After reading the articles on our Landscaper of the Year finalists each month, I’m always amazed and reminded of what made them stand out to begin with. Whether it’s the obstacles they’ve overcome to create a thriving business or the quality of their work, these landscapers impressed me from the first time I read through the Landscaper of the Year application.
As we near the deadline for choosing our new Landscaper of the Year winner and finalists (deadline July 31), make sure you and your business stand out on the application, which you can access here.
Here’s what I look for when picking the Landscaper of the Year finalists each year:
- Business Savvy: Your business won’t thrive unless you have a solid business plan, so tell us about what you do that sets you apart.
- Safety: I make sure all of our finalists have good safety records through OSHA and don’t have complaints.
- Projects: While it’s difficult to compare landscapers’ projects like an outdoor kitchen to maintenance work, I do look at the quality of each. When a landscaper puts a lot of effort and care into their projects, it shows.
- Story: Something that can help you further stand out from the other applications is your back story. You’re the only one who has that story, so tell us about that hardships you’ve overcome to get to where you are today, volunteer work you do for the community and anything else that makes you unique.
Our Landscaper of the Year program is one of my favorites parts of TLC because it allows us to talk with successful landscapers from across the country, as well as recognize them for their work. So if you want your business to appear in an issue of our magazine — and also win an all-expense-paid cruise to the Bahamas with the other finalists — make sure to submit your application by July 31.
