Westchester County Business Journal Landscape design adapts with times
Landscape design adapts with times
The landscapes we live in only appear natural. They are, in fact, works of planning and sweat and increasingly, of business adaptability. Even the White House vegetable garden is in play.
“The numbers are pretty good even with the recession,” said Vincenzo Viva, manager of Dakota Mason Supply in Montrose, associated with both Dakota Supply Corp. and Bilotta Construction Corp. “We’ve been taking market share from our competition since we opened without any advertising.”
Viva said the company sells to homeowners, contractors and landscapers.
Viva used the winter to find new suppliers and bring in new products for spring. Despite the recession and seeing fewer homeowners come by themselves, Viva has not seen a drop in business – just a shift in customer needs. “This year we’re doing really well with paving stones,” he said.
Flagstone paving stones are a bestseller, probably due to their lower price point, Viva said.
Despite business holding steady, Viva is always looking to grow; on weekends, the company offers miniature golf for families. While the kids play golf, Viva takes time to discuss business with their parents.
“We have 26 displays outside so people could see finished products,” Viva said.
Joe Snap, a landscape design consultant and his wife, Jodi Jenkins, a horticulturist, are the owners of New Paltz-based Natures Magic Design. Although they aren’t landscapers, they “logistically take what the customer’s vision is, we give them a site plan and a full colored detailed illustration of what it will look like, and they purchase our design plans,” Snap said.
In the past year or so, the couple has been teaching classes to supplement business.
“Because of the recession it’s quite difficult this year because no one’s working on really big projects,” Snap said. “We’ve been swinging towards the teaching aspect in addition to designing and consultations. We started teaching last year at community colleges for continuing education.’
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