Our industry is ever evolving. More and more, our customers are driving purchase behavior—especially when it comes to all-natural, organic, sustainable, and low environmental impact options. Sustainability and organics are big business. Companies from Amazon and General Mills to UPS, Motorola and beyond—are investing in organics or putting sustainable practices in place for their customers. If major global companies are …

We’ve asked John Huber, Central’s Organic and Sustainable Products Manager, to share his insight on how to make your organic-based programs successful. Read below: Each year, more than 60 million tons of fertilizers are applied to the soil in the United States. More than 50 million tons are being applied to agriculture, while professional landscapers and golf courses only apply …

One in three Americans will be millennials by 2020. At more than 73 million strong, millennials are the largest generation. Their sheer size and buying power has a major impact on all areas of our economy—and home ownership is no different. We think of millennials as young kids, finishing up college and starting their careers—this is no longer the case. …

Business is great. How about raising prices. Not sure?  You’re not alone. There are few topics that cause more anxiety [and heartburn]  than raising prices. As we head into a new year with higher material cost, more overhead and labor costs, now is the time to get serious about your company’s pricing strategy. So, how do you raise prices and communicate those increases—without …

Nearly 90% of people check their email at least one time a day with the average person checking fifteen times per day. In addition, more than half of these email subscribers say they have purchased a product from a business after receiving an email from them. If you’re not in your customer’s inbox, you’re missing a giant opportunity to promote …

If you had a dollar for every time you heard organic, green, sustainable, or low-impact, you’d be relaxing somewhere on the beach because you wouldn’t need to work anymore. The organic movement is no longer a trend, it’s a way of life. Homeowners, especially the younger ones, have come to expect organic or low-impact as an option. Just step into …

Nearly 70% of small business owners are responsible for three or more areas of their business, including marketing. Couple that with a complex and challenging industry like landscaping, and it’s no wonder why it feels like there are never enough hours in a day. As a landscape professional, you didn’t get into business to be a marketer. However, marketing is …

As you prepare for irrigation start-ups, now is a great time to evaluate your customers’ systems and look for opportunities to upgrade outdated equipment and add-on new technology and services. Today’s homes are getting smarter and home owners want to be more connected to their home systems. Our focus is to guide and educate you on the newest technology trends …

The candidate said yes! How do you convert your new hire’s excitement and enthusiasm into a great productive start? Most new hires decide if they’re going to stay within a couple of months of starting the job, so making the connection early is a great way to ensure the candidate stays with you. More importantly, getting your new hire through …

Beyond the apps offered by the popular irrigation brands, we’ve discovered some free cool apps that are well-supported by their sponsors and that offer a wealth of value for the pro contractor. Bosch Toolbox: Includes a measurement feature for measuring your jobsite. Includes a daily documentation feature to gather up media (photos, video, notes) and export as tracking documentation. Milwaukee …