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45 Years in Business, 50 Employees, Building Luxury Landscapes with George Coito of Coivic Contracting

⏱️ 53:32 🎀 Michael Pletz, George Coito
AUDIO EPISODE
45 Years in Business, 50 Employees, Building Luxury Landscapes with George Coito of Coivic Contracting
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Chapters

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  • 0:00
    Introduction & Coivic's History
    Host Michael Pletz introduces George Coito, owner of Coivic Contracting, highlighting their 45 years in luxury landscape design-build and mentioning an upcoming event at their facility.
  • 5:07
    Coivic's Evolution & Services
    George details Coivic's journey from a small family business to a company with 50 employees, emphasizing their expansion into design-build, maintenance, soil production, and a high-end specimen tree nursery, all driven by market opportunities.
  • 28:48
    Recession-Proofing & Niche Market
    George explains how Coivic's focus on high-end residential projects and commitment to quality allowed them to remain busy and even thrive during economic downturns, serving a recession-proof clientele.
  • 33:50
    Design-Build vs. Collaboration
    George discusses their approach to design, balancing in-house design-build projects with collaborations with external landscape architects, ensuring high-quality, specified work regardless of the design source.
  • 42:11
    Detailed Quoting & Transparency
    George elaborates on Coivic's strategy of providing highly detailed, multi-page quotes with line items for every aspect of a project, fostering transparency and confidence with clients, and improving internal efficiency.
  • 52:16
    Importance of Landscape Architects
    George and Michael discuss the value of having landscape architects on staff for superior design, plant knowledge, and contextualizing designs within the architectural style of a property.
  • 1:03:49
    Professionalism & Systems
    George recounts the changes he implemented after taking over, focusing on branding, professionalizing operations, and developing systems for efficiency and profitability, drawing inspiration from other industries.
  • 1:11:48
    George's Role & Daily Operations
    George describes his current role, focusing on driving profitability by overseeing daily operations, making quick decisions in the field, and optimizing crew movements for maximum efficiency and job satisfaction.
  • 1:19:17
    Company Structure & Specialized Crews
    George outlines Coivic's unique company structure, featuring specialized crews for different tasks like demolition, concrete, stone masonry, and planting, allowing for greater efficiency and expertise.
  • 1:34:16
    Employee Satisfaction & Retention
    George explains how the specialized, varied work assignments keep employees engaged, foster skill development, and contribute to high retention rates, as they feel valued and part of a high-achieving team.

Speakers

M
Michael Pletz
Host
G
George Coito
president and owner of Coivic Contracting

Key Takeaways

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Identify and capitalize on opportunities within your existing projects to diversify your services, such as offering maintenance for completed jobs or repurposing materials like soil.

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Cultivate a high-end niche market by consistently delivering exceptional quality, as this clientele tends to be more recession-proof and values meticulous craftsmanship.

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Implement highly detailed, transparent quoting processes with line items for every task to build client confidence, streamline change orders, and ensure accurate project profitability.

✦

Invest in professional branding, systems, and training to elevate your company's image and operational efficiency, mirroring successful businesses in other industries.

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Structure your field teams into specialized crews (e.g., demolition, concrete, stone, planting) to maximize efficiency and leverage individual expertise, moving crews between projects as needed.

✦

Prioritize employee satisfaction and professional development by offering diverse work experiences, continuous learning opportunities, and competitive compensation, recognizing that quality talent contributes significantly to long-term profitability.

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