Talkin’ Up The Industry

“… You’re listening to ‘The Green Industry Talk Show.’ This is the place where we bridge the gap between every single type of green industry professional out there.”

That greeting, uttered by radio personality Nick Federoff, signals the start of another segment of “The Green Industry Talk Show” – an industry-focused audio program that is working its way into the weekly schedules of thousands of landscape contractors throughout the nation.

The show is offered in four 15-minute segments every week, featuring green industry news and advice – plus insightful chats with industry experts. The dial-up program, which can be accessed online or by phone, is a mix of convenience and innovation because it allows listeners to sign in whenever they have the time.

Federoff, who was a landscape professional before shifting his career focus toward the microphone, launched the show in mid-January and has seen its success grow steadily ever since. And the California native credits part of the program’s rising fame to his own background in the green business.

Prior to joining the radio realm, Federoff was in the landscape maintenance business. Through an unusual string of events, the contractor found himself hosting a radio show. Now, 14 years later, Federoff is the host of two national award-winning radio shows titled “Nick Federoff on Gardening” and the “Things Green Garden Minute.”

But his latest endeavor, “The Green Industry Talk Show,” is a mix of Federoff’s own industry experience and the advice of experts interviewed on the program. The radioman said the show’s combination of industry news, views and interviews has been a real hit.

“Never in my life would I have thought this industry talk show would take off like it did,” Federoff beamed. “The results have been more than phenomenal.”

Approximately 4,000 users plug into the talk show each week via the Internet, and nearly 800 dial into the program by phone.”

The talk show was first only available online at AdviceRadio.com, but Federoff and others saw telephones and cell phones as other promising avenues to get listeners connected. After a month of online-only access to the new show, a telephone service was added. Listeners can now access the audio files by calling 615/727-9201. The access code is 800/405-6425. After selecting option No. 1, listeners can choose from four segments: 1127, 1129, 1732 and 1733.

And, actually, the radio host is sure this change has made “The Green Industry Talk Show” to the entire green industry – since a significant majority of industry professionals own cell phones, which often feature free nationwide long-distance calling plans.

“We are doing whatever it takes to get the green industry information to those whom which to educate themselves on current trends, legislation, marketing and more,” Federoff said of the added telephone service. “You can still access us through AdviceRadio.com. However, the approach offers flexibility for those who want to take us on the road or may not have audio on their computer.”

The author is Assistant Editor-Internet of Lawn & Landscape magazine and can be reached at aanderson@lawnandlandscape.com.