The Value of the Landscape to a Business
I firmly believe that all communication is marketing. From the moment a potential customer sees your business name, the customer begins to evaluate you and your business’ credibility, image, professionalism and reliability. Whether a retail business or a professional service, if your clients or customers come to you, putting your ‘best foot forward’ counts, and the evaluation begins as soon as your customers enter your neighborhood.
Lately I’ve noticed how neglected our public areas look in the Phoenix metro area as well as in the retail areas of towns throughout Arizona. Tree-lined canals and streets exhibit gaping spaces where once majestic Palo Verdes, Palo Breas, Arizona ashes or mesquites offered shade and color to walkers, hikers and bikers. Litter seems to have reproduced itself overnight, and shredded plastic bags clinging to shrubs or trees are not uncommon sights. Every rain or hailstorm inflicts more damage on these street and landscapes. Sadly, revenues funding street and park maintenance are down, thus preventing regular maintenance and replanting. Soon the cost to restore our deteriorating streetscapes and parks will be so high, we might have to be satisfied with just maintaining it at degraded levels. Trees won’t be replanted, new plantings won’t replace tired, uncared for ones, and cracks, pot holes and eroded areas will just be constant eyesores we will get used to seeing.
What does this mean for local business owners? I’ll answer this question tomorrow.
