The Mark Awards ceremony presented a chance for us to honor those professionals who exhibit pride in everything they do, from selling Exmark mowers to running Exmark red when mowing lawns. Here at Exmark, we have pride too. The Mark Awards gave a chance for some of our employees to show it when they created the actual trophies at our Beatrice plant.

The trophies were made in-house using some of the most advanced technology in our manufacturing plant. Brian York, an Engineering Process Improvement Specialist who’s been with Exmark for over nine years, explained that the trophies were designed using CAD (Computer-Aided Design) software. After design, a number of different machines were used to produce the various parts of the award:

• The base was created using our 3D prototype printer through a process called “rapid prototyping.” It’s the same process used to create prototype parts in which we test form, fit and function on the mowers.
• The red circle and “X” were manufactured using our in-house laser cutter.
• The nameplate printer etched the names of the winners.
• The white decal on the “X” was cut using our prototype vinyl cutter.

How do you think the Mark Awards trophies turned out? Want to know more on how the awards were made? Let us know with question or comment below.

We recently welcomed the winners of the inaugural Mark Awards to our headquarters in Beatrice for a celebration of their achievement.

“The Exmark community told us who’s the best and who deserves industry recognition,” said Rick Olson, General Manager at Exmark Manufacturing. “At Exmark, we’re about more than just mowers and this was our opportunity to give back and provide additional support to the people that support our brand.”

The winners included:

• Zak Matouka of The Yard Men Snow & Lawn Services , winner of the Best Lawn Care or Landscaping Company
• Steve and Teri Gegner, owners of D&J Equipment, winner of Dealer of the Year
• Carlos Davila, runner-up for Crew Member of the Year

We flew in our winners and their guests for a once-in-a-lifetime Exmark experience, giving them behind-the-scenes access to our production facilities to see how our durable, efficient commercial-grade mowers are manufactured from raw steel to the finished product.

“I learned a lot about how they made the machines,” said Carlos Davila, runner-up for Crew Member of the Year. “I’d recommend them to any company and any dealer. They’re really good machines.”
Our winners also got to sit down with our executive leadership team and learn about the people behind the mowers. The winners and the Exmark team swapped industry stories, discussed challenges faced in the New Year and each side’s plans for the future.

The winners’ Exmark experience culminated with an awards ceremony with each winner receiving a diecast replica of the Lazer Z and their Mark Award, which was crafted in our Beatrice plant by Exmark employees.

This year’s prizes also included:

• Best Lawn Care or Landscaping Company – New Exmark Lazer Z mower and $1,000
• Dealer of the Year – $5,000
• Crew Member of the Year – A trip for two to Hawaii and $1,000

We were proud to advance the business of these deserving winners. “I started off with two walk-behind mowers, so winning the Lazer Z put me a step above most of the competition in my area. Now I can pick up larger accounts and move forward with my business,” said Zak Matouka.

We enjoyed hosting our winners and thank everyone who participated in the Mark Awards. Leave your well wishes for the winners in a comment below.

Everyone loves a well-striped lawn.  Whether at a Major League ballpark, or your own back yard, something about lawn striping exemplifies quality like a pinstriped business suit.  In many cases, the best lawn stripes come from a combination of cutting experience, trial and error, and good artistic sense.  At the same time, certain basic striping techniques and an understanding of what causes a good pattern can help you maximize your own craftsmanship and your lawn’s beauty.

Keep your lawn healthy

It all starts with a healthy lawn and good cut quality.  That said, striping does help unhealthy turf look a little better.  The best, most clearly defined stripes get noticed, and clear definition starts with a professional grade cutting deck.   If your lawn looks good without any striping, if you can easily achieve a “pool table” look after a fresh cut with your current mower, then you can realistically expect a quality pattern.

Make sure your equipment is properly tuned

Whether you intend to stripe or not, proper deck tuning simply means that you’re maximizing the quality your deck can provide.  It should have a slightly positive rake (meaning the rear of the deck is just a little bit higher than the front), your blades should be sharp and well aligned (which can be undone after impact with any solid objects). 

With a properly tuned cutting deck, grass will stand up straight under the vacuum forces created by your deck blades in operation.  Some blades and decks have more vacuum efficiency than others, but any striping that can occur has to happen after the deck has passed.    In its essence, striping is nothing more than bending the blades of grass in one direction, uniformly across the entire width of cut, in a contrasting pattern. 

Does your deck really need a striper?

Before investing money in a professional-grade striping mechanism, you need to check a few things.  First, consider your mower.  You may already be getting a good quality of stripe from the basic design of your mower’s cutting deck.  Some decks even have a drag shield installed to protect the operator from any thrown object hazards.  While the drag shield itself has not been designed as a striper, it may do so anyway simply because it will lean grass in the direction of travel.

What type of striper works best?

Striper designs run the gamut from heavy-duty steel rollers, to flexible skirts, to brushes and chains.  Most all designs fit up to the back edge of the cutting deck, but in some cases may trail behind the mower itself.  The best choice for you may come down to personal preference based on cost, ease of installation, removal, or adjustability.  

That said, roller stripers have the lowest tendency to push, or “bull doze” material in front of the striper.  When this happens (and is most commonly seen with drag stripers), grass clippings pile up until they become heavy enough to roll under the skirt in clumps.  You may get a decent stripe, but the clumping could ruin the quality of cut.  All things considered, your dealer most often is the best source of information when it comes to matching the right striper design to your particular mower.

Can your grass hold a stripe?

Before getting started, consider the type of grass you typically mow, and the seasonal weather conditions.  Cool season grasses found in northern U.S. climates tend to stripe more effectively than in southern climates due in large part to their differences in flexibility.  The same machine and striper can, for example, achieve a crisper pattern in Wisconsin fescue than perhaps it can in Kentucky.  An example at one end of the scale can be found in Florida.  The St. Augustine grass there is so robust and rigid that it simply does not want to lean over in the direction of travel. 

How does the sun affect your stripe quality?

Regardless of how you bend a blade of grass, stripes are perceived by the light reflected from each blade of grass in contrast to the next.  The contrasting effect will vary in different ambient light conditions.  

In other words, the striping appearance will change throughout the day as the angle of the sun’s rays to the grass changes.  The most contrast is created if the directions of travel is in the same direction as the sun’s rays.  The more you lean the grass over, the more contrast you will see.

In fact, grass blades themselves tend to reflect light better on one side of the blade than the other, so this can enhance the stripe pattern in just the right lighting. 

With this in mind, you may want to experiment with the stripe direction that looks best on your lawn.  A north-south direction may reflect its pattern more consistently than an east-west direction due to the position of your lawn, and its hills and trees, in relation to the sun’s movement during the day. 

Keep your lines straight

Once you have decided on the best pattern and begun to mow, keep your lines straight by maintaining your focus far ahead.  Quite often, the closer your sight line is to your mowing deck, the more your mowing tends to wander.  This remains true whether you are striping or not.  Also, balance your speed and make sure you overlap the stripes to avoid unsightly gaps.  Going full speed may result in a lighter stripe and uneven cut, while going too slow may challenge your ability to keep a straight line.

Practice makes permanent

Remember, the best lawn stripes may come from gaining experience at what works best for your conditions.  It also comes from learning the basics.  Practicing good habits makes those habits more permanent.  If you don’t like your results, don’t lose heart.  Keep the grass healthy, review basic striping techniques, and try it again.  With each pass, you will gain experience and soon be able to transform any nice lawn into a real head-turner.

With dozens of landscape enthusiasts nominated and over 100,000 votes cast, the time has come to announce the winners of the inaugural Mark Awards. These awards recognize our industry’s best in three categories – Dealer of the Year, Best Lawn Care / Landscaping Company and Crew Member of the Year. All of the winners will receive a prize and a trip and personal tour of our plant in Beatrice. Additionally, the grand prize winners will receive a custom trophy created by our Beatrice plant employees.

CREW MEMBER OF THE YEAR
Eden Guerra of The Woodlands, Texas, was named Crew Member of the Year. Eden was awarded a trip for two to Hawaii plus $1,000. Described as a man with the highest levels of integrity, Eden inspires his team day in and day out to be craftsmen and to take pride in their work.

Carlos Davila of East Orange, NJ won second prize and $2,000. Third prize and $1,000 was awarded to Mark Stegmeier of Stow, OH.

LAWN CARE/LANDSCAPING COMPANY OF THE YEAR

The Yard Men in Warren, WI, received the Best Lawn Care/Landscaping Company of the Year Mark Award with nearly 30,000 votes from his peers. Zak Matouke and his crew have gone from five customers to more than 150 in just three years. The Yard Men’s customers rave about the dependable and high-quality work Zak and his teams deliver. The Yard Men will receive a new Exmark Lazer Z® plus $1,000.

Second prize and $2,000 were awarded to Magnolia Landscape LLC, of Virginia Beach, VA. Third prize and $1,000 went to Xtreme Lawn Pros in Fort Myers, FL.

DEALER OF THE YEAR

D&J Equipment of Longwood, FL earned Dealer of the Year and received $5,000. Customers know and respect D&J’s commitment to service—both at the time of purchase and if in need of repair. Customers are pleasantly surprised to receive their product and/or parts needed within a day of ordering, a turnaround time that is uncommon.

Erb Equipment Co. Inc., of Fenton, MO won second prize and $2,000. Third prize and $1,000 was awarded to Sarlo Mowers LLC, of Bonita Springs, FL.

Congratulations to all the winners, we look forward to seeing you in Beatrice. Thank you to everyone who submitted nominations, voted and who helped make the inaugural year of the Mark Awards a success.

What did you think of the Mark Awards? Let us know and congratulate our Mark Award winners with a comment below!

Of all the difficult decisions landscape professionals make every day, one of the toughest is tied to the cost of fuel. As energy prices rise, should you raise prices to compensate? Institute a surcharge? Or just absorb cost increases?
Depending on the situation, one, or a combination of options may be best action.
Some landscapers are choosing to simply raise rates to cover fuel increases. Prices of many consumer goods and services are on the rise, and customers are accepting (sometimes begrudgingly) the increases.
Others are adding a “fuel surcharge” to their fees to help customers understand why rates have gone up. Since customers are also struggling with increasing energy costs, most are empathetic with landscapers’ situations.
Still other landscapers are cutting costs where they can to maintain rates – and customers. They’re tightening their belts and finding ways to operate more efficiently and gaining customers from competitors who have raised rates.
What are you doing to balance higher energy costs? One of the above options, or something entirely different? Let us know.

Judd Stewart has had quite an interesting career path. His first job was working on the family farm. From there he went on to become part of a bridge construction crew. After college, he taught an engineering class at his alma mater. But Judd admits that his favorite job title is the one he has now —Exmark test engineer. Judd finds a lot of satisfaction in being a part of a team that cares about its products and customers. It also doesn’t hurt that he has fun on a daily basis. Where else are you handed a mower and asked to put it through the ringer? In a safe environment, of course.

Tennis balls have the same geometric weight as dry grass. The average Joe wouldn’t know or have any use for this seemingly dull information. But Judd’s no Joe. In his world, this little fact comes in handy when he’s testing a mower’s stability. Instead of filling the Lazer Z’s baggers with cut dry grass, Judd fills them with tennis balls. Not only does the mower handle in the same way with both materials, but the round green balls are easier to handle and not as messy. Who knew?

Even though playing with tennis balls is a pretty sweet perk, Judd still says his favorite part of the testing process happens when the field-ready prototypes get into the hands of the people for whom they were designed—the landscape pros. He genuinely looks forward to receiving feedback from these guys and he’s happy that it’s usually very positive. When it comes to work, he can’t think of anything else that beats getting a pat on the back from the customers.

Have a question for Judd or our engineering department? Let us know with a comment below.

The next time you call Exmark’s Customer Service Call Center with a question about your mower, don’t be surprised if you hear a softer voice on the other end of the line. Meet Christie Moore, Technical Representative.

Christie’s had many milestones at Exmark: She was the first full-time female employee on the production line, she built an entire mower by herself, and she was on the original production team of the first Lazer Z. She’s also worked in the Sales Department, which she says, “…gave me the insight on how our machines are channeled out in the field to the end customer.” All of these experiences give Christie the expertise she needs to be an outstanding representative for customers who ask a variety of questions.

But Christie hasn’t let all of her accomplishments go to her head; in fact Christie would be the last person to brag about herself. That’s why we have to do it for her.

If you’d like to talk to Christie or another one of our outstanding service representatives, call (402) 223-6300 or contact us online.

We understand that building and maintaining relationships is a key part of your business. It plays a major role in our business. Of course, connecting with new customers, staying connected with current customers and expanding your network is an important step to growing your business. That’s why we’re excited to roll out a new dimension to our community site, Exmarkpride.com, called Public Profiles.

Public Profiles is a feature that allows Exmark dealers and landscape/lawn care company owners to set up their own web page to tout company services and reach new customers. If you’re a dealer or landscape company, just log into your Exmarkpride.com account, click on “My Account” and start editing your public profile. Whether it’s adding photos, listing your services or updating your contact information – this page is yours to help build your network and extend your Web presence.

So what are you waiting for? Complete your public profile on www.exmarkpride.com. We’ll see you over there.

Are there any features you want to see on the site? Leave a comment below.

Announcing our first ever May Days Sales Event. If you were looking for a time to buy a new Exmark mower, here’s your chance. For a limited time, we’re offering no interest and no payments for 6 months, or 0% APR financing for 36 months*.

Check out these great deals on our best-selling commercial and resident mowers including:

• Lazer Z X-Series
• Quest
• Vantage
• Navigator
• Turf Tracer
• Commercial 21

Hurry to your Emark dealer from May 12th – 22nd for the May Days Sales Event. For a full list of details on this and all our current promotions, click here or visit your local dealer.

Will you be taking advantage of our first ever May Day Sales Event? Let us know with a comment below.

* No payment required. No interest accrues until the end of the 6-month ‘No interest’ term at which time it accrues at 3.99% for 36 months.

This month, we’re featuring customer service manager and all-around nice guy, David Martin. David is one of the reasons why Exmark is known for unbeatable customer service.

David Martin: Customer Service Manager

Before Exmark, David had very little experience with lawnmowers. When he first started, like everyone else at Exmark, he dedicated himself to learning everything there is to know about the machines. Inside and out. So he spent his first few months working two jobs: fulfilling his regular customer service duties during the day and joining second shift on the factory floor after hours.  There he learned about the different parts and pieces of the mowers and how they fit together to make superior products.

When he’s not diving into his work, David is diving into the ocean.  He’s been on dives in the Bahamas, Belize, Jamaica, Cozumel and Honduras, just to name a few. His scariest and most thrilling moment happened in Belize. An 8-foot shark swimming a foot away from him. He could see every line on its body. Every gill. The shark swam away as quickly as it appeared. It left David both frightened and awed by its powerful presence.

Have a comment or question for David? Leave it below.