Landscape Pros Share Their Business Plans for 2021
Adding staff, investing in marketing and staying flexible are ways landscape pros are ramping up for the year
Many of us feel glad to have 2020 behind us and hope that 2021 will be a better year. Recently, we spoke with landscape design and building pros about the changes they’re making to their businesses this year — and the lessons last year taught them. Read on to find out what they shared, then please share your own plans for 2021 in the Comments.
2. Tackling Projects From the Waitlist
Pro: Kathryn Prideaux of Prideaux Design
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Top takeaway from 2020. “[Video meeting tools] have actually been incredibly efficient and productive. It just makes so much more sense to do this rather than spend half of our day driving to home sites. We still do site checks during construction, of course, but the design process is actually quite effective using online tools and formats to share and discuss drawings and ideas.” (Houzz Pro subscribers can use its Video Meetings tool to collaborate with clients remotely.)
Business tactic for 2021. “We have been maintaining a waitlist that will carry us into 2021. We didn’t want to turn clients away outright, so we are pleased that many potential projects were able to wait for us.”
Pro: Kathryn Prideaux of Prideaux Design
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Top takeaway from 2020. “[Video meeting tools] have actually been incredibly efficient and productive. It just makes so much more sense to do this rather than spend half of our day driving to home sites. We still do site checks during construction, of course, but the design process is actually quite effective using online tools and formats to share and discuss drawings and ideas.” (Houzz Pro subscribers can use its Video Meetings tool to collaborate with clients remotely.)
Business tactic for 2021. “We have been maintaining a waitlist that will carry us into 2021. We didn’t want to turn clients away outright, so we are pleased that many potential projects were able to wait for us.”
3. Preparing for a Fast Business Pace
Pro: Jay Sifford of Jay Sifford Garden Design
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
Top takeaway from 2020. “2020 has taught me that I have to believe in myself and my mission more than ever. Clinging to that belief helped me through the emotionally turbulent times of spring 2020.”
Business tactics for 2021. “I’m planning on moving forward at a brisk pace in 2021. I’ve just purchased two new trucks and hired three new employees. If times slow, I’ll have the opportunity to thin out the most unproductive employees from my group.”
Pro: Jay Sifford of Jay Sifford Garden Design
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
Top takeaway from 2020. “2020 has taught me that I have to believe in myself and my mission more than ever. Clinging to that belief helped me through the emotionally turbulent times of spring 2020.”
Business tactics for 2021. “I’m planning on moving forward at a brisk pace in 2021. I’ve just purchased two new trucks and hired three new employees. If times slow, I’ll have the opportunity to thin out the most unproductive employees from my group.”
4. Booking Landscape Contractors Well Ahead of Time
Pro: James Drzewiecki of Ginkgo Leaf Studio
Location: Cedarburg, Wisconsin
Top takeaway from 2020. “I am really proud that [the other landscape designer in my firm] and I were able to handle working separately for about three months without losing a lot of ground in terms of getting projects done. We are prepared to work remotely if the need should ever arise again.”
New approach for 2021. “We are actually pre-scheduling our design clients with our landscape contractors for the spring of 2021, which is new for us. We are [also] considering using a part-time person to help us with our backlog of work.”
Pro: James Drzewiecki of Ginkgo Leaf Studio
Location: Cedarburg, Wisconsin
Top takeaway from 2020. “I am really proud that [the other landscape designer in my firm] and I were able to handle working separately for about three months without losing a lot of ground in terms of getting projects done. We are prepared to work remotely if the need should ever arise again.”
New approach for 2021. “We are actually pre-scheduling our design clients with our landscape contractors for the spring of 2021, which is new for us. We are [also] considering using a part-time person to help us with our backlog of work.”
5. Designing New Outdoor Products
Pro: Elizabeth Przygoda-Montgomery of Boxhill
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Top takeaway from 2020. “Pivot, pivot and pivot again. Be flexible and honest with clients with lead times on products and installation times. Most people are understanding when you are honest with them about what is going on.”
Business plans for 2021. “We are working on some new product lines with a few companies for outdoor fire pit designs and have designed a few fiberglass pool inserts with another company.”
Pro: Elizabeth Przygoda-Montgomery of Boxhill
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Top takeaway from 2020. “Pivot, pivot and pivot again. Be flexible and honest with clients with lead times on products and installation times. Most people are understanding when you are honest with them about what is going on.”
Business plans for 2021. “We are working on some new product lines with a few companies for outdoor fire pit designs and have designed a few fiberglass pool inserts with another company.”
6. Improving the Firm’s Online Presence
Pro: Catherine Bosler of Bosler Earth Design
Location: Los Angeles
Top takeaway from 2020. “Be safe, thoughtful and continue to work hard.”
Business tactic for 2021. “Refreshing our website design for 2021 is in our plans.”
(If you’re also looking to improve your online presence, you might check out Houzz Pro. Pros who subscribe to Houzz Pro can get a website built and managed by Houzz as part of their subscription.)
More for Pros on Houzz
Read more stories for pros
Learn about Houzz Pro software
See more resources for pros in Houzz Pro Learn
Talk with your peers in the Pro-to-Pro discussions
Join the Houzz Trade Program
Pro: Catherine Bosler of Bosler Earth Design
Location: Los Angeles
Top takeaway from 2020. “Be safe, thoughtful and continue to work hard.”
Business tactic for 2021. “Refreshing our website design for 2021 is in our plans.”
(If you’re also looking to improve your online presence, you might check out Houzz Pro. Pros who subscribe to Houzz Pro can get a website built and managed by Houzz as part of their subscription.)
More for Pros on Houzz
Read more stories for pros
Learn about Houzz Pro software
See more resources for pros in Houzz Pro Learn
Talk with your peers in the Pro-to-Pro discussions
Join the Houzz Trade Program
Pro: John Algozzini of KD Landscape
Location: Chicago
Top takeaway from 2020. “Be prepared for all scenarios!”
Business tactic for 2021. “We have embarked on new marketing services and also added a landscape architect to staff this year. Clearly, our view is that we will have a sustained, if not enhanced, volume of business in 2021.”