(117) A Profile of Landscape Service Providers in West Central Florida

Abstract

<jats:p>A survey of landscape service providers was conducted in conjunction with the 2004 Tree and Landscape Short Course in Tampa, Fla. A greater proportion of participants (56%) provided landscape maintenance services, and 60% of the businesses were independently owned. About 67% of the respondents indicated that their businesses were in operation for over 10 years with 33% of the participants making one million dollars or more in gross sales per year. Although 43% of the respondents indicated that they served only one type of account, at least 29% of the providers served two types of accounts, and 24% served three types. In response to various questions on a Likert scale of 1–5, about 39% of the respondents completely agreed that word-of-mouth is the best marketing method and 41% agreed that an attractive logo on company trucks works as a great marketing tool. Many participants either agreed (27%) or were neutral (27%) when asked if they thought that the customers have no understanding of the costs involved in providing services to them. The survey results show that 73% of the respondents believe the most important factor that impacts and helps retain a customer base at a steady level is quality of work performed followed by professional employees, appearance, and knowledgeable employees. Cheap prices or discounts offered were rated as being low factors in retention of customers. Most service providers (31%) do not communicate with their customers using brochures, newsletters, flyers, emails, or websites. About 61% of service providers promote low water use plants followed by use of Florida native plants.</jats:p>