Woody’s Custom Landscaping is enjoying a booming start to 2015. After weathering the downturn in the economy, they are once again enjoying solid growth.
Known for their award-winning hardscapes and custom landscaping, the Battle Ground-based company has been serving Southwest Washington for over 23 years.
“We pretty much do it all – outdoor kitchens, living areas, retaining walls, ponds and patios,” shared James “Woody” Woodhead.
When asked what sets Woody’s apart from other landscapers, Woodhead touted his employees.
“My employees have longevity with us – I think that is really important,” he said. “They are friendly [and they] communicate well with our clients.”
Even though Woody’s Custom Landscaping is focused on design and installation, not maintenance contracts, continued customer relationships are still a focus for the company.
“We maintain relationships with our customers even after that work is done,” said Woodhead, emphasizing how employees who not only turn in quality work but also relate well to clients, account for much of their success.
Most of Woodhead’s eight employees carry certifications from the Washington Association of Landscape Professionals (WALP), National Concrete and Masonry Association or the Interlocking Pavement Institute. Their credentials help Woody’s crew bring with them a bit of credibility and professionalism to the residential sites they work on.
According to Woodhead, the key to a stable of longstanding employees is “really just a matter of being fair and honest.”
“I genuinely care about my team,” he said. “I mentor them. Just like life – good morals, good values. Truth, justice and right. Those three things are what we live by and I reinforce with my employees.”
The effort to achieve certifications and maintain a core of employees has paid off for the company. Their residential work has earned the outfit 20 WALP Grand, Merit and Distinction Awards in landscaping, construction, lighting, ponds and walls and another 12 Clark County Home and Garden awards, including three Best in Show awards.
Outdoor living areas have become a big part of Woody’s business. Full outdoor kitchens, covered patios with outdoor seating and fire pits have transcended from trendy to mainstream.
“Outdoor living space used to be for high-end housing only, now they are for everyone,” he said. “Patios, water features and fire pits extend the usable space of a home. Since the recession, people spend more of their leisure time at home. That is where they want to be.”
While the recession impacted real estate and construction harder than most industries, Woody’s managed to hold its head above water.
“[We survived with] a sharp pencil and a new eraser,” Woodside laughed. “I had to get rid of a lot of waste. Before, we might let little [expenses] slide, but then we had to tighten up. I got employees tuned up with what we had to do [to] be more efficient – with no decrease in pay.”
Tightening the belt and finding costs to trim, such as ads, Woodside saved his company nearly $30,000 without any sacrifice to quality or the client experience.
“I rely a lot on a strong Internet presence – [A] good website, active in social media, I write a blog, add in videos. I focus a lot on reviews. I have had a number of clients come to me based solely on our reviews.”
Word of mouth is still king with their solid reputation. But good employee management, savvy economizing and utilizing technology to stay relevant has taken Woody’s Custom Landscaping through the downturn unscathed, allowing the company to flourish on the other side.
