BUSINESS JOURNAL EVENT

2008 Health Care Conference: Frontiers of Health Care

Wednesday, November 12, 2008, 8:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., Hyatt Vineyard Creek Hotel & Spa, Santa Rosa

E-Mail Express

Name:

Company:

E-mail:

Phone:

Gardeners' Guild to move 160 jobs to Richmond

NORTH BAY'S THIRD-LARGEST LANDSCAPER RUNS OUT OF SPACE IN MARIN

SAN RAFAEL, March 12, 2008 – Landscaping maintenance and construction company Gardeners' Guild Inc., the third-largest such operation in the North Bay, is relocating to Richmond after starting in Marin County three decades ago.

"We reached a tipping point in our San Rafael office," said President John Ossa. "It's clearly attributable to business and revenue growth. Finally, we have a space that is commensurate with our success."

Company revenue increased 20.4 percent last year, the largest jump in the company's history, to $11.8 million from $9.8 million in 2006, according to Sales Manager Suzanne Harris.

A large factor in that jump was a greater shift toward more lucrative landscaping installations for commercial properties, such as the recent Strawberry Village Shopping Center renovation and high-end custom homes. Currently, 60 percent of the company's business comes from maintenance, and the remainder is provided by construction projects. Last year the maintenance-to-installation mix was 70-30.

Last summer the company signed a lease for a 2.5-acre site at 2780 Goodrick Ave. in Richmond with enough room for offices, a training facility and fleet parking. Plans for the site include new facilities in three years' time to showcase sustainable landscaping.

Come Monday, March 17, the company plans to be moved to Richmond. Many of the company's 160 employees live in the East Bay, according to Ms. Harris.

The new location also will allow the company to achieve better efficiency and control of equipment, she added.

However, the company will continue to serve customers in Marin and plans to drum up more business in Sonoma and Napa counties.

Linda Novy started Gardners' Guild 35 years ago as a residential landscaping maintenance operation. Today the company serves the East Bay, Peninsula and elsewhere in the North Bay. Key projects include Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco, Oakland City Center, The Village at Corte Madera and the Agilent Technologies campus in Santa Rosa.

The company moved to the San Rafael facility at 2143 E. Francisco Blvd. in 1993 from Fairfax.