Hello Lisa.

Welcome back to another edition of THE PENCIL CASE and Happy Get to Know Your Customer Day! As always, each issue focuses on a theme to encourage a fresh look at garden design and graphics. Today's inspiration is: KNOWING YOUR CUSTOMER. 

KNOWING YOUR CUSTOMER IS INTEGRAL TO THE DESIGN PROCESS.

The design process is composed of four major phases: research, design, construction documentation, and implementation. The RESEARCH phase includes collecting information about the site, as well as, the client. It is this information that will inspire the final garden design. The more you know your client and understand the site, the stronger your final design will be.

YOUR CLIENT CAN PROVIDE INFORMATION ON:

Their lifestyle. Do they like to entertain friends or prefer a garden of solitude? Do they have dogs? Children? Do they need an area to hang laundry? Do they want an outdoor kitchen?

Their aesthetic style. Do they like mid-century modern, English cottage gardens, traditional, or contemporary styles? As the designer you can play detective and look around at the aesthetic in and around their home to pick up on style...or simply ask.

Their landscape issues. Is your client having issues with water, loud neighbors or their dog escaping the yard? 

Budget and scope. How much would they like to invest and where? A limited budget is a good thing, not a hindrance! Use the budget to help you focus and brainstorm creative ideas.

How else does knowing your customer impact the final design?  Are you designing your own garden? Ask yourself these same questions.

KNOWING YOUR CUSTOMER INSPIRATION.

Create your own client questionnaire as part of the design process. A great place to start is this LANDSCAPE DESIGN CHECKLIST by the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (California Chapter).

This HOME LANDSCAPE QUESTIONS publication created by Iowa State University Extension, not only provides possible questions for a homeowner, but also ways to analyze a site.

Share the love and CONNECT WITH YOUR CUSTOMERS long-term too....via social media, a thank you note or stopping by to check in on installed design projects.

LET'S DO THIS!

What questions would you like to ask a client before starting their design? Jot them down and create a beautiful document that you can share at the start of every project.

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And for you, each year I teach my 8-week online course, GARDEN GRAPHICS TOOL KIT. Enrollment closes tonight, Thursday, January 20 at midnight US CST. If you'd like to join this fun, informative, inspiring course, this is a great opportunity to jump in!

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If you know someone that needs design inspiration, please feel free to share this newsletter. Anyone can subscribe right here. I also keep a VAULT of past issues in this secret location.

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Thanks for letting me visit your inbox once again! I look forward to crossing paths in two weeks.

Cheers,

Lisa

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PAPER GARDEN WORKSHOP