WasteCap Nebraska

The Lindsey Corporation & Green Team Roundtable’s: A Case Study

Situation:

In this day and age it is tough for many companies to become greener or even to stay green due to economic strains. Not only has the national economy suffered, but the local one has as well. With that comes the pressure one finds in the marketing department. Finding effective methods for marketing that aren’t too overwhelming in cost has been difficult in the past few years. This case study was designed to understand how the local economy, simplistic marketing strategies, and the idea of a green company may come together.

About the Lindsay Corporation:

The Lindsay Corporation began in Lindsay, Nebraska in 1955. They specialize in the manufacture and distribution of agriculture equipment. They are renowned for their irrigation systems as well as their traffic barriers and rain water recycling centers.

About the Green Team Roundtables:

WasteCap Nebraska’s Green Team Roundtable’s are a chance for business professionals to learn what other companies from their region are doing to decrease waste and to improve our environment. One company will host, and show what they are doing in their environmental efforts, normally including a tour as well as a discussion. This gives the companies in attendance a chance get new ideas on how to become greener. The pride of the Green Team Roundtables is that it also gives businesses a chance to network which may lead to more business and a healthy stimulation of the local economy.

Lindsay Corporation’s involvement in the Green Team Roundtables:

The Lindsay Corporation is active in each Green Team Roundtable. They hosted the first one in Omaha, NE on June 10^th, 2009. During which they showed, to about a dozen companies, the tinted windows to block the sun’s heat, sensors that turn lights on and off as people enter and leave rooms and programmable thermostats for heating and cooling, as well as their rain water recycling system. Danielle Kolander, stated that the Roundtable was “great” and that “about a dozen showed up interested in what we’re doing.” The Lindsay Corporation also held another one at their plant in Lindsay, NE.

Effects on Marketing:

Danielle spoke highly of how the Green Team Roundtables helped get their name out. After they had hosted one, the Omaha World Herald actually wrote a story about the Green Team Roundtable, how it went, and what all the Lindsay Corporation had to offer. From a public relations aspect, even if no business is generated, the idea that you can get your name out in a positive light, without even doing much is great. Even being at a Green Team Roundtable ensures that other companies know that you do want to put in the effort to learn how or what you could do to become a more green company.

Effects on the local economy:

Through speaking with Danielle, we found her opinion to be that the Green Team Roundtables could definitely improve the local economy. She had discussed how it could help local businesses. Through the networking as well as the fascinating things each company is doing to save money as well as save the environment, there is a large opportunity for the local companies to become profitable in this situation. The Lindsay Corporation has used the Green Team Roundtables to find a contact for someone to do their landscaping. It was clear that Danielle and Lindsay Corporation would not have used this other company had they not participated in the Green Team Roundtables.

Conclusion:

The partnership that the Green Team Roundtables and the Lindsay Corporation hold is very important for both companies. Although they have not had any specific clients due to the Roundtables this is justified by the amount of attention, and good word that has come about their company. The things they are doing for a cleaner and more resourceful environment are exciting and excellent steps that every business should consider. The focus of the Green Team Roundtables are to increase awareness of what companies in our communities are doing, and how their actions will inspire others, and create a less polluted environment.

The information for this study was done at an interview with at the Lindsay Corporation Corporate office with Danielle Kolander, in Omaha, NE, as well as research by the author, Jamie Jaques.