Store Update
Finish Strong. Prepare Smart. Keep the Momentum Going.
As summer begins to wind down and fall hours are now in effect, we have a lot to be proud of—and plenty of opportunity still in front of us. Our teams continue to deliver excellent customer service, our phone performance is outstanding, and several locations are setting the pace on our 2026 sales goals.
CUSTOMER SERVICE WIN: 98.8% ANSWER RATE!
This is a huge company-wide accomplishment. From July 1–July 31, our stores received 7,592 calls and answered 7,500, resulting in an incredible 98.8% answer rate—well above our 95% goal.
Special recognition goes to:
Hudson & North Canton – 99.9%
Broadview – 99.7%
Akron – 99.6%
Avon, Strongsville & Valley View – 98%+
This is what consistency and accountability look like. Keep answering those phones and taking care of every opportunity!
Everyone will get to spin the Prize Wheel!!
SOIL: 67% TO GOAL
Company-wide, we have sold 81,482 yards toward our 121,792-yard goal.
Avon leads the way at 79%, followed by Akron at 76% and Willowick at 74%.
There is still ground to make up across the company. Every customer purchasing mulch, stone, or hardscape is an opportunity to ask about soil. Don’t wait for customers to ask—sell the entire project. With Fall Planting, I am confident we will hit this goal with ease.
MULCH: 80% TO GOAL
Mulch continues to be one of our strongest categories with 175,982 yards sold toward our 220,272-yard goal.
Akron has officially exceeded its goal at 105%!
Other strong performers include:
Broadview – 97% North Canton – 89% Willowick – 82% Avon – 81%
We aren’t finished yet. Keep the bins full, displays looking good, and customers thinking about those final fall projects.
NEW CUSTOMERS: $1.26 MILLION & COUNTING
We have generated $1,265,356 in new-customer sales, putting us at 80% of our $1.58 million goal.
Four locations have already crossed the finish line:
Valley View – 135% North Canton – 110% Hudson – 102% Strongsville – 102%
Excellent work! Avon is also closing in at 89%.
For everyone else, the opportunity is still there. Follow up, make the calls, build the relationships and earn the business. New customers today become repeat customers tomorrow.
HARDSCAPE: OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS
Hardscape sales are currently $1,217,012, or 55% of our $2.2 million goal.
Avon leads at 80%, followed by Hudson at 70% and Valley View at 67%.
Hardscape represents one of our biggest remaining opportunities. Customers need more than pavers—think tools, accessories, aggregates, delivery and the complete project package.
Don’t just take the order. Ask about the project.
BOULDER & NATURAL STONE
We have room to grow here, and this is exactly where our “If they see it, they buy it” mentality matters.
Broadview currently leads goal locations at 60%, followed by Garfield at 54% and Strongsville at 47%.
Keep natural stone and boulder areas clean, organized, visible and easy to shop. Walk customers through the yard and show them options they may not have known we carried.
MISCELLANEOUS SALES: LET’S CLOSE THE GAP
Miscellaneous sales are currently $1,478,656, or 61% of our $2.42 million goal.
Akron leads at 75%, followed by Willowick at 70%.
This category is all about the add-on sale. Tools, fabric, edging, seed, accessories and everything else needed to finish the job can make a significant difference when multiplied across thousands of transactions.
One extra question can equal one extra sale.
SALT SEASON: PREPARING NOW
We learned some hard lessons from last year’s salt shortage, and we are working now to make sure we are better positioned for the upcoming winter.
We have received all of the bagged salt we ordered, and our team is working hard to solidify our bulk salt inventory.
Last year’s shortage resulted in lost sales and missed opportunities. Our goal this year is simple: prepare early, secure inventory and be ready when winter hits.
Thank you to everyone working behind the scenes to get us positioned for a successful salt season.
FALL HOURS HAVE BEGUN
Fall hours are officially underway.
As traffic patterns begin to change, this is the time to stay focused on the fundamentals:
Take care of every customer.
Answer every phone call.
Keep stores and yards clean, full and shoppable.
Upsell and cross-sell every opportunity.b
Follow up with customers and outstanding quotes.
Control inventory and prepare for the changing season.
LET’S FINISH WHAT WE STARTED
We’ve made tremendous progress, but 80% to goal isn’t the finish line.
We still have opportunities sitting in our yards, on our shelves, in our quote lists and on the other end of the phone.
Celebrate the wins—but don’t coast.
Finish the season strong. Sell the whole project. Take care of the customer. And let’s turn those remaining percentages GREEN!
Thank you for everything you continue to do for our customers, our teams and our Company.