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Russell Beakhouse
Horicultural Landscape Technician, 1999 - Owner/Operator, Groundcover Landscape Services
Russell Beakhouse knows the true meaning of making hay while the sun shines. The owner of Groundcover Landscape Services in Halifax is extra busy during the warmer months, and he likes it that way - after all, snow is not a landscaper's best friend.
"The upside to this business is the increasing demand for higher-end landscaping, but the downside is the seasonal aspect of the job," he says. "It is difficult to encourage employees to wait around until Spring."
Russell, 46, graduated from NSCC's Horticulture-Landscape program at the Information Technology Campus in 1998. Ten months earlier, corporate downsizing left him without a job as regional sales manager after 15 years with the same company.
"I had plenty of business experience but I wanted to make sure I could still work independently and stay challenged," he says. After hearing about the horticulture program from a friend, Russell stopped by the college and chatted with the instructors, and was impressed. He says he applied with the goal of starting his own company as soon as he graduated.
As a student, Russell says he took every opportunity he could find to research the landscaping industry. "I soaked up information like a sponge," he says. "I would stay after class just to ask the instructor questions. When I went out on work terms I looked for mentors who could give advice on how to break into this business."
Russell did not waste any time getting started. Immediately after graduating he hired a couple of classmates and together they attended one of the annual home shows in Halifax. "We didn't even have a portfolio of work yet," Russell laughs. "We could show photos of our class projects but for the most part we were just asking people to give us a try. We actually managed to get some business, too!"
Over the years Groundcover Landscape Services grew into a one-stop shop for all maintenance and installation needs and employed 12 people. Russell enjoyed being his own boss, but found managing all aspects of the business a challenge. In 2005, he made the decision to scale back the business, reducing staff to six and focusing on installation only - ranging from retaining walls, ponds and brick patios to lawns and gardens.
Today, Russell - the current President of Landscape Nova Scotia - partners with a reliable network of landscape designers, suppliers and carpenters to complete some of the more complex projects and says he has built his reputation on paying extra attention to detail.
"This business is certainly competitive, but we pride ourselves in high-quality work and will always guarantee customer satisfaction at the end of the day. Not every business can do that."
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