The Beer Garden

Lessons From The Music Industry

In this episode, Jason shares his journey in the music industry during a time of massive disruption and draws parallels from that experience to the landscape industry. He shares how his experience in the music industry—touring, recording, and sharing the stage with bands like Imagine Dragons, Awolnation, and Motley Crue—has shaped his entrepreneurial mindset and influenced his approach to the landscaping and snow removal industry.
Tune in as Jason and Brandon dive into the parallels between the two industries, discussing how the disruption of music by streaming services mirrors the technological changes facing landscaping today. From the importance of adapting to new market realities to the power of recurring revenue, this episode is packed with insights for landscapers looking to grow their businesses.
Segment Breakdown:
Introductions & Backstory
The guys introduce their beers and discuss Jason's backstory in the music industry. Specifically, they cover the massive disruption that took place when streaming technology was introduced.
Be Willing to Adapt
Jason reflects on the shift from the "Big 6" record labels to the "Big 3" and how the music industry players who failed to adapt were left behind. This leads to a discussion on parallels in the landscaping industry, where new technologies like AI, robotics, and electric tools are disrupting traditional practices. Are we ready for these changes, or are we falling into the same trap?
Key Takeaway: The landscape industry is on the brink of disruption—those who don’t adapt may be left behind.
Technologies discussed: Digital mapping, electric tools, AI, and robotics.
Know Your Customer & Focus on Their Needs
Convenience is king. Jason shares an anecdote from his music career about how consumers don’t care about your business model—they want what’s easy. The conversation turns to how landscapers can apply this mindset, with tips on improving customer experience, from online schedulers to proactive bidding.
Key Takeaway: Speed and convenience can win customers in landscaping, just like it did in the music industry.
Strategies: Online scheduling, speed-to-lead, and using video presentations.
Recurring Revenue Wins
Jason explains how the music industry shifted from selling albums to a subscription-based model, creating a steady stream of recurring revenue. In landscaping, a business model based on recurring services can dramatically increase the value of a company.
Key Takeaway: Recurring revenue gives peace of mind and increases business valuations. Discussion on why businesses with recurring revenue streams are valued higher.
Increase Revenue Per Customer
The shift from relying on album sales to monetizing tours, merchandise, and licensing provides lessons for landscaping businesses looking to cross-sell additional services. Jason and Brandon explore how cross-selling can increase revenue per customer and discuss how their companies—ACA and LBN—are applying this model.
Key Takeaway: Diversifying revenue streams through cross-selling can lead to significant growth at a lower cost than acquiring new customers. Focus on building the bottom layers of the growth pyramid (retention and revenue per customer) before moving on to the top layer (customer acquisition).
 
Grab your favorite beverage, pull up a seat, and join us for this episode packed with stories and actionable business insights!
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How to Price Your Services

Pricing your services can make or break your landscape or snow removal business. In this episode of The Beer Garden, we dive deep into the strategies and challenges of setting the right price. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your approach, this episode covers everything from knowing your numbers, to comparing cost based, competitor based, and value based pricing. Tune in for practical advice, real-world examples, and tips to help you become more profitable. Grab a beer and join us for a candid conversation on how to price your services the right way!

Welcome to the Beer Garden

Often times when you're stuck in the day to day grind, it can be hard to remember why we do what we do, and even harder to envision the payoff ahead.
In this debut episode of The Beer Garden, hosts Brandon Comstock & Jason Hoke share stories from their journey in the landscape and snow industry and set the tone for episodes to come.
New episodes out every Friday.
 
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Facebook Group: /thebeergardenlandscape
Facebook Page: /issueid
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Email: thebeergarden@issueid.io

The Beer Garden Teaser

The Beer Garden is the landscape industry podcast that lasts as long as it takes to enjoy your favorite beverage(s). Created by landscapers, for landscapers, we’re here to dig deep into the roots of our industry, sharing a brew and the best-kept secrets of the trade. Pull up a seat and join the conversation!