When he was just 10 years old, Wes Shelley unknowingly launched his horticulture career by helping his dad, Eric Shelley, who worked at one of the world香蕉视频直播檚 most famous gardens. But despite those early years at The Butchart Gardens, Wes never planned to follow in his father香蕉视频直播檚 footsteps.
香蕉视频直播淚 never really thought much about horticulture and gardening when I was helping my dad,香蕉视频直播� explains Wes, co-owner of . 香蕉视频直播淚t was something I just did to help him out.香蕉视频直播�
But after studying music composition in college and doing a stint at a recording studio, Wes changed his mind.
香蕉视频直播淚 was hoping to have a career in music but I decided that would be a pretty tough life,香蕉视频直播� the 35-year-old says. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檇 always wanted to be my own boss, so I asked my dad what he thought of me starting a landscaping company. He initially said he thought it was a really bad idea!香蕉视频直播�
But Wes was determined to make it work, so Eric gave him his first truck, a mower and the basics to get him going. He was only 20 years old at the time, and he admits he had a lot to learn.
香蕉视频直播淚 was pretty young and inexperienced in life and sort of relying on my own gumption to figure the whole thing out,香蕉视频直播� Wes recalls. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檇 picked up a lot working with my dad but I realized there was still a huge amount I had to learn.香蕉视频直播�
And that香蕉视频直播檚 when his passion for horticulture really started to grow.
香蕉视频直播淎s I started doing it, I realized there was quite a strong connection to what I learned in music in that there香蕉视频直播檚 an endless depth of knowledge,香蕉视频直播� Wes says. 香蕉视频直播淭he amount there was to learn was so great and that actually made it more stimulating than I expected it to be when I started out on my own. And that propelled me onto a mission.香蕉视频直播�
As the business started to flourish, Wes realized he could help others find their passion by exposing staff to a field with limitless learning and the potential for career growth香蕉视频直播攊ncluding paying for their Red Seal training at the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific.
香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 a common misconception that it香蕉视频直播檚 just a labour job or outdoor janitorial work, but the amount that our supervisors and staff need to know and understand is huge, and it香蕉视频直播檚 constantly changing because we香蕉视频直播檙e working in a living environment,香蕉视频直播� says Wes. 香蕉视频直播淲e have lots of staff who have come from other industries and found their passion.香蕉视频直播�
Believe it or not, Fallingwater Landscapes doesn香蕉视频直播檛 actually hire anybody with landscaping experience. Instead, it recruits people from other industries who are looking for a positive change. And while it might sound counterintuitive, Wes says it works.
香蕉视频直播淰ictoria has one of the highest concentrations of landscaping companies in Canada,香蕉视频直播� he explains. 香蕉视频直播淭here are over 400, and most are really small. Because it香蕉视频直播檚 such a low barrier to entry business, you get a lot of people that just don香蕉视频直播檛 have the sort of depth required.香蕉视频直播�
In the past, when they香蕉视频直播檝e hired professional gardeners who have the knowledge, Wes says, they found they often didn香蕉视频直播檛 understand the pace required for a residential and strata environment. As a result, they香蕉视频直播檝e developed a strong training program, and they can get people to the pace and knowledge needed relatively quickly.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 worth it for us to take that time to train people right and get them excited,香蕉视频直播� Wes says. 香蕉视频直播淭hat initial investment pays off because we end up keeping people for a long time and we don香蕉视频直播檛 have to worry about re-training bad habits.香蕉视频直播�
Much like learning about plants, growing a business has been a big learning curve, and everything was put to the test four years ago when his father decided to retire from the landscaping company he started after he left Butchart.
香蕉视频直播淲e were operating as competition for 10 years and he kept saying he was going to retire in a couple years, but never did. And then he called me one day and said, 香蕉视频直播業香蕉视频直播檓 retiring in six months香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈so we scrambled to deal with that.香蕉视频直播�
Both companies had about seven employees at the time they merged, and Wes was in talks to buy a small irrigation company.
香蕉视频直播淲e tripled in size and it was a messy year,香蕉视频直播� he admits. 香蕉视频直播淚 learned that I didn香蕉视频直播檛 want to do that again! We were just overwhelmed in how much shifting we needed to do in the way the business was run and there were a lot of dropped balls and a lot of unhappy clients and it was a really difficult period of time.香蕉视频直播�
Tough as it was, it taught Wes and partner Drew Coleman an important lesson. It changed their perspective on how they wanted to cultivate the business.
香蕉视频直播淚t made me look at where the next phase would be, and where the next breaking point would be in growth. It香蕉视频直播檚 at about double where we are now,香蕉视频直播� says Wes. 香蕉视频直播淪o we香蕉视频直播檝e kind of set that as the cap. We香蕉视频直播檙e not interested in infinite growth.香蕉视频直播�
Instead, they香蕉视频直播檙e focusing on mentoring their 21 staff and building client relationships with their high-end residential and strata customers, including dream client Dockside Green. They香蕉视频直播檝e also restructured so supervisors have more autonomy.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e really been able to step away from that dictatorial, 香蕉视频直播榗ommand and control香蕉视频直播� business structure, which is how so many businesses are run,香蕉视频直播� he says. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e learned how strong a company can become when everyone buys in.香蕉视频直播�
For Wes, it香蕉视频直播檚 all about getting people passionate about something. And he香蕉视频直播檚 the first to admit, most of the staff are now more capable than he is when it comes to horticulture.
香蕉视频直播淚 think as humans we just thrive when we香蕉视频直播檙e given opportunities to learn and grow.香蕉视频直播�
