The Scoop Online - June 2019

TECHNOLOGY CONTEST

OUT & ABOUT

VOLUNTEER VOICES

GREEN INDUSTRY BENCHMARK REPORT

TOP TAKEAWAYS FOR YOUR BUSINESS

ALSO INSIDE:

TROUBLE ON SIX LEGS

PLUS:

PUT THE PHONE DOWN!

june 2019 n v42 n6

T H E O F F I C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E M I N N E S OTA N U R S E RY & L A N DS C A P E A SS OC I AT I ON

SAVE NOW ON PERENNIALS, SHRUBS & EVERGREENS*

YOU PICK, YOU PACK

YOU SAVE!

15% OFF ON WEDNESDAYS!

* Excludes Trees, B&B Trees, Evergreen Trees, Annuals and Hardscape Supplies.

Starts Wednesday, June 5, 2019. Offer expires August 31, 2019. While supplies last.

5500 Blaine Avenue | Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076 P: 651-450-0277 | F: 651-450-9380 | E: wholesale@gertens.com | gertenswholesale.com

WHOLESALE NURSERY & HARDSCAPES

VERSA-LOK

®

Contractor Sales Yards Metro Yards: Summer Hours Mon - Fri: 7a to 5p & Sat: 8a to 12p Your locally owned headquarters for landscaping supplies and materials!

• VERSA-LOK retaining wall systems • Willow Creek pavers and kits • Unilock pavers • Rosetta hardscapes • Porcelain landscape tiles • Decorative rock, mulch, natural stone, steps, wallstone, flagstone and more • Accessories, including lights, sealers, polymeric sand, edging and geogrid • Easy in/out yards with knowledgeable staff and convenient hours

Porcelain Landscape Tile

BROOKLYN PARK (763) 488-1310

OAKDALE (651) 773-7444

BURNSVILLE (952) 894-4401

KIMBALL (320) 398-5415

FARIBAULT (507) 331-3198

VERSA-LOK-midwest.com

ONALASKA, WI (800) 770-4525

FE

TIFIE

AL N

O PR

28

ER

D

C

june 2019 n v42 n6

SSIO

36

8 Events 31

10 Membership Means Access to Exclusive Discounts Executive Director Larson shares about a program that saved one member $21,000 this year.

12 Volunteer Voices Long-time volunteer John Moe, MNLA-CP, has

38

14

Takeaways and Tips from the 2019 Benchmark Report Here is our annual roundup of the key insights into the practices of crewbased green industry businesses.    

28

Trouble on Six Legs Faith Appelquist writes about Asian longhorn beetle, a destructive insect with an appetite for many tree species.    

31

Overcoming Millennials’ Barriers to Purchasing Flowers What are the obstacles for young consumers in purchasing flowers, and how can they be overcome?  

38

Technology Contest Promotes Green Industry Careers David Zlesak and Sonja Maki’s event at UWRF hosted over 800 students. 

41

Helping Our Industry Grow The MNLA Foundation encourages six high school students toward a green industry career. 

 Landscape & Hardscape Install & Design  Garden Services & Landscape Mgmt  Garden Centers  Growers: Nursery & Greenhouse  Irrigation & Water Mgmt  Arborists & Tree Services  All

found working on the Certification Task Team to be his most meaningful contribution.

22 Out & About Visiting other businesses like Tessman and Field & 46 Outdoor Spaces allows our MNLA community to learn from each other.

26 Put the Phone Down and Focus on the Road!

Government Affairs Director Forrest Cyr explains the hands-free cellphone law going into effect on August 1, 2019.

34 Time to Renew Your MNLA Membership Renew online by July 31 and you will be entered in a drawing for $150 cash!

36 New MNLA Certified Professionals Congratulations to these green industry pros for proving what they know.

45 The Scoop Marketplace 47 Member Appreciation Day Coffee, Donuts, Soft-Serve Ice Cream with Toppings, Beer, and Popcorn. All Free!

Cover photo: iStock.com/nzphotonz. Table of Contents Images: Top Left: Kenneth R. Law, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org. Middle: iStock.com/Pekic. Bottom: Daniel Ehret.

june 19 MNLA.BIZ

5

DIRECTORY

june 2019 n v42 n6

MINNESOTA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION Successful Businesses Grow Here!

1813 Lexington Ave. N., Roseville, MN 55113 651-633-4987 • Fax: 651-633-4986 Outside the metro area, toll free: 888-886-MNLA, Fax: 888-266-4986 www.MNLA.biz • www.NorthernGreen.org Mission: The mission of the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association is to help members grow successful businesses.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Scott Frampton, President Landscape Renovations 651-769-0010 • sframpton@landscaperenovations.com Tim Malooly, CID, CLIA, CIC, Vice-President Water in Motion 763-559-7771 • timm@watermotion.com Randy Berg, MNLA-CP, Secretary-Treasurer Berg’s Nursery, Landscape/Garden Center 507-433-2823 • randy@bergsnursery.com Faith Appelquist, MNLA-CP Tree Quality LLC 612-618-5244 • faith@treequality.com Matt Mallas Hedberg Supply 763-512-2849 • mmallas@hedbergaggregates.com Mike McNamara Hoffman & McNamara Nursery & Landscaping 651-437-9463 • mike.mcnamara@hoffmanandmcnamara.com John O’Reilly Otten Bros. Garden Center and Landscaping 952-473-5425 • j.oreilly@ottenbros.com Jeff Pilla, MNLA-CP Bachman’s, Inc. 612-861-7600 • jpilla@bachmans.com Nick Sargent, MNLA-CP Sargent’s Landscape Nursery, Inc. 507-289-0022 • njsargent@sargentsgardens.com Cassie Larson, CAE MNLA Executive Director 651-633-4987 • cassie@mnla.biz STAFF DIRECTORY Executive Director: Cassie Larson, CAE • cassie@mnla.biz Membership Director & Trade Show Manager: Mary Dunn, CEM • mary@mnla.biz Communications Dir.: Jon Horsman, CAE • jon@mnla.biz Education/Cert. Manager: Susan Flynn • susan@mnla.biz Government Affairs Dir: Forrest Cyr • forrest@mnla.biz Regulatory Affairs Manager: Jim Calkins • jim@mnla.biz Administrative Asst.: Gayle Anderson • gayle@mnla.biz Accountant: Kris Peterson • kris@mnla.biz Foundation Program Coordinator: Paulette Sorenson • paulette@mnla.biz Advertising Sales: 952-934-2891 / 763-295-5420 Faith Jensen, Advertising Rep • faith@pierreproductions.com Betsy Pierre, Advertising Mgr • betsy@pierreproductions.com Legislative Affairs Consultant: Doug Carnival

6

MNLA.BIZ june 19

All Stone Solutions .............................................................................. 21 Bachman’s Wholesale Nursery & Hardscapes ............................... 3 Borgert Products, Inc. ......................................................................... 30 Central Landscape Supply ................................................................. 11 CST Distributors ................................................................................... 20 Cushman Motor Co. Inc ...................................................................... 43 Edney Distributing Co., Inc. ............................................................... 20 Fury Motors ............................................................................................. 9 Gertens Wholesale & Professional Turf Supply ............................. 2 Gopher State One-Call ....................................................................... 40 Haag Companies, Inc. ......................................................................... 23 Hedberg Landscape & Masonry Supplies ..................................... 35 Jeff Belzer Chevrolet ..................................................................... 24–25 Monroe Truck Equipment .................................................................. 13 Out Back Nursery .................................................................................. 11 Plaisted Companies .............................................................................. 7 Prairie Restorations, Inc. ................................................................... 21 Rock Hard Landscape Supply ........................................................... 37 SMSC Organics Recycling Facility .................................................... 35 The Resultants ..................................................................................... 40 The Tessman Company ....................................................................... 21 Tri-State Bobcat, Inc. .......................................................................... 27 Truck Utilities, Inc. ............................................................................... 35 Versa-Lok Midwest ................................................................................ 4 Wheeler Landscape Supply ............................................................... 11 Xcel Energy ............................................................................................ 43 Ziegler CAT ............................................................................. Back Cover

UPCOMING

2019 MNLA AND MTGF LAWN CARE SHOWCASE

JUN

25



Looking for ideas to diversify your lawn care portfolio? Interested in the top showcase lawns in the Twin Cities? Looking for unique turfgrass species options? Join us on the bus!

St. Paul, MN ➽ MNLA.biz

MNLA FOUNDATION WIDMER GOLF TOURNAMENT

JULY

23



Join your fellow Hackers for Horticulture at the 29th Annual Widmer Golf Tournament, an 18-hole best ball scramble tournament with great networking, prizes, contests, and more!

Proceeds benefit the MNLA Research Fund.

Majestic Oaks Golf Club, Ham Lake ➽ MNLA.biz

JULY

25

seminars, demonstrations, and tours.

TURFGRASS MAINTENANCE WORKSHOP

JULY

31

BAILEY SUMMER EXPO This annual summer event is open to all Bailey Nursery customers, and features displays,



Learn best management practices for lawn/turf care maintenance. This July class is a great opportunity for seasonal employees to obtain certification! ➽ MNLA Office, Roseville, MNLA.biz

AUG

01



GARDEN CENTER TOUR Mark your calendars. The Garden Center Tour is back for 2019. Join us for a day of touring and connecting with colleagues! ➽ MNLA.biz

IGC SHOW

AUG

13 –15

Tradeshow and education sessions focused on the interests of garden centers.

Chicago, IL ➽ Igcshow.com

LANDSCAPE DESIGN TOUR

AUG

14



Join your colleagues and tour design sites in the metro area. This tour always inspires, and the connections you will make on the bus are priceless. ➽ MNLA.biz

AUG

27



MEMBER APPRECIATION DAY Stop by the MNLA office for coffee and donuts in the morning and ice cream & toppings or beer & popcorn in the afternoon — all free to members!

MNLA Office, Roseville ➽ MNLA.biz

The Scoop, June 2019, Issue 6, is issued monthly,

AUG

27

12 times per year. All original works, articles or formats



published in The Scoop are © Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association, 2019, and may not be used

5TH ANNUAL MNLA NIGHT AT THE SAINTS GAME This year we have reserved the Rooftop Party Deck for our group. Price includes game ticket and dinner.

CHS Field, St. Paul ➽ MNLA.biz

without written permission of MNLA, 1813 Lexington Ave N., Roseville, MN 55113. Subscription price is $99 for one

SEPT

10

year, which is included with member dues. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Scoop, MNLA, 1813



Lexington Ave N., Roseville, MN 55113.

LEADERSHIP PEER GROUPS The topic is attracting, onboarding, and developing talent across your company. The first of six sessions is on September 10. Deadline for application is August 27. ➽ MNLA.biz/leadership 2019 MNLA seminars

Editorial Contributions. You are invited to share your

generously supported by:

expertise and perspective. Article ideas and manuscripts should, whenever possible, reflect real and specific experiences. When submitting an article, please contact

Business

 Skills Training

 Networking

Leadership Development

General

the publisher at jon@mnla.biz or 651-633-4987. MNLA



reserves the right to edit all Scoop content.

➽Information on industry events: MNLA.biz/events. Free member-only videos: MNLA.biz/OnlineEducation.

8

MNLA.BIZ june 19



THINK AHEAD and let the tax code work as hard for you as our

TRUCKS AND VANS DO!

THE MOST UPFIT VEHICLES IN THE STATE! #1

Commercial Dealer in Minnesota

FURY RAM COMMERCIAL TRUCK CENTER Lake Elmo, Minnesota

WE DELIVER! Call Craig Larson for Estimates:

651.777.1316

or email: clarson@furymotors.com

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Membership Means Access to Exclusive Discounts Cassie Larson

MNLA Executive Director

An MNLA member recently saved $21,000 with one program.

There are any number of reasons that it’s good to belong to

a trade association like MNLA — some companies join for access to education or to support government affairs; some join for the networking and/or sales opportunities; and still others join for access to vital information. But today, I’d like to focus on an entirely different reason some businesses join — access to exclusive discounts.

For example, did you know that MNLA business members have vehicle fleet discounts available through GM, Chrysler and Ford? How much could you save? Well, it depends on the type of vehicle you intend to purchase.

One member recently purchased three new vehicles for the spring season and saved $21,000 using the MNLA program. That’s real money that can be put back to work for their business. Below are some additional examples of model years and savings available: • GM Fleet and Commercial You will receive a credit of up to $7,150 on your purchase of select 2018 GM models, and up to $8,300 on your purchase of select 2019 GM models.

• Chrysler Group Fleet You will receive a credit of up to $9,000 on your purchase of select 2018 Chrysler, and up to $9,000 on your purchase of select 2019 Chrysler models.

• Ford Fleet You will receive a credit of up to $5,500 on your purchase of select 2018 and 2019 Ford models.

A complete list of detailed discounts per vehicle is available through the MNLA office and some are listed directly on the MNLA website at MNLA.biz/savemoney.

@ Did you know?

MNLA has vehicle fleet discounts available through GM, Chrysler and Ford. Because of your business membership at MNLA, you could be eligible for substantial savings!

This program certainly falls under the MNLA mission statement, “to help members operate their businesses more successfully.” So, next time you’re looking to purchase a vehicle, be sure to connect with your association!

We could potentially help your business save money.

➽ WANT MORE DETAILS? Feel free to contact MNLA Membership Director Mary Dunn at 651-633-4987 or mary@mnla.biz.

10

MNLA.BIZ june 19

A Deeper Shade of Green Local Genetic Origins

TM

GET ALL YOUR CONTRACTOR SUPPLY NEEDS! CALL US FOR THE BEST SELECTION IN THE INDUSTRY GROWERS: Nursery Containers, Wire Baskets/ Burlap , Horticulture Tools, Corrugated Tree, Protectors, Digging Spades, Osmocote Fertilizers and Grower’s Mixes.

NURSERY STOCK: Deciduous Shrubs, Evergreen Shrubs, B&B Trees, Perennials, Specialty Conifers, Specialty Deciduous and *Field Direct Trees.

RETAIL: Chemicals, Grass Seeds, Tools/ Pruners, Water Gardening, Supplies, Garden Hose, Bird Feeders, Feed and Yard Ornaments.

EROSION CONTROL: Wood Blankets, Straw Blankets, Geojute, Sod Staples, Silt Fence, Grass Seed & Sediment Logs.

CONTRACTORS: Edging, Fabrics, Low Voltage, Lighting, Retaining Wall Systems, Pavers, Bulk Materials, Safety Supplies and Wheelbarrows.

Native Minnesota Woody & Herbaceous

® ® PAVING SYSTEM FEATURINGCHARLESTON CHARLESTON HIGHLAND STONE® FEATURING PAVINGSTONE SYSTEM® WALL WALL SYSTEM & HIGHLAND SYSTEM!

(651) 438-2771 • Fax (651) 438-3816

www.outbacknursery.com

Call us first for all your native planting needs

www.centrallandscape.com

1-800-772-3888 | Fax 1-888-257-5577 | sales@centrallandscape.com

4026 County Road 74 South

|

St. Cloud, MN 56301

VOLUNTEER VOICES

John Moe, MNLA-CP, has been a landscape

designer for most of his career working on residential or commercial exterior landscape design (even at zoos and botanical gardens). In his current role as Senior Sales Representative for Bachman’s Interior Landscaping, he has spent the last year-and-a-half primarily creating commercial landscape designs for the great indoors.

Moe has served in a number of committee and task team roles over the years. “My first committee was the Design Committee,” he recalled. “That was years ago. I was also a member of the Hardscape Committee and was the chair of the short-lived Landscape Lighting Committee. I also was the chairperson for the Environmental Concerns Networking Group.”

Moe sat down to share more about why he got involved, why he stays involved, and why others — especially young people in the green industry — should get involved, too.

Q. How did you get into the green industry?

By Katie Mills Giorgio

MEMBER COMPANY NAME: Bachman’s LOCATION: Minneapolis YEARS IN THE GREEN INDUSTRY: 40+ PRIMARY EXPERTISE: Landscape Design

12

MNLA.BIZ june 19

A. My parents were also nursery people, so I was officially doing this work as a kid. I started helping my parents in their nursery/greenhouse/flower shop at about age 10, but was officially working for them at age 14. That was in the early 70s. With the exception of three years in the Army, I’ve been working in a variety of nurseries or other horticulture-related jobs ever since.

Q. What team are you serving on?

A. I am on the Certification Task Team right now. We help administer, create, write, and support the certification process. One of the other members of the Bachman’s team retired and said, “You get to do this now.” But I was happy and honored to take over for him.

and was leaving for another job. They asked if I would take over for them. And so I keep filling in and staying involved.

But it does go back to my parents and their involvement in this kind of community in North Dakota.

Q. What has been your most meaningful experience as a volunteer so far?

A. The current committee I’m on, the Certification Task Team, is probably the best example of having a positive experience. It has to do with helping younger people who are interested in certification and becoming more professional. I think the most positive feelings I get are when we get to see these young people pass the exams we’ve developed. Because that is the future, it’s where we are going as an industry. They have their own ideas and direction that this industry needs to go.

There are just so many positive things coming up in the industry and this committee can have a guiding hand in that. So there’s a lot of pride when I see younger professionals succeeding.

Q. Why do you think it’s important to be involved in MNLA?

A. I would especially encourage young people to get involved. There’s some education and developing that comes with being involved. There is a lot to learn from coming into a meeting and working with other people. I think there’s a lot of experience to be gained from doing that. Beyond that, supporting the role of the MNLA is why I’ve stayed and why I hope others get involved, too.

Q. Where is your favorite place in Minnesota?

A. Downtown Minneapolis. I just love the streets downtown, especially in the theater district. I like walking around and doing street photography.

Q. How did you first get involved at MNLA?

Q. What is your favorite plant or tool?

A. It goes back to my parents. My father was a founding member of the North Dakota Greenhouse and Nursery Association. He was always involved in that. So I was interested in and learned about being supportive of that activity.

It was coincidental, I guess, how I got on my first committee. The company I worked for at the time had a designer volunteering on the Design Committee

A. My favorite plant is natty berry viburnum. All my friends won’t believe this article unless you put that in. I use it everywhere. And my favorite tool as a designer is Vectorworks Landmark, the CAT tool I use for all my designs. ➽ LOOKING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY to participate? Become part of an MNLA Committee or Task Team!

- Available in 9’ & 12’ Lengths - Smooth Steel or V-Groove Wood Floor - Powder Coated Platform and Bulkhead - 37” High Black High Density Polyethylene Stake Panels with Black Hardware - Steel Rear Swing Doors

1051 W. 7th Street, Monroe,WI 53566

www.monroetruck.com PH: 888-878-8777

MNLA Business Member

BUSINESS

14

MNLA.BIZ june 19

Takeaways and Tips from the 2019

GREEN INDUSTRY BENCHMARK REPORT Chad Reinholz HindSite Software

EVERY YEAR we ask hundreds of green industry contractors to answer more than 60 questions about their business operations and release the results in our annual Green Industry Benchmark Report, available at www.hindsitesoftware.com/report. The Benchmark Report offers key insights into the practices of typical green industry business, insights you can leverage to improve and grow your business.

Here are some of the key findings, and tips on how to incorporate the

© Can Stock Photo Inc./stokkete

information into make your business better.

1. There’s a labor shortage.

The first thing that’s readily apparent from the Benchmark Report — and from talking to any green industry contractor looking to grow — is there’s a labor shortage in the green industry. As the economy has consistently improved since the recession, the unemployment rate has dropped, and it’s very difficult for green industry businesses to find employees. The labor shortage was apparent from a number of results from our survey, including that attracting and retaining employees was the biggest area in need of improvement for more than 1⁄3 of green june 19 MNLA.BIZ

15

BUSINESS

industry businesses surveyed. That’s basically the same as our survey found a year ago, so hiring still is a significant issue.

Given that attracting and retaining employees was most frequently cited as the biggest issue, it shouldn’t come as a shock that 92% of green industry businesses surveyed said it was either somewhat or very difficult to find good employees, an increase of 4% over a year ago.

As I’ve heard from a number of green industry businesses, the work is out there, but finding employees to do the work is difficult.

So, businesses continue to look for employees, with the understanding that if they find good employees, they can grow their business rapidly. In fact, nearly a quarter of respondents expect to grow their staff by 6% to 10% in 2019, up from 20% a year ago. 30% expect to grow their staff by more than 10%, while just 2% expect to decrease their staff.

The bottom line is that green industry businesses are still looking to hire, even more than a year ago. So, what tactics should you use to attract employees?

Well, unfortunately, I don’t have any easy answers. We asked where folks get their best applicants, and the overwhelming majority of respondents indicated they get their best applicants from word-of-mouth. Even worse, when I cross-referenced the applicant source with those that find it easy or very easy, there wasn’t anything significant that stood out. Those that found it easy to find good applicants were just as likely to cite word-ofmouthas their best lead source.

Hiring Tips • Hiring may cost more.

You may have to pay more in order to attract and retain employees. In a competitive hiring environment, wages will be inflated. I’ll discuss this a bit more later, but think of creative ways to pay people more without sacrificing the long-term viability of your business should the economy hit another slow-down. So that might mean sign-on bonuses, it could mean a bonus structure based on performance, etc. But getting good workers to work for your business will likely cost more than it did 7 to 10 years ago when unemployment was double what it is now.

• Try something new.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with hiring sites. Online job boards like Indeed 16

MNLA.BIZ june 19

might be successful for you. A couple businesses I’ve talked to said they leverage relationships with local high schools and community colleges to find a pipeline of good employees. Social media has been successful for some. Talk to your local distributor or manufacturer’s rep to see if they know of anyone that might be looking. One of our customers said they leverage their customers when they’re hiring and always have a help wanted sign and phone number to call on their truck. The best marketing advice I ever heard also applies to hiring — try a lot of different things and do more of the things that work best. The biggest thing I’ve learned when hiring is the wider the net you cast, the more likely you are to find a great employee. If you rely solely on word of mouth, eventually you’ll run out of people.

• Be a place people want to work.

Finally, focus on your culture. I’ve seen studies that show that while most people think money is the key to retaining people, it’s really about being an employer people want to work for. If you’re a place where people want to work, it’ll be easier to attract and retain great employees. In fact, a recent study of millennials said they would take a 6 to 12 percent pay cut if the job offered long-term job security, flexible hours, mentorship opportunities, and if the business is growing rapidly and employs talented, smart people.

So, focus on building a company people want to work for and it’ll be easier to find great people to work for you.

2. A website and branded trucks are a must, but high-growth companies are turning to online advertising options.

At a bare minimum, you need branded trucks and a website. But what I discovered in the Benchmark Report data is that — if you’re really looking to grow — online advertising should offer the most bang for your dollar.

For the typical green industry business, websites and branded trucks are the two most popular marketing tactics, followed by social media. There’s a big drop from those three tactics, though online advertising was used by almost 30% of respondents, up about 6% from a year ago.

If you cross-reference marketing tactics with year-over-year revenue growth rates, you’ll see that about 40% of businesses that june 19 MNLA.BIZ

17

BUSINESS

grew by 20% or more were using online advertising, compared to about 30% of those with 6–20% growth, and about 26% of those with growth in the 1% to 5% range. So, the key takeaway is that online advertising is one of the marketing tactics that can spur higher levels of growth.

Successfully Leveraging Online Advertising • Make sure your house is in order. First, refine your sales process and make sure you can operationally handle a large influx of leads. If your sales process isn’t streamlined, you’ll find that you’re wasting money buying ads because you don’t have the time to convert those leads into sales. So, take a look at your process and maximize your ability to sell. Also, don’t forget about operations. You can’t dump a bunch of new jobs on your team if you don’t have the equipment and labor to handle those jobs. Really, it comes down to knowing your numbers. If you have the operational capacity and sales infrastructure to handle new leads and sales, increasing your marketing spend makes sense. If you don’t, it doesn’t.

• NextDoor is the current hot new thing. NextDoor is a social network for neighborhoods. So, you can create an account and then starting posting messages. A common thing I see on NextDoor is a post like “Who is a good snow removal business?” and other neighbors respond with who to use (or who not to use). So, it’s less of a paid channel now than a way to spread word-of-mouth online. I’ve heard a lot of good things recently about NextDoor. A number of people have said they “advertise” on NextDoor. I don’t think NextDoor is taking ads from service providers yet, but I expect that they will in the near future. So, ask your customers if they use NextDoor, and if they do, to mention you. The great thing about it is it’s a way to connect to people in the neighborhoods you already serve through word-of-mouth.

• All online advertising isn’t created equal. Finally, know which people you’re most likely to attract in each of the paid channels. For example, platforms 18

MNLA.BIZ june 19

like Facebook and Google Ads can be effective for residential businesses, while LinkedIn may be better for commercial businesses. And then there are the lead generation options like HomeAdvisor or Angie’s List. I’ve heard good and bad things about every single one of these online channels, so it’s best to do a small test and try it for yourself to see if it works in your area.

3. Technology is making businesses more efficient.

Software is helping green industry businesses get more work done. About 50% are using software, which doesn’t show any significant change over a year ago, but is nearly double what we saw when we first conducted this survey about 7 years ago.

Generally, small businesses are the ones not using software. Only about 30% of businesses with less than six employees are using software. That grows to about 45% of those with 6–10 employees and over 60% of those with more than 10 employees.

There is a myriad of benefits, but more efficient operations is the most frequently cited benefit of software, with 37% of software users saying it’s the biggest benefit. That said, software also enables businesses to deliver better customer service, invoice easier, improve cash flow, and improve communication with both field staff and customers.

What to Do When Shopping for Software • Identify your core issue. Know what issue you’re trying to solve. There are different pieces of software that address different issues better. For example, if you’re looking to improve scheduling and routing, we have tools that make that easier and enable you to schedule more jobs every day by creating tighter routes.

If you’re looking to create landscape designs, there’s great CAD software for that. By understanding and articulating what issue you most want to solve, you’ll be better able to target your software search.

• It’s a process, not an event. Understand that installing software is a process, not an event. The first conversation we at HindSite have when a new customer orders is about a roadmap for implementing the software. Companies that try to do everything at once — scheduling, routing, field data collection, inventory june 19 MNLA.BIZ

19

BUSINESS

“

WE’VE FOUND THAT MOST GREEN INDUSTRY BUSINESSES ARE NOT THE MOST TECH-SAVVY. THEY’RE GREAT AT DOING THE WORK IN THE FIELD AND SERVING CUSTOMERS. BUT THEY DON’T SPEND A LOT OF TIME WITH SOFTWARE.

”

management, fleet management — tend to get bogged down by too much new information and change management issues. We always try to get companies to start small. Get the system set up, then get one technician or crew up and running for a week or two, and slowly add more techs and crews. Then repeat with other divisions as necessary. A phased approach ensures a better experience.

• You need a partner. Finally, look for a partner, not a software provider. What’s the difference? Take Google products for example. I like to use Google products almost everywhere I can – Gmail, Sheets, etc. I even signed up for their phone network, Google Fi. The software they provide is excellent. Their support is not.

We’ve found that most green industry businesses are not the most tech-savvy. They’re great at doing the work in the field and serving customers. But they don’t spend a lot of time with software. That’s why you should look for a team of support and training professionals behind the software that offer unlimited help. Most people get wowed by software — and I know, especially in the lawn care industry, there are a lot of free or nearly free providers out there. That means they’re likely either charging extra for support or not really supporting the product at all. You’ll realize how important support is when your software goes down in the middle of the day and there’s no one to talk to that can help fix it. ➽ CHAD REINHOLZ is Director of Sales and Marketing at HindSite Software and can be reached at chad@hindsitesoftware.com.

20

MNLA.BIZ june 19

“The Natural Way�

The Canadian Collection

FIRE TABLE

FIRE TABLE FIRE ROCK

GNOME

DESIGNER TABLE

CAMP STOOLS BUBBLER

BENCH

LIGHTED STATUETTES

“For the ULTIMATE outdoor living�

Brad Gerlach 651-249-4388 allstonesolutions@gmail.com www.allstonesolutions.rocks

We Are Growing!

The Tessman Company is now located at 1299 Abell St., St. Paul Just on the other side of our current building. All will-call orders will occur at our new location.

Tessmanseed.com 800.882.5704

Please note: Shipping/receiving and mailing address have not changed - it will remain at 1300 Sylvan St.

OUT & ABOUT

The All Season team came by to check out MNLA’s table.

& Tessman Show + Networking

Some of the team from Birch, Inc. took a moment to visit with MNLA Membership Director Mary Dunn.

Deep in conversation!

Grillmaster Dave, at your service!

All MNLA members were invited to a networking meeting on April 18th at Field Outdoor Spaces in Northeast Minneapolis. Owner, Jason Rathe, provided a walk-through of their operations and shared details of the purchase of their new property. In addition, Jason arranged for a “Landscape Accessories Trunk Show” where great local suppliers shared their products and made important industry connections.

Terry Reiten in his new corner office at Tessman with John Lund from E.C. Grow.

22

MNLA.BIZ june 19

2012 CHEV Y EXPRESS CARGO VAN 2012 CHEV Y EXPRESS CARGO VAN 2012 CHEV Y EXPRESS CARGO VAN

A WORK-READY A WORK-READY A WORK-READY INCENTIVE THAT INCENTIVE THAT INCENTIVE THAT WORKS WORKS HARD FOR YOU. WORKS HARD HARD FOR FOR YOU. YOU.

2012 CHEV Y SILVERADO 2012 CHEV Y SILVERADO 2012 CHEV Y SILVERADO

for CHASSIS CABS for CHASSIS CABS for CHASSIS CABS

$ TO $ 1,000UP CASH $1,000 UPFIT UPFIT CASH 1 UPFIT CASH 1,000 plus RETAILUPFIT OFFERCASH

1 1 1

750 plus RETAIL OFFER

plus RETAIL OFFER

for CUTAWAYS for CUTAWAYS for CUTAWAYS

$ $ 1,000 UPFIT CASH $1,000 UPFIT CASH CASH1 1,000 UPFIT plus RETAIL OFFERCASH

1,200

1 1 1

plus RETAIL OFFER plus RETAIL OFFER

for PICKUPS for PICKUPS for PICKUPS

SELECT FROM ONE OF FOUR ACCESSORY SELECT FROM ONE OF FOUR or ACCESSORY PACKAGES UPUP TO $1,095 TO $ OF FOUR ACCESSORY SELECT FROM ONE 1,095 or PACKAGES UP TO PACKAGES UP TO $1,095 or 1 1

1,000

$ $ UPFITCASH CASH $ 500 UPFIT $500 UPFIT CASH plus500 RETAIL OFFER UPFIT CASH plus RETAIL OFFER 1 1

plus RETAIL OFFER

Business Choice is designed for business owners who rely on their vehicles Business is designed for business owners who on their vehicles for their Choice day-to-day operations.

It’s available withrely eligible Chevrolet Business Choice is designed for business owners who on their vehicles for their and day-to-day operations.

It’ssuch available withrely eligible Chevrolet vehicles offers great incentives as valuable upfit equipment. for theirand day-to-day operations.

It’ssuch available with eligible Chevrolet vehicles offers great incentives as valuable upfit equipment.

Visit gmbusinesschoice.com today to see if you qualify. vehicles and offers great incentives such as valuable Visit gmbusinesschoice.com today to see if you qualify. upfit equipment.

Visit gmbusinesschoice.com today to see if you qualify.

1 1 1

To qualify, vehicles must be used in day-to-day operations of your business and not solely for transportation purposes. Must provide proof of business.

To qualify, vehicles must be used in day-to-day operations of your business and not solely for transportation purposes. Must provide proof of business.

Visit gmbusinesschoice.com or your Chevrolet or GMC dealer for details.

Take delivery by 9/30/12.

Visit gmbusinesschoice.com or your Chevrolet or GMC dealer for details.

Take delivery by 9/30/12.

To qualify, vehicles must be used in day-to-day operations of your business and not solely for transportation purposes. Must provide proof of business. ©2012 General Motors Visit gmbusinesschoice.com or your Chevrolet or GMC dealer for details. Take delivery by 9/30/12. ©2012 General Motors ©2012 General Motors

Business Choice is designed for business owners who rely on their vehicles for their day-to-day operations.

It’s available with eligible Chevrolet vehicles and offers great incentives such as valuable upfit equipment.

Visit gmbusinesschoice.com today to see if you qualify.

302 302 302

www.jeffbelzerchevy.com Version # 4 Version # 4 Version # 4

Document Name GMC1-12-FCO-03178-302_v4.indd Document Name GMC1-12-FCO-03178-302_v4.inddLinked Graphics Art Director Control Document Name GMC1-12-FCO-03178-302_v4.indd 12KTFLCHEV032.tif Linked GraphicsRGB

Retail Planning Flyer Control Art George Miller •Mechgmiller@jeffbelzer.com Scale 100 8.75” 952-469-6820 x 11.25” Bleed Chevy CopyDirector Writer TBD

RGB

12KTFLCHEV032.tif RGB HD CC with Dump_psd.psd Linked GraphicsRGB Control Art Director 11CHSL00054.jpg RGB Mech TBD Copy Print Scale Scale 100 12KTFLCHEV032.tif RGB None BusinessCentral_KO.ai ProjWriter Mgr csenn HD CC with Dump_psd.psd RGB 11CHSL00054.jpg RGB Scale Please 100 GM_business_choice.ai TBD Copy Writer Jeff Belzer Lakeville,Mech MN. call the Commercial Department at 952-469-4444.

Print Scale None BusinessCentral_KO.ai csenn Proj Stock None HD CC with Dump_psd.psd RGB Acct Mgr Svc kdenmark cube_0758.jpg RGB GM_business_choice.ai Print Scale Trim None 8.5” x 11” BusinessCentral_KO.ai csenn Proj Mgr Family_shot cube_exprss_slvrdo_a6.tif RGB All Rebates & incentives to dealer, must qualify for same, prices subject to change.

Stock None Live None 8.25” x 10.75” kdenmark Acct Mgr Svc afinnan cube_0758.jpg RGB Folded Size Prod GM_business_choice.ai RoundStep_3in_Chevy_Silverado.jpg RGB Family_shot cube_exprss_slvrdo_a6.tif RGB Stock Live None 8.25” x 10.75” kdenmark Acct Svc cube_0758.jpg RGB Tonneau_Chevy.jpg RGB Folded Size None afinnan Mgr TBD 1 RoundStep_3in_Chevy_Silverado.jpg RGB Finishing Buyer To qualify, vehicles must be None used in day-to-day operations of your business and notArtProd solely for transportation purposes.

Must provide Family_shot cube_exprss_slvrdo_a6.tif RGB Family_Option_a3.tif RGB Tonneau_Chevy.jpg RGB None Folded Size None afinnan ProdBuyer Mgr TBD RoundStep_3in_Chevy_Silverado.jpg RGB 4320G_cs.tif CMYK Finishing Art Family_Option_a3.tif RGB Colors Spec’d 4C TBD Copy Edit Visit gmbusinesschoice.com or your Chevrolet or GMC dealer for details.

Tonneau_Chevy.jpg RGB 4320Gss.tif CMYK 4320G_cs.tif CMYK Finishing None TBD Art Buyer Colors Spec’d Family_Option_a3.tif RGB 4C TBD 1PROCS.tif CMYK Copy Edit nminieri/pm Mac with Business Central Special Instr.

4320Gss.tif CMYK 4320G_cs.tif CMYK 1PROSS.tif CMYK Colors Spec’d 1PROCS.tif CMYK 4C Business Central TBD CopyMac Edit nminieri/pm Special Instr. with 4320Gss.tif CMYK BasePkg_ss.tif CMYK Publications None 1PROSS.tif CMYK 1PROCS.tif CMYK 12KTFLCHEV021.tif RGB Mac nminieri/pm with Business Central Special Instr. None BasePkg_ss.tif CMYK Publications

CONTENT CONTENT CONTENT

Job Description 8.75” Chevy Retail Planning Flyer 11.25” Bleed Trim 8.5” x x11” 8.75” x 11.25” Chevrolet, 50Bleed & Cedar, Box 965, Trim Live 8.5” 8.25”x x11” 10.75”

Publications None

Colors In-Use Cyan Colors In-Use

Last Modified 4-17-2012 3:37 PM 4-17-2012 3:37 PMDate Last Modified Printer Output 4-17-2012 3:37 PMDate Last Modified TITAN 4-20-2012 1:48 PM Printer Output

User ma-klane User

John Zadurski 952-469-6818 • User jzadurski@jeffbelzer.com 4-20-2012 1:48Date PM Colors In-Use Printer Output

11CHSL00054.jpg

840 ppi 270 ppi 840 ppi 1089ppippi 270 840 ppi 1089 ppi 270 ppi 1089ppi, ppi461 ppi 464 1112 ppi461 ppi 464 ppi, 421 1112ppippi 464 ppi, 419 ppi ppi 461 ppi 421 1112ppi, ppi 844 419 ppi 1708 ppi 421 ppi 1006 ppi,1708 1004ppippi 844 ppi, 419 ppi 1418 ppi, 1004 1482 ppi ppi 1006 ppi, 844ppi, ppi,858 1708ppippi 860 1418 ppi, 1482 ppi 1006ppi, ppi,605 1004 ppi 606 860 ppi, 858 ppi ppi 1418ppi, ppi,820 1482 ppi 821 ppi 606 ppi, 605 ppi 860 ppi, 858 ppi 3169 ppi820 821 ppi, ppi 606 ppi, 2431 ppi 605 ppi 3169 ppi 821 ppi, 820 ppi 2431 ppi 3169 ppi 2431 ppi

1PROSS.tif 12KTFLCHEV033.tif 12KTFLCHEV021.tif BasePkg_ss.tif 12KTFLCHEV033.tif 12KTFLCHEV021.tif 12KTFLCHEV033.tif

CMYK RGB RGB CMYK RGB RGB RGB

Magenta Cyan Yellow Magenta Cyan Black Yellow Magenta Black Yellow Black

proof of business.

ma-klane Mechd By: nminieri ma-klane Mechd By: nminieri

TITANRTVd By: None TITANRTVd By: None

Mechd By: nminieri

RTVd By: None CD/ACD

COPYWRITER

CD/ACD

COPYWRITER

CD/ACD

COPYWRITER

ACCT SERVICE

PROD

4-20-2012 1:48 PM

AD AD

©2018AD General Motors COPY EDIT

BY SIGNING YOUR INITIALS ABOVE, YOU ARE STATING THAT YOU HAVE READ AND APPRO ACCT SERVICE PROD COPY EDIT VED THIS WORK.

BY SIGNING YOUR INITIALS ABOVE, YOU ARE STATING THAT YOU HAVE READ AND APPRO ACCT SERVICE PROD COPY EDIT VED THIS WORK.

BY SIGNING YOUR INITIALS ABOVE, YOU ARE STATING THAT YOU HAVE READ AND APPRO VED THIS WORK.

4-20-2012 1:48 PM4-20-2012 1:48 PM 4-20-2012 1:48 PM

Job # GMC1-12-03178 Job # GMC1-12-03178 Job Description Chevy Retail Planning Flyer JobJob #Description GMC1-12-03178

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

Put the Phone Down and Focus on the Road!

Forrest Cyr

MNLA Government Affairs Director

On April 12, 2019, Minnesota joined a group of 17 other states and the District of Columbia by passing legislation that requires the use of hands-free mode for all

This is a significant change in Minnesota and prioritizes the safety of all motorists, pedestrians and others by working to reduce distracted driving across the state. This new law takes effect August 1, 2019, and is applicable to both private and commercial traffic.

MNLA members should take appropriate measures to ensure compliance with the hands-free cellphone law.

Members should equip personal and company vehicles with hands-free cellphone capability and ensure that all employees are educated on — and compliant with — the new law.

Governor Tim Walz signed the hands-free bill into law, which requires drivers to use hands-free mode for all cellular devices while operating a vehicle. The law prohibits the use of cellphones while driving when the device is not in hands-free mode. The law provides exceptions for emergency calls and for handheld cell use in dangerous situations.

The bill explicitly prohibits a variety of currently allowed cellphone uses to reduce traffic injuries and fatalities.

Drivers can only make calls or send messages in handsfree mode. Under the new law, it is illegal for a driver to hold a phone to their ear while operating a vehicle, scroll through contacts, text messages or addresses, or interface with their phone beyond voice control through a Bluetooth device or similar technology.

As with current law, it is unlawful to compose emails, texts, or access the internet, as well as to make video calls, with programs such as FaceTime. There is NOT an exception for when stopped at a red light, or at a stop sign.

© Can Stock Photo Inc./bizoon

phone calls and messaging when operating a vehicle.

Exceptions to the new law include hailing emergency services or making a call while in situations of immediate danger. Also, drivers can use GPS, as long as the operator is not scrolling or typing on the device, and the address is entered prior to the vehicle moving.

Under the new law, members of law enforcement can stop a driver seen holding a cellphone after August 1, 2019.

Penalties for unlawful phone use is $50 for the first violation, and $275 for each additional violation, increased from the current $225 for unlawful phone use after the first violation.

➽ CONTACT FORREST CYR at 651-633-4987 or forrest@mnla.biz with any questions.

26

MNLA.BIZ june 19

and Loaders and over 100 Attachments

Hydroseed Applicators 325 and 1200 gallon

Wood Chippers and Stump Grinders

We also rent by the day, week or month!

Call for a quote on the equipment you need 1200 Highway 13 East Hwy. 13 and 12th Ave Burnsville, MN 55337 952-894-0894 SALES • SERVICE • RENTALS • PARTS

www.tristatebobcat.com

71 Minnesota Avenue Hwy. 36 and Rice Street Little Canada, MN 55117 651-407-3727

588 Outpost Circle I-94 and Hwy. 12 Hudson, WI 54016 715-531-0801

PESTS

e L gs TROUBLE ON

SIX

Faith Appelquist

Steven Valley, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Bugwood.org

Tree Quality LLC

28

MNLA.BIZ june 19

USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org

E. Richard Hoebeke, Cornell University, Bugwood.org Steven Valley, Oregon Dept. of Ag., Bugwood.org

Dennis Haugen, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

Felling infested and potential host trees in New York.

Asian longhorned beetle on cross section of a damaged trunk.

Adult beetles are large, distinctive-looking insects measuring 1 to 1.5 inches in length with long antennae. Their bodies are black with small white spots, and their antennae are banded in black and white.

IN TWO DECADES, two important and devastating insect pests have been introduced to North America: the Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis), and the emerald ash borer (Agrillus planipennis). The emerald ash borer you have probably heard of, but maybe not the Asian long-horned beetle.

Compared to the Asian longhorn beetle, the emerald ash borer is child’s

play. Where the emerald ash borer is a specialist, eating only ash trees, the Asian longhorned beetle has an appetite for a dozen different species and maybe more -— buckeyes, birches, sycamores, willows, elms, and its all-time favorite is maple. Norway, red, silver, sugar, boxelder, you name it, they are all on the menu. For once you figure out how to kill one maple variety, you can kill them all.

Global trade has made it easier for invasive species to cross borders. Scientists believe Asian longhorned beetles arrived in the 1980s from China as larvae in low-quality lumber used for crating and packing material before federal regulations required that solid wood packing material be fumigated and heat treated. The adult beetles lay eggs (sometimes dozens) just under the bark of a tree. The larvae grow inside the tree all winter, turning the inside of the tree into a soggy mush and leaving its vascular system to rot as it burrows out, making exit holes that leave the tree looking as if it were machine-gunned. On

Signs of Asian longhorn beetle infestation are large emergence holes on branches or the stem (>3/8" diameter).

the bright side, the adult beetles are not good flyers and tend to stay in a confined area during their yearlong life. They are also big and easy to identify, unlike the emerald ash borer, which are as small as a grain of rice. And because the larvae takes an entire winter to pupate inside a tree trunk, the reproductive progress of the bug can be halted by removing an infested tree.

In North America, populations were first discovered in August, 1996 in Brooklyn, New York, and have since been found in other areas of New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Illinois, Ohio, and in Ontario Canada. Live beetles have been intercepted in dozens of entry ports and warehouses across the country, from Mobile, Alabama to Bellingham, Washington.

If Asian longhorned beetle were to become established here, it would become one of the most destructive and costly species ever to enter the country. That is bad news for bird habitats, parks, gardeners, sawmills, and industries such as maple syrup producers in the Northeast.

Today when an Asian longhorned beetle infested tree is found, the only option is to cut it down and grind the stump along with every single host tree within a certain radius from an infected tree. If no more show up in four years, they consider it to be eradicated. This was the same game plan used when emerald ash borer was first discovered.

We all know how well that worked. ➽FAITH APPELQUIST is an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist, an ISA Municipal Specialist MN, and an ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist®. Faith can be reached at faith@treequality.com. june 19 MNLA.BIZ

29

YOUR DESIGNS CRAFTED BY BORGERT CELEBRATING OVER 95 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE! Unmatched durability. Premium quality. Limitless designs.

We’ve delivered the features you need, that’s why those in the industry choose Borgert, and have for over 95 years!

Crafting your vision.

For more information or for a FREE Borgert catalog call 800.622.4952 | borgertproducts.com

MILLENNIALS

Overcoming Millennials’ Barriers to

PURCHASING

FLOWERS Dr. Chengyan Yue

Shuoli Zhao

Dr. Alicia Rihn

Associate Professor, Department of Horticultural

Ph.D student, Department of Applied

Post-doctoral Research Associate, Food and

Science and Department of Applied Economics,

Economics, University of Minnesota

Resource Economics Department, University

Bachman Endowed Chair in Horticultural Marketing,

iStock.com/martin-dm

University of Minnesota

of Florida

iStock.com/Pekic

MILLENNIALS

YOUNG CONSUMERS (“Generation Y” or “Millennials”) have specific reasons behind their purchasing decisions. Similarly, there are barriers keeping them from purchasing certain products. If a business understands millennial consumers’ barriers when deciding to purchase (or not purchase) floral products, they will be able to emphasize those motives in advertisements and promotions while developing strategies to minimize consumers’ barriers.

Millennials are the key players in the floral industry’s future as they are finishing college, entering the job market, and have more purchasing power than in previous years.

However, recent floral consumption trends show that younger consumers are purchasing fewer flowers than two decades ago. In order to better understand millennials’ preferences and barriers for purchasing flowers, an online survey was conducted with 3,011 U.S. millennial consumers whose ages were between 18 and 40 years old.

Barriers to Purchase Millennial consumers have several reasons reducing their likelihood of purchasing floral products. They do not purchase floral products due to perceptions of them being expensive or their longevity being too short. Additionally, 32

MNLA.BIZ june 19

millennial consumers do not always think about floral products when they are shopping.

Another barrier to purchase is that floral products do not survive well in consumers’ homes due to air conditioning, pets, etc.

Approximately 14% of respondents view floral products as wasteful and 12% do not know how to care for them. Less frequently selected barriers to purchase include inconvenient to purchase, quality concerns, allergies, not enough variety, do not know where to buy, etc.

Price is a major barrier for 75% of millennial consumers. Although the majority of men and women both agree that cost is a major purchasing barrier, women agree with this statement more so than men. These results may reflect different product uses. For instance, women may purchase floral products for themselves as well as for gifts; whereas

a larger portion of men may purchase floral products as gifts. Additionally, millennials thought that price is more likely to be a major barrier when purchasing flowers at local florists compared to grocery stores, and price is less likely to be a concern to millennials if they are purchasing the products for a holiday or special occasion.

Overcome the Barriers An important means of overcoming the barriers of purchasing flowers and cultivating millennial consumers’ purchase likelihood is to improve their overall experience with floral products.

Sales Promotions. Millennial respondents indicated that they would definitely purchase more floral products if they received price-related promotions (discounts, coupons, etc.).

Specifically, discount price is preferred the most by millennials. Next, they preferred instore coupons, followed by ‘buy two, get one’ or BOGO deals. Then 27% of respondents indicated they preferred online coupons, 23% preferred a loyalty-based program, 21% preferred receiving a free upgrade.

Ease of Care and Maintenance. To respond to the second barrier of short longevity, we further discuss practices that can be implemented to educate and improve millennial consumers’ care of floral products and thus flowers’ longevity. The number one way to

“

AN IMPORTANT MEANS OF OVERCOMING THE BARRIERS OF PURCHASING FLOWERS AND CULTIVATING MILLENNIAL CONSUMERS’ PURCHASE LIKELIHOOD IS TO IMPROVE THEIR OVERALL EXPERIENCE WITH FLORAL PRODUCTS.

”

 Key Findings and Action Items 1. Perceived high price is the major floral purchase barrier for millennial consumers.

• Reduce the ‘expensive’ perception through value-added properties (e.g. psychological benefits, add-ons, customization options, specialness of the products, etc.). Millennials value incentives and appreciate receiving free items such as a gift with purchase.

• Overcome price barriers by using price promotions that are the most influential, such as discounts and in-store coupons.

2. Short longevity is a major floral purchase barrier to millennials.

• Provide millennial consumers with clear care instructions, nutrient packets and technologies that optimize flower growth and longevity.

• Limited longevity can be promoted as a benefit — it provides customers the opportunity to bring nature indoors, refresh their home accents frequently, increased ‘specialness’ due to the perishable nature of the product, etc.

3. Millennials do not always think about buying flowers. They need reminders and more reasons to buy/send floral products.

• Use advertisement or promotions to educate millennials that floral products are great gifts that can be used for many occasions.

• Tout different ideas and ways that flowers can be used (i.e. décor, just because gifts, etc.).

• Send occasional reminders to remind millennials to purchase flowers for themselves and others.

• Motivate millennials to buy floral products ‘just because.’

4. Millennials value customization and personalization.

• Give millennials ample opportunity to customize/personalize their purchases.

• Providing customized/personalized delivery, designs, and discounts to add a personalized/customized feel.

improve millennial consumers’ care of floral products is providing clear instructions on plant/flower labels and signs, followed by free flower food with purchase, a beginner’s flower pack with everything pre-prepared, and an auto-feeding device which automatically releases nutrients to the flowers. Other practices include care reminders using mobile apps, a step-by-step video, follow-up services to check on the status of flowers, and a QR code linked to online instructions. Therefore, by providing proper care instructions, the customer has a better experience which results in positive feelings toward the business, their products, and potentially results in return visits and purchases.

Improving Relevance of Floral Products. Relevance is important in that it indicates that the product/service is important to the consumer and resonates with him/her. Millennial consumers indicated that the primary way to improve floral products’ relevance was having more benefits associated with flowers, including environmental and health benefits. Another means of improving relevance was to make the purchasing and sending experience more fun, enjoyable and/or adventurous. Giving millennials more reasons to send floral products and making the products more visible and conveniently located increased relevance. The floral industry can also offer a variety of diverse products and demonstrate how flowers are an important part of modern lifestyles. Additionally, if floral products became trendier and more visible in media, millennials would perceive them as more relevant.

Improving Engagement with Floral Products. In addition to relevance, an important way to attract millennial consumers is through engaging them with floral products. As discussed in this report, millennial consumers perceived floral products as somewhat experience-oriented which increases relevance if shopping for floral products is a satisfactory experience. Therefore, improved engagement could increase millennial consumers’ enjoyment of floral products and ultimately result in more purchases. Millennial consumers indicated that the primary way to improve their engagement was to have fun activities, followed by arranging their own bouquets, and having a casual space in the store. Millennials also indicated that designing their own packaging or hosting in-store events would improve their engagement. Partnering with other businesses or being visible at important events (e.g. promotions, sponsorships, flower truck) and on social media improved their engagement as well.

Overall, millennial consumers have positive attitudes toward floral products but they often fail to think of them due to perceptions of flowers being costly or other perceived shortcomings (such as short longevity). As such, offering financial incentives can be effective to attract millennial consumers, and there are many opportunities to improve floral products’ ease of care, relevance, and engagement to attract millennial consumers.

Acknowledgement: This material is based upon work that is supported by the American Floral Endowment and Floral Marketing Research Fund. For the full report of the study please visit https://endowment.org/new-study-provides-strategies-win-millennials/ ➽ CHENGYAN YUE holds the Todd and Barbara Bachman Endowed Chair in Horticultural Marketing, Professor at the Department of Horticultural Science and Department of Applied Economics at the University of Minnesota. By better understanding consumers’ and other stakeholders’ preferences, Dr. Yue’s research provides guidance and implications for marketing horticultural products in strategic ways, which help increase the products’ success in the marketplace. Photo credit: David Hansen june 19 MNLA.BIZ

33

MEMBER NEWS

Time to Renew!

Summer is the time for renewing your membership in the Minnesota

RENEW TODAY!

Nursery & Landscape Association. To continue your membership without interruption, please take a moment to renew by logging on at MNLA.biz. Click “Sign in” in the upper right hand corner of page, and enter your company’s username and password. While signed in, you will be asked to review and update your company’s information, which will be published in the MNLA Membership Directory and online directory.

GREAT INCENTIVE FOR ONLINE RENEWAL! Renew your membership online by July 31, 2019, and you will be entered in a drawing for $150 CASH! (This does not apply to the delayed payment option.)

DID YOU KNOW? You have the option of delaying your dues payment until August 15, 2019.

Just complete the online form (see link in renewal notice emailed to you) and include your credit card information.

Feel free to contact the MNLA office if we can be of any assistance to you during the renewal process or for more information on any of our products and services. We are available at 651.633.4987 or mnla@mnla.biz.

THE GREEN INDUSTRY E XPERIENCE WHERE YOU...

BROWSE + DO BUSINESS LEARN + LET LOOSE M I N N E APOLIS CONVE NTION C E NTE R

JAN. 14-16

C O N N E C T + G R O W AT N O R T H E R N G R E E N 2 0 2 0 34 NG2020-Half-Page-Horiz.11.indd MNLA.BIZ june 19 1

5/20/2019 5:32:51 PM

Fully stocked with the Belgard Products you need!

Hedberg West - Plymouth (763) 545-4400

Hedberg East - Stillwater (651) 748-3158

hedbergsupply.com

The GO-TO source for all of your residential & commercial landscaping needs!

Products Offered:

- 100% Compost and Compost Blends - Athletic Field and Golf Course Top Dressing Blends - Erosion Control Products - Formulation of Customized Product Blends - Natural and Colored Mulch

Services Provided:

- Municipal Wood Site Management - Material Screening - Drop-Off of Logs/Brush/Wood Chips

952.233.9191 | smscorf.com 1905 Mystic Lake Drive S, Shakopee, MN Owned and Operated by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community

MEMBER NEWS

AL

Barrie Anderson Landscape

Heidi’s Lifestyle Gardens and GrowHaus Nursery & Garden Centre

Molly Anderson Landscape Bachman’s, Inc. Minneapolis

N

C

O PR

FE

TIFIE

D

ER

SSIO

MacKenzie CochranDomben Landscape

Janelle Dahmen Garden Center

David Luckstein Landscape

Joshua Lundgren Landscape

Heidi’s Lifestyle Gardens and GrowHaus Nursery & Garden Centre

Bachman’s, Inc. Minneapolis

CONGRATULATIONS TO THESE NEW MNLA CERTIFIED PROFESSIONALS!

John Hulburt Landscape

Sargent’s Nursery, Inc.

Madeline Spencer Leslie Landscape

Wild Iris Gardening and Landscaping

Barrett Lawn Care

C

Red Cedar Gardening

Samuel Warburton Landscape

National Green Industry Survey Begins Data Collection

(HRI), is launching

practices in the

U.S. Participation is

Dr. Hayk Khachatryan,

the National Green

U.S. Green Industry.

voluntary, anonymous,

University of Florida,

Industry Survey this

HRI encourages

and confidential.

407-410-6951, hayk@

month. This represents

every business that

If you would like

ufl.edu; Dr. Charlie

WASHINGTON and

the seventh time

receives the survey

to participate and

Hall, Texas A&M

COLUMBUS, OH – April

that this survey has

to participate. The

do not receive a

University, 979-458-

11, 2019 – The Green

been conducted since

survey is distributed

survey, contact

3277, c-hall@tamu.edu;

Industry Research

1989. The purpose

via mail and email

the research team

Dr. Marco Palma, Texas

Consortium, with

of the survey is to

(when available) to

below: Dr. Alan W.

A&M University, 979-

funding support from

document trends in

randomly selected

Hodges, University of

845-5284, mapalma@

the Horticultural

production, marketing,

wholesale and retail

Florida, 352-294-7674,

tamu.edu; The

Research Institute

and retailing

firms throughout the

awhodges@ufl.edu;

Horticultural Research

Mom’s Design Build

NEWS & NOTES

% 36

MNLA.BIZ june 19

O PR

Luke Walford Landscape

Drummers Garden Center and Floral

We aLSO Have: Boulders Outcroppings Natural Stone Emily Fischbach Landscape Gertens

Miranda Hanson Landscape

3600 W Hwy 13 Burnsville, MN 55337 952-895-7408

Biota Landscapes

NEW LOCATION

4375 170th St. W Farmington, MN 55024 952-207-4456

Mulch 944 215th St. E Jordan, MN 55352 952-492-2890

Decorative Rock

Your direct source for mulch.

Black Dirt Stone Fabrication Pond Supplies Pavers Rock Drilling Basalt

www.rockhardmn.com Kate Malone Garden Center

Bachman’s Floral, Gift & Garden Center Minneapolis

E

SaFetY CHIP MULCH IS IPeMa CeRtIFIeD PLaYGROUND MULCH

Christa Pojanowski Landscape Hedberg Supply Plymouth

Mexican Beach Pebbles Lighting

PARTNERS FUND

RTIFIE

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF THE GREEN INDUSTRY

Contribute to the Research & Education Partners Fund at a participating supplier. Your voluntary donation of ¼ of 1% on purchases is used to grow a brighter future for the industry.

D

AL

Partner Suppliers:

Institute (HRI),

FE

founded in 1962, has

7

by individuals,

New MNLA Members!

to the endowment

N

C

SPRING MULCH RUSH

SSIO

corporations, and

Aaron Ylitalo Lawn &

$7.5 million in funds

associations. For

Snow, Inc.; Irrigation

to research projects

more information

Otto; C & C Trucking

covering a broad

about HRI, its grant-

LLC; RMS Energy Co

range of production,

funded research, or

LLC; WL Herschbach

environmental, and

programming, visit

Const. LLC; Rainmaker

business issues

www.hriresearch.org

Outdoor Services;

important to the green

or contact Jennifer

DZ Landscape

industry. Nearly $11

Gray at 614.884.1155.

Renovations.

provided more than

million is committed

WHOLESALE NURSERY & HARDSCAPES

Your Trusted Partner

TM

L A N D S C A P E + M A S O N RY

Chanhassen Distribution Yard 952-445-4088 1-800-477-4123 Fax: 952-445-6219

Research for the Real World

Career Development & Promotion

New Germany Growing Range Field Direct Sales Phone & Fax 952-353-2175 Jim's Cell: 612-290-6358

Scholarships

june 19 MNLA.BIZ FoundationPartnersFund-Quarter-Page.indd 1

37

5/10/2019 5:29:05 PM

FOUNDATION

The UWRF Agriculture Technology Contest Exposes Youth to

CAREERS IN THE GREEN INDUSTRY David C. Zlesak and Sonja L. Maki

Left: Agriculture Technology Contest Right: Woody plant portion of contest.

Agriculture education teachers use this

Pat Deninger

opportunity to educate students in a number

of agriculture disciplines and expose them to potential agricultural career paths. Students are allowed to participate in a single contest and are incentivized to prepare for the contest by team and individual awards. Additionally, the Floriculture contest is a qualifying contest that allows the top four scoring teams to compete at the state and potentially national FFA Floriculture competitions.

UWRF Faculty and students look forward to hosting the yearly contest. UWRF started as a normal school in 1874 training teachers.

In 1912 what is known today as the UWRF College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Science (CAFES) began and has grown into the largest of the four colleges within UWRF. Hosting the contest is a great way to not only foster learning about agricultural disciplines by middle and high school students, but also expose them to specialized degrees, such as Horticulture, at UWRF and other campuses. UWRF Agriculture Education faculty and student majors coordinate and run the overall event and there are UWRF faculty and student chairs managing each individual contest. The Horticulture faculty and majors enjoy the informal conversations possible with the competing students before and between the event components where we can reinforce career paths in the green industry.

The MNLA Foundation partners with this event as a venue to introduce the Pathways Through Horticulture curriculum that is freely available to the Agriculture Education teachers that come with their students. The MNLA Foundation funded the adaptation of

this horticulture curriculum to meet specific Minnesota science teaching standards so it can easily be adopted and its use readily justified by teachers. Retired agriculture education teacher from Forest Lake, Minn., Robert Marzolf, has been taking the lead in promoting the curriculum to agriculture education teachers along with MNLA Foundation Program Coordinator Paulette Sorenson.

Teachers in both Minnesota and Wisconsin have responded very positively to this resource and have shared that they have been using it and have found it to be very helpful.

Recent agriculture education graduates new in their positions have especially shared their appreciation for and use of the curriculum.

The curriculum can be found at MNLA.biz/ hscurriculum.

UWRF Agricultural Technology Floriculture and Nursery & Landscape Contests The Floriculture contest is held in the UWRF greenhouse and consists of three parts: a 40 question general knowledge exam, a horticultural plant ID exam, and a corsage wiring and pricing activity. The general knowledge exam addresses topics relating to the art and science of floriculture such as greenhouse management, cultural practices, floral design concepts, and the forcing of floricultural crops. UWRF students are involved in overseeing the identification exam, where competitors have 30 seconds at each station to identify 40 horticultural and floricultural crops. For the corsage wiring activity, the various supply components are freshly staged by the UWRF student volunteers as each subgroup of competitors rotate through the three

Daniel Ehret

THE 59TH ANNUAL AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY CONTEST WAS HELD SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2019 AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-RIVER FALLS (UWRF). OVER 800 MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM EASTERN MINNESOTA AND WESTERN WISCONSIN COMPETED IN 19 CONTESTS, INCLUDING FLORICULTURE AND NURSERY & LANDSCAPE.

competition stations. UWRF students also participate in evaluating the corsages.

The Floriculture contest was chaired by Dr. Sonja Maki and UWRF Horticulture major Adevie Rika. Adevie shares, “I enjoyed putting my floriculture skills to use in judging the corsage making activity. I look forward to helping again next year!”

The Nursery & Landscape contest is divided into two components- woody plant identification (25 species) and a general knowledge test. Students have a minute at each station to identify each plant with a dormant sample and photos of the plant during the growing season. The general knowledge test addresses a wide range of topics including: nursery production practices, disease and insect issues, design principles, landscape installation, and cultural management of turf, perennials, and woody plants.

The Nursery & Landscape contest was chaired by Dr. David Zlesak and UWRF Horticulture major Daniel Ehret. Dan reflects, “It was really special to be able to mentor a group of kids interested in the fields of nursery and landscape. From what I saw, the future of horticulture is in good hands.”

Events like the Agriculture Technology Contest and the MNLA Pathways Through Horticulture curriculum have become increasingly important tools to expose and promote horticulture and green industry careers to youth. With more than 50% of students now not having a relative or family friend directly involved in agriculture, these and other strategic efforts become the primary way many K–12 students learn about and experience horticulture. june 19 MNLA.BIZ

39

Kathy Helgeson

David Zlesak

FOUNDATION

2019 Floriculture Team Results (teams qualifying for the state competition) 1st Thorp FFA Team 2nd Osceola FFA Team 3rd Granton FFA Team 4th Greenwood FFA Team 2019 Nursery & Landscape Team Results 1st Cadott FFA Team 2nd Stanley-Boyd FFA Team 3rd Osceola FFA Team 4th Spring Valley FFA Team âž½ DAVID ZLESAK AND SONJA MAKI Teach in the Horticulture program at University of Wisconsin River Falls. Contact them at david.zlesak@uwrf.edu and sonja.maki@uwrf.edu.

40

MNLA.BIZ june 19

HELPING OUR INDUSTRY

GROW iStock.com/maxsattana

THE MNLA FOUNDATION partnered with member companies to present 6 collegiate scholarships for the 2018–2019 school year. Here's a look at the winners.

FOUNDATION

2018–2019 High School Scholarship Winners MARIA ANDERSON

LYNN RIGGE

Sponsored by: Hoffman & McNamara Nursery and

Sponsored by: Gertens

Landscape

School: Redwood Valley High School, Belview

School: Forest Lake High School, Forest Lake

Major: Plant Science

Major: Horticulture

Expected Graduation: May 2019

Expected Graduation: May 2020

Future Plans: Next year I plan to attend the

Future Plans: After I graduate, I plan to study

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. I will be

horticulture at University of River Falls Wisconsin.

majoring in plant science. I hope to gain research

I am currently working at Wagner’s Greenhouse at

experience and eventually have an meaningful

their retail center in Hugo, MN. I could see myself

career in the areas of plant science and food

in a Nursery or Greenhouse near the Twin City

security.

area after obtaining my degree.

WYATT HALVERSON

WILL STENCEL

Sponsored by: Prescription Landscape, Inc.

Sponsored by: Landscape Renovations, Inc.

School: Lincoln High School, Thief River Falls

School: Maple River High School, Mapleton

Major: Horticulture

Major: Plant Science

Expected Graduation: May 2020

Expected Graduation: May 2019

Future Plans: I plan to study at the University of

Future Plans: After graduation I am attending

Minnesota Crookston, where I will minor in

University of Wisconsin-Superior to major in

Horticulture. I also plan to be an active partici-

Plant Sciences. I will continue to work in

pant in subsistence farming and expand my

horticulture-related jobs and internships, and

houseplant collection!

plan to go on to U of W-Madison to get my masters in Botany. My dream job would be creating new hybrids/species of plants.

MADISON LINDEMAN

GEENA ZEBRASKY

Sponsored by: Landscape Renovations, Inc.

Sponsored by: Hoffman & McNamara Nursery

School: Highland Park High School, St. Paul

and Landscape

Major: Horticulture

School: Forest Lake High School, Forest Lake

Expected Graduation: May 2019

Major: Horticulture

Future Plans: I love FFA and have found a passion

Expected Graduation: 2019

for horticulture through it. I think that the area of

Future Plans:

horticulture is very large and involve many

I plan to work in sustainable agriculture and

different components. That is why I want to study

finding ways to fight climate change by altering

horticulture.

our practices and using plants as a tool. I think that the green industry will see a lot of growth as society changes the way they view their relationship with the earth.

42

The Foundation’s scholarship

satisfaction of knowing you made

industry — sponsor a student

Industry Awards Celebration.

program aims to encourage

a lasting difference in a young

scholarship! MNLA will send a

You can take action today by

students to stay on a green in-

person’s life and the future of the

press release to various media,

completing the application at

dustry career path and help them

green industry, but there are ad-

including your company’s local

www.MNLA.biz/scholarships. Con-

make connections with nursery

ditional charitable tax deduction

paper, and the student’s home-

tact us with any questions or for

and landscape employers who

benefits to you, as well. Consult

town and college publications.

additional details at Paulette@

are MNLA members. Have you

your tax advisor about your own

You will also receive company

mnla.biz or 651-633-4987.

considered sponsoring a student

situation.

recognition in the Scoop mag-

scholarship? Giving to a student

Demonstrate your commitment to

azine, on the MNLA website, at

will not only provide you with the

the future of the region’s green

Northern Green, and at the Green

MNLA.BIZ june 19

Want to have even more fun while supporting MNLA scholarships?

Your One Tractor Solution

Come to our...

SPORTING CLAYS TOURNAMENT

Foundation Charity Event at the Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2019

30o

58% Grade

One Tractor, Over 30 Commercial Grade Attachments:

The 10th Annual MNLA Foundation Sporting Clays Tournament is a terrific FUNdraiser, raising money for career promotion and scholarships in the green industry.

• You will have fun.

• You will be fed.

• You will have beverages available to quench your thirst.

• You will have access to games, 75 ROUNDS of sporting clays, cool people, and prizes!

The Minnesota Horse & Hunt Club in Prior Lake is nationally recognized as one of the premier sporting clay courses in the United States. Featuring more than 600 acres of private hunting preserve targets shot from several stations with different angles and challenges.

75-round course difficulty level is FUN! Single shooters are welcome!

Register at www.MNLA.biz/events by September 12, 2019.

Schedule a Ventrac Demo with:

Cushman Motor Company, Inc. 2909 E Franklin Ave • Minneapolis, MN (612) 333-3487 • 1-800-759-5343 www.cushmanmotorco.com

KEEP THE SAVINGS GOING THIS SUMMER. Adding Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) to water well pumping systems can increase efficiency and lower operating costs. Plus, we offer rebates from $400-$8,000 per VFD for various applications—from agricultural, golf course, and landscape irrigation, to municipal water supply. Other systems may also qualify. For more information contact an energy efficiency specialist at 855.839.8862 or visit xcelenergy.com/MotorEfficiency.

© 2019 Xcel Energy Inc.

4.75x4.75_MN-LA-Biz_05-2019_P02.indd 1 Sporting Clays promo 1-third vertical.indd 1

5/13/2019 5:09:11 PM

5/7/19 11:32 AM

june 19 MNLA.BIZ

43

If you’re looking for a highly effective and affordable professional development tool, MNLA’s Leadership Peer Groups is your solution. The knowledge, wisdom, and insight you need can be just a conversation away.

WHAT IS A LEADERSHIP PEER GROUP?

Learning from others is a dynamic resource for every leader to recognize, embrace, and leverage. In MNLA’s Leadership Peer Groups, similar leader-managers convene on a regular basis with a skilled facilitator to discuss certain topics, issues, or challenges found within the green industry. Utilizing Rod Johnson’s Peer InsightTM method, you’ll learn to connect the content you encounter in your life with the context of how to use it in your career.

CONNECTING CONTENT TO CONTEXT

The peer group helps individuals break down complex issues, exchange ideas, and adapt to different perspectives, all through a continuous learning forum. The team approach helps individuals with their accountability, while the coaching structure provided by the professional facilitator keeps discussions and idea exchanges focused and efficient. The informal, confidential nature of peer groups helps participants get to know each other on a more personal level within a safe environment. The relationships developed with peers allows for faster issue-solving, personal improvement, and professional growth.

FALL 2019 TOPIC: TALENT

This six-week program focuses on attracting, onboarding and developing talent across the organization. Companies in the green industry have been challenged with hiring and developing talent at all levels. This challenge is only heightened by the workforce experiencing a major shift as baby boomers retire and filling their positions becomes mission-critical. To stay out front or even survive, companies will need to find, attract, develop, and retain talent.

2019 FALL TOPIC (SEP.–NOV.):

Talent

WHAT WILL PARTICIPANTS WALK AWAY WITH? • • • • •

Expanded personal and professional relationships.

Personal coaching and practical advice vital to you and your company’s success.

Improved problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.

Outside perspectives on issues where you might be too close to see the solutions.

Greater self-awareness of how you work within a team.

DETAILS • • • • • •

Each program includes six Tuesday sessions on Sept. 10th, 24th, Oct. 8th, 22nd, Nov. 5th, and 19th.

We gather at the MNLA office from 3:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., with snacks and beverages provided.

Applications are being accepted now. The application deadline is August 27.

Investment: $595 per participant.

Each applicant will need to complete the application form at www.MNLA.biz/leadership.

Each applicant must fulfill ONE of the following criteria: graduate of the Green Industry Leadership Institute (or similar program); industry experience of five years; or hold a management position in a member company.

OUR FACILITATOR

Rod Johnson of Growing Your Leaders has successfully facilitated numerous peer learning groups for over 10 years by always innovating and pondering how to improve the impact of each meeting, and the performance of each participant.

YOUR SOURCE FOR

BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPING HIGH-QUALITY COLORED MULCH

SALES • SERVICE • RENTALS • PARTS

Your Bandit dealer for Minnesota and western Wisconsin

NEW AT HEDBERG Thin Cutting Saw

Dark Brown | Natural | Gold | Red AVAILABLE AT THE SMSC ORGANICS RECYCLING FACILITY

SMSC

952.233.9191 • smscorf.com 1905 Mystic Lake Drive S, Shakopee, MN

Burnsville • Little Canada • Hudson

tristatebobcat.com

Organics Recycling Facility

Thank you for making our business successful.

Call us for the best selection in the industry for all your contractor supplies.

1-800-772-3888 www.centrallandscape.com

The BEST in the MIDWEST!

Cut Pavers, Natural Stone Brick and More!

Save 10¢/gallon for the first 90 days, then save 5¢ on every gallon purchased at Holiday Stationstores.

Monitor your mileage, gas usage, and vehicle maintenance more effectively. No annual fee!

Contact Don Keis at 952-830-8889 or don.keis@holidaycompanies.com.

 Green Industry-Focused Education: Business, Plant Materials, Pests, and Skills Training Your member-only webinar resource includes speakers and topics relevant to your business: • Garden Center Display Tips and Tricks (Jessie Jacobson, Dennis Orfei, & Scott Moon) • Managing Diseases of Conifers (Michelle Grabowski) • Plant Design Mixing and Matching: Combinations that Thrill and Thrive (Julie Weisenhorn) • New Overtime Rule and the Green Industry: Changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act (Jared Nusbaum) • Great Grasses for Lepidoptera and Minnesota Gardens (Mary Hockenberry Meyer) • Turfgrass Selection: Species and Variety Options for Five Difficult Situations (Sam Bauer) • Limited Liability Status for Small Companies: What it Means and How to Keep It (Bryan Zlimen) • Profit by Enhancing Biological Control in Greenhouse, Landscape and Turf (Vera Krischik) • Pollinators & Pesticides: The Factors at Play (Karl Foord, Dean Herzfeld)

ONLINE EDUCATION

 Go to www.MNLA.biz/OnlineEducation to find these and more! As a member, you can access this and other

exclusive content anytime by logging in to www.MNLA.biz. Browse the MEMBERS ONLY dropdown on the far right of the menu bar.

E X C L U S I V E

M E M B E R

C O N T E N T june 19 MNLA.BIZ

45

OUT & ABOUT

Craig Larson, Fury Ram Truck Center; Charlie Miller, Truck Utilities; and Patrick Landis, FCA Regional Account Executive.

& Member Connections & Careers Outreach

Patrick Landis gives a review of the past year, as well as an overview of the upcoming 2020 Fleet Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.

MNLA Foundation promoting the green industry at the State FFA Convention.

MNLA Membership Director Mary Dunn with Dick Reineck of Brandl Motors.

St. Louis Park Career Exploration Day gathered over 600 high school students.

Members of FFA are a target audience for our green industry careers message.

Paulette Sorenson, MNLA Foundation Program Coordinator, spreading the word about green industry careers.

46

MNLA.BIZ june 19

Mem ber

Day

MEMBER APPRECIATION DAY

10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. | MNLA Office 1 8 13 L e x i n g t o n A v e N , R o s e v i l l e , M N 5 5 113

Coffee, Donuts, Soft-Serve Ice Cream with Toppings, Beer & Popcorn (ALL FREE!)

Thank you to our sponsor:

TUESDAY, AUGUST

27TH

5:30 p.m. | CHS Field 36 0 N B r o a d wa y St , St Pa u l , M N 55101

A summer buffet and Saints baseball in the evening! ($28) Contact Sue Flynn at 651-633-4987 to secure your seats now!

Thank you to our sponsors: sponsor:

SEND YOUR CREWS! The MNLA office is located at 1813 Lexington Ave N, Roseville, MN 55113.

IF YOU ’RE IN THE ARE A — STOP BY! Visit www.MNLA.biz for more information.

EARN

$500 CARD PREPAID

$500 attachment credit for a friend

REFER A FRIEND $500 Visa

gift card for you ®

&

$500 attachment credit for a friend

When you refer someone who buys a new Cat® qualifying machine from Ziegler CAT during 2019, we will send you a $500 PREPAID VISA® GIFT CARD after the sale is complete. What’s in it for your friend? A $500 attachment credit.

It’s a win-win for both of you. After all, what are friends for?

Valid only if the buyer has not purchased a new machine from Ziegler within the past five years.

GET STARTED AT:

www.zieglercat.com/refer

Terms and conditions apply.

Visit www.zieglercat.com/refer for complete details.