Five Minutes with Joe’s Landscaping & Nursery

Joe’s Landscaping & Nursery

Lewisville, NC

Founder Joe Marion

In business

56 years

NCNLA member

39 years

Number of employees 5 full time and 4 seasonal

Services

Wholesale and retail plant nursery

Favorite NCNLA benefits

Green & Growin’, networking and educational opportunities

Joe and Esther Marion. Michell Phelps, Tommy Phelps and April Smith.

How did you get into the business?

My wife, Esther, and I started the company in 1964. It began as a landscaping company, and then we added a nursery division to sell plants to fellow landscapers. As the years progressed, the nursery division grew larger and we began to also accommodate residential customers. Eventually the landscaping division was phased out to focus our total attention on the public and their nursery needs.

Today, Joe’s Landscaping & Nursery has become a family operation with daughters, Michelle Phelps and April Smith, and son-in law, Tommy Phelps. They each take a different role in the company including financial affairs, sales and production.

What’s a typical day like for you and your staff?

A typical day starts early, before the opening of the gate. We make sure all stock is out and everyone is ready to assist customers with phone calls and counter sales. Between loading orders, we restock as necessary or unload deliveries to the nursery. There is always something to do, whether it is customer-based or maintenance for equipment or property. Of course, the most important things happen after hours. These would include paperwork, ordering and watering the plants — the jobs most people never see.

What has been the most rewarding part of your career?

The most rewarding part of being in the nursery industry is the satisfaction of a repeat customer. You always want a customer to enjoy their purchase and tell others. Word of mouth is a wonderful advertising tool. It is great to see new generations visiting the nursery because their parents or grandparents were satisfied customers. If they passed down excellent experiences to their families, we must be doing something right. It is also wonderful to have customers come back and express their satisfaction for the new landscaped area we helped them create. Making people smile is extremely rewarding!

What is your company best known for?

We are a local family-owned business and our goal is to bring a variety of plants, shrubs and trees to our customers at an affordable price. We sell to the general public and wholesale to landscapers, lawn maintenance companies and fellow nurseries.

What issues are you concerned about as a company in the green industry?

The nursery industry has concerns just like any other industry. We are now living with changes in our lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the nursery industry has always dealt with diseases and pest concerns. There is always a chance a new problem could wipe out a plant species or cripple the production. That is why it is important that a nursery is inspected by the state. At Joe’s Landscaping & Nursery, we always keep our nursery sprayed for harmful pests and possible diseases. You must be proactive and in compliance to have a healthy environment for growing and selling plants.

What have you gained from your involvement in NCNLA?

Being a member of NCNLA has been a great help to my business throughout the years. I started going to Green & Growin’ in 1967 and have not missed one yet!

What advice do you have for someone interested in or just starting out in the industry?

When you start a nursery or landscaping business, it is important to be active in political elections to ensure you elect people who represent your needs. And always attend trade shows for new ideas and the latest trends so your business can stay up to date.

Joe Marion then and now.