Homeowners are shying away from pesticides and chemicals these days as they worry about their children and pets coming into contact with dangerous lawn chemicals. As a result, there is a burgeoning market for green industry business owners on which to capitalize. However, breaking into the niche of organic lawn maintenance and lawn care is not necessarily an easy one. Here are six ways that your green industry business can break into this market and be successful at it.
Attend Trade Shows
Trade shows are a big way that you can learn all about new technologies and machinery that are available for your green industry business. Among these are the new fertilizers and other items used to make lawn luscious and protect grass and other plants. You can use trade shows to not only learn about new ways to fertilize but also about marketing strategies for your business. Use trade shows to talk to other businesses that have gone organic and find out how they market their business to new customers.
Grow The Right Grass
In a lawn care business you will often be planting grass for those you service. Whether there is no grass to begin with or the grass cannot be revived, it is important for you to grow the right grass for the location. Not all grass is created equal. While some is short, other grass is tall, some is soft, and some needs a lot of water to grow properly. Ideally you will want to pick a grass seed that will grow only with the assistance of water. The less fertilizers you have to use (organic or not) will make you very popular amongst the all-natural crowd.
Invest!
You are not going to be able to bring in those organic or all-natural customers if you do not invest in good quality products. Bad quality will equal bad service so if you are serious about entering the organic market then you will need to really invest. Go and find what is most popular on the organic market for lawn care and invest in it. Buy some and test it out before you begin to use it on customer lawns. The one thing you cannot do is skimp on quality or you will not ever grow or expand to all-natural and organic customers.
Do Your Research
Research is a big deal in any business especially when technologies and products are constantly evolving and being improved. Do your research and find out what is considered all natural and what types of products you should be using. As new studies come out showing what is healthy and unhealthy, the organic market changes its products. Make sure you are staying on top of it all and only using what the research has deemed all natural and healthy, especially if you promise customers all natural lawn maintenance.
Do Not Alienate Your Other Customers
When some businesses break into a new niche they leave their old customers in the dust. This is not good for a growing green industry business. Just because you want to draw in new customers does not mean you want to alienate your old ones and turn them away.
Invest in Lawn Care Software
Software can be as good for the environment - and your business - as organic lawn maintenance. For example, lawn care software like HindSite eliminates paperwork, improves accuracy and makes your entire team more productive. It can significantly cut down on operational costs and improve your customer service. Not only will you impress your customers with your knowledge of organic lawn maintenance, but you'll also impress them with your ability to deliver great service.
Growing and expanding your business into the all-natural and organic market is simple. Just do your research, invest in quality products, and take care of all your customers.
Wondering what else your customers want? Check out our 2014 Green Industry Buyer Report for more insight!
