The leaves are almost cleaned up, the mowers are getting winterized, and the pace is finally starting to slow down. There's one job I'd put at the top of your list before the snow flies and the holidays take over: clean out the shop.
I know it's not exciting. But I've learned that a cluttered shop usually means a cluttered mind, and neither one is going to help you start next season strong.
What We Found in the Mezzanine
A few winters ago, Seth, Brian, Bill, and I spent a long weekend cleaning out the mezzanine in our shop at Grunder Landscaping Co. It had become the place where things went to be forgotten. Everything we didn't know what to do with went upstairs.
In the middle of it all, we found an old wig that once belonged to our mannequin, Gary Grunder. I'll let you guess how much work got done for the next few minutes... we took turns trying it on (none of us pulled it off...).
By the end of the weekend we had a clean space, and we could finally see what it could become. That mezzanine is now home to our podcast studio and another office. None of that would exist if we kept hanging on to stuff.
How We Reset the Shop at GLC
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Count what you have. Do a year-end inventory count. You'll find things you forgot you had, you'll stop buying duplicates, and you'll know exactly what's on the shelves before you place spring orders.
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Clear out obsolete stock. Parts for a machine you sold three years ago? A product you stopped using? It goes. Sell it, donate it, or toss it.
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Tag broken equipment. If something is broken, tag it right away and label it with the problem so nobody grabs it for a job. Then make a decision: fix it or get rid of it.
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Color-code your tools. Every truck at GLC carries the same inventory. Our tools are color-coded to the truck they belong to. When a shovel ends up on the wrong truck, it quickly finds its way home.
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Reset the shop and the yard. Put everything back where it belongs and make it easy for whoever needs it next to find it. Your team should be able to walk in and get right to work instead of wasting time looking for things.
Don't Save It "Just in Case"
The hardest part for most of us (me included) is letting go of things we're saving "just in case." We tell ourselves we might need it one day. That day rarely comes. It just takes up space, costs your team time, and makes it harder to find what you need.
If you haven't used it in a year or two, you probably don't need it.
See Our Shop in Person
If you'd like to see how we set up our shop and trucks in person (and maybe hear the story about why Gary Grunder no longer needed his wig), join us at our last GLC Field Trip of the year on December 9-10. It's our last one until June 2027, and seats fill up fast. We've learned from our mistakes and want to pass along the lessons so you can avoid them.
Wanna know more? Click here to view the agenda and register.
Talk soon!
Marty Grunder
Founder & CEO
The Grow Group & Grunder Landscaping Co.