The COVID-19 pandemic has created so many challenges for business owners over the past year. But for the Green Industry, business never really slowed down! If anything, many lawn and landscape business owners told us that they were busier than usual this past year. 

With more people spending time at home, there has been an increased interest in landscaping projects ranging from new plant installations all the way up to complete outdoor living areas and pools. Though commercial landscaping may have slowed a bit, even that has picked back up with commercial property managers looking for new and innovative ways to use their outdoor spaces. 

Industry Events

While business has been active, one thing that has changed has been the cancellations of many in-person events and tradeshows. GIE + EXPO and other popular gatherings were put on hold, turned virtual, or canceled last year. But now the industry is buzzing as many of these events are returning—and planned to be better than ever!

GIE + EXPO has announced that plans are underway for their annual tradeshow to return in person from October 20 through October 22, 2021, in Louisville, Kentucky. Include Software will be among the 675 companies that have already announced they are exhibiting. According to GIE + EXPO planners, there is already an 18 percent increase in the number of exhibitors signed on at this same point in 2019. It shows the eagerness to get back to the show and in front of the great folks that make up this industry!

Include Software also plans to exhibit at the Snow and Ice Management Association (SIMA) tradeshow in Cleveland, Ohio from June 22 until June 25, 2021, and at Lawn & Landscape’s Technology Conference in Orlando from August 30 until September 1, 2021.

Include Software Events

For Include Software, these upcoming shows will be some of the many events that we are excited about participating in this year. In fact, we’re back to hosting events of our own, as well. While we’ve been able to adapt to the virtual environment, we also understand that nothing beats in-person events.

“You really can’t beat the social interaction and networking opportunities that come from in-person events,” shares Nanette Seven. “The engagement is just so much higher and everyone gets a lot more out of these events when they are face-to-face with their peers. We are thrilled to be able to get back to hosting and exhibiting at industry events.” 

We recently held our iCalibrate Peer Group meeting at Sposato Landscape’s headquarters in Delaware with great success. It was our highest attended peer group meeting to date—again demonstrating how eager people are to get back to in-person networking and educational opportunities. We had Green Industry pros from all over the country including Colorado, Texas, New Jersey, Georgia, and Maryland. All of these individuals came together to focus on the topic of sales.

“It was such a great group and we all got so much out of it,” says Nanette. “Our next peer group meeting will be held at Bret Achtenhagen’s Seasonal Services in Wisconsin and there is still an opportunity for people to sign up and join us.” 

Include Software will also be hosting its iCollaborate Annual Users Conference in New Orleans from September 29 to October 1, 2021. The user conference is designed for CEOs, executives, and key users of Asset landscape business software. It is going to hone in on the use of key performance indicators (KPIs) and how to use them in a way in which you will receive the most possible value. 

“I think people are ready to get back to some sense of normalcy,” Nanette sums up. “Green Industry events have always been well-attended and something that all of us have looked forward to. But considering many of us haven’t seen each other in a long time, I think we’re more eager than ever to get back to the tradeshows and back out there networking and growing our industry.” 

Get new articles in your inbox