[Pondman Paul]

Originally posted by johnkeegan
I sent mailings out to my previous customers letting them know we now install water features and have added it to my regular advertising. I also plan on sending a promo CD called "Create a Paradise" created by Aquascape to my best customers. It's a killer piece of marketing material. They really know how to market the "water feature lifestyle." After I watched it, I felt guilty I didn't have a serious water feature in my own yard.

You've seen the "create a paradise video? I was looking at the ad for that today. You think its worth the money to buy a bunch of those? I just got my own business off the ground and haven't done any regular advertizing yet. I'm a small company with 2 guys that are also my best friends. We are a three man crew but they are artists and I sell ourselves as being artists. What other types of advertizing do you do?

My funds are limited until the season starts, its been a long winter in New Hampshire but I've got to get some sort of advertizing going. I relied on word of mouth last year but I need to really get in the game now!

Would the "create a paradise" video sell you on having a pond?

I'm planning on getting the flyers Aquascapes puts out as well.

I'm in the process of designing a $30,000.00+++ pond project right now and if I make the sale I'll be able to do some real advertizing. They've seen my ponds in person and know the cost of what I'm proposing so it should be a go but until a contract is signed anything can happen.

What type of marketing has worked the best and what would you avoid?

Thanks for taking the time to respond to my questions.

Pondman Paul

[johnkeegan]

I believe the CD's were $5-6 a piece. If you really wanted to I guess you could burn xtras. But again they're only for "serious" customers. Buy one and judge for yourself.

[ckcland]

very nice paul.... do you use cinderblock to form the walls under your liner? just curious.

[Pondman Paul]

Originally posted by ckcland
very nice paul.... do you use cinderblock to form the walls under your liner? just curious.

No I don't use cinderblocks, I install pond using the Aquascapesdesigns 20 step process.

For details click the link

http://www.aquascapedesigns.com/products/20steps.php

[Fine Edge]

Paul, how safe is it to use mortar against the liner?
And also, if a customer wants just the sound of water but no fish and plants, can the Aquascapes products be used with a chemical such as chlorine ( Di-chlor or tri-chlor, not calcium hypochlorite)?

[Pondman Paul]

Originally posted by Fine Edge
Paul, how safe is it to use mortar against the liner?
And also, if a customer wants just the sound of water but no fish and plants, can the Aquascapes products be used with a chemical such as chlorine ( Di-chlor or tri-chlor, not calcium hypochlorite)?

You could use mortar against the liner in the event you have no fish in the pond. For a pond with fish, fish safe expanding foam is the way to go and is also a must to keep water flowing over the rocks instead of under them.

You can use chemicals with aquascapes products as long as no fish are going to be in the pond.

Expanding foam is key to a good waterfall. it bonds the rock to the liner and keeps water going where you want it to go, over the rocks, rather than going under the rocks.

Aquascapes sells a pro. foam gun that has a flow regulator and it works awesome, just don't get it on your hands or it will be there for a week or so until the skin peels off.

There are also "pondless waterfall systems " made by aquascapes for those who want the waterfall but don't want the maintaence of a pond.

Heres a link to aquascapes...

http://www.aquascapedesigns.com

The liner will last for years if covered with gravel and protected from harmful uv light and looks natural for the record.

[Pondman Paul]

The natural bottom effect

[Pondman Paul]

Originally posted by Pondman Paul
The natural bottom effect

I would recommend anyone interested in pond building to take the aquascapes build a pond seminar, definately worth the time, money and effort.

[Stonehenge]

I like setting up our water features so that very little foam is required. I don't like having to rely on having to jack the thing full of foam for the water to flow properly. Sometimes it's a must, but I try to use as little as possible.

And there are lots of other games in town besides Aquascapes. And lots of areas where you can remove them from the equation and help your bottom line a great deal.

That was the case with the monster pond we did last fall (70,000 gallons).

[Pondman Paul]

Originally posted by Stonehenge
I like setting up our water features so that very little foam is required. I don't like having to rely on having to jack the thing full of foam for the water to flow properly. Sometimes it's a must, but I try to use as little as possible.

And there are lots of other games in town besides Aquascapes. And lots of areas where you can remove them from the equation and help your bottom line a great deal.

That was the case with the monster pond we did last fall (70,000 gallons).

I agree but I do like aquascapes. I've used Savio and found their products to be high quality also.

I'm partial to aquascapes because their seminar years ago got me started in pond building the right way, creating an ecosystem.

I like the foam so that nothing will move during maintanence such as clean ups and mulching around the falls. I try to create bomb proof waterfalls so I never have to go back and repair anything.

Its all a matter of style and taste and what suits the needs of the homeowner and you as a builder.

I don't mind paying for the aquascapes pond kits because I like using them and I've seen some pretty flimsy biofalls out there and from what I've seen I won't trust them for the long term with new england freeze thaw cycle. If I was building a pond at my house I'd go with aquascapes personally so I recommend what I would use to my customers.

If a customer wants savio I'll use savio but if its left up to me I'll stick with aquascapes until I have a reason to rethink them.

If people can't afford the aquascapes pond kit then they definately can't afford me to build them a pond because unlike aquascapes I don't build them in one day but one week.

For a 15'x20' with a nice basic waterfall I charge $12,500 and up depending on the situation and for complicated waterfalls $150-$200 a ft of stream. If $2,000 for a pond kit is to much they need to find someone else cause I'm not cheap, but I do nice work and add value to the residences so you get what you pay for.

What pond kits or manufacturer do you perfer?

[Stonehenge]

I like assembling some of our own kits, for various reasons. Sometimes, the pond is too large for a biofalls to be a good choice for the waterfall, as was the case with the pond I mentioned earlier. Aquascapes offers their snorkel/centipede system, but it costs thousands more than it should. And they just don't offer enough big pumps.

But on the other end of the spectrum, we also build ponds that are no larger than your kitchen table - there aren't any biofalls/skimmer boxes made that don't stick out like sore thumbs on tiny projects like that.

So I guess I like to keep my options open. I have used and will likely continue to use Aquascapes (especially since son just aquired dad's company, limiting one's choices), I just think there are other options out there and certain situations where they are not the best alternative.

[Dale Wiley]

Paul:

I will send those sheets to you if you could shoot me a PM wiht your e mail address.


Thanks,

[Pondman Paul]

Originally posted by Stonehenge
I like assembling some of our own kits, for various reasons. Sometimes, the pond is too large for a biofalls to be a good choice for the waterfall, as was the case with the pond I mentioned earlier. Aquascapes offers their snorkel/centipede system, but it costs thousands more than it should. And they just don't offer enough big pumps.

But on the other end of the spectrum, we also build ponds that are no larger than your kitchen table - there aren't any biofalls/skimmer boxes made that don't stick out like sore thumbs on tiny projects like that.

So I guess I like to keep my options open. I have used and will likely continue to use Aquascapes (especially since son just aquired dad's company, limiting one's choices), I just think there are other options out there and certain situations where they are not the best alternative.

I can agree with you absolutely. I haven't got certified as an aquascapes installer because of those factors. I like my freedom to choose and create also. If a customer demands a bottom drain for a $30,000 pond package I'm going to put in a bottum drain whether I feel its necessary or not I have a few unique designs and inventions custom made systems for retention ponds.

I've heard Dads stuff was pretty good quality but never worked with it personally.

Paul

[Pondman Paul]

Its been a good day, just sold a $20,000.00 pond package this morning. Can't wait for spring.

[Keith N]

Very nice looking ponds! I love building them compared to a retaining wall etc. I can't wait to see how my truck lettering will pay off this year. If I could figure out how to resize a pic I would show my latest pond. I'm proud of it since it was my first complete pond start to finish.

That is no joke about the foam gun kit.