AED Foundation & SkillsUSA Illinois Support Skilled Trades
Jessica Schwartz
What’s In The Market For 2023?
Bigger, badder, battery-operated everything. And robots! Depending on your perspective, the professional lawn care and land-scape Industry is either ripe with exciting new opportunities or frustratingly full of changes. Today, the Green Industry is undergoing dynamic and revolutionary shifts in many facets of once basic practices—from mowing to pest control. Robotics, battery power, increasing legislation, new tech options, and consumer attitudes are driving the Industry toward new types of equipment, new ways of working, and essentially, new ways of thinking. “Regulations are popping up at city and town levels that landscapers are having to deal with, changing the way they provide services,” comments Kubota Senior Turf Product Manager Tom Vachal. “Most notably gas-powered backpack blowers. Many areas are pushing for electric solutions, sometimes driving up the input costs which are being absorbed by the landscaper.” In addition to large, long-term Industry transitions such as battery power, are the more immediate and present issues. “Competition is increasing as the market gets tighter; this is compounded by labor shortages, inflation, and supply chain issues,” says Rick Agajanian, chief product officer at WorkWave. Vachal echoes these concerns, but is optimistic, “Some supply chain issues still exist in the landscape industry, but we do expect improvement in 2023 moving forward.” He adds, “Labor will continue to be a pinch point, but some minor improvement is expected in mid-2023.” “The landscape industry is being challenged on many fronts—labor, emissions, replacement parts, and environmental stewardship just to name a few,” says Scythe’s Director of Marketing Billy ...
Six Reasons To Consider Sod Solutions Pro For Landscape Renovations
Sponsored by Sod Solutions has been researching, developing and releasing to the market new turfgrass varieties for the past 27 years. The new professionally focused arm of the company, Sod Solutions Professionals, takes that industry knowledge and puts it to use, facilitating large-scale turfgrass projects from beginning to end. Choosing a grass for a wide range of landscape challenges can make or break a project. Different landscapes, geographies, applications and even soil pH levels could call for different grass varieties. Each cultivar has specific features (like shade tolerance) that make them more suitable for certain applications than others. “Our mission is to make sure the right grass is being used in the right location to produce the best long-term success for our clients,” said Sod Solutions Pro director, Erin Wilder. This team of professionals is adequately prepared to help landscape architects, home builders, sports turf managers, superintendents and stakeholders make the best decisions during a renovation. Here are six reasons to consider using Sod Solutions Professionals for your next landscape or field or golf course renovation: 1. SELECTION CONSULTING: The Sod Solutions Professional team looks at the pros and cons of each product, answers your technical questions and connects you with real professional users to provide a complete understanding and confidence in the product you choose to specify. We also offer “lunch and learns” onsite and online webinars to educate your staff on turfgrass options. 2. PRODUCT SOURCING: No job is too large or too small. Sod Solutions ...
“Own It” With John Deere Payment Program
John Deere has introduced its 2021 “Own It” Low Monthly Payment Program, which will run through October 31. Customers can utilize the low monthly payment program to get on the path to equipment ownership for a variety of compact and mid-size equipment models — including the 316GR and 324G skid steer loaders, the 317G compact track loader, the 26G, 75G, and 85G excavators, and the 204L compact wheel loader with specific factory-installed configurations. (Pictured is the 75G excavator.) “Each year, our low monthly payment program helps us support our customers and empower them to become machine owners as they grow their businesses,” said Greg Bauer, manager, tactical marketing and production systems. “The ‘Own It’ program providers customers with financial flexibility while promoting the growth of fleets and job site capabilities without breaking the bank.” Under this program, operators can own various compact and mid-size excavator models including the 26G with a canopy configuration or the cab configuration, as well as the 75G excavator and the 85G. Both mid-size excavators included in the program feature cabs and rubber crawler pad tracks. For compact offerings, the 316GR, 317G, and 324G skid steer small-frame loaders and 204L compact wheel loaders are available in a canopy or cab configurations. Customers can also purchase the 316GR with the EH joystick controls and the attachments performance package. The program will run through October 31, 2021. Exclusions apply in the United States. To learn more about the Low Monthly Payment Program, contact an authorized John Deere Compact ...
Billy Goat Offers Equipment Deals For Goatoberfest
Billy Goat, manufacturer of property cleanup products, is celebrating its annual Goatoberfest* campaign, a Fall Clean-up Spectacular providing combo deals plus finance options that support contractors through the optimal leaf season. Through 12/31/20 at participating dealer stores, Goatoberfest specials are being offered on any combination of blowers (starting at 9 gross hp†) with any Billy Goat 13.0 – 37.0 gross HP† debris loader. When combined with the company’s “Recovery Financing**” Special of up to 120-day deferred and zero down or low interest options up to four years, landscape contractors can benefit from Goatoberfest savings with the lowest financing ever offered by Billy Goat. Billy Goat offers an extensive line-up of blowers from 6.0 to 35.0 gross HP†. Force wheeled blowers are up to 34% lighter and have up to 52% more debris blowing force and up to 55% more air velocity than others on the market. Aim n Shoot™ technology directs air flow where it’s needed, directly from the blower’s handle. The award-winning Hurricane X3000 and Z3000 zero turn stand-on blowers features optimum commercial leaf and debris clean up from seamless operating controls to directional blowing options including left, right, and center. The Patented Quad Control Handle System™ provides seamless forward/reverse direction, automatic return to neutral, integrated operator presence control and a self-activating parking brake. The Patented Dual Deflector Air Flow System™ allows the operator to change angle of air flow for deeper more efficient cleaning of leaves and debris. And, the award-winning Next Gen Debris Loader series (shown here) ...
Equipment Finance Feature: Financing Know-How
There are many financing options for professional landscapers, and it can become overwhelming when trying to select the best option for your business. When considering a new equipment purchase, there are three primary financing options to choose from: Leases Installment Loans Revolving Loans Three Choices On The Table An operating lease allows you to make a fixed payment over a predetermined amount of time, typically two to three years. At the end of the term, you can either choose to purchase the equipment, or return it back to the dealer, much like an automotive lease. This option is ideal if you would like to improve cash flow throughout the year. This option also allows you to work with your dealer to create an equipment rotation plan, where you can rotate equipment every two to three years. This is an attractive plan because you can use newer equipment, reducing the risk of equipment downtime. As an added benefit, you can work with your dealer to match the lease term with the warranty period, ensuring the machine is under warranty throughout the length of the lease. If you want to own the machine at the end of the financing period, a loan would be the ideal option. The loan payment can be spread out into multiple installments, that are customized to your cash flow throughout the year. Unlike a lease, an installment loan does not limit the number of hours, and equipment damage does not impact your loan terms. This is particularly ...
Like a Boss: Facing Growing Pains Head On
Anyone who has been through a growth spurt knows that it’s not always smooth sailing. When Chris Lee, president of Earthworks in Lillian, Texas, faced some financial struggles during the company’s expansion and the construction of a new satellite office, he learned that facing his woes head on was key to getting the situation under control. A few years ago, Lee says the need to build a satellite office presented itself. After using bank financing to purchase the property, the idea was to fund the construction from cash flow. Several big jobs came in and everything was looking good — until material for those jobs began to tie up cash that was intended for construction. Lee says it was like a perfect storm. Everything began to go wrong at once. Not only did the big projects require a lot of upfront cash but the clients weren’t paying on time. Construction costs began to escalate and the construction company was demanding money on an almost weekly basis. But Lee says things hit a true low point when he received a call from his chemical crew. They were at the supplier picking up a large quantity of post emergent — the application of which is something that Lee says separates Earthworks from its competition — when they were told the company was over its credit limit and late on payment. They were told they couldn’t make any more purchases at that time. “You must understand we are never late on payments — ...
