Happy New Year, Landscape Ontario! If your resolution involves growing your business, your association is here to help. Many LO members may be looking to purchase vehicles or equipment for the year ahead. Those folks will want to read all about the member-exclusive discounts below. But before we get into that, I’d like to tell you a little about what your membership team is working on in the first part of 2024.

For any trade association to be effective, they need to understand their members. LO is no different, and with a number of fresh faces on staff (your membership team gained six amazing people in the past year) now is the perfect time to invest in data that will help us serve our members better. LO is working with RKI Insights to survey our members. Not too long after this issue of Landscape Ontario Magazine is published, you will receive an email from LO asking for your input. Please take the time to participate. You will be providing crucial feedback that will help LO provide services that matter to members, as well as data that will support essential government relations work on behalf of the industry. It will also give us insights into the broader issues affecting our members, which we will share with you. All that for only 10-15 minutes of your time. Not a bad deal.

Exclusive discounts for 2024

Your LO membership carries some incredible benefits: community, advocacy and information. All of these provide outstanding value for your money, but let’s be honest — nothing hits the bottom line like our member-exclusive discounts. All members of LO are automatically members of the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA), which negotiates discounts on a variety of products and services for members of every provincial trade association.

Most members are aware that LO membership includes discounts on vehicle purchases. “What’s the GM discount?” might be one of the top questions we get asked at membership renewal time. We’ll get to those, but don’t forget discounts on light and heavy equipment from Echo/Shindaiwa, Wacker Neuson and Caterpillar. Contractors looking to purchase dozers, loaders, excavators and telehandlers will want to tell their CAT or Wacker Neuson dealers they are LO members; they’ll save 10 per cent and five per cent, respectively. Landscapers in the market for gas or battery powered blowers, mowers, trimmers, chainsaws and other power equipment can realize some budget relief from ECHO/Shindaiwa with a 10 to 20 per cent discount. With big ticket items, those percentages can quickly outweigh your annual membership dues.

Truck and fleet discounts are important member benefits. In some cases, they are the initial motivators for joining the association. 2023 was a challenging time for vehicle purchases. Many dealers are still experiencing inventory shortages. Supply chain disruptions have led to long wait times and higher prices while climbing interest rates have made financing more expensive. At the same time, and to some extent as a result of these factors, vehicle discounts through CNLA are lower than we’ve seen in the past. Higher prices and lower discounts. Where’s the silver lining?

Keep in mind that the discounts you access through CNLA are fleet discounts on factory-ordered vehicles. With recent inventory shortages, dealer prices are high and their discounts are low. If you factory order a vehicle under the CNLA fleet plan, most dealers will sell the vehicles at invoice minus discount — potentially ending up at a lower price than buying a vehicle off the lot. In this way, the value of the member discounts on GM, Isuzu and FCA Canada vehicles remain strong.

Of course, all of these vehicles and equipment need maintenance. How about some rust proofing for those new fleet vehicles? Krown offers members special pricing on rust proofing and lubricants. Do your older vehicles need new tires? Open a fleet account with Michelin to access special pricing.

No matter where your vehicles come from, they’ll need fuel. Retail gas discounts are available at Esso with an Esso business account, and Petro Canada with a Superpass credit card. At Parkland gas stations (Ultramar, Pioneer, Fas Gas, Bluewave Energy and Chevron) discounts on bulk and cardlock fuel are available as well as retail.

Your Landscape Ontario membership includes some impactful savings designed to help your bottom line. Be sure to explore all the options available to make every dollar count.

To review all of the available Member Savings Program discounts, visit horttrades.com/member-savings-programs. To access some discounts, or if you have any questions, contact CNLA at 1-888-446-3499 or memberservices@cnla-acpp.ca. Their knowledgeable staff will be happy to assist you.