Written By: Austin Marsteller – Turf Category Business Director
Another season’s end is on the horizon for Turf and Ornamental professionals across the country as the industry looks to finish the season strong in 2024. While some of the same challenges remained, new challenges surfaced this year. To start, a few tailwinds favoring businesses in our industry were normalized; supply chains for product procurement, and downward pricing pressure on material costs within the key fertilizer, seed, and chemical market segments. This is a relief to many of us considering the substantial impact these two factors most likely had on your business the past few years. 2024 certainly had its headwinds as your business most likely experienced higher expenses and operating costs coupled with a weaker consumer confidence level. Despite the uncertainty around what next year will look like, it is more imperative than ever to “purchase smart” heading into 2025 by taking advantage of buying programs and manufacturer rebates to ensure you are getting the best possible position on your material costs. At Central Turf and Irrigation Supply, we are here to help you navigate these decisions to ensure your business can reduce its risk, control costs, and support your revenue growth goals.
Despite Federal Reserve rate cuts in the spotlight, the cost of borrowing money will still be at an elevated level well into 2025. These elevated interest rates will still make borrowing costs extremely burdensome for your business. Higher debt payments coupled with increased overall expenses affect your business’s cash flow and make managing that cash flow even more important to the health of your business. Purchasing smarter is another critical component to help support your business in managing cash flow.
What solutions should my business turn to help manage cash flow and lower material costs to kickstart my business into 2025?
Central Turf and Irrigations Supply’s Turf Commitment Program coupled with our supplier Manufacturer’s Early Order Period Rebate Programs will help support these efforts. How so you may ask? For golf course superintendents, lawn care operators, and other turf professional business owners these programs may seem overwhelming, time-consuming, and often difficult to grasp how it fits into the overall picture of your business for next season while just trying to close out and evaluate the current season. However, by not taking advantage of these programs a business is leaving the following on the table:
- Lucrative Product Rebates (Lower Material Costs)
- Extended Terms (Cash Flow Support)
- Cash Discounts (Lower Material Costs)
- Bundling Offers (Deeper Savings to Lower Material Costs)
- Product Security (Operational Efficiency)
Product Rebates: Several of the key manufacturers have End User Early Order Programs going on right now. These programs offer lucrative rebates on key products you are most likely using in your programs for the upcoming 2025 season. The savings by taking advantage of these manufacturer End User Early Order programs can add a lot of money back into your business especially since you are going to need to purchase your material at some point to service your customers anyway. You might as well commit to it early and earn those rebates and in turn, lower your material costs.
How lucrative are these programs?
It depends on the manufacturer, program, and products, but you could save up to 10, 20, or even 30%. These are real savings opportunities to take advantage of that can help lower your material costs. A few key supplier Early Order Program dates to have on your radar are the following:
A Central representative is available and ready to discuss these savings opportunities offered by our manufacturing partners.
Extended Terms: Aside from product rebates and probably more valuable in this time of higher borrowing costs and to support cash flow efforts is the extended terms featured in our program offered. To learn more about Central Turf and Irrigation terms featured in the 2024/2025 Turf Commitment Program please contact your local representative. What’s the value of these Extended Terms? Your commitment to the product needs for next season now, will often earn you the ability to not have to pay until the start of the 2025 season. This is a proactive approach rather than waiting until right before the season begins when you may experience more restrictive terms. Discover what option works best for your business situation but taking advantage of Extended Terms is a great way to help manage cash flow.
Finally,
Central Turf & Irrigation has its own Turf Commitment Program offering that is currently available. It provides Cash Discount* Opportunities, Rewards, and Extended Payment Terms across the products you need for next season such as fertilizers, seeds, chemicals, and some equipment tools. Combine this with our key manufacturer end-user rebate programs for even more savings. These are all great solutions to take advantage of to help manage your cash flow and lower your material costs heading into the 2025 season. Remember, it’s all about purchasing smarter! Central Turf & Irrigation is here to help, please contact your local Central representative to learn more!