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PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Gravely is on the road again, hosting business education programs for landscape contractors at nine of its dealerships across the country. Part of an initiative to bolster industry business knowledge, the string of seminars, tagged Gravely on Tour, kicked off in the fall and made its fifth stop in Philadelphia, Pa., on Feb. 19.
“The program helps dealers develop relationships with contractors,” emphasized Carol Dilger, corporate marketing services manager for Gravely, an Ariens Co., Brillion, Wis.
The program focuses on how contractors can “make money in landscape contracting,” and industry consultant Kevin Kehoe offers attendees nuts-and-bolts information on setting a budget, improving productivity, creating an organizational chart based on operational needs and ways to motivate employees with incentive and bonus programs. Contractors in Maple Glen, Pa., scribbled notes and raised their eyebrows at profitability suggestions – light bulbs went off and the group nodded in agreement at peer comments like “People are afraid to charge for service rendered.”
And David Lightkep, their dealer, knows this is just one of the business issues his commercial customers face today.
The owner of David H. Lightkep Lawn Care Equipment hosted the Gravely program for more than 30 of his contractor customers who expressed interest in developing their businesses. And growth for the contractors means growth for Lightkep.
“It’s really to partner with dealers and to provide them with a method to help contractors, and helping contractors ultimately means more business for the dealers,” Dilger added.
So far, Gravely on Tour has stopped at Tampa, Fla., Dayton, Ohio, Birmingham, Ala., and Philadelphia, Pa., with two additional programs planned in Michigan and one in Minnesota. Positive feedback from dealers and contractors helped secure 10 dates next year, Dilger added, noting that the Birmingham seminar at Southland Engine attracted nearly 100 participants.
“The dealers are helping contractors help their businesses,” Dilger said simply.
The author is a Contributing Editor to Lawn & Landscape magazine and can be reached at khampshire@lawnandlandscape.com.