Any of you who have met me in person know I’m a short, plump middle aged lady.  Over the years I’ve probably lost and gained hundreds of pounds.  Who knew they were worth anything?  Well, to my surprise and satisfaction, a consulting client of mine recently assured me that my $300/hour fee for advising her by phone was a "bargain.  Barb, you are worth your weight in gold".  Wow!  Worth my weight in gold. 

Then, I thought about our conversation.  How she was perplexed about her company and its direction.  Should she do this, or that?  Hire a salesperson or do it herself? What would that cost and what were the returns she coud expect, What about bringing in a partner?  Do exterior?  Lease or sell her Holiday Decor?  Go to every other week maintenance?  Use Joeys on all new accounts?  You get the idea.

After an hour on the phone, we put together a great plan.  Going forward she had a map that she could begin to implement.  She was full of direction and ways to make her dream happen.  Heck, that one phone call will probably put thousands of dollars into her pocket.  She felt great and, so did I.  Boy, I love what I do.

So, the question for today is: "When Should I hire a consultant?"

There are several ways to hire a consultant for your interiorscape company.  First, figure out what are the areas that need an experienced eye.  Do you need tech training?  A few key tipoffs that this is the case is if you are experiencing high replacements.  Sometimes a day with an expert like Linnaea Newman (linnaea@frontiernet.net) is a company life changing experience.  She wil show techs proper watering techniques, pruning, how to make plants last longer on jobs, how to care for equipment and so on.  Now, I can just hear you saying that you can do that, that they already know that.  Un Huh.  Sometimes it takes an outsider to get their attention.  Anyway, I’ve had people tell me the skills their techs picked up saved them thousands. 

Now I know that you can find trainers and training sessions at some of our seminars, PIA, Mid Atlantic, TPIE , etc. and, I agree, they do a great job.  However, sometimes the one on one stuff is best.  All of it works, just different degrees of wonderful.  And, if you need advice on other areas of the business you can always call me (barbhelfman@aol.com).  Just make sure whomever you call, have your questions thought out and pen and paper handyby.  Now go out there and get em, Tigers.

FYI.  The Mid Atlantic Landscape Tecnicians Symposium at Longwood Gardens in conjunction with PFIA is March the 26th.  Log on to www.pafloral.org for more info.

If you logged on to the link in my prior blog, you’ve seen some interesting information, to be sure.  As a way of background, Steve Foster is an interiorplantscaper in the Miami, FL area.  He has an understanding of the industry, computer skills, and an enquiring mind.  The data is an interesting snapshot of a group of industry companies.   Look for more from Steve in the future and I’m sure he would love to hear your comments and suggestions.  Steve@Fosterplants.com.

What’s the starting pay scale for technicians? 

Have business licenses? 

 Had to go to my local Urgent Care this past weekend.  While I was waiting my choice of reading material was either a Newsweek mag that was dated May ‘08 or something called Senior Living.  I chose, out of curiosity, Senior Living.  Imagine my surprise to find that it was a local piece with all the names of Assited Living, Retirement Communities and other residential options available in my County.  Each listing came complete with addresses, names of a contact and a phone number, web address and so on. 

Now, if I were selling interiorscaping to these properties, this is a gem.  Suggest you swing by your local Urgent Care or similar venue and pick up one.  Let me know if it helps.

Went  to the bank the other day, Feb.25th, and on the teller counter…a still-living poinsettia!  And on the bank officers desk.  And on the coffee table.  Then, I stopped at a local restaurant and, you guessed it..another one!  Now, mind you, there were only a few bracts visible, but, there they were,  Devil Plants.  Kinda like finding a spath living in the desert.

So, what does this have to do with anything?  Maybe, just maybe, inspite of all that is going on in the economy, we should think of ourselves like these remnants of Holiday Past.  We are the survivors.  And, even though the Holidays are months away, how would you like an inexpensive variation of the Joey Pouch created just for Poinsettia and Blooming?

Well, inventor Joe is working on it and it should be announced this summer.  Just think.  One change of poinsettias lasts for all 6 plus weeks.  Watering once per week or longer!  Reusable.  A ’scapers dream and a surefire way to help lower our costs.  Stay tuned as we work on this industry changing innovation.  And, just a heads up.  As you quote Poinsettia for Holiday proposals, do NOT quote so much per point delivered (the old 2 changes).  Instead, quote so much per "spot" and use the two point formula.  Do not commit to a number but, instead, the resulting look.  That way you will be charging as if there were two when you will need only one.

Just thought you would want to know.  Barb