Week of 9/22/2008 Q: How will the recent stock market crisis and potential government bailout affect your business?
My customers will spend less money on landscaping services.:
45%
My customers will spend more money on landscaping services.:
0
I will have to tighten by spending budget.:
28%
I expect the credit market to be tight.:
19%
It will have no affect.:
9%
47 Total Responses
Week of 9/15/2008 Q: What customer groups have been asking more and more about greener landscape ideas?
Middle-income residential customers:
29%
High-end residential customers:
29%
Commercial customers:
43%
Government customers:
0
All of the above:
0
None of the above:
0
7 Total Responses
Week of 7/25/2008 Q: What customer groups have been asking more and more about greener/more sustainable landscape ideas?
Middle-income residential customers:
20%
High-end residential customers:
27%
Commercial customers:
10%
Government customers:
43%
51 Total Responses
Week of 7/9/2008 Q: Where do you think the industry stands in terms of being a “green” industry?
We are way behind other industries in our attempts to be greener.:
4%
We are on par with other industries in our attempts to be greener.:
41%
We are way ahead of other industries in our attempts to be greener because we augment, improve and maintain green spaces but we don’t market it well. :
56%
27 Total Responses
Week of 7/1/2008 Q: What does being a “green” business mean, in your opinion?
Incorporating environmentally-friendly internal policies like composting/recycling, reducing fuel consumption/emissions, reducing paper use, etc.:
0
Having services in place that promote green practices, i.e. water saving irrigation systems, proper use of pesticides, green roofs/building, etc. :
5%
Doing what the industry always has done – planting and maintaining trees, shrubs and turf to preserve and enhance the environment:
11%
All of the above:
84%
None of the above:
0
19 Total Responses
Week of 6/23/2008 Q: Which presidential candidate do you think best represents your business' interests?
John McCain:
56%
Barack Obama:
11%
Neither:
33%
9 Total Responses
Week of 6/16/2008 Q: Which presidential candidate do you think best represents your business' interests?
John McCain:
70%
Barack Obama:
20%
Neither:
10%
10 Total Responses
Week of 4/7/2008 Q: How will the high price of fuel affect your spring contracts?
I'll increase the existing fuel surcharge.:
10%
I'll add a new fuel surcharge.:
22%
I'll raise prices in other areas because of fuel.:
48%
I'll step up fuel conservation measures.:
15%
I won't do anything differently.:
6%
124 Total Responses
Week of 1/2/2008 Q: What is your main business focus for 2008?
Attracting new customers:
34%
Keeping current customers:
8%
Finding quality labor:
47%
Adding new services:
3%
Updating the equipment fleet:
3%
Improving employee training:
3%
Better growth control:
2%
Other:
1%
150 Total Responses
Week of 11/6/2007 Q: As a user/supporter of H-2B, what are you doing to ensure the cap exemption will be renewed?
I attended H-2B Fly-ins:
11%
I contacted my representatives in Congress:
28%
I contacted the industry association to learn more:
0
Nothing:
61%
18 Total Responses
Week of 9/12/2007 Q: Do you use alternative fuels in your vehicles or equipment?
Yes - Propane:
6%
Yes - Ethanol:
3%
Yes - Biodesel:
9%
Yes - Other:
0
No:
83%
35 Total Responses
Week of 8/13/2007 Q: Does your company offer safety incentives?
Yes:
9%
No:
52%
We are looking into it:
39%
23 Total Responses
Week of 7/2/2007 Q: What is your company doing to promote Smart Irrigation Month?
Telling customers about smartirrigationmonth.org :
11%
Placing the SIM logo on our Web site:
0
Looking into smart irrigation products:
32%
We don't plan to do anything:
58%
19 Total Responses
Week of 6/4/2007 Q: Has there been any regulatory action toward leaf blowers in your service area?
There is a leaf blower ban.:
9%
There are leaf blower restrictions.:
5%
Leaf blower restrictions are being discussed.:
18%
There are no bans or restrictions.:
68%
22 Total Responses
Week of 5/14/2007 Q: How much do ergonomics features factor in when you're deciding which mower to buy?
Very much:
56%
Somewhat:
33%
Very little:
11%
Not at all :
0
9 Total Responses
Week of 4/30/2007 Q: Does your company use the door-to-door sales method?
Yes - it is successful:
0
Yes - it is not very successful:
30%
No - we used to, but stopped:
20%
No - but we're considering starting:
50%
10 Total Responses
Week of 3/19/2007 Q: How do you think the ServiceMaster buyout will affect the industry?
It could mean more acquisitions/outside investment:
56%
It will make the industry stronger:
14%
It won’t have any effect on the industry :
31%
36 Total Responses
Week of 3/12/2007 Q: How do you price residential maintenance jobs?
Rate is based on crew's daily billable goal:
4%
Educated guess based on cost/production estimates:
57%
Measure yard; base rate on production times:
39%
28 Total Responses
Week of 2/19/2007 Q: What impact will John Deere's acquisition of LESCO have on the quality of service to contractors?
Overall service will improve.:
32%
Overall service will decline.:
32%
Overall service will not change.:
23%
The issue does not impact me.:
13%
47 Total Responses
Week of 2/12/2007 Q: How do you solicit customer feedback?
Host clients for dinner/event and have a forum:
0
Send customer surveys after a service is performed:
35%
Call client after a service is performed:
41%
We don't solicit feedback:
24%
17 Total Responses
Week of 1/15/2007 Q: Do you plan to increase spending on any types of equipment in 2007?
Riding mowers:
14%
Walk-behind mowers:
6%
Skid-steers/construction equipment:
15%
Handheld equipment:
17%
Business software:
9%
Design/build materials and hardscapes:
9%
Plant materials:
8%
Landscape lighting:
5%
Irrigation systems and components:
5%
I don't plan to increase spending:
14%
66 Total Responses
Week of 1/3/2007 Q: How do you purchase your skid-steer loaders?
Rent on an as-needed basis:
18%
Rent to own:
36%
Lease to return; use within lease's limitations:
4%
Finance:
29%
Pay 100 percent of the cost up front:
14%
28 Total Responses
Week of 12/25/2006 Q: Of all the equipment your company has had stolen, what percentage was recovered?
Less than 5%:
77%
5 to 15%:
0
16 to 25%:
4%
26 to 50%:
8%
More than 50%:
12%
26 Total Responses
Week of 12/20/2006 Q: What type of insurance policy do you have in place to cover equipment in the event of a theft?
Inland marine policy:
33%
Equipment floater policy:
11%
Self-insured (exclusive):
44%
Self-insured (with stop-loss policy):
0
Other:
11%
9 Total Responses
Week of 12/11/2006 Q: What method do you use for landscape design?
Hand-drawn:
63%
Computer-aided design (CAD):
14%
CAD and digital imagery:
23%
35 Total Responses
Week of 12/4/2006 Q: What's the biggest issue facing your business right now?
Energy costs:
4%
Equipment costs:
12%
Labor:
62%
Pesticide regulations:
0
Water shortage:
4%
Weather:
8%
Other:
8%
24 Total Responses
Week of 11/13/2006 Q: If you offer landscape lighting, do you collect a design fee?
Yes, we do.:
24%
No, we don't.:
53%
No, but we're thinking about it.:
24%
17 Total Responses
Week of 10/16/2006 Q: If your company offers holiday lighting installation, how did you incorporate it into your business?
We started from scratch.:
85%
We bought a franchise.:
15%
We became members of a supplier organization.:
0
13 Total Responses
Week of 9/25/2006 Q: Has your company been cashing in on the rise in popularity of outdoor kitchens this summer?
We installed a few for the first time this year.:
10%
Yes, and we installed them before this year.:
0
No, no one asked for one.:
35%
We don't offer any service like that.:
55%
20 Total Responses
Week of 9/11/2006 Q: Does your company provide microinjection tree care?
Yes. We perform high-pressure microinjection.:
13%
Yes. We perform low-pressure microinjection.:
9%
No. We offer treecare, but not microinjection.:
22%
No. We do not offer tree care.:
57%
23 Total Responses
Week of 8/21/2006 Q: How is the slowing housing market affecting your business?
It is hurting business.:
11%
It has a slight effect on business.:
16%
It will probably affect business in the near futur:
5%
It has no effect on business.:
68%
19 Total Responses
Week of 7/17/2006 Q: Do you use the H-2B program in your business?
Yes-It's a valuable program for supplemental labor:
14%
Yes-I hope H-2B continues so more will benefit:
3%
No-We get enough help locally, including immigrant:
29%
No-We can find enough American workers locally:
54%
35 Total Responses
Week of 7/3/2006 Q: There is said to be growth in the irrigation industry this year. How is your business faring?
We are growing more than usual.:
45%
We're experiencing steady growth, but not more tha:
18%
Business has been flat.:
36%
We're experiencing a decline in business.:
0
11 Total Responses
Week of 6/19/2006 Q: Of the following, which skid steer attachment are you most likely to use?
Auger:
5%
Backhoe:
15%
Landscape rake:
10%
Pallet fork:
15%
Trencher:
5%
Multi-purpose bucket:
45%
Other:
5%
20 Total Responses
Week of 6/12/2006 Q: What factor matters the most when you are buying handheld equipment?
Weight:
5%
Torque:
14%
Price :
5%
Noise:
76%
21 Total Responses
Week of 6/5/2006 Q: What do you think of the current federal minimum wage rate?
It is slightly low.:
26%
It is way too low.:
21%
It shouldn't be changed.:
53%
47 Total Responses
Week of 5/29/2006 Q: What is your company doing to combat the rising prices of gasoline this season?
We’ve raised prices for 2006.:
50%
Adding fuel surcharges across the board. :
8%
Will add/drop surcharges based on price:
0
Will add/drop surcharges based on price:
0
Raised prices and will add a fuel surchar:
8%
Absorb the costs/not increase prices :
33%
12 Total Responses
Week of 5/22/2006 Q: What feature matters most to you in a riding mower?
Construction/quality:
80%
Ground speed:
0
Deck size:
0
Engine type:
0
Operator comfort:
0
Ease of use:
13%
Cost:
7%
15 Total Responses
Week of 5/15/2006 Q: What times of year do you offer aeration?
Spring:
5%
Fall:
30%
Spring and Fall:
60%
We don't offer aeration:
5%
40 Total Responses
Week of 5/8/2006 Q: Do you follow an equipment and fleet maintenance program?
Yes:
69%
No:
31%
16 Total Responses
Week of 5/1/2006 Q: Do you track maintenance production times?
Yes - on multiple types of equipment/tasks:
50%
Yes - on mowers only:
21%
No, but we're considering it:
7%
No, we don't know how:
0
No, we're not interested:
7%
No, we don't do maintenance:
14%
14 Total Responses
Week of 4/24/2006 Q: Do you conduct site assessments by walking the property with your clients?
Yes, several times a year:
32%
Yes, annually:
16%
We walk the property, but not with the client:
21%
No, but if we notice problems we tell the client:
26%
No, we don't conduct site assessments:
5%
19 Total Responses
Week of 4/17/2006 Q: At what time of day do you load your trucks with equipment and materials?
First thing in the morning - when crews come in:
71%
Late afternoon/evening - before crews go home:
29%
Overnight - our second-shift workers load trucks:
0
24 Total Responses
Week of 4/10/2006 Q: Of the following, what type of technology is most important to your business?
E-mail:
25%
Business software (accounting, routing, etc.):
19%
Design software:
0
Cell phone/two-way communication:
50%
PDA/hand-held computer:
0
Digital camera:
0
Other:
0
None - we're very paper-based:
6%
16 Total Responses
Week of 4/3/2006 Q: What type of advertising/customer communication generates the most leads for your company?
Direct mail:
11%
Door-to-door soliciting/door hangers:
4%
Home and garden shows/public displays:
0
Word-of-mouth:
78%
Internet:
0
Print advertising (newspaper, magazines):
4%
TV or radio commercials:
0
Telemarketing:
0
Other:
4%
27 Total Responses
Week of 3/27/2006 Q: Do you support H-2B reform?
Yes – our company needs legal foreign labor:
7%
Yes - we don't use H-2B, but it's still important:
53%
No - total immigration reform is more important:
40%
Not sure:
0
15 Total Responses
Week of 3/20/2006 Q: How important are builder confidence and the housing market to your business?
Very - we follow the housing market closely:
14%
Quite a bit - homebuyers buy our services:
24%
Somewhat – new construction creates new clients:
43%
Not at all – homebuilders/buyers don’t interest us:
19%
21 Total Responses
Week of 3/13/2006 Q: What new add-on service are you most likely to add this spring?
Aeration:
8%
Landscape lighting:
14%
Perimeter pest control:
6%
Mosquito control:
8%
Tree/shrub pruning:
8%
Water features:
6%
Synthetic putting greens:
3%
Other:
22%
None - we're happy with our service menu:
25%
36 Total Responses
Week of 3/6/2006 Q: Are you familiar with 'Lean Management?'
Yes, we're very focused on Lean in our business.:
5%
Yes, we use some Lean principles at work:
21%
Yes, but we don’t incorporate the principles:
11%
No, but we’re interested in learning about it:
58%
No, and we’re not interested in learning about it:
5%
19 Total Responses
Week of 2/27/2006 Q: Follow-Up Poll: Association Health Plan legislation is pending. How does your company see the bill?
Yes - Our industry needs AHPs; we’d join right awa:
21%
We would join, but it’s only a temporary fix:
5%
Not sure - we’re unfamiliar with AHPs:
58%
We’d only join after the program showed success:
0
Our insurance is reasonable – we don’t need an AHP:
11%
It won’t work, we won’t join:
5%
19 Total Responses
Week of 2/20/2006 Q: What percent profit do you try to achieve on residential irrigation installation?
Less than 5 percent:
21%
6 to 10 percent:
6%
11 to 15 percent:
15%
16 to 20 percent:
15%
21 to 25 percent:
15%
More than 25 percent:
29%
34 Total Responses
Week of 2/13/2006 Q: How often do you work with subcontractors?
Frequently - We subcontract most of our work:
3%
Regularly - We sub at least one service:
26%
Occassionally - On special services we don't offer:
44%
Rarely - Only at our best clients' request:
15%
Never - If we don't offer it, we don't offer it:
12%
34 Total Responses
Week of 2/6/2006 Q: How do you feel about Punxsutawny Phil's prediction of six more weeks of winter?
