We’ve Survived Covid, Now We Need to Survive the Economy

January brings with it the opportunity to plan great events, implement new programs and procedures for efficiency and growth, and ways to keep our employees happy while increasing productivity. Many businesses have similar plans for 2023, but those of us in the Green Industry will have to enact these plans while saddled with more than our share of burdensome water restrictions and anti-business legislation.

Yes, we dodged the bullet when landscaping was considered a necessary activity during the Covid panic, while other businesses were being shut down. And we were somehow able to overcome the staffing shortages and setbacks caused by the virus as it roared through our businesses – yours and mine. But now we are faced with an unstable economy, inflation that reduces the value of our money which results in $7.00 a dozen eggs, and an idiotic energy program that has us paying $6.00 a gallon for gas.

I don’t have all the answers, but it sure isn’t sitting around crying or complaining about the 15% increase in our cost for some of products we carry, or the eventual elimination of just about all gas-powered landscape equipment.

What we will do is plan even more fun events in our stores that will draw the community – its gardeners and landscapers – into the Landscape Warehouse in their area. These are stores that provide the products they need, and the technical assistance they are looking for…in a language they can understand. We will look for opportunities to involve ourselves in community and professional organizations – such as CLCA chapters – attending and sponsoring their events, and advertising in their newsletters. We will also sponsor and host educational presentations and classes that impart information landscapers and community members need to deal successfully with the ever-changing water restrictions in the various areas of the Southland we service

– José Robles, owner, Landscape Warehouse