If You're Not Making Record Profits, Read These Tips
It's no secret that the irrigation / landscape industry is experiencing run-away demand. With the surge in work, savvy contractors have taken specific actions to boost their profits during the boom.

Making your business more profitable isn't about cutting costs or trying to meet unreasonable productivity targets. Focus on what you CAN control:

1) Pricing. Raise prices when you have plenty of work. Offer good/better/best pricing options so big-spender customers can choose a deluxe (and high-margin) package with all of the extras.
2) Up-sell and Add-On. Add additional items (like landscape lighting) to every quote. Offer enhancements and upgrades with every service visit.
3) Boost Marketing. Grow marketing efforts to have more prospects calling you. Then you can be picky about which ones you choose! (Those that want the best work and who have budgets to afford your services.)
4) No Free Work. Stop offering extras for free to be nice. Avoid giving "sweeteners" to close the deal. Don't allow salespeople to offer discounts.

Take advantage of our industry's robust market. Earn a fair profit that you deserve.

The Team at North South Supply
Special note:
All of our stores except Melbourne will be closed on Saturday, August 28th for a company-wide training event. Our team members will be learning new things to serve you better!
Get Access to Critical Rain Bird Information in Seconds
With the new Rain Bird Resources app, you can get quick access to critical information in seconds, right from your smartphone. You can save and share commonly used products, performance tables, and more.
 
It’s FREE with no login required. Connect to the knowledge you need today. Download today through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
New LED Surface-Mount Step Lights from Kichler
Created for easy installation, these new LED step lights mount directly to any wall surface, without the need for a predetermined "box" opening. No need to carve out a hole!

Low Profile, Easy Installation Small profile design for easy installation allows you to mount to the surface without fitting a junction box. Includes template to align mounting hole to get perfect placement.

Clean, Uniform Light Distribution Enjoy a clean, uniform light distribution down and across surfaces, preventing hotspots or light cutoff below the fixture.

Professional Quality & Performance Sealed and fully encapsulated to safeguard from water ingress and the elements – helping to extend the life of the product. Includes 4000-volt system surge protection protects against power surges and irregularities.

Customers Say "Yes" After a Landscape Lighting Demo
Demo installations are a quick and effective way to turn existing clients into lighting buyers. Typically, 80% of customers who demo end up buying. Ask a current client if you can light up a small area of their landscape, and then watch the sales magic happen. 

Set up demo lighting when you're already on site performing other services. It will take just a few minutes to position a few fixtures to demonstrate lighting effects.
  
Focus your demo on an area the homeowner sees every evening. Rather than trying to light the entire yard, demonstrate in a concentrated area. Some contractors call this a “snapshot.”

Leave the demo lighting in place for several days. Give about a week for the homeowner to enjoy the effect. They'll grow accustomed to the lights, and will miss the demo when you move it to the next site.

Provide literature when you set up. The homeowner will review these materials before your next visit.

Follow up for feedback. Ask what they like and don't like. Ask questions to gather ideas on how to tailor your final proposal to win the project.

Installing a Submersible Pump in an Open Body of Water
Traditionally, a submersible pump is installed vertically in a drilled well inside a casing (like PVC). Sometimes customers want the performance that a submersible pump provides, but want to install their pump in an open body of water, like a lake or a pond. Although not ideal, this can be done.

So how do you install a submersible pump in an open body of water and avoid damaging or shortening the life of the pump? There are three keys that will keep your pump operating in these conditions:

1) Flow-inducer sleeve This is a length of PVC roughly as long as the pump. It mimics the well casing that is found in a standard drilled well. Simply cut slots in one end of the PVC so that you can crimp/clamp the sleeve near the discharge end. This will force water to enter from the bottom of the sleeve. Water flows toward the intake of the pump, cooling the motor as it passes by. See the image as an example (click to enlarge)

2) Angle of the installed pump A submersible pump cannot be installed horizontally. The pump should be installed as close to vertical as possible, but no less than 10 degrees.

3) Avoid installing at the bottom of the body of water. Most open bodies of water have vegetation, sediment, and other debris settled at the bottom. To avoid pumping these elements through your pump, it is recommended that the pump be suspended at least 10 feet from the bottom.
Retain Stormwater On-Site with StormTech Chambers
Comply with local regulations, store stormwater without a traditional basin, reduce potential for runoff to enter waterways.

StormTech chambers are most cost-effective subsurface detention / retention system, using high quality injection molded polypropylene chambers that can be installed under landscape features..
 
Three Questions to Ask Before Hiring or Promoting
Many top landscape contractors like the book Traction, which provides a wealth of insights for entrepreneurs looking to scale a successful operation. Traction presents these three questions you should use to evaluate a potential new hire. Ask yourself:
 
1) Do they get it? Does the employee understand his/her role and what he/she needs to do to deliver on the job requirements?
2) Do they want it? refers to the employee’s desire to do his/her role. Is this a job he/she will be motivated to do?
3) Can they do it? refers to the employee having the physical, mental, and emotional capacity to accomplish his/her role. You can't hope or wish someone into abilities they don't have.
 
You cannot grow an organization with people who are not totally committed. The answers must be “yes” on all three questions for each employee. The answers for the three questions will let you know if that individual is going to be successful in your business as a new hire, and also if he/she can be promoted to greater responsibility.