Aquascape, Inc. is working through the adversity and challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic by doubling down on digital marketing initiatives by creating new opportunities to expand their reach while continuing to serve its existing contractor base.
To continue offer training opportunities for a global network of pond and water feature contractors and employees, Aquascape founder and owner Greg Wittstock had a faux backyard space built in the company’s 180,000 square foot warehouse located in St. Charles, Ill. The space, which features a 39-by-60-foot truck bay filled with seven-and-a-half semi-trucks worth of soil and sand, was dubbed, "The Sandbox Studio."
TEAM Aquascape and the Atlantis Water Gardens crew pictured in front of the Aquascape Sandbox Studio house façade built by Leader Builders.Aquascape
Traditionally, the company hosts offseason Aquascape Academy Hands-On Training events. With the pandemic, Wittrock knew they had to pivot to keep the momentum going from a record-breaking year in sales in 2020.
In January, Aquascape University was launched online, continuing the classroom-style education offered at past training events, although lacking the hands-on build segments. The Sandbox Studio was utilized to offer the hands-on aspect.
Brian Helfrich and Chris Hanson of TEAM Aquascape set a stone slab bridge for Atlantis Water Gardens’ display.Aquascape
“I wanted to create a collaboration opportunity for Aquascape Construction and the best pond artists in the world while documenting all of it on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook so others can learn design and installation techniques and get inspired to begin Living the Aquascape Lifestyle,” says Wittstock. “I knew it would be a daunting task to create a studio that looks like a real backyard in a warehouse setting. With the help of both Leader Builders and Shedsters, we constructed a house façade and a versatile shed around a sandpit and crafted our own blank canvas for extreme pond building.”
Every week through March, Wittstock brings in one of his top contractors, each an Aquascape Artist of The Year, and invites them to build a water feature display showcasing their advanced build techniques and artistry in one week.
Decker’s Pondscapes’ infinity edge pond and sunken patio fire pit display.Aquascape
After capturing photos and video footage, his local Aquascape Construction crew demolish the display to prepare for the next incoming artist. Video content from the elaborate builds is then uploaded to the TEAM Aquascape and Greg Wittstock, The Pond Guy YouTube channels to educate and inspire a global audience of contractors and homeowners.
To date, the efforts haver been successful.
At least for now, industry events, residential home improvement shows, and gardening events, like the Chicago Flower & Garden Show, look to be a thing of the past for Aquascape’s local construction crew. The Sandbox Studio replaces both valuable offseason training opportunities and exposure to homeowners by bringing the tradeshow exhibit to their warehouse and the home show attendees to YouTube.
“It’s a win-win. Our contractors can add to their portfolio of work during the offseason and experiment with new designs. Their work then reaches a sizeable viewership of homeowners looking to connect with nature in their own yard,” says Wittstock. “We also aim to inspire and educate other contractors through these videos so they can transition into the water feature installation business using the Aquascape 20 products/20 steps construction methodology, as well as a variety of business development courses found in Aquascape University.”
