--- title: IssueID Insights | Harper Hawkins description: "\"Harper Hawkins is an expert landscape contractor with rich industry experience. His journey, marked by maintaining vast swaths of land and managing successful projects, has fueled his passion to empower other business owners in our industry and other trades industries. Harper's insightful strategies and inventive approaches have revolutionized numerous businesses, earning him a revered position in the landscape contracting community. As an industry mentor and thought leader, he continually shares his knowledge and experiences, helping others to level up their game. Harper's belief in sustainable and creative landscaping forms the core of his teachings, inspiring a new generation of contractors to strive for excellence while respecting nature.\"" --- [![IssueID Logo](https://blog.issueid.io/hs-fs/hubfs/Issue-ID-Logo.png?width=500&height=89&name=Issue-ID-Logo.png "IssueID Logo")](https://issueid.io) Open main menu Close main menu # IssueID Insights Capture. Catalog. Close. Select Category innovation New Feature Proactive Sales Productization Stories This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. Posts by: ## Harper Hawkins [Follow me on my website](https://www.issueid.io) [Follow me on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/issueid) [Follow me on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/issueid) [Follow me on Twitter](https://twitter.com/issue_id) "Harper Hawkins is an expert landscape contractor with rich industry experience. His journey, marked by maintaining vast swaths of land and managing successful projects, has fueled his passion to empower other business owners in our industry and other trades industries. Harper's insightful strategies and inventive approaches have revolutionized numerous businesses, earning him a revered position in the landscape contracting community. As an industry mentor and thought leader, he continually shares his knowledge and experiences, helping others to level up their game. Harper's belief in sustainable and creative landscaping forms the core of his teachings, inspiring a new generation of contractors to strive for excellence while respecting nature." ![](https://blog.issueid.io/hubfs/CUSTOMER-EXPERIENCE-FINAL.png) [Stories,](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/tag/stories) [innovation](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/tag/innovation) ### [Why Good Isn't Good Enough: Creating an Exceptional Customer Experience](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/why-good-isnt-good-enough-creating-an-exceptional-customer-experience) Jun 13, 2025 6:53:45 AM In the landscaping and snow removal industry, most companies think delivering the service as promised is enough to keep customers happy. But as competition increases and expectations rise, simply doing the job isn't cutting it anymore. Today’s best companies don’t just mow lawns or clear snow, they create standout customer experiences that win loyalty, referrals, and long-term contracts. ---     ![Harper Hawkins](https://blog.issueid.io/hs-fs/hubfs/hawkeye-harper.jpg?width=45&name=hawkeye-harper.jpg) [Harper Hawkins](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/author/harper-hawkins) [Read More](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/why-good-isnt-good-enough-creating-an-exceptional-customer-experience) ![](https://blog.issueid.io/hubfs/TRAINING-ART.png) [Stories,](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/tag/stories) [innovation](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/tag/innovation) ### [Train to Retain: Creating a System for Employee Growth](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/train-to-retain-creating-a-system-for-employee-growth) Jun 7, 2025 9:57:42 AM Let’s be honest—most of us in landscaping and snow removal started with a “training program” that sounded a lot like: *“Here’s a shovel, follow that guy.”* But in today’s world, if you want to build a team that sticks around, performs well, and grows with your company, that just doesn’t cut it. In this post, we’re breaking down how to build a training system that actually works—one that improves performance, boosts retention, and helps develop your future leaders. ---     ![Harper Hawkins](https://blog.issueid.io/hs-fs/hubfs/hawkeye-harper.jpg?width=45&name=hawkeye-harper.jpg) [Harper Hawkins](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/author/harper-hawkins) [Read More](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/train-to-retain-creating-a-system-for-employee-growth) ![](https://blog.issueid.io/hubfs/MONEY-TALKS.png) [Stories,](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/tag/stories) [innovation](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/tag/innovation) ### [💰 Money Talks: How to Lead Your Team with Financial Transparency](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/financialtransparency) May 30, 2025 8:54:35 AM If you've ever sat at your desk wondering why your profit margins aren't quite what you expected, despite a full schedule and hardworking team — this one’s for you. Financial visibility isn’t just about spreadsheets and QuickBooks dashboards — it’s about equipping your team with the clarity and ownership they need to run a lean, profitable, and motivated operation. In our latest episode of *The Beer Garden*, we welcomed Chartered Accountant and landscaping industry veteran **Michelle Ennis** to break down the financial systems that help landscape and snow removal companies thrive. Here’s what we covered, and what you should be thinking about in your own business. ---     ![Harper Hawkins](https://blog.issueid.io/hs-fs/hubfs/hawkeye-harper.jpg?width=45&name=hawkeye-harper.jpg) [Harper Hawkins](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/author/harper-hawkins) [Read More](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/financialtransparency) ![](https://blog.issueid.io/hubfs/standardized-pay-final.png) [Stories,](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/tag/stories) [innovation](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/tag/innovation) ### [💸 How to Build a Standardized Pay Structure](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/standardizedpay) May 9, 2025 4:30:31 PM If you’ve ever given someone a raise just because they asked at the right time… you’re not alone. Many landscape and snow removal companies operate without a clear pay structure, leading to frustration, inconsistent raises, chaotic negotiations, and payroll expenses that make no sense on paper. But what if we told you there’s a better way? In this post, we’re diving into how to build and implement a **standardized pay system**—a structure that not only brings order to your payroll but also improves team morale, hiring, retention, and profitability. ---     ![Harper Hawkins](https://blog.issueid.io/hs-fs/hubfs/hawkeye-harper.jpg?width=45&name=hawkeye-harper.jpg) [Harper Hawkins](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/author/harper-hawkins) [Read More](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/standardizedpay) ![](https://blog.issueid.io/hubfs/PRODUCTION-RATES.png) [Stories,](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/tag/stories) [innovation](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/tag/innovation) ### [Production Rates: The Secret Sauce to Profitable Estimating](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/productionrates) May 2, 2025 10:25:50 AM In the landscaping and snow removal world, estimating can feel like a bit of a guessing game. But if you're tired of crossing your fingers and hoping your pricing works out in the end, it's time to dig into something more reliable: **production rates**. At their core, production rates help you determine how long a specific task should take — and more importantly, how much it should cost. Understanding and using these rates can make your estimates more consistent, your pricing more profitable, and your conversations with crews a whole lot easier. In this post, we’ll break down: - What production rates are (and what they’re not) - How to calculate and track them - How they differ based on job types - Common pitfalls - How they tie into crew performance and estimating accuracy ---     ![Harper Hawkins](https://blog.issueid.io/hs-fs/hubfs/hawkeye-harper.jpg?width=45&name=hawkeye-harper.jpg) [Harper Hawkins](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/author/harper-hawkins) [Read More](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/productionrates) ![](https://blog.issueid.io/hubfs/close-rate-art.png) [Stories,](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/tag/stories) [innovation](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/tag/innovation) ### [From Walkthrough to Win - Strategies to Improve Your Close Rate](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/improvingcloserate) Apr 4, 2025 2:12:34 PM In the landscaping and snow removal world, sending quotes is easy. **Winning contracts? That takes strategy.** In this blog, we dive deep into how to improve your close rate for maintenance contracts. Whether you're losing bids to price or just not standing out, we'll give you a playbook to flip the script—**no discounts or added labor required.** ![Harper Hawkins](https://blog.issueid.io/hs-fs/hubfs/hawkeye-harper.jpg?width=45&name=hawkeye-harper.jpg) [Harper Hawkins](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/author/harper-hawkins) [Read More](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/improvingcloserate) ![](https://blog.issueid.io/hubfs/CRM-ARTWORK.png) [Stories,](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/tag/stories) [innovation](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/tag/innovation) ### [10 Things to Consider When Choosing a CRM](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/choosingacrm) Mar 28, 2025 5:39:09 PM **Choosing the Right CRM for Your Landscaping or Snow Removal Business** Running a landscaping or snow removal business without a CRM is like trying to mow a lawn with scissors—technically possible, but you're making life a lot harder than it needs to be. In this post, we're breaking down the **top 10 things you should look for when choosing a CRM** (Customer Relationship Management system) that actually fits the way your business works. Whether you're managing your day-to-day with sticky notes and spreadsheets or you're fed up with your current software, it's time to level up. ![Harper Hawkins](https://blog.issueid.io/hs-fs/hubfs/hawkeye-harper.jpg?width=45&name=hawkeye-harper.jpg) [Harper Hawkins](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/author/harper-hawkins) [Read More](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/choosingacrm) ![](https://blog.issueid.io/hubfs/Revenue-Growth-Pyramid.png) [Stories,](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/tag/stories) [innovation](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/tag/innovation) ### [The Revenue Growth Pyramid](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/revenuegrowthpyramid) Mar 21, 2025 12:43:24 PM **Building Smarter: The Revenue Growth Pyramid for Landscape & Snow Businesses** As a landscape or snow removal business owner, chances are you're always thinking about growth. But growth isn’t just about getting more customers—it’s about growing *smarter* and more sustainably. That's where the **Revenue Growth Pyramid** comes in. Developed by IssueID founder and The Beer Garden host; Jason Hoke, this simple framework helps you prioritize your growth strategies by focusing on the areas with the biggest impact first. Let’s take a look at how the pyramid works, and how you can apply it to your business. ![Harper Hawkins](https://blog.issueid.io/hs-fs/hubfs/hawkeye-harper.jpg?width=45&name=hawkeye-harper.jpg) [Harper Hawkins](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/author/harper-hawkins) [Read More](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/revenuegrowthpyramid) ![](https://blog.issueid.io/hubfs/HIRING.png) [Stories,](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/tag/stories) [innovation](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/tag/innovation) ### [Hiring in a Competitive Market](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/hiringinacompetitivemarket) Mar 14, 2025 7:05:59 PM **Strategies for Hiring in a Competitive Market: How to Build a Winning Landscaping Team** The landscaping and snow removal industry is facing one of its toughest hiring challenges yet. With a shrinking labor pool, rising competition for skilled workers, and shifting job market expectations, finding and retaining top talent isn’t as simple as posting a job ad and hoping for the best. But fear not! In this guide, we’ll break down actionable strategies to attract great employees, keep them engaged, and build a team that will drive your business forward. ![Harper Hawkins](https://blog.issueid.io/hs-fs/hubfs/hawkeye-harper.jpg?width=45&name=hawkeye-harper.jpg) [Harper Hawkins](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/author/harper-hawkins) [Read More](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/hiringinacompetitivemarket) ![](https://blog.issueid.io/hubfs/STATE-OF-THE-INDUSTRY.png) [Stories,](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/tag/stories) [innovation](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/tag/innovation) ### [2025 State of the Landscape Industry](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/stateofthelandscapeindustry) Mar 7, 2025 4:00:00 AM **The 2025 State of the Industry: Key Takeaways & What They Mean for Your Business** As we step into 2025, the landscaping and snow removal industry continues to evolve, presenting both challenges and opportunities for business owners. The latest *Lawn & Landscape* State of the Industry report provides valuable insights into where the industry stands and what you can do to stay ahead. Let’s break it down. ![Harper Hawkins](https://blog.issueid.io/hs-fs/hubfs/hawkeye-harper.jpg?width=45&name=hawkeye-harper.jpg) [Harper Hawkins](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/author/harper-hawkins) [Read More](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/stateofthelandscapeindustry) [1](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/author/harper-hawkins) [2](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/author/harper-hawkins/page/2) [3](https://blog.issueid.io/issueid-insights/author/harper-hawkins/page/3) #### About - Menu Item One - Menu Item Two - Menu Item Three #### Services - Menu Item One - Menu Item Two - Menu Item Three #### News - Menu Item One - Menu Item Two - Menu Item Three Follow us on Facebook Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Instagram