[Bill Schwab]

Jeff:

My wife and I both have a knack for grabbing free publicity in our businesses, and, this one was pretty easy actually. First, we are members of the CLCA, (California Landscape Contractors Aaan)

I have been in many other organizations before in various states, and I will save the space by not naming names, but some of them are ego orgaizations that are interested in membership without taking a stand on much. Those organizations, I join for a year and let them drop....

The CLCA is a very proactive, involved organization where most members actually participate. We get Emails, faxes and calls to do this or that, and various outings and such.

Well, Danny Lipfords team contacted the CLCA , who in turn sent an Email asking if anyone was doing a brick patio between the weeks of October 12-26th, in 2003...
Since we run an average backlog of 3 months with 55% of our work as hardscape flatwork, and of that 95% is brick pavers, I replied back with not only those dates available, but 4 jobs that the film crew could pick from.

Next thing you know, Danny Lipford's team called, and we made a date, then began. We will have a step by step video to show clients or prospects from this, and also, free PR when people view...This will air not only this month, but also in May.

From this, we are taking it to the limits. We live in a licensed state, meaning, no work unless you have a contractors license in the area you are qualified, and to get that you must have insurance and be bonded....This is the best thing that ever happened to our industry!

For those who work unlicensed, there are fines and jail time involved. The state license board is always looking for examples of work done by non licensed companies, and as it turned out, this job was done by a non licensed one, with only 1" of sand used as leveling materials, no gravel...We took up the existing pavers and added to what they had....

So, we are going to be the poster boy for the CSLB (California State License Board). With all the paper ads, magazine and periodical ads they do, that is free PR...

Then, the San Diego Union Tribune and the Los Angeles Times is running a piece in the garden section. Along with that, the coastal papers, and each town here has a small weekly rag that is set out free of charge for people to read. We are already linked to Rodger Hedgecocks website, who is a local talk show host that is one of the #1 fill in's for Rush Limbaugh when he is off... And, I think we are adding to our flyers and mailers and news letters the words "AS seen on "Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford", local 8 TV.

This should boost sales calls temendously, now time to hire more bodies and get another pick up truck!