuts off and water flowing through the pipe is brought to a quick halt, creating a reversing shock wave in the pipe. Water hammer is notably recognized by a banging noise in a building's piping (which is particularly undesirable early in the morning when the irrigation system is running), and can be destructive to system components or cause pipe connection breaks. Water hammer can be mitigated by installing a water hammer arrestor, such as the Zurn Wilkins 1250XL, into the irrigation system as close as possible to the inlet side of valve that is causing water hammer. Water hammer arrestors absorb the energy of the shock wave like a shock absorber on an automobile when it drives across bumps in the road. In addition to causing damage to the irrigation system and components, water hammer causes relief valve discharge on reduced pressure principle assembly backflow preventers. This unnecessary and unwanted release of water from the relief valve vent not only violates water conservation regulations, but can range from a small nuisance discharge to a large discharge that could cause flood damage. Water hammer should be prevented to maintain normal operation of the irrigation system's backflow preventer.
Another solution for mitigating water hammer is to install a soft-seated, spring-loaded single check valve, such as the Zurn Wilkins 40XL2, on the inlet piping leading to the water hammer source. The single check valve operates as a barrier, preventing water hammer from moving backwards in the pipe past the single check valve and isolating the inlet pipe and components from the negative effects of the shock wave. There are cases where the water hammer shock wave is great enough to require the installation of a water hammer arrestor and a single check valve in the irrigation system.
Whatever method is chosen to mitigate water hammer, preventing it will reduce the premature failure of system components, reduce the chances for pipe connection failures, conserve water, and stop the banging noise.
For water hammer arrestor sizing information and installation instructions, click here.
Kichler® Rewrites the Rules for Integrated LED Technology in Professional Landscape Lighting
Kichler® introduces the 12V LED Accent with Variable Lumen Output (VLO). Three lumen output choices are offered from a single fixture and can be adjusted electronically with a switching magnet. The magnetic switching sensor is fully encapsulated inside the fixture and protected completely from water ingression. Unlike competitors' offerings featuring a mechanical adjustment, the failure risk or long-term reliability concerns are eliminated.
Now, it's easier than ever for landscape contractors and installers to design, install and service landscape lighting.
Each fixture is conveniently factory-set at the most popular lumen level for maximum contractor efficiency. To change, simply hold the included magnetic key over the lumen adjustment locator and the light will blink four times to tell you it's ready for programming. Continue to hold the magnet over the switch locator, and the light will blink according to its lumen level. One blink for level 1, 2 for level 2 and 3 blinks for level 3. In seconds, you're done.
- Three lumen options offered in one fixture
- Two sizes: small (100, 200 and 300 lumens) and large (400, 600 and 835 lumens)
- Two color temperatures: 2700K/3000K
- Three beam angles: 10-degree (spot), 35-degree (flood), and 60-degree (wide flood)
- 9-15V AC/DC range
- Advanced built-in surge protection (6,000V)
- Fully sealed to protect against water ingression
- Cowls, lenses and louver accessories available
- 15-year warranty
- Finishes: Architectural Bronze, Textured Black or Textured White, and Centennial Brass
The 12V LED Accent with VLO boasts superior technology and reliability, without compromising the design and aesthetic appearance demanded in a professional landscape product. Learn More.
Introduction to Troubleshooting Decoder-Based Irrigation Systems
Troubleshooting electrical problems with a 2-wire decoder system is significantly more complex than a traditional irrigation system.
Thanks to Regency Wire and Cable, we have new training videos on troubleshooting 2-wire systems. They share information helpful to all brands. Watch the first video on the basics here, then visit their YouTube channel to see the full series.
Capture More Applicants with Powerful Landscape Help-Wanted Advertising
ADS has prepared another helpful booklet to help you excel at recruiting, hiring and motivating your team. The latest edition shares ideas, tips and tactics you can use to prepare help wanted ads that attract better-qualified applicants for your open positions.
Learn tactics for developing and writing more effective ads. Learn how to improve the ads you already use.
Click here to download the booklet.