ATLANTA – Selective Designs, a boutique landscape design firm in south Atlanta, has made a consistent effort throughout the "great recession" to partner with other companies in the landscaping and outdoor living industries. As an Atlanta landscape architect company in its relative infancy, Selective Designs has maintained consistent growth through a growing reputation as a talented high-end outdoor living firm with a high-end finished product.
With several large-scale residential projects currently in progress, Selective Designs is finding that their long-term business relationships are paying dividends in terms of overall quality and keeping the bottom line down for the client.
"We are in a highly competitive industry in the metro Atlanta area," says Selective Designs president, Atlanta landscape designer Shane LeBlanc. "As the housing market suffered so did the landscaping and outdoor living industry. By aligning ourselves with other businesses we are not only able to reduce cost for clients but also elevate the quality of our finished product."
Selective Designs has grown to the point where 90 percent of their Atlanta landscape design jobs are done in-house. Despite the high volume of work completed by Selective Designs in house, LeBlanc makes sure that the 10 percent of work that is subcontracted holds up to the same high end standards.
Selective Designs is currently working with Innovative Pools and Spas on three full scale backyard renovations. "We come up with unique ideas for our clients that demand a high attention to detail," says LeBlanc. "Our work sells itself but we can't be the best at everything. When we design a pool that goes above and beyond our abilities, Selective Designs will partner with Innovative Irrigation so that we can rely on their expertise as pool builders."
To many, it may seem backwards for an Atlanta landscape architect to give business to other companies within the highly competitive Atlanta landscape design and outdoor living industry. However, LeBlanc views the business relationships as nothing more than smart business. "When someone hires Selective Designs, they expect A+ work," says LeBlanc. "Sub-par work on 1 percent of a project can tarnish the other 99 percent."