STIHL signed a multi-year sponsorship agreement as the official handheld outdoor power equipment of author, television personality and garden designer P. Allen Smith. Through television and print media, Smith demonstrates how homeowners can blend key elements of a house and garden to create a stylish, unified living space.
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“We are excited to be embarking on this relationship with someone whose environmental values align with STIHL values, while also gaining an opportunity to affiliate our brand with such a notable gardening expert as P. Allen Smith,” says Peter Burton, vice president of sales and marketing for STIHL. “It was a mutual choice, and we are looking forward to a long relationship.”
P. Allen Smith shares his thoughts on the STIHL partnership, sustainable landscapes and the importance of consumer education with Lawn & Landscape.
L&L: Describe your partnership with STIHL and how you and the company will work together.
P.A.S: It’s a pleasure to partner with STIHL because it has a solid reputation for providing reliable, consumer-friendly handheld power equipment. I have used the company’s equipment in my landscaping work for more than 25 years and appreciate its innovative, environmentally conscious products and ongoing efforts to support educational programs. I’ll be using STIHL products in all the projects that I tape and photograph for my television shows, Web features, magazine articles and books so consumers can see these products in action.
L&L: Explain some of the projects you’ve worked on together, such as the Tree Research Education and Endowment Fund’s Tour des Trees and the National FFA’s Nursery and Landscaping Career Developing Event.
P.A.S: In July, I exchanged my wheelbarrow for a bicycle in honor of the Tree Research Education and Endowment Fund’s annual bike ride, an event that helps raise awareness about the importance of urban and community trees and forests. I had a great time interviewing people and filming tree planting projects along the way. I also included highlights from the trip in my weekly newsletter.
In October, I attended the National FFA Convention and took part in several Nursery and Landscaping Career Development activities. It was a great event with thousands of young men and women in attendance. I enjoyed taking part in some of the testing and demonstrations that were part of the convention, and it was encouraging to see what bright and talented young leaders will soon be involved in the green industry.
L&L: Why do you think it’s important to spread a message of environmental sustainability to homeowner and consumer audiences?
P.A.S: We all need to do our part to improve environmental conditions, but homeowners who garden and enjoy taking care of their lawns and landscapes have special roles to play because they work with the soil, climate and plant life in a very up-close and personal way. These homeowners are in good positions to set examples for everyone and to remind us that we all rely on clean air, water and fertile soils.
Urban gardens and landscapes are important places to practice environmental sustainability because they offer the greatest day-to-day interaction with what a "green" community can be. It is the trees, the grass, the flowers and the urban landscapes that will be the biggest reminder of that connection. We need to pay attention to those things so future generations can have access to the same or better quality of natural resources we enjoy today.
L&L: Do you think the growing popularity of outdoor living and do-it-yourself projects has inspired consumers to be more environmentally conscious?
P.A.S: Anyone who works in the outdoors is more aware of nature’s systems. However, consumers are looking for guidance to interact with nature in ways that are beneficial to them and the environment. We all have choices to make in the products we use and the ways those products affect the environment. I think people want to engage with the outdoors in ways that won’t harm nature, but they are busy and need good information from trusted experts so they can make wise choices.
L&L: A press release mentioned you are popular among “women viewers and gardening enthusiasts.” Do you think your partnership with STIHL will help you reach new audiences, such as landscape contractors?
P.A.S: I welcome a wider audience reach through my identification with STIHL products. Certainly landscape contractors who identify with the STIHL brand will see me as a partner in their businesses. After all, I am a landscape designer, so I understand their professional need for clear information and reliable equipment. When I’m working on a design, I want to focus my efforts on the creative elements of the job and not worry about fixing or replacing broken equipment, so I understand and share the need for reliable, long-lasting tools.
L&L: What techniques or tips can you suggest to landscape contractors to better sell and/or promote to their clients the idea of creating a stylish, unified living space?
P.A.S: Homeowners are interested in expanding their living spaces, but often need assistance in transforming areas around their homes into inviting settings. It’s important for the landscape contractor to find out what activities their clients enjoy so they can develop spaces that are designed for those purposes.
Another consideration is choosing materials that match the architecture of the home and the client’s interior decor so the outdoor living areas look and feel like extensions of the home. No matter the size or style of the area, I’ve discovered that there are some key design elements that are found in all memorable landscapes. By being aware of these principles and weaving them into the landscape, you can create beautiful outdoor settings your clients will see as valuable additions to their homes.
L&L: One of the main messages the green industry is trying to promote is that landscape professionals are stewards of the outdoors. Is enough being done by individual contractors to promote this? And if not, what can the individual professional do to convey this message to clients?
P.A.S: We can all do more to educate our customers about ways to make environmentally sensitive choices. If we all strive to use products and practices that meet the needs of today’s clients without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs then we’ll be well on our way to being good stewards. Since many landscape professionals must rely on gasoline driven equipment, I’d urge them to set good examples by using tools that are energy efficient, low-emission and operate quietly.
L&L: With the recent attention placed on the drought and water restrictions, landscape options such as smart irrigation systems and intelligent outdoor designs are being seen in a much different light. How can contractors better portray their role in this movement and increase their involvement?
P.A.S: Contractors need to be proactive in the approach to this issue. Many clients aren’t aware of the options they have when faced with long dry spells. This is an opportunity for contractors to revisit previous clients as well as encourage new clients to take steps to drought-proof their landscapes. Both could benefit from information about ways to concentrate heavy water use areas by constructing raised beds and using containers with smart irrigation systems. There are some great new options for rain water harvesting and catchment pools that would benefit homeowners. Using native plants that are more drought-tolerant and mulch that conserves moisture are ways you can help your clients’ landscapes survive extreme dry spells.