While negative online reviews can sometimes be completely unsubstantiated, pond industry businesses must face a hard truth: the Internet never forgets. Without a detailed strategy in place for dealing with negative reviews, a thumbs down from a customer — or a series of customers — can stay on the Web forever … and consequently, erode …
The International Waterlily & Water Gardening Society met in Denver, August 14-17. It included tours of the Denver Botanic Gardens and Hudson Gardens. Prior to the touring of these fabulous venues, industry leaders gave lectures on various subjects. [box]>> For more pictures of the International Waterlilly & Water Gardening Society event, visit the Gallery Showcase.[/box] A …
IWGS Symposium: Splendor in the Grasses (and other numerous water plants) Read More »
The Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show is the most prestigious horticultural show in the world. It is often regarded as the Olympics of Horticulture, where the best garden designers in the world all compete for highly prized medals. All the garden designers are pre-qualified at other RHS shows before even being considered for space …
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 that it’s like having a blowtorch in your face. It is no wonder that communicating effectively …
When Things Get Heated: Communicating effectively with a rude or angry customer Read More »
Hundreds of contractors, retailers and distributors from around the world poured into St. Charles, Illinois to attend Aquascape’s annual Pondemonium, the water feature industry’s premier training event. This year’s Pondemonium, themed “Reach for the Stars,” was the longest one on record, stretching a full week from August 18 to 23. A new Rookie-Foreman training section …
You know those safety announcements the flight attendants give? The ones where they tell you that if the oxygen masks drop, you should put on your own mask before helping someone else? Well, I just got back from a visit with family in Texas, and hearing that announcement once again made me think about business. …
Like Breathing, Being Profitable Isn’t an Option Read More »
Tranquility Ponds, LLC. (www.tranquility-ponds.com) has been designing, building and maintaining ponds and water features for over 22 years. Since our business is based in Las Vegas, I try to infuse it with a Vegas flair that incorporates that fast pace the city is famous for. Unfortunately, managing such a fast-paced and growing business while providing …
There is a battle brewing between some of the builders who construct ponds with concrete and those builders who use pond liner. This is not a battle that needs to be fought. Concrete is a structural component and liner is a sealing component. Each has its place and its purpose. The purpose of one shouldn’t be …
An Unnecessary Battle between Concrete and Pond Liner Read More »
Successful water gardening takes some knowledge, but it also requires attention to details. When conditions are less than desirable, extra steps need to be taken to prevent potentially disastrous results. During extremely cold weather, the potential for many problems to occur becomes more prevalent and can separate those who have done their homework from those …
Tancho is not always a winner at koi shows. In fact, some koi shows do not even have a Tancho category. But it is not too much exaggeration to say that Tancho is one of the most popular varieties of koi. To be precise, Tancho is not really a fixed variety like the others. Rather, …
