Landscape Management, November 2016

profit centers Design BuilD installation LANDSCAPEMANAGEMENT NET November 2016 36 crystal clear the only way Hinkle Hardscapes owner Zach Hinkle knew he could eliminate confusion was to rebrand I ts been one year since Zach Hinkle changed the name of his company formerly K C Lawn Landscaping to Hinkle Hardscapes Since rebranding refocusing and implementing new processes and procedures business has never been better Revenue is up his designers crews and account representatives are happier and more efficient and the company is attracting the right customers For Hinkle changing the name of his Riverside Mo based company which has served more than 3500 clients throughout the Kansas City area was certainly a risk but as it turns out it was a risk worth taking I was a bit fearful because I had built something that people were accustomed to knowing says Hinkle owner and project manager of the 25 million company But we are more focused now We know who our clients are and we are doing what were good at When you put all that together good business will come out of it The evolution of Hinkle Hardscapes was a few years in the making Hinkle started K C Lawn Landscaping in 2007 by providing landscape design and lawn maintenance services to mostly residential customers In 2009 he decided to stop offering maintenance services and focus on hardscape and large scale landscape installations By 2010 Hinkle realized his true passion was creating outdoor living environments families could enjoy for years to come With that epiphany the company began to phase out its landscape installation services to become a true hardscaping firm Hinkle Hardscapes now constructs outdoor living spaces fire pits retaining walls patios and other hardscape features for a 95 percent residential 5 percent commercial clientele The company only offers landscaping services as part of hardscaping projects I havent mowed a yard since 2009 Hinkle says Our guys are concrete and stone guys there are better people out there to put in your plants But offering hardscape services under the name K C Lawn Landscaping created confusion and frustration for everyone involved Customers would call wanting maintenance or landscaping only to find out the company no longer offered those services Employees spent too much time on dead end leads and explaining the companys new direction For Hinkle changing the companys name was the only way to truly represent its new identity as a hardscaping firm After 90 days of communicating the name change through press releases social media and on its website K C Lawn Landscaping began doing business as Hinkle Hardscapes in November 2015 The company retains K C Lawn Landscaping as its corporate name for tax purposes and for its standing with the Better Business Bureau When we changed our name we could start marketing to people who Whats in a name newsfeed 2016 HNA AwArds Hardscape North America recognized 15 projects for this years HNA Hardscape Project Award Winners The winning contractors included Landmark Pavers bahler brothers Legacy Paver Group monello Landscape Industries re Create Cos Dreamscapes Paver Designs Hain enterprises Surfaces Group C r Schmidt outdoor enterprise and more wHeelbArrow 20 Yardmax released a Power Wheelbarrow with a briggs Stratton engine Its equipped with a 44 cu ft hopper and all wheel drive a lot according to Zach Hinkle He changed the name of his 9 year old landscaping company to better align with his passion and the companys focus By emily scHappacHer Continued on page 38 PHOTO Hinkle HardscaPes