Take a look at our December newsletter!
The Landscaper’s Guide to Modern Sales and Marketing Newsletter
DECEMBER 2025
Inside Stuart Ward’s Winning Strategy THE VISIONARY BEHIND BUCKHEAD LANDSCAPE DESIGN’S AWARD-WINNING SUCCESS
I’ve always believed that real leadership in the green industry has never been about having the biggest crews or flashiest equipment. It’s about clarity, process, and the courage to lead from the front. And this year, one landscape business owner stood out as the perfect example.
in their sales pipeline. He laid out how his Atlanta-based company built a simple, repeatable sales system that improved close rates, boosted accountability, and made scaling his business possible. But what I respect most is why he did it. Stuart is working to build something sustainable, not just profitable. As he transitions ownership to his son at the end of this year, he’s leaving behind a company that runs on clarity rather than guesswork. He told the audience, “A clear, repeatable sales process gives you the freedom to grow with confidence.” And that is the essence of leadership: no theoreticals and no generic business topics, just actionable insights that streamline organizations and bring results. Stuart was competing with the best. This was no easy vote. Our other finalists, Michael Fisher from Dutchies Stoneworks & Outdoor Living and Dominick DePadre from Tri Valley Landscaping , brought serious heat to the event. Michael shared “From Price-Shoppers to Premium Clients: How a High-Converting Website Transformed Our Sales.” His strategy for filtering out low-quality leads and attracting high-value outdoor living clients was a masterclass in positioning. Then Dominick followed with “Building a Culture That Fuels Growth,” showing how his team-first approach created loyalty and retention that most companies only dream of. Competition and awards aside, these guys elevated the entire conversation about what modern leadership looks like in landscaping. Every finalist joined us here in Colorado for Winner’s Week , where we dug into mastermind sessions, business strategy workshops, and video shoots with our Landscaper’s Guide production team. Watching these
I’m talking about Stuart Ward of Buckhead Landscape Design , the newly crowned 2025 Landscape Leader of the Year .
This wasn’t a closed-door award handed out by a committee of people who don’t have a clue about what it takes to run a landscaping business. It happened live, in front of a real audience during our annual Landscape Leader of the Year livestream , broadcast from our Ramblin Jackson Video Studio here in Lyons, Colorado. Three powerhouse business owners presented their most effective “What’s Working Now” strategies. The audience voted live , and Stuart took home the title, the Landscape Leader Championship Belt, and a $500 donation to his charity of choice, the Humane Society.
Stuart’s presentation, “Defining and Developing an Effective Sales Process,” hit home for every owner who’s ever felt trapped by chaos
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Read It in Your Truck on a Rainy Day
RING THE BELL SPOTLIGHT
Rich Green Lawns’ 274% Growth Proves Simple Sells CLEAR MESSAGING HELPED CASH IN ON FALL CAMPAIGNS
At Ramblin Jackson, we love ringing the bell when one of our clients smashes a major win, and this fall, Rich Green Lawns gave us plenty to celebrate. They’re already a trusted lawn care name across New Jersey, known for reliability, expertise, and keeping their clients’ yards looking top-notch. But when it came to email marketing? Their message wasn’t cutting through the noise. Enter Robert Felton, our Director of Client Strategy. In a focused strategy session, he helped Eric Lehmann and his team remove the jargon and sharpen the message for their fall overseeding campaign. “We focused too much on industry jargon before,” Eric admitted. “Robert helped us make the email easier to read and more consumer-friendly. The difference was incredible.”
And incredible is an understatement. Their revamped email campaign drove over $75,000 in new sales in just one week, a 274% increase over the same week last year. That’s right: an almost triple boost, all from leads they already had in their system. No magic tricks, no crazy ad spend; just smart, clear messaging and a well- timed seasonal offer. The win proves what we’ve always said: the right marketing partner can change everything . It’s not just about crafting emails that look good; it’s about creating campaigns that speak directly to your customers, align with their needs, and make taking action irresistible. “Robert streamlined our message and made it flow,” Eric said. “It was simple, but it was powerful. And the results speak for themselves.” At Ramblin Jackson, helping landscape business owners hit these milestones is exactly why we do what we do. Whether it’s refining your brand message, designing a high-converting email sequence, or building a campaign that turns leads into measurable sales, we’re here to make it happen. Want your business in the next Ring the Bell Spotlight? Check out our services at RamblinJackson.com/services and see what your marketing can do when tuned for real results.
The SPEAR Email Advantage
Turn ‘Maybe Later’ Into ‘Let’s Do It’ With One Email
Don’t wait for spring to start selling. Send a SPEAR today. If you’re already a Ramblin Jackson client, your Landscape Marketing
Winter isn’t downtime. If you saw how Rich Green Lawn skyrocketed sales by 274% , you already know the power of a smart email strategy. Now it’s your turn. Email keeps you top-of-mind with past customers, warms cold leads, and turns “maybe later” into “let’s do it now.” Our favorite no-nonsense move? The SPEAR email: Short, Personal, Expecting A Reply . It’s one sentence that opens doors: “Did you know we can install your patio in January? Want details? Reply and we’ll lock in an opening and a seasonal offer.” Fast, direct, and shockingly effective.
Guide is ready to help. New here? Book a 15-minute marketing brainstorm call to see how we can turbocharge your email strategy this winter by visiting RamblinJackson.com/services or scanning the QR code provided.
Plant now. Harvest big later. Your spring success starts in December.
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Read It in Your Tru
Schedule a 15-minute Marketing Brainstorm with one of our Landscape Marketing Assistants. In just 15 minutes, they will: • Offer game-changing feedback on your marketing ideas. • Find gaps in your existing campaigns. • Discuss your best marketing strategy. • Share next steps for success! This is a quick, easy, no-pressure call — and we’ll even send you beef jerky or candied almonds for your time. Visit LandscapersGuide.com/brainstorm to schedule your Marketing Brainstorm today. Ready to Level Up Your Marketing and Get More Hell Yes Customers?
UPCOMING EVENTS
Fireside Chat: Ask Jack Anything About
Sales & Marketing Dec. 11, 10–11 a.m. MT Free Virtual Q&A
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owners share openly, learn from one another, and sharpen their vision reminded me why I started Ramblin Jackson in the first place: to help landscape businesses grow through clarity, consistency, and powerful storytelling. If you take one thing from this year’s competition, let it be this: You can’t scale what you can’t repeat. The top landscape leaders, aka the ones winning back their time, their margins, and their peace of mind, are the ones who systemize success.
Bach Business Partners (BBP) Sales and Leadership Event LandsCape Cod Conference Jan. 13–14, 2026 • Hyannis, MA
Stuart Ward proved that with a clean, consistent sales process, you can grow your business and your legacy at the same time. Want to learn how he did it? Watch our podcast episode with Stuart at LandscapersGuide.com/ podcast or scan the QR code!
Feb. 16–20, 2026 Amelia Island, FL
Congratulations again to Stuart and to every landscape business owner out there who is putting in the work to lead their teams forward. Keep sharpening your edge. You could be the next Landscape Leader of the Year.
LandscapersGuide.com/events
JACK JOSTES, CEO RAMBLIN JACKSON
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PO Box 1429 • Lyons, CO 80540 (303) 544-2125 • RamblinJackson.com
1 Stuart Ward Crowned 2025 Landscape Leader of the Year 2 Ring the Bell Spotlight: Rich Green Lawns’ $75K Fall Email Win 2 Fill Your Calendar Before the Frost Melts 3 Upcoming Events 4 The Secret Weapon in Your SEO Strategy? Meet Kevin Kawa INSIDE
Quality. Consistency. Results. MEET KEVIN, THE SEO POWERHOUSE BEHIND YOUR LANDSCAPE MARKETING SUCCESS
sales and production drift apart . Promises get lost in translation. Expectations don’t match delivery. That’s not how we roll. Our founder often says, “Client happiness comes from doing what you say you’re going to do.” That’s not just a motto, it’s our mission. So, here’s to Kevin and seven years of dedication, innovation, and true Ramblin spirit. He’s helped us evolve, sharpen our processes, and build the kind of consistency that earns long-term client trust. And if you’re a landscaping business ready to grow with a team that truly walks the talk, Ramblin Jackson is here to help you align your marketing, sales, and production for real results.
At Ramblin Jackson, we believe success isn’t just about ranking higher on Google; it’s about building a team that delivers what it promises. And few people embody that spirit more than our Senior Local SEO Strategist, Kevin Kawa , who just hit a major milestone: Seven years with the company, or as we proudly call it, his 7-Year Ramblerversary . If you’re a Ramblin Jackson client, chances are Kevin has worked on your SEO, even if you didn’t know it. Behind the scenes, he’s been driving strategy, testing new ideas, and ensuring our clients’ local search rankings rise above the noise. Recently, Kevin sat down with our Director of Client Strategy, Robert Felton , for a one- on-one that went beyond the usual check- in. He challenged Robert to “sell me SEO
like you would sell a client.” That moment sparked a deep realignment between our sales, marketing, and production teams, and that’s exactly what makes Ramblin Jackson stand out. That conversation highlighted something we care deeply about: consistency and quality . Right now, our company-wide focus is on elevating quality, strengthening communication, and improving customer satisfaction. And we know the key to achieving that isn’t just better tools or faster processes; it’s alignment. Our current focus? Raising the bar on quality and client experience. We’re doubling down on doing what we say we’ll do and ensuring every department speaks the same language. Because too often, businesses suffer when
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