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April 2020

Greetings!

With everything going on, we know you are busy managing your business priorities. With the Coronavirus, your world just got a lot more complex.

We want to help.

We are open regular hours. Let us know how we can help.

Closed on Saturdays. As we work to serve you during the week, we are going to delay offering Saturday hours until further notice. We hope to bring back this advantage in the months ahead.

Call ahead for "parking lot pick-up". When you call ahead, we'll have your materials ready to load when you arrive.

Request a delivery. We are happy to deliver to your job or your office.

Make a plan for your business. Take advantage of provisions in the CARES act that provide assistance for small business. Watch for more information in future newsletters.

The Team at MPR Supply

P.S. We're continuing to share industry news and information during this time. By keeping you informed, we hope to inspire a sense of togetherness and hope. We will get through this together!

Get Ready, Get Set.... Irrigation Start-Ups!

Here are four things to help you get ready:

1. Carry Backflow Parts. Broken backflows seem to happen, even with systems that are properly winterized. Be sure to have repair kits on your truck.

2. The Right Specialty Tools Make a Difference. Irrigation service is a specialty, so arm your technicians with the right tools. From riser extractors to wire locators, there are critical tools and supplies that every service person should carry.

3. Stock and Organize Your Service Trucks. A service technician who has no problem finding parts, supplies and tools can get right to the task at hand.

4. Observation + Recommendation = Profits. Check the condition and age of every system component, paying attention to heads, nozzles and controllers/sensors. Suggest replacements when items are worn or at the end of their useful life. It often makes sense to switch all of the heads or nozzles in the landscape if many are functioning poorly, as it saves the customer from future service visits.

Tips for a Successful 2020: Watch Your Cash Flow

You work your butt off night and day until all the work is done. While you wait for the next job, you may realize that you don't have enough money to pay your workers or fill up your gas tanks.

Cash-flow problems happen when companies need to pay business expenses, but don't have any cash because they are waiting for customers to pay them.

Now is the time to make sure you don't have this problem this season. Plan ahead to steer clear of the following cash-flow pitfalls.

Get money up front. You have lots of up-front costs and can't afford to wait until after the season starts to get your first payments. Require your customers to pay their first and last month's payments upon signing the contract. Always collect fees up front and save yourself from big headaches later. Provide incentives of 2-3% off services if customers pay the entire season upfront.

Bill as you go. This is a common small-business fail. You may really enjoy maintaining your equipment and driving your skid-steer loader, but don't like sitting at your computer trying to figure out how your business is really doing. Field-service software like Service Titan can really help you organize your billings.

Be sure you're profitable on every account. Businesses need to carefully evaluate each type of customer they serve to make sure they are making money on each account. Some properties are more profitable than others, but if you are losing money on a client, changes need to happen.

Collect. This is the most common cash-flow problem in small business. You can prevent this easily by having your customers pay in advance. You can also encourage your customers to sign up for automatic payments by offering a small discount. Make sure you set up your contract to include penalties for late payments and details on sending unpaid balances to collections.

One Stop Shopping for Durable Valve Boxes

NDS® valve boxes span a wide variety of sizes, colors, and designations, and are available with overlapping and drop-in covers. All boxes and covers are made of durable, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) treated with UV inhibitors to prevent fading or cracking, and proudly made in the USA.

Here's the lineup:

Pro-Spec™ Series Valve Boxes (includes former Pro Plus Series and Pro Series)

  • Commercial grade; engineered for heavy-duty use
  • Structural support ribs reinforce box for added strength
  • Reinforced covers available for heavier loads
  • Overlapping and drop-in covers available; overlapping covers prevent dirt and grass from settling between body and cover
  • Bolt-down capability with included brass bolt and nut to prevent theft and tampering
  • 5-year warranty

Standard Series Valve Boxes (includes former Pro Series and Standard Series)

  • Structural support ribs reinforce box for added strength
  • Overlapping and drop-in covers available; overlapping covers prevent dirt and grass from settling between body and cover
  • Bayonet twist-on cover ensures easy removal on 7 in. and 10 in. round covers
  • Bolt-down capability to prevent theft and tampering (bolt and nut sold separately)
  • 3-year warranty

Valve Box Selector Tool

Looking for the right valve box for your project? Check out the VALVE BOX SELECTOR (scroll to the lower half of the page). Search by SKU number, or choose a box size, box color, cover color, and application to see recommended valve box options.

A Better Way to Install Tree-Mounted Light Fixtures

Creating a down-light or moonlighting effect with tree-mounted fixtures is a popular and impressive technique. When mounting fixtures, consider the environmental impact the mount will have on the health of the tree.

The perfect solution is the TreeLight Mount™ by King Innovation.

The single point installation of the TreeLight Mount™ makes it less likely to infect a tree. Additionally, the 3.5-inch stand-off bolt allows for tree growth. The mount is made from 100% stainless steel with a bronze powder coat finish for a maintenance-free, tree-safe installation. Compatible with most brands, this product is a must have for any installer.

Install the TreeLight Mount™ in three easy steps:
1) Using a 5/16" hex drive socket, drive the TreeLight Mount™ into tree until the threaded/uncoated area is no longer visible
2) Thread your preferred landscape light fixture to the ½" NPT threaded female fitting
3) Affix lead wire to tree using desired method

Too Much Land to Maintain? The Answer is Artificial Grass

Customers with lots of land can enjoy the benefits of a time and money saving artificial lawn too! The answer is to concentrate on the areas surrounding the immediate residence.

With so much land, there are plenty of opportunities to create little nooks that are both low-maintenance and water conscious, while at the same time durable, pretty to look at, and fun to use!

With artificial grass as the base, remember to add elements such as fencing to partition different areas; river rocks to break up the space and add some texture; drought-tolerant plants such as Moss Rose, Blanket Flowers, or Lantanas for a touch of color; and gravel or pavers to create functional and beautiful pathways.

In situations where water is in close proximity, such as a pool, make sure the artificial grass backing is 100% permeable, like EasyTurf's MaxxFlow series. This will allow for water to drain freely through the grass, eliminating potential odors, muddy tracks, or water buildup.

Want to see MaxxFlow in action? Watch this 3-minute video

To learn more about EasyTurf's artificial grass products, please visit ultimategrass.com

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.