EDUCATION
EDUCATION
Jeffrey Scott to Open His Playbook
Thinking of adding pool building services to your landscape company? Know the basics before taking the plunge. The Right Type of Pool for Your Business
BY BRIAN LOVE
Landscape Management magazine columnist Jeffrey Scott continues his love for teaching others with two classes during the 2023 Equip Exposition, held Oct. 17–20 in Louisville, Kentucky. One walks attendees through mapping out a successful business plan and the other highlights the importance of open book management and key performance indicators (KPIs). “People show up wanting to learn,” Scott says. “They’re hungry and motivated. That’s the perfect audience to talk to. You want to talk to somebody and share your experience with people who are hungry to learn, grow, and implement. It’s the perfect recipe. I love doing that.” When it comes to Wednesday’s lesson, Scott says learning about KPIs is a “must-do.” He explains KPIs will steer the company’s profitability and growth to the end goal set by the business owners. He considers the open-book management aspect of the class an exciting opportunity. This combination of educating team members on the finances of the business and company KPIs helps push the company forward.
BY AMY WILLER
Vinyl Liner Vinyl liner pools are mid-range, in terms of both expense for the client and skill needed by the builder. With vinyl liner pools, the client can look through a catalog and choose a combination of features that best fits their space and their needs. The pool size and shape, the color and pattern of the liner, the steps and benches in the pool, and the coping can all be mixed and matched. Concrete Concrete pools, also called shotcrete or gunite pools, are the most complex, the most expensive, and take the longest to complete. The biggest benefit, says Wiseman, is that “you can do almost anything. Concrete pools are 100% customizable.” The pool builder can add in custom details, use high-end and interesting materials, and cater to the exact shape of the client’s yard and the exact use of the pool.
The concept of “outdoor living” has taken on an entirely new meaning over the last three years. Homeowners no longer want just a yard. They are looking for a complete backyard experience — including a pool. “If you’re not addressing the pool as part of your business, you’re closing yourself out. You can’t play in the market unless you do pools in some way,” says Kate Wiseman, Principal Landscape Designer at Sage Outdoor Designs and Design Faculty Chair for GENESIS, the education arm of the Pool and Hot Tub Alliance. Before you dive into pool building, there is some basic background information to learn. There are three main types of pools, and you may choose to specialize in just one or offer all three. Wiseman explains the pros and cons of each type. Fiberglass Fiberglass is the least expensive type of pool, for both the builder and the client. A fiberglass pool is pre-built by a manufacturer and delivered to the home or site in one piece. The portability of a fiberglass pool is a big benefit, but can also be one of the negatives. The pool doesn’t feel as luxurious an item when it arrives at your client’s home on the back of a large truck. Because fiberglass pools are transported in one piece, it also limits how large the pool can be.
Pool Design 101 for Landscapers Thursday, Oct. 19 Time: 9 AM – 10 AM Price: $85 Education Track: Pool & Spa Infinity Pools and Beyond: The Possibilities Are Endless Thursday, Oct. 19 Time: 11 AM – 12 PM Price: $85
Growing Profitability Using Open Book Management and KPIs
“I’m going to share best practices that I have developed and seen work over the years,” Scott says. “This comes from years of coaching and consulting over 300 companies in the landscape industry.” Setting up a succession plan is about the decisions and paths one can take with a business, Scott says. Building a plan for making tough decisions will simplify this complicated work. As a result, owners can take a step back and enjoy life more. Scott has created seven points for this plan, which he calls “retiring in place.” It all starts with both a vision and a cultural foundation set for the business. After the company completes this, the company can build its leadership team. From there, Scott adds, the company needs to take further, steps such as setting up internal accountability and creating a long-term road map.
Wednesday, Oct. 18 Time: 12:30 PM – 2 PM Price: $85
Education Track: Pool & Spa, New Business Opportunities
Maximize financial performance through open book management. Learn how to increase buy-in from employees with shared KPIs. The Ultimate Succession Plan: Setting Up Your Business to Run Itself Thursday, Oct. 19 Time: 10 AM – 11:30 AM Price: $85 Learn seven steps to establish a strong leadership team and accountability system, enabling longer breaks from your business while maintaining joy in ownership.
Tips for Getting into the Pool and Spa Business Thursday, Oct. 19 Time: 1 PM – 2 PM Price: $85
Education Track: Pool & Spa, New Business Opportunities Pool Construction Documents: What You Need in Your Plans Thursday, Oct. 19 Time: 3 PM – 4 PM Price: $85 Education Track: Pool & Spa, New Business Opportunities
Vinyl Liner Pool, courtesy of J&M Pool Company
82 / equip / Issue 4
Issue 4 / equip / 83
www.equipexposition.com
www.equipexposition.com
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