July 2020
Greetings!In the last 90 days, we've seen incredible demand for landscape and irrigation services."Stay at home time" has more homeowners taking on projects that have long been on the to-do list.
We're ready to help you maintain momentum as we move into the hottest months of the year.
Put these ideas into action to grow success in the weeks ahead:
- Get serious about promoting efficient irrigation. There are thousands of irrigation systems that don't meet today's current water saving standards. Plan a campaign to connect with customers who can benefit from upgraded sprinklers, controllers and drip irrigation. Because customers are at home, they're more flexibly available for your technicians to complete the work.
- Take 5 to plan your time. Use 5 extra minutes to plan the day. Be productive, not just busy! What needs to happen? What obstacles could arise? What loose ends need to be closed up?
- Keep your team motivated. Let them know you are proud of their accomplishments. Give meaning to their work! Use both "regular random recognition" (a pat on the back) as well as "structured recognition" (giving a small reward for meeting goals) to let your team know how much you appreciate them.
- Be an "ultimate backyard expert". Inspire clients with proactive marketing that shows how you can help them create the summer landscape of their dreams. They know what they want, but they don't know you can make it happen. Show them the trends in landscape lighting, outdoor living, water features and more. Sell the full package!
The Team at MPR Supply
We will be closed Friday, July 3rd for Independence Day Have a safe holiday weekend.
If You See Something, Sell Something!
Your customers count on your observations to keep their landscapes in top condition.Be helpful to your clients by pointing out problems you can solve in their landscapes.
By offering to be of service to your clients, you show you care - and you generateadditional sales for your business.
Remember "OPS", short for "opportunities":
Observe - look for opportunities to fix problems and make improvements.
Price - let them know how much it costs. Submit your price in writing so it's sure to get their attention.
Sell - remind them to get the work done now, when you're already on-site.
According to industry consultant Jeff Carowitz, contractors who implement "OPS"with their service team are able to generate profitable new sales that extend their seasonand fill-in weeks when it would otherwise be slow.
Strategies for Water Efficient and Cost Effective Irrigation
Help your clients' achieve water-savings and sustainability goals using the smart irrigation strategiesin this new guide from Rain Bird.It covers many water-saving products that are becoming must-haves for an efficient system. Learn about products that regulate pressure,using weather data to schedule irrigation, and switching to high-efficiency nozzles.
Water- and cost-savings potentials are calculated for several scenarios.Use these examples to calculate the potential for savings on your clients' projects.
Click here to download the free guide.
Manage Irrigation and Landscape Lighting with a Single Smart Wireless Control: Choose the Toro SMRT Logic!
Toro introduces SMRT Logic™ and SMRTscape™ for mobile landscape control anywhere, anytime. It offers unparalleledremote control of your clients' irrigation, outdoor lighting, and other landscapefeatures through your smartphone, tablet, or computer. Fully compatible with the Toro EVOLUTION Seriescontroller; TMC Series controllers; and Custom Command controllers; as well as, Irritrol® irrigationcontrollers and Unique Lighting Systems® installations.
Simple plug and play operation that allows the SMRT Logic to sync with the homeowner's router andconnect to the internet without the need for network passwords.
Communicates to the homeowner's controllers (up to 10) and/or outdoor landscape features via a proprietary900 MHz radio signal, as opposed to relying on the property's Wi-Fi network.
The SMRTscape companion app is available for Android and iOS devices. It can also be accessed at SMRTscape.com. The program allows users to enter information about a property's irrigation system, upload photos, customize settings, and then manipulate the irrigation program.
Explore the many ways SMRTscape can grow your business. Ask us for details.
The Atlantic-OASE Professional Conference 2020
Atlantic-OASE will be holding the 4th Annual conference for their Atlantic-OASE ProfessionalContractors (APC's) and Atlantic-OASE Distributor Consultants (ADC's) in December 2020, attheir new facility in Aurora, North East Ohio. Past conferences have proven very successful with attendance numbers increasing exponentiallyyear on year. The Atlantic-OASE Professional Conference is an opportunity to network with like-mindedindividuals who do the same kind of work all over the United States. We welcomed an internationalflavor in 2019, when we were delighted to be joined by guest delegates from Germany, the UK, CostaRica and Canada all providing their unique perspective on the water gardening industry.
Attendees are encouraged to share success stories and participate in workshops and seminars.In addition, there are "hands-on" product demonstrations during an activity-filled and funtwo-day event. We don't forget that one of the key elements of such an event is camaraderie,so we ensure there are plenty of opportunities to relax and enjoy the company of your peers.
Let us know if you are interested in attending this event!
Every Golf Aficionado Now Wants a Backyard Putting Green.We Make It Easy with EasyTurf!
Artificial grass putting greens are becoming increasingly popular across the country andit's easy to see why. A putting green creates the ultimate backyard experience that isperfect for the whole family. Whether you are looking to improve your short game, spendquality time with family, or play around with friends, artificial grass putting greens arethe perfect solution. The artificial grass has a realistic, lifelike appearance that looksgreat and is fun to play on.There are many worthwhile advantages to installing an artificial grass putting green.There is little maintenance with an artificial grass putting green, which completelyeliminates the time-consuming upkeep of watering, mowing, reseeding, and weeding.In addition to little maintenance, artificial grass putting greens are designed to perfectly mimic the grade of professional facilities. Artificial grass putting greens are completely customizable and can be designed with varying speeds and undulations that are specific to the playing level of the customer.
EasyTurf putting greens offer a realistic ball speeds and a natural ball roll which candrastically help to improve the short game of any golfer. EasyTurf also offers productsthat can work as first cut fringe and slightly longer blades that work to simulateFairway shots. In addition, EasyTurf carries accessories to dress up the yard includingcups, pins, and flags. Simply put, EasyTurf artificial grass putting greens can simulatea complete at-home practice center customized precisely for the customer. Artificialgrass putting greens are a family-friendly, convenient place for a golfer to practicefrom the comfort of their own home
Hardscape Lighting: Not as Hard As It Looks!
Have you ever gazed at photos of illuminated hardscapes and wondered if you were capableof taking on such jobs - routing wires through retaining walls and under decks?You are not alone. There is often an intimidation factor with hardscape lighting,but there is really no reason for it. If you can handle running underground linesfor accent lights in the yard, you can handle hardscape applications too. Hardscapelighting can make the difference between ordinary and extraordinary results. Also,it is especially important for safety reasons when people are moving around these areas at night.
THE THREE BUILDING BLOCKS OF HARDSCAPE LIGHTING
- STEPS Lighting up steps accentuates the beauty of this feature and provides a safe,visible pathway at night. A simple LED brick light can be integrated in the riser of each step, oranother way is to insert a hardscape light under the cap of each step. Recommended: 12V LED Brick Light or Hardscape Light
- RAILINGS AND POSTS Deck posts can be illuminated with a variety of deck post lights(e.g., half-moon lights), available in cast aluminum and cast brass. Another option is tohighlight deck railings using hardscape lights hidden under the lip of the railing.Recommended: 12V LED Deck and Patio Lights or LED Hardscape
- SITTING WALLS A 12V hardscape light can be integrated into wall during construction.Hardscape lights are usually installed just underneath the top cap of a sitting wall or retaining wall,and are typically installed before the top cap is placed on the wall. You may need to ask the hardscapecontractor to create a channel for your fixture wire run. Kichler® hardscape lights are available tomatch the size of your wall, with lengths from 3" to 18". Recommended:12V Integrated LED Hardscape,with bracket.
BASIC TIPS Plan ahead: It's much easier to design and install hardscapes and lighting atthe same time, as opposed to doing hardscapes first and lighting later, with no coordination.If you are working with a hardscape contractor, let them know where the lights need to go, andwork together to determine the wire routing. Leave a little extra: When you're installing ahardscape fixture, leave yourself a little extra wire if possible. If you should ever have toservice the light, you will be able to unscrew it from the plate and pull it out. After servicing,you can feed the wire back into the wall.
ENVISION THE POSSIBILITIES In some ways, hardscape lighting is more intricate than other forms of landscape lighting because it has to be coordinated with the hardscape installation. But inmany other regards, it requires the same skills. If you make the investment in learning hardscapelighting, you will be creating many more opportunities for your business in the future.