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On this Episode, host Willie Rodriguez and producer Eddie Gonzalez sit down for one of their most transparent and wide-ranging conversations yet. This episode isn’t about hype — it’s about reality.

From rising costs and labor shortages to market saturation, real estate pressure, and the future of nursery ownership, Willie and Eddie openly discuss what’s happening right now in the Green Industry and what it will take to survive, adapt, and lead moving forward.

The episode opens with gratitude — acknowledging A’s Ornamental Nursery, the team, and the clients who allow the podcast to exist as a platform for growth and learning. Willie also gives thanks to God for the opportunity to steward both the business and the responsibility that comes with having a voice in the industry.

Willie and Eddie also extend an open invitation to nursery owners, garden centers, landscapers, and industry professionals to step up and share their stories on the podcast in 2026 — because the industry needs more voices at the table.

Hard Topics That Need to Be Talked About

This episode tackles conversations many avoid:

• Product pricing that hasn’t changed in decades
• Immigration reform and its impact on labor
• Wage increases and the real cost of doing business
• Rising interest rates and slowing home sales
• Why only a shrinking percentage of the market still prioritizes plant quality

Willie shares perspective from his role on the FNGLA board, while Eddie brings a fresh lens as someone who didn’t grow up in the industry but understands its realities through lived experience.

Economic Pressure & Market Reality

Willie and Eddie break down:

• Why 2023–2024 slowed the industry
• How middle-class spending on landscapes has declined
• Why high-end landscapers remain booked months out
• The saturation problem — too much product, not enough movement
• The harsh reality facing small nurseries trying to survive rising rents and shrinking margins

They also discuss real numbers: land prices, lease contracts, annual rent increases, and how owning property may be the only path to long-term stability for nurseries.

Leadership, Boundaries & Business Discipline

This episode reinforces powerful lessons learned in 2025:

• Stop bending over backwards for people who don’t respect your business
• Request deposits
• Protect cash flow
• Respect your time, your team, and your boundaries
• Not everything works — and that’s okay

Willie shares hard-earned wisdom on sacrifice, discipline, and what it truly takes to build something solid:

• 3 years to start
• 5 years to become credible
• 10 years to become stable

Sales Strategy, Risk & Transparency

The hosts walk through:

• Slower summer months and the strategies used to survive them
• Discounting excess inventory responsibly
• Creative sales terms like 90-day pickup
• A major Clusia giveaway that cleared land, built goodwill, and sparked industry conversation

They also discuss how social media has become a portfolio, not a crutch — emphasizing transparency, quality, and trust over vanity metrics.

Looking Ahead

The episode closes with forward-thinking plans:

• Inventory management systems
• A future online plant store
• Stronger accountability across operations
• A renewed commitment to community, honesty, and collaboration

Willie and Eddie wrap up with gratitude, humility, and a reminder that challenges are often the

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On this episode of The Plant Movement Podcast, we sit down with Bryan Suarez, fourth-generation metal artisan and owner of Toledo Iron Works, to explore how a family legacy forged in 1969 continues to shape luxury construction and design across South Florida and beyond.

Bryan shares the fascinating story of how his great-grandfather and grandfather built a business that began with burglar bars and evolved into one of the region’s most respected names in custom ornamental metalwork. From hand-forged staircases and driveway gates to one-of-a-kind gazebos and trellises, Toledo Iron Works brings craftsmanship, technology, and artistry together to transform spaces into experiences.

Listeners will discover:

• The origins of Toledo Iron Works and how “old-school” techniques meet modern design.
• The behind-the-scenes process of fabricating and installing large-scale architectural metalwork.
• How technology like Company Cam and innovative materials such as wood-grain aluminum elevate their craft.
• The challenges and rewards of leading a multigenerational family business.
• How collaboration between industries — from metalwork to landscaping — creates unforgettable outdoor environments.

Bryan also offers heartfelt insights for young entrepreneurs stepping into family businesses, emphasizing leadership, adaptability, and staying ahead of design trends.

From tradition to innovation, this episode captures the power of passion, perseverance, and purpose in shaping both metal and mindset.

Directed and Produced by Eddie EVDNT Gonzalez

Toledo Iron Works
Email: info@toledoironworks.com or Bryan@toledoironworks.com
IG: www.instagram.com/toledo_iron_works
web: https://toledoironworks.com/

The Plant Movement Podcast
Email: eddie@theplantmovementnetwork.com & willie@theplantmovementnetwork.com
Call: (305) 216-5320
Web: https://www.theplantmovement.com
Follow Us: IG: https://www.instagram.com/theplantmovementpodcast


A's Ornamental Nursery
WE GROW | WE SOURCE | WE DELIVER
Call: (305) 216-5320

The Nursery Growers
Call: 786-522-4942

Plant Logistics Co.
(Delivering Landscape Plant Material Throughout the State of Florida)
Call: (305) 912-3098

Disclaimer: The contents of this podcast/youtube video are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute financial, accounting, or legal advice. I can’t promise that the information shared on my posts is appropriate for you or anyone else. By listening to this podcast/youtube video, you agree to hold me harmless from any ramifications, financial or otherwise, that occur to you as a result of acting on information found in this podcast/youtube video.

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On this episode of The Plant Movement Podcast, host Willie Rodriguez sits down with Bryan Lloyd and Erin Rogers, Territory Sales Managers with Greenworks Commercial, the all-electric leader transforming outdoor power equipment.

Bryan, who covers Central Florida and brings over 15 years of experience in the power equipment world, and Erin, who manages South Florida after years in the battery technology space, break down how Greenworks is changing the way landscapers think about performance, efficiency, and sustainability.

The conversation dives into:

- The benefits of switching to electric — from massive fuel savings to noise reduction in HOA communities.

- Battery innovation — including Greenworks’ customizable energy systems, on-site charging caddies, and the revolutionary “Energy Cube.”

- Smarter tech and safety — with motors that shut off on impact, ETO ports for charging tools on the go, and robotics that are reshaping how crews work.

- The real ROI — see how contractors are saving up to 85% on fuel and paying off their electric mowers in under two years.

- The future of the industry — from robotic mowing to smarter labor solutions, and how Greenworks is positioning itself for the next 20 years of innovation.

From autonomous mowers to battery-powered UTVs, Greenworks isn’t just making equipment — they’re building a full ecosystem for the next generation of lawn and landscape professionals.

Tune in to learn how you can power your business into the future with clean energy, smarter tools, and long-term savings.

🎧 Available now on all podcast platforms.

📲 Follow @ThePlantMovementPodcast and @GreenworksCommercial to stay connected with the movement.

Directed and Produced by Eddie EVDNT Gonzalez

Greenworks Commercial
Email: marketing@greenworkstools.com
IG: www.instagram.com/greenworkscommercial
web: https://www.greenworkscommercial.com/

The Plant Movement Podcast
Email: eddie@theplantmovementnetwork.com & willie@theplantmovementnetwork.com
Call: (305) 216-5320
Web: https://www.theplantmovement.com
Follow Us: IG: https://www.instagram.com/theplantmovementpodcast


A's Ornamental Nursery
WE GROW | WE SOURCE | WE DELIVER
Call: (305) 216-5320

The Nursery Growers
Call: 786-522-4942

Plant Logistics Co.
(Delivering Landscape Plant Material Throughout the State of Florida)
Call: (305) 912-3098

Disclaimer: The contents of this podcast/youtube video are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute financial, accounting, or legal advice. I can’t promise that the information shared on my posts is appropriate for you or anyone else. By listening to this podcast/youtube video, you agree to hold me harmless from any ramifications, financial or otherwise, that occur to you as a result of acting on information found in this podcast/youtube video.

Support the show