News

Tips to Enhance Your Strategic Plan

By |December 1st, 2022|

There are requirements for a good strategic plan. “As you work your strategic plan take a good hard look at yourself and your management team. Do you have the people who can be honest about your strengths and weakness?” asks Tom Fochtman, Ceibass CEO. “To plan effectively your team needs to be psychologically strong. They need to be ambitious, too. Don’t settle for mediocrity. Aim higher. Push your boundaries and do more than stretch, seek to gain a real competitive advantage. Create that unique offering … “ For more details read the blog.

Here’s to You!

By |November 22nd, 2022|

During this time of gratitude, the enterprise value specialists at Ceibass give thanks to you … the professionals in the lawn and landscape industry. “On this Thanksgiving, we give thanks to the discipline, strategic orientation, and competitiveness of the professionals we have had the privilege of working with in the lawn and landscape industry,” said Tom Fochtman, Ceibass CEO. “Professionals earn it, every day. They take great care of their customers and the team of people who work with them. They really have a heart for being in-service to others … “ For details, read the blog.

Get Out and Vote, Tuesday November 8

By |November 8th, 2022|

It’s election day Tuesday November 8th and the enterprise value specialists at Ceibass are hoping that you “elect” to get out and vote. “You count. Your vote matters. Make sure you vote,” said Tom Fochtman, Ceibass CEO. “It is a privilege of citizenship. It’s a duty and a responsibility. Make the effort. Vote.” Regardless of who you vote for the team at Ceibass hopes that you choose candidates that are respectful, civilized, kind, and honorable. For more details read the blog.

Happy Halloween!

By |October 30th, 2022|

It’s Halloween and the enterprise value specialists at Ceibass have gotten together again for a review of what scares them. “One of the scariest things in these unusual times is uncertainty, lots of unknowns out there like war, interest rates, recession, labor issues, and proposed new legislation. Top performing companies deal with uncertainty by focusing on what they can control,” said Tom Fochtman, Ceibass CEO. “This includes things like concentrating on customer satisfaction, employee engagement and development, developing new offers and celebrating successes. It also means …” For more scary things read the blog. And Happy Halloween!

M&A Activity is Robust in Lawn & Landscape

By |August 11th, 2022|

M&A activity in the lawn and landscape industry is robust. “One of the things we are picking up from talking with lawn & landscape business owners is that with the rise in interest rates, reoccurring pandemic fears, high inflation and the overall defensive mood of the economy that now is not a good time to consider buying or selling,” said Tom Fochtman, Ceibass CEO. “Nothing could be further from the truth. Yes, deal flow may be slightly lower year over year, but we are still at historic highs. Historic highs! Now is the time to consider an exit strategy.” For details read the blog.

Here’s to the Spirit of Independence

By |June 22nd, 2022|

Here’s to the Spirit of Independence. “We celebrate the spirit of independence that dwells deep in the heart of lawn and landscape business owners. These people take on the risks and the costs of starting, growing, and maintaining a business. It’s not easy,” said Tom Fochtman, Ceibass CEO. “These business owners are ambitious, they have developed successful philosophies, accumulated knowledge, and developed a great team. They take superior care of their employees, customers, and vendors. They build identities in their communities as caretakers. They give back. The true American spirit of independence is that you can’t go at it alone. You must build a great team. And be a great teammate, in return. Here’s to you and yours on this Holiday. Have a wonderful 4th of July.”

Networking is Essential to Building Company value

By |June 20th, 2022|

The most successful companies are very skilled at networking or building networks. “Why do it? For ambitious companies and ambitious people, the reason is to produce competitive advantages. The idea is to produce better networks than their competition so that they make better offers, have better people, the best customers, the best technology, the highest margins and assure their survival all the while building enterprise value,” said Tom Fochtman, Ceibass CEO. For more details, read the blog.

Adjusting to Rapidly Rising Gas Prices

By |April 1st, 2022|

How are you adjusting to rising gas prices? “Rising gas prices are crimping profit margins in the lawn and landscape industry. The very best companies are doing everything in their power to deal with the situation,” said Tom Fochtman, Ceibass CEO. “They are attacking the problem from all angles including doing everything to improve gas mileage, improving route density, going after operational inefficiencies, raising rates, improving their contracts to include fuel kickers …” For more details read the blog.

Team Up with Voices for Healthy Green Spaces

By |March 23rd, 2022|

One of NALP’s most important projects is Voices for Healthy Green Spaces -- a community of landscape industry supporters who voice industry policy interests and concerns at all levels of government. “Professionals in our industry need to do more for clean air, clean water, safe materials and sustainable environments,” said Tom Fochtman, Ceibass CEO. “We need your voice to generate positive economic activity, protect the health and safety of our communities, and make nature accessible to everyone.” For details read the blog.

Springtime Wishes

By |March 17th, 2022|

Spring is here and it is an opportunity to put new life into your business. “Our wishes for you include ways to brighten your spirits and freshen up your business,” said Tom Fochtman, Ceibass CEO. “May you focus on what is important and take greater care of your employees and customers. May you be filled with the drive to embrace technology and lead your markets, achieve bigger margins, prune where you must, offer more services and be more inclusive, equitable and …” For more details read the blog.