Landscape Management, June 2018

profit centers Mowing Landscape Maintenance The humble gardener B ehind the bright flowers and exotic plants that adorn some of Hawaiis most elegant resorts youll find Sidney Sparkman and his crews Their simple green shirts dont bear the company name only the logo a honu which is Hawaiian for sea turtle Their battery powered equipment barely makes a sound allowing guests to enjoy the grounds undisturbed They dont have business cards flyers or even a website to promote themselves In fact if not for the stunning landscapes and pristine turf you might not even know they were there a fact Sparkman never intends to change We are intentionally a low key company says the president of SGS Hawaii We dont want to be seen or heard Sparkman says SGS Hawaii is one of the largest landscaping companies in the state of Hawaii but few people know of the company SGS Hawaii has a staff of more than 100 employees and serves 20 clients including 14 resorts two resort subdivisions two shopping centers and a few high end residences on the islands of Maui and Kauai In addition to knowing LANDSCAPEMANAGEMENT NET June 2018 48 how to deliver beautiful sustainable landscapes Sparkman knows who he is and what he stands for and runs his business with a simple straightforward approach I dont like the things that most big companies stand for the noise and the big flashy trucks Sparkman says Its counterintuitive but it works for us We are just humble gardeners and want to make things better quietly Sparkman has always had a passion for landscape work He recalls a memory of running away from home when he was 5 years old and his mother finding him cleaning up a neighbors lawn for money Sparkman studied geology in college but was quickly drawn back to outdoor work He and his wife Alysha moved from Texas to Hawaii in 1993 and Sparkman found work as the assistant director of landscaping at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort Spa in Kaanapali The following year he became director of landscaping and water features at the Grand Wailea Resort Spa in Wailea As a way to make extra money the couple started their own landscape operation in 1995 with a single account that paid 75 per month Today SGS Hawaii provides 90 percent maintenance and 10 percent installations to mostly commercial clients It was easy to get lured back into this industry Sparkman says Its absolutely a fun thing to do Youre outdoors youre dealing with people We have 12 months a year of good weather and are on the beach every day I was destined to be in landscaping Sparkman says his company is unique because many resorts throughout Hawaii have in house landscaping crews similar to the one he managed at the Grand Wailea But Sparkman was in the right place at the right time when many new sidney sparkman newsfeed robotic mower franchise Robin Autopilot closed a 1 million round of financing led by a mower manufacturer to grow a nationwide network of robotic mowing franchises MTD Products led the financing and was joined by several new and existing Robin investors including Ken Murphy former CeO of Mattress Firm MTD based in Valley City Ohio manufactures and distributes residential robotic mowers under its Cub Cadet Robomow and Wolf Garten brands bahcos pruning tools Bahco introduced the new extended reach pruning tools designed for users to safely and efficiently prune trees and tall shrubs The line includes aluminum section poles short telescopic poles pole saws pole hooks and more if not for the stunning landscapes and pristine turf at some of Hawaiis luxury resorts you might not even know the sgs Hawaii landscape management crews were there a fact company president sidney sparkman never intends to change By eMiLy scHappacHer