• Working Smarter not just about production

    by Gregg Wartgow - Wednesday June 15, 2011
    The concept of working smarter is not just about production improvements that help you reduce waste and cost. You can work smarter when it comes to sales, marketing and customer service, too. If you don't have a process for reaching out to existing customers, especially those you just completed work for, you are failing to do something today's best, most successful are doing. So, what are you doing to reach out to existing customers, just to say "thanks" or "how'd we do?" or "how can we do it better?"
  • Time equals money, and we found ways to save both on Day 1

    by Gregg Wartgow - Tuesday March 29, 2011
    "The benefits of our Working Smarter Training Challenge were evident the first day when we moved some materials closer to the loading area for our company trucks. It also allows for easier access for trucks delivering bulk materials to us. The time savings and safer traffic pattern has been noticed by our customers. The main savings has been time and that equates to dollars down the road." ~ Preston Briggs of Frisco Custom Stone Supply
  • Little Things Make a Big Impact

    by Gregg Wartgow - Wednesday July 21, 2010
    I've spent a good bit of time interviewing landscape contractors who have gone through and/or are going through the Working Smarter Training Challenge. One thing that's really struck out at me is that the little things can have such a dramatic impact on your bottom line, and company culture. Contractors from Washington to Colorado to Chicago to Canada talk about changes they've made that have helped save their company literally tens of thousands of dollars, things like: Getting crews out 15 minutes faster Putting the kabosh (sp?) on morning coffee runs Changing the mowing pattern on a property Eliminating ineffective marketing efforts Switching to a four-day work week Cutting back to two-man crews What are some of the "little...