Total Landscape Care Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/85701
business bests Woodstock, Georgia, built his first water feature in his backyard and has since become a Koi enthusiast. He only installs a few water features per year, but "People want the water feature to look like it was part " the projects draw customers to his business and traffic to his website (artisticlandscapes.com). "Bubbling brooks, serene Koi ponds and cascad- ing waterfall photos show potential customers your design skills and ability to create natural water- scapes," Keightley says. "Even if they don't have the necessary budget, the photos generate positive images that attract them to my business." Pondering trends Customers are influenced by home and garden shows like the HGTV network and the DIY market- ing by manufacturers and retail chains. Homeowner of the terrain and not plopped into a backyard and surrounded with ill-proportioned rocks. demand for low-maintenance, natural-looking, large water features continues despite the economic downturn, and smaller features such as fountains in decorative pots and urns are also popular. The key to matching a client with the right water feature is to evaluate his or her lifestyle. A pond hobbyist interested in complex ecosystems and exotic fish maintenance is a different customer than the one who wants to enjoy his waterfall from his kitchen window. Most water features can be purchased in a kit form that includes all of the parts required except a shovel, wheelbarrow and strong back. If you decide to go with all-inclusive kits, you get the benefit of manufacturer training and support. If you use products from your construction supplier, most The sound and sight of moving water offer a tranquil respite for the owner. 30 TOTAL LANDSCAPE CARE / April 2012