The Sprinkler Nerd Show

You can punch up your website and email copy and break away from the same old techniques!

Many companies are adding humor, emojis, and animated GIFs to their communications to give a more personal and modern feel, and the results have been great!

In this episode, Lianna Patch from PunchlineCopy.com joins us to discuss some of the "secret sauce" that you can use to help your business add some personality and character in your communications and on your website.

www.PunchlineCopy.com

Lianna's advice will help you to create a "voice" for your business that will create engagement and set you apart from your competitors.

You can learn more about Lianna and her business, Punchline Copy, by going to https://punchlinecopy.com/

Join the retrofit goldrush!

Want to learn how to engineer large irrigation retrofits that scale outside of the capabilities of traditional irrigation manufacturers?

Do you have customers with complicated sites?

In this episode, you will hear from Kyle Desmarais, the founder & owner of H2O Irrigation Specialists in Kingston Massachusetts, as he shares specific details about his business and about a large project he is engineering to retrofit.

Learn what type of technology it takes to retrofit 11 controllers, 2 pumps, a make-up well, and over 250 zones of irrigation.

You'll also learn how Kyle started H2O Irrigation and some tips he shares that make his business successful.

H2O Irrigation Specialist: http://www.h2oirrigation.co/

Learn how Todd Hudgins of Bayside Irrigation & Lighting lost over 100lbs in 9months and has kept the weight off for 3 years. Todd will share tips that any irrigation & landscape contractor can use to change their daily habits and live a healthy physical and mental lifestyle.

www.BaysideIrrigation.com

You become what you think about - and on today's episode, you will hear the story of Paul Bassett's journey from irrigation laborer, to water conservation leader.

Paul jumped headfirst into the irrigation industry at 19 years old working as a basic laborer for a sprinkler company outside Baltimore Maryland.

Fast forward to 2019 where Paul is now a leader in the performance contracting industry helping to save millions of gallons of water per year.

In this episode, Paul and I talk about our early days working together and the specific moments which helped shape both of our careers.

Flying a drone seems cool, but they're more than just high-tech toys. For a professional, flying a drone is a new way to make irrigation work better for facilities. In this episode, Andy speaks with Kent Harris, the manager of the Minnesota Sodding Company and a licensed drone professional, to discuss how drones are changing the irrigation game. You'll hear how these helpful high-flyers are being used to view, track, and measure irrigation audits, and how you can get started using one professionally yourself.

"If these guys can fly it, I can fly it"-Kent Harris

In this Episode:

- How Kent got started with Minnesota Sodding Company and what it's been like working with them as a manager for the past three years

- New ways to do irrigation work with our latest technology.

- What is a 107 license? Plus, learn the importance of having it to be able to use a drone for your work

- What should you look out for when flying a drone?

- How measurement and gravel pits inventory gets done with 3D imaging

- Irrigation audit and data tracking made simple by using a Drone in your facility

Connect with Kent:

• LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kent-harris-9a2b1810
• Website https://mnsodco.com/

Connect with Andy:

• Website https://sprinklernerd.com/
• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/sprinklernerd
• Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sprinklersupply/
• Twitter https://twitter.com/SprinklerNerd

When customers are looking for the best bid options, it's not only about what will be financially beneficial, but also about how much value is provided. How can they decide on which company to go with, and how can companies stand out, when there are so many options? In this episode, Andy and Denny talk about the main factors for successfully estimating, bidding, and selling while providing value with every product. They share how estimates and bid systems work, plus ways to protect yourself and customers in each project.

"If you are going to be the highest bid, you want to make sure you provide value to support your price" -Andy Humphrey

In this Episode:

• Andy shares how he started as a landscape designer trainee, and everything he learned at his first job that lead him to be an expert at estimations, bids, and sales
• As a potential customer trying to choose a bid, how do you decide what company to use?
• If you are going to present a high bid, make sure you do this
• How to bid systems and price jobs while maintaining your profit
• Why the man-hour return is more important than the price of the product
• Why checks and balances need to be put in place to protect the client and the company

Connect with Denny Richards:

Contact

Connect with Andy:

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

What's the secret to setting yourself apart with great customer service? In this episode, Andy speaks with Denny Richards, the Customer Service Wizard from the Sprinkler Supply Store. Denny is the go-to guy for helping customers and making sure they feel seen and heard. Today, he shares the secrets to providing great customer service, down to exact phrases to use to better resolve conflicts. Don't miss his expert insight for providing more value and keeping your customers happy.

"It can be a real trick sometimes to tell the customer NO without saying NO"

-Denny Richards

In this Episode

• What's the deal with Amazon customer service? Andy and Denny dig into the difference between them and other providers like the Sprinkler Supply Store
• Email rules and response flows for newbies to use as guidance when handling customer requests
• How to make sure your customers feel heard, plus resources to use when you don't have the right answers
• What NOT to say when speaking to your customers and the different choices in words you can use for positive feedback
• Denny shares how he deals with upset customers, whether on the phone or through email
• Key points for providing more human value to your customers

Resources:

• Amazon
• Sprinkler Supply Store
• Hunter

Connect with Denny Richards:

Contact

Connect with Andy:

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Did you know that the Boston Public Garden was the first park in the United States and it predates the famous Central Park? Today's guest is Tommy Carrafiello, who is a Boston native and has been working in the irrigation industry for over 20 years. He is currently connected with Cambridge Landscape, which has been around for 40 years in serving the Boston public. Andy sits down with Tommy as they discuss the changes and improvements that the irrigation industry has seen over the past few decades. Join them and learn a little more about irrigation history!

"As the industry changes, the products change. You have to trust the technology."

- Tommy Carrafiello

In this Episode

• How Tommy got into the irrigation business 20 years ago
• What services that Cambridge Landscape offers
• The app that the employees use to keep things going
• How the company adjusts to customers' wants
• What frustrates Tommy the most on the job
• The perks of dealing with the company versus customers doing it by themselves
• The unique tools they use in doing their job

Resources:

Cambridge Landscape

Hub App

Boston Public Garden

Central Park

Amazon

Connect with Tommy:

Linkedin

A lot of residential houses have sprinklers installed on their lawns but, do you know the ins and outs of how they work? Many of us are not aware of how drip irrigation operates and how it helps us make our lives trouble-free. Today, Andy and Art talk about the different types of drip irrigation from point source to inline source and how these operate in various land settings. You will also learn the mechanisms of the regulators and valves that are installed in the system. Join Andy and Art become smart irrigators!

"If we're going to tackle the issue on climate change and greenhouse gases, we're going to need to pull CO2 out of the air. We're going to have to plant a lot of trees, a lot of turf. Without us, green is brown."

- Art Elmers

In this Episode:

• How Art became the irrigation expert
• The difference between how the East Coast and West Coast implement their irrigation system
• What is inline tubing and how it works
• The processes in using subsurface drip
• How pressure is involved with the drip system and the use of a pressure compensator emitter
• Pressure regulators acts as an insurance policy
• The benefit of having a check valve installed in the emitter
• Auto flush valve versus Manual flush valve
• Common problems and myths encountered with the irrigation system

Resources:

Netafim

Connect with Art:

Art's Email Address

Linkedin

Connect with Andy:

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Former contestant on the ABC hit television series Shark Tank, irrigation technology expert, and multimillion-dollar eCommerce entrepreneur Andy Humphrey brings his curiosity & creativity to tease out the secrets of successful Green Industry influencers on The Sprinkler Nerd Show.

Discover how to get a leg up on the competition, to be the smartest person at the design table, and advance your career in the irrigation and landscape industry at any level.

All stones will be unturned as Andy digs into the nerdy details of business, technology, and personal growth here on the Sprinkler Nerd show. To join the community of Sprinkler Nerds transforming the Green Industry visit www.SprinklerNerd.com.