Ten years ago, Chris started a North Shore landscaping business with a pickup truck, a trailer full of landscaping tools, an 8 x 10 Garden Shed, and 15 customers. He maintained his 15 weekly customers and along the way picked up more regular clients when he entered the landscape renovation business. His marketing plan consisted of dropping of flyers in his neighborhood and homes that appeared to be in some state of renovation which could lead to his next lawn maintenance customer. Simple things like listening to his customers have helped the company grow. Today, The Great Canadian Landscaping Company has 8 trucks, 4 trailers, 23 full time landscapers and a management team of 3. They make over 250 weekly visits to their customers and run 12 months a year, also providing snow removal in the winter. Their annual revenue today exceeds $1.2 Million. The way Chris measures success is from the positive comments he receives from his customers when the job is done and from customers who take the time to tell him when his staff is doing a good job. It is that recognition that makes him proud of his achievements and of the company he has created. With respect to employee development, Chris has always understood that encouraging an employees individual growth, through training and education, whether industry related or not, is the key to an enduring relationship. This past spring, The Great Canadian Landscaping Company partnered with Training Innovations ASPECT PROGRAM in which employees were subsidized in full for pursing and completing instruction for simple things like obtaining their Drivers License or to become certified in Occupation First Aid, to name a few. Chris has since created the Employee Development Sponsorship Program (EDSP) in which employees are encouraged to further their education on industry related programs, such as the Certified Horticultural Technician Program and Arborists Certification Program. This knowledge is passed on to his clients when they arrive at their home or business and helps build credibility of their brand. From day one, Chris understood the importance of the team dynamic. He also recognized that it was his job to grow the company responsibly, but also to help create an environment where the workday has elements of excitement and spirited teamwork, so that working at The Great Canadian Landscaping Company is not so much just a job, but more of a career. Its the same way he feels every morning when he shows up to work! He understands that with any successful entrepreneurial business, there are many ingredients that are required throughout the different phases of growth and expansion of a business venture. The most exciting phase of a business is upon him now. Over the next 1-3 years, The Great Canadian Landscaping Company will fortify its name throughout the North Shore and most parts of Metro Vancouver as one of the pinnacle landscape companies to do business with, whether residential or commercial. He will do this largely in part by the structure of his management team and by the buzz that is created in the companies day to day interactions with their clients, customer referrals and networking throughout their local business community and with their industry partners. They will focus on what they do best, which is creating long lasting relationships with each and every customer or potential customer they come in contact with, and provide them with a consistent experience that ends with the same result every time. For lawn and garden maintenance, lawn installation, garden installation, landscape lighting, renovations, fences and decks and more. Complete Customer Satisfaction is what Great Canadian is about.