We receive thousands of phone calls each year, and a significant number of them are from pond owners and pond-service companies who are struggling to keep a pond clear and beautiful. This is so sad, because they are being robbedMore…
Friendly Front Lines
Customer service etiquette winners and losers
Business owners and managers spend a great deal of time managing a long list of business functions and directional planning to ensure success. Every year, every month, every day they invest hard-earned capital in products, services, equipment, staffing, training andMore…
When Things Get Heated: Communicating effectively with a rude or angry customer
It’s just a fact of life that if you have customers, at some point you or your staff will have to deal with a frustrated, rude or angry customer. In fact, some dissatisfied customers can be so emotionally charged thatMore…
The Five Golden Minutes in Sales, Part 2
Interacting with the four communication types
In part one of “The Five Golden Minutes in Sales,” we took a look at the fact that the words we speak account for only 7 percent of what we communicate. We learned that tonality accounts for 38 percent ofMore…
A Pond Atop a Pond
The many benefits of the upper pond design
Pond lovers love fish. Pond lovers love plants. The problem: fish love plants too, and a few hungry koi can destroy your precious flora in a matter of days. Thankfully, creating an easy separation between the two is just oneMore…
The Five Golden Minutes in Sales
How nonverbal communication can make or break a deal
It is in the first five minutes of a conversation that we have to establish rapport and trust. Understanding what influences good communication and being able to quickly adjust naturally to each personality type will greatly contribute to a mutuallyMore…
The Round Table: The Laws and Rewards of Leadership
Early in my sales and marketing career I was fortunate to be surrounded by great mentors. All were successful businessmen in their own right, but the reason they excelled beyond others was because they understood and demonstrated the laws ofMore…
To Change or Not to Change? The impact of raising and lowering prices
After 24 years of rapid and very successful growth in the water features industry, many contractors who specialize solely in water features have been faced with a very challenging economy in recent years. Since the economy has, historically, been aMore…
Big Payback with Eco-Friendly Lake & Pond Management
ROI (Return on Investment) is one big reason to provide lake and pond management. Lakes are an important part of our landscape; they add beauty, provide recreation, and are a habitat for fish and wildlife. But an out of balanceMore…
Networking Your Way to New Pond Customers
Knowing where, when, and how to focus marketing plans is extremely important. This industry expert believes that networking will play a key role in these plans. Learn about diversifying and teaming up with others. Includes a list of great ideasMore…