“In 2007, other landscapers were still adding people and equipment thinking the housing boom was going to go on forever. I didn’t think this situation was sustainable, so we began downsizing before everyone else was downsizing. We were up to 105 employees and cut back to about 60, and began to focus more on maintenance, snow removal and the type of installation we were good at. As a result, even in a down economy we were becoming more profi table. We were able to better forecast our workload and geared up with the right number of people and equipment. In 2009, we had our best year ever; highest sales, most profi t. The reason: We cut back to become more effi cient, maximizing our investment in people and equipment to match the work we had.”
On buying and keeping equipment
“I always want to have the right equipment at the right time,” Wayne says. “If a piece of equipment sits, I get rid of it. If it doesn’t have multiple purposes, it’s gone. Nothing stays if it is not being used.
“As soon as I see a need for a machine, I buy it. For example, for years my guys kept asking about a mini track loader. I couldn’t see what it could contribute. Then our business changed and we began doing more backyard jobs. At that point a mini track loader made sense. I purchased an MT55 from Bobcat of Cleveland, a valuable machine that has really increased our effi ciency. We use it all the time.
“The same with Bobcat® loaders. Thanks to all the available
attachments, we get plenty of use out of our T650 and S250. The M-Series T650 is the best Bobcat loader yet. Believe me, I’ve looked at a lot of compact track loaders and the T650 is far better than the competition. It’s more effi cient, more powerful, easier to service and more fuel-effi cient. I am amazed how Bobcat equipment keeps changing for the better.
“That’s one of the reasons I don’t keep equipment a long time. Bobcat is a perfect example of a company that develops new technology that allows us to be more effi cient. A new product may allow me to eliminate older equipment that is less effi cient and more likely to need repairs. Once something is no longer covered by the warranty, I look for a newer replacement.”
On being patient
“Several years ago a client asked for a plan on a driveway project,” he says. “Four years later we got a call to get started. The job continued for two years; another year went by and we were called back again to do more work. That driveway job turned out to be a successful large project.
“At the time we had a T300 compact track loader that was stationed at the house for two years. Without the Bobcat loader, this job would not have been possible. The T300 carried boulders one at a time around the house and throughout the tree- lined property. There is no other machine we could have used to handle this project so effi ciently.”
On customer satisfaction
“Everyone makes mistakes. You need to stand behind your work, and if there is a problem, fi x it. Don’t let things linger, don’t fi ght with customers. That philosophy has allowed us to keep so many customers year after year — we fi x a problem, no questions asked. We can do that because we have equipment that is ready to work every day.”
Making informed decisions, altering business strategies and having the right equipment at the right time are all reasons why Impullitti Landscaping is celebrating its 60th year in business.
Visit www.MyWorkSaver.com/M-Series to fi nd out more about the newest generation of Bobcat compact track loaders — the M-Series.
“I’ve looked at a lot of compact track loaders and the T650 is far better than the competition. It’s more effi cient, more powerful, easier to service and more fuel-effi cient. I am amazed how Bobcat equipment keeps changing for the better.”