State of the industry
Core business
Compared to 2005 State of the Industry data, the number of snow-only firms has shifted slightly in the last decade, increasing roughly 6 percent. According to the data, it would seem that a number of landscape firms offering snow and ice management services (73 percent in 2005) have shifted to snow-only operations. The number of other allied firms conducting winter maintenance has stayed roughly the same.
Challenges
Unavoidable obstacles
Low-ball contractors, salt prices, insurance costs and the overall mental and physical stress of working an aggressive winter and fueled snow fighters anxiety during Winter 2014-15.
On the flip side, respondents reported that fuel prices, consumer/client confidence and the number of workable plowing and deicing events (for better or for worse) all had a positive impact on their winter operations.
Outlook
Growth Trends
Looking to the immediate and near future, nearly three quarters (74 percent) of respondents expect to experience growth from winter services. That’s a pretty impressive, and optimistic, outlook by a good portion of the industry.
So how will a lot of this growth be achieved? some of the other data may provide a glimpse at how many snow fighters expect to accomplish growth over the next five years. For starters, respondents expect to seek out educational opportunities to run more efficient operations. Likewise, nearly half will invest in technology to streamline (and presumably make more efficient) their operations.
Finally, while the majority of respondents believe snow and ice management will become a more critical component to their bottom lines, only a small group (12 percent) expect to join the existing 10 percent as snow-only companies. However, consider the fact that, if that projection holds true, then within the next half decade, nearly a quarter of snowfighters will be snow-only operations.
Methodology
How we conducted the research
In April, to best benchmark and identify industry-wide trends from the previous winter, Snow Magazine conducted its 2015 State of the Industry research via SurveyMonkey, an online survey portal. Snow Magazine queried professional snow and ice managers from throughout the United States and Canada who were pulled from its circulation list. In addition, Snow Magazine interviewed a number of additional professional snow and ice managers to gain first-hand insights on the challenges and trends that comprised Winter 2014-15.
Explore the May 2015 Issue
Check out more from this issue and find you next story to read.
Latest from Snow Magazine
- NOTEBOOK: Go With The Flow
- NOTEBOOK: Winter Equipment Offers the RoadMAXX System
- NOTEBOOK: Yanmar Unveils Compact Loader Lineup
- NOTEBOOK: Schill Expands in Southwest Ohio
- October Cover Story: Achieving Wet Pavement
- August 2022 Cover Story: Beat The Odds
- May 2022 Cover Story: Bullish on Snow & Ice
- 2022 Top 100