Out in the cold. Seasonality is a perennial and fundamental challenge for our industry. It drives our reliance on short-term credit and our struggle to maintain full-time staff. So what's the answer? Should you be aggressively pursuing new markets, or turning off the tap on spending?This month we look at increasing income, cutting expenses, and the tough realities of cutting hours and layoffs.
How are you managing winter cash flow?
One size does NOT fit all. It would be nice if there was a simple answer. Plow snow, sell bird feeders, or just shutter the doors. The reality is that a winter cash flow
strategy needs to fit your market, your customers and the particulars of your climate. We asked some of the country's top consultants to
get strategic about winter cash flow.
From houseplant sitting to holiday lighting, retail, landscape, distribution and growing operations are constantly searching for new ways to bring in income during the slow winter months. Whether the goal is to retain key staff, hold off on accessing your line of credit or maximizing use of your assets,
how are you driving winter sales?
Retaining staff isn't just good business, for many owners it is a personal commitment they make to the team they work with each and every day. Winter layoffs are a reality for many green industry firms – a reality that has increased with the tight economy. How do you take care of your staff through the winter months to guarantee that you'll have an experienced, qualified team when spring returns?
| STAFFING STRATEGIES: Chirstensen's Plant Center says it pays to get your workers paid in the winter. |
 |
Christensen's Plant Center of MI uses a unique government program to guarantee compensation and benefits for their seasonal workers during**MORE**
|
| STAFFING STRATEGIES: Buddy, can you lend me a driver? Burnett's Landscaping matches their labor supply with winter demand at other businesses. |
|
Burnett's Landscaping does the winter job hunt for their employees and keeps them coming back in the spring with an**MORE**
|
| STAFFING STRATEGIES: Southwood keeps their staff warm and employed by starting a greenhouse growing division. |
|
Southwood nurseries has increased their ability to retain staff by adding a growing operation to their retail business.
|
| STAFFING STRATEGIES:Teach a man to fish...Kent Fullmer enables his employees to save up for the winter. |
|
Fullmer's Landscaping created an employee savings program to help seasonal workers get through the off season.
|
Whether saved or earned, every dollar counts during the cold months of winter. Our strategic experts got tactical with some ready-to-use ideas for getting through the slow season and ready to be off and running
when spring returns.
You always ignored this section in your textbooks, or at the end of serious business articles. But this is good stuff! Our industry’s trade press provides more great ideas, and further exploration of the what’s and how-to’s.
Through their exceptional commitment to ANLA’s educational programming, two companies have become founding members of ANLA’s Premier Partner’s Circle. Novalis and AM Leonard believe that providing you access to education and knowledge makes you a stronger company and therefore a better customer, and builds a solid future for our industry. ANLA encourages you to support those companies who underwrite your success. Take a moment to find out more about our Premier Partners.
Further Reading: As the year closes, make sure taxes don't eat up your profits