EDITORIAL Change is Progress

The landscape of the green industry is changing.
 
In October, ValleyCrest Cos. announced that MSD Capital, the private investment firm of Michael S. Dell, founder and chairman of Dell Inc., had obtained a majority ownership interest in the company. The Calabasas, CA-based firm also announced it had acquired two design/build firms and launched a full-service high-end residential business.

Cindy Code

Just before the Green Industry Expo (GIE) last month, Brickman announced it had acquired GroundMasters. The Cincinnati, Ohio-based firm and, in particular its president Michael Rorie, have brought energy to the Midwestern landscape scene for nearly three decades. The purchase provides Brickman with greater influence in seven locations throughout the Ohio Valley.
 
On the supplier side, power equipment companies supplying mowers and hand-held tools to the professional are consolidating. This isn’t unexpected as the industry is saturated with suppliers vying for market share and loyalty among the professional contractor base. Through acquisitions and partnerships, major suppliers hope to foster one-stop shopping from its customers.
 
The talk of the GIE show and Green Industry Conference was the recently announced merger with EXPO, owned and operated by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute. Record numbers of attendees participated in standing room only crowds at the conference portion of the GIC. Lighter crowds walked the indoor GIE trade show reviewing the latest equipment, chemical, hardscape and soft goods product introductions for the landscape market.
 
Conversations throughout the week centered around the desire of suppliers to attend fewer trade shows, yet be exposed to more prospective customers. Contractors want top-notch education, new product offerings and – perhaps most of all – opportunities to network with fellow landscape contractors.
 
The newly merged show – the GIE EXPO – endeavors to be the national show for the landscape industry. Centered in Louisville through 2011, the conference and show is located in the heart of the lawn and landscape industry and touts expansive indoor exhibit space and outdoor demonstration area. The city promotes its easy navigation and hotel and entertainment affordability.
 
As show managers and association executives craft the atmosphere of the new conference and show, we encourage them to promote the dynamism of the professional landscape industry, the intimacy of the well-connected contractor network and the tremendous growth opportunities in both residential and commercial markets.
 
In turn, we also ask the industry itself to be patient, offer suggestions and do whatever it takes to make the newly formed conference and show the best of the best. There’s too much energy, talent and professionalism in this industry for the GIE EXPO to be anything but a success.