Last-Minute Minneapolis Home & Garden Show: "The Scramble"

Jack and I met with a representative from the Minneapolis Home and Garden Show this weekend while at the show in St. Paul, to see how our booth display may or may not accomodate their regulations.  As it turns out, it did not really qualify (actually, except for just the main banner) and they were all but sold out of space. 

However, there were just a couple of spaces left on Monday, and we did decide to secure our small plot at 3:45 PM.  With some phone calls and quick footwork, we compiled our little 10 x 10' oasis of Asian-inspired simple elegance within 36 hours.  It took an investment, but it looks beautiful and we are proud of it.   We'll have a few nice pieces of custom woodwork, a "Silver Creek" slate floor, palms, orchids, night-blooming jasmine, and a projector presentation of what we can offer.

In the context of the entire show, we are not competing for the most elaborate and most expensive display, by any stretch.  There look to be some *amazing* gardens at the show this year.  Some are looking truly amazing, and showcase the limitless imagination of the landscape industry.  I am very excited to see them completed.  Big props to all of their hard work and effort.  Jack and I couldn't help but talk about some of the extravagant "out of the box" ideas we would try if the time comes for us to do a home show garden in the future.

But our superb little piece of real-estate just might get us the attention we're looking for, to help us connect with some good people, showcase some of our offerings, and help to get us on our way.  And, just as importantly, to allow us to help you create the landscape of our dreams with a price you can afford. 

We're hoping for, and looking forward to a good show.  Our 10 x 10' LDS Oasis be at #725.  Hope to see you there!

First Blog Post: “The Launch Pad”

3-2-1 ignition, and we have lift off…

Hello to everyone who might read this, whether friends, family, colleagues, or clients. My name is Dave, and I am sure that most of you may know me in some form or another. I am not sure of exactly what to expect in this blog, or what to tell you to expect, but primarily I intend to use this as a way to submit some design ideas and thoughts about the work that I am currently doing, and to share some “work-in-progress” designs and graphics to show my clients and prospective clients, or to document some of the construction projects that come about throughout the course of the landscape season.

In launching Landscape Design Studios, it comes with a combination of nervous energy, anxiety, and enthusiasm for the new business and all that lies ahead. This leads to some sleepless nights of obsessing over the business model we plan to execute, the marketing strategies we intend to employ, and the prospective clients we pursue and hope to successfully work with in the future. It also leads to investing some hard-earned and saved money, taking the risk and proceeding with confidence that our new business model is what it will take to succeed in 2010, and beyond.

This confidence is supported by the strong belief that what we are doing is best as an advocate for our clients, and for building and nurturing future relations with our clients. We will actively seek to find the best value and the highest standards of executing their project for them through our network of Associated Contractors. It also brings us a great deal of confidence in knowing that our Associated Contractors, many of whom we have worked with in the past and have a high level of respect for, a trusting relationship with, and a friendship with will be looked after in our system, as well. We can be their advocate in making sure that they are rewarded with prompt payment for their prompt work, as well as their high standards of workmanship for our clients. Through all of this, we can all earn a good living as we build Landscape Design Studios and continue to build our reputation and client base, executing our business plan.

It’s all about taking the risk, expanding our capabilities, building our trust, advocating for our clients, taking care of our Associated Contractors, and making our living through a tougher economy. We are poised and positioned to press on and succeed. We have the desire, the plan, the value, the skills, and the talent to offer… now bring on the clients!

We have cleared the launching pad, and now the sky is the limit.