OLS INSIDER - Q2 2026

A MESSAGE FROM THE CEO

FORTITUDE HALL OF FAME

ACQUISITIONS & GREEN/BROWNFIELDS

MARKETING

OPERATIONS

HUMAN RESOURCES

PRODUCT

STORES

TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION

EVENTS

ANNIVERSARIES, BIRTHDAYS & PROMOTIONS

Congratulations on your induction into the Fortitude Hall of Fame for the months of April, May and June! If you haven't received your Fortitude pin, look for it in the mail soon.

• Cameron Hall | Stone Center - Landscape & Masonry, Greenville, SC
• Jayden Santana | Stone Center - Landscape & Masonry, Roswell, GA
• Alex Vasquez | Stone Center - Landscape & Masonry, Duluth, GA
• James Older | Bedrock Landscape Supply, Las Vegas, NV
• Charlee Fotheringham | Bedrock Landscape Supply, Las Vegas, NV
• Jessica Short | Schofield Stone, Bridgewater, NJ
• Esteban Plascencia | Garden Supply Hardscapes, San Jose, CA
• Tyler Harrison | Stone Center - Landscape & Masonry, Greenville, SC
• Jacob Brigman | Stone Center - Landscape & Masonry, Roswell, GA
• Ryan Jones | Bedrock Landscape Supply, Las Vegas, NV
• David Muckle | Bedrock Landscape Supply, Las Vegas, NV

Pending Copy

Our Private Label Brands

Beyond the national names we carry, Outdoor Living Supply has built a family of private-label brands we own outright — products developed to our standards and sold exclusively through our locations. When a customer buys one of these, they're buying OLS quality, and we get to own the full story behind it.

Together, these brands give us control over quality, pricing, and story — and give our customers materials they can't get anywhere else.

New Product: Brickhaus™ Thin Brick Veneer

We're excited to introduce Brickhaus™ Thin Brick Veneer — the newest addition to our private-label lineup. As an Outdoor Living Supply® brand, Brickhaus is ours to market, merchandise, and grow, giving us full control over how we bring it to market and build it into a go-to option for our customers.

Brickhaus delivers the authentic look and texture of traditional masonry in a lightweight, easy-to-install format. It gives contractors and homeowners the timeless appeal of real brick without the weight or labor of full-scale masonry — an easy sell for anyone looking to add character to a façade, feature wall, or accent.

The range spans classic and contemporary, so it complements a wide variety of styles and project types.

Product specs:

• Brick: 7-5/8″ × 2-1/4″ × 1/2″

• Corner: 7-5/8″ × 2-1/4″ × 3-5/8″ × 1/2″

Reach out to your team for samples and the product brochure, and start working Brickhaus into your veneer conversations.

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New: Lignetics Premium Plus Heating Pellets — Now in the Northeast

We've added Lignetics Premium Plus wood heating pellets to our Northeast lineup — a PFI-approved premium pellet built for clean, consistent, dependable heat season after season. Produced by Lignetics Group, North America's largest wood pellet manufacturer, Premium Plus is a regionally specific hardwood and softwood blend that delivers high-energy output with minimal residue, making it a trusted choice for homeowners and dealers alike.

Why it burns better:

• High-performance heat — max 8,400 BTU per pound

• Clean-burning formula — low dust and minimal clinker

• Low ash content at 0.5% — fewer stove cleanings required

• Consistently dry — manufactured to exacting moisture standards

• Exceeds EPA and PFI graded fuel specifications

Quick specs:

40 lb bags · 8,400 max BTU/lb · 0.5% max ash · PFI Premium Approved · Third-Party Audited

Available in Northeast market locations for the heating season.

Have marketing questions or ideas you want to discuss? Please visit the Marketing Intranet page or click here.

Process Updates Supporting Accuracy and Accountability

Over the past quarter, the Operations team has continued working on process improvements designed to support cleaner transactions, better visibility, improved inventory accuracy, and more consistent execution across all locations.
Many of these updates are tied directly to NetSuite, 5-Star compliance, purchasing, receiving, inspections, and daily communication. The goal is to make expectations clearer, reduce manual cleanup, and help teams identify and correct issues earlier.

Manager Inspection App Update

Open PO Cleanup and Potential Pickup Dates

To support continued PO cleanup and process compliance, a new NetSuite job will begin automatically closing open Purchase Orders with a Potential Pickup Date that is 30 days or more past due.

The Potential Pickup Date has been in place for more than six months and has also been included as a 5-Star metric. This next step is intended to help keep open PO records accurate and actionable.

Once a PO is closed by this process, it cannot be reopened. If the PO is still needed, a new PO will need to be created. Managers should continue reviewing open POs regularly and ensure any valid POs have an updated Potential Pickup Date.

Spec Code Descriptions Now Flow to Purchase Orders

Freight + Fuel Surcharge Group Item Deactivation

Freight Receiving Process Reminder

Vendor Surcharge Item Reminder

NetSuite Alerts and Cleaner Processes

Bill Capture Coming Soon

Our Accounts Payable (AP) team is implementing NetSuite Bill Capture, a new tool that helps read vendor invoices and streamlines the invoice review process. Instead of spending time managing Outlook and SharePoint folders, and manually entering invoice information, AP can focus on reviewing invoices and resolving exceptions.

What's in it for our stores?

When purchase orders, receipts, and invoices match, invoices move through the process faster. That means quicker payments to our vendors, stronger supplier relationships, and fewer delays getting products and materials to our stores.

Another improvement is that our current folder-based process for tracking invoice exceptions will be replaced with exception tracking directly in NetSuite, giving AP, Operations, and Procurement better visibility into issues and helping identify opportunities to improve purchase order accuracy.

Where are we now?

We're currently testing a wide variety of invoice scenarios to ensure the process works well before going live later this summer. The team has already validated core functionality and is now focused on refining exception handling and operational processes.

This project is a great example of teams across AP, Procurement, IT, and Operations working together to make our processes more efficient. Stay tuned for more updates as we get closer to launch!

Need key documents for operations? Please visit the Operations Intranet page or click here.

ADP Total Rewards Statements

Your 2025 Total Rewards Statements are now available in ADP Workforce Now. This statement is a helpful tool that outlines all the components of your compensation and benefits package in one easy-to-read document.   

Accessing your ADP Total Rewards Statement is simple and can be done through the ADP portal. Here’s how: (1) Login to ADP Workforce Now. (2) Navigate to Myself > Pay > Total Rewards. (3) View and download your personalized report.  

New to Investing? Start Here

Getting started with investing doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does require a solid foundation. Before you invest, make sure you’re prepared for the unexpected. Aim to set aside at least $1,000 for emergencies and work toward saving 3-6 months of essential expenses. It’s also wise to pay down high-interest debt (generally 6% or higher) before investing more aggressively. 

Next, define your “why.” Are you saving for retirement, a home, or another major goal? Your timeline matters. Long-term goals may allow for more growth-focused investments, while shorter-term goals typically call for a more conservative approach. 

When it comes to accounts, employer-sponsored plans like 401(k)s are a great place to start - especially if there’s a company match. That’s essentially free money! A good target is saving 10–15% of your income, including the match, though starting smaller and increasing over time works too. Other options include IRAs and brokerage accounts, which offer flexibility but different tax advantages. 

One final point: putting money into an account is a good start and investing it can lead to further growth. Consistent contributions, even small ones, can add up significantly over time and help keep you on track for retirement.

PROXIMAL

PROXIMAL rewards you for using a top-rated doctor for your specialty medical care. See HR with questions on this benefit that is available to employees enrolled in any of our BCBS or HMSA plans. 

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Life happens and sometimes it helps to have extra support. That’s why OLS provides you and your family access to the Work-Life Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through ADP LifeCare. 

The EAP offers free and confidential resources 24/7, including: 

• Emotional health: Up to 3 counseling sessions per person, per concern, per year (face-to-face or by phone) for issues like stress, grief, anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, or substance abuse.

• Family support: Help with parenting, childcare, adoption, education resources, and senior caregiving services.

• Wellness & daily living: Resources for diet and fitness, pet care, moving, travel, and more.

• Legal & financial: Free consultations and discounted services for insurance, loans, retirement planning, and more.

• LifeMart® discounts: Savings on groceries, travel, restaurants, electronics, flowers, child/elder care, and more. 

1-800-697-7315 | Log into ADP → Resources → My Tools → LifeCare-Work/Life, EAP, Discounts 

Have employment, benefits or payroll questions? Please visit the Human Resources Intranet page or click here. 

A New Direction for Our Turf Program

We heard the feedback from our customers and teams loud and clear: our Golden Vale turf program needed to be more competitive. In response, we're relaunching our privately branded turf program to be more targeted and better suited to each market. Here's what's changing.

Pricing & Market Positioning

We recognize the competitive pressure in this space, especially with importers offering turf across many markets. Rather than competing in the commodity space, we're focusing on what we do best: winning with the backyard-living contractors who are already OLS customers. It's worth noting that our manufacturer, Global Syn-Turf (GST), is the only one that doesn't install or sell directly to landscape and hardscape contractors — while many competitors do. That's a real advantage for us.

To stay competitive, we've made a few key changes:

• A streamlined product lineup — focusing on five core Golden Vale lines: Pet, Putt, Essential, Lawn, and Elite

• The right products in the right markets — not every market should carry turf, and we'll be intentional about where it makes sense

• More competitive pricing — designed to drive additional revenue, though at a lower margin rate than before

Truckload & Inventory Strategy

Buying in truckload volumes (16+ rolls) lowers our purchase price from GST, but truckload only makes sense in the right markets and at the right branches. Where it applies, we'll use a hub-and-spoke distribution model:

• Shared inventory across nearby stores

• Inventory investment spread across more branches, balanced against 60–90 day sell-through rates

This approach helps us capture cost efficiencies without overburdening any single location.

What's Next

New store pricing was published the week of July 4th and is now available for review and upload. Please share your feedback so we can relaunch this program as competitively as possible. This is a team effort, and your input directly shapes how we win in each market.

Making the Most of Mega Markdowns

Mega Markdown is our ongoing effort to keep inventory healthy — moving slow-moving product, converting stagnant stock to cash, and freeing up space for what sells. Selling through this inventory helps stores hit seasonal sell-down goals and sets us up for early buys and seasonal load-in for 2027.

The principle behind it is simple: the inventory is already paid for. So the goal at every store is to:

• Move the product.
• Recover the cash.
• Free up the space.
• Prevent future accumulation.

How It Works for Your Store:

• Name a Store Captain to champion Mega Markdown at each location
• Keep the team in the loop — share regular updates on your store's Mega Markdown progress
• Update your store's website discount page regularly
• Create a dedicated, visible Mega Markdown section in-store, clearly marked for customers
• Make it an easy shopping experience — remove friction wherever you can
• Target specific customers who are the right fit for these products
• Be flexible on margin — moving this inventory is the priority, and doing so won't affect 5-Star Performance

Every item we move is cash recovered and space reclaimed. Keeping this a consistent practice — not a one-time push — is how we stay ahead of inventory buildup all year long.

Have product questions? Please visit the Product & Sales Intranet page or click here.

Pending Store Video - Kate will create after Georgia

Store Spotlight

Stone Center - Greensboro, NC

Rooted in a location with deep ties to the Greensboro landscape community, Stone Center Greensboro has grown from a longtime local plant nursery into a full-service stone and hardscape destination — carrying its reputation for quality forward under the Stone Center name. The store sits in a high-visibility spot right off Highway 68, and the team treats that exposure as an asset, putting real thought into which materials belong front and center to spark curiosity and drive traffic through the gate. It's a yard designed not just to hold inventory, but to sell it.

Fun Facts:

• Serving the Greensboro landscape community for decades — the site began as a plant nursery and added stone in 2002, and now grows under the Stone Center name with those deep local roots intact

• 5 acres right off Highway 68 — one of the few stone yards that merchandises straight to a major road, using product placement to turn passing traffic into walk-ins

• A blue Dr. Seuss tree on Highway 68 — a gorgeous Raywood's Weeping Cupressus the team rescued from road construction and replanted on-site, now an unmistakable landmark for anyone driving by

• A huge outdoor fireplace on-site — a real showpiece that shows customers what's possible before they've walked the yard

• The area's pond-building headquarters — a deep boulder and river rock selection has made them a first call for local water-feature builders
• A veneer wall worth the trip — a range of sawn back veneer shapes and colors deep enough to close almost any inquiry on the spot

Well-Balanced Product Mix that Had the Most 2025 Sales Coming From:

• 32.6% Natural Stone
• 26.6% Pavers & Walls
• 18.3% Masonry & Veneer
• 14.1% Bulk Product
• 3.8% Outdoor Living
• 1.2% Tools & Landscape

A Yard Built to Be Seen:

Location is only the starting point. Stone Center Greensboro treats its road-facing visibility as prime real estate, curating what customers see first to build interest before they ever pull in. That intentional layout does double duty — it draws in the curious first timerimer and makes it easy for returning contractors and designers to find exactly what they came for.

Know Your Customer:

There's no "typical" customer here, and the team counts that as a strength. On any given day they're serving retail homeowners, contractors, designers, and architects — a range that keeps the business diversified and the team sharp. Their bestsellers reflect that broad appeal:

• River Rock – A wide selection of sizes and colors that fits nearly any application, from drainage to decorative finishing
• Boulders – A versatile workhorse used across all kinds of jobs, with a strong following among local pond builders
• Sawn Back Veneer – Offered in a wide variety of shapes and colors; the depth of availability means the team can turn almost any veneer inquiry into a closed sale

Service That Stands Out:

At Greensboro, the team goes beyond the sales order. They take the time to interact with and learn about each customer, turning a standard transaction into the start of a business relationship. It's a straightforward, relationship-first approach — and in an industry built on repeat business and referrals, that investment in people is exactly what keeps customers coming back.

What's Next:

The team is energized by continued growth on every front — training, sales, and new products alike. They've welcomed a wave of newer customers this year and taken real satisfaction in introducing them to new materials and building the business together. As they see it, this year's success is a direct reflection of the whole team and the support behind them — because it takes a team to earn a win, and Greensboro has a great one.

Each issue of the OLS Insider, we shine a spotlight on a different location across our brands — celebrating teams, stories, and communities that make us who we are. 

Want your store featured in an upcoming issue? We'd love to hear from you — reach out to Kate Craig. 

Pending Q2 Events Video - Kate will create after Georgia

Happy work anniversary! We are so lucky to have you!

• July: 34 Years | Gregory Peterson, 14 Years | Terry Merlo, 13 Years | Ted Deller, 9 Years | Kolby Sawyer and Blake Dalton, 6 Years | Jessica Gum, Alan Collens and Danny Ray, 5 Years | Kathleen Granger, Ernesto Barahona Barraza, Jonathan McIntyre, Matthew Yancey, Robert Bonds and Barbara French, 4 Years | Michael Hicks, David LaCroix and Logan Camden, 3 Years | Manuel Diaz, Alexi Solis, Charles Milhollen, Fredy Pereira Argueta, Jasson Hobbs and Marie Brooks, 2 Years | Isaac Garza and William Jack, 1 Year | Mark Heacock, Christien Cloney, David Miller, Ilana Dunford and Vera Bonifacio.

• August: 26 Years | Marco Medrano Reyes and Armadeo Lopez-Gonzalez, 11 Years | William Burdette, 10 Years | Jose Gomez Hernandez, 9 Years | Loyd Allen, 8 Years | Andrew Hargrove, 7 Years | Jesus Romero Montiel and Tony Bautista, 6 Years | Paul Price and David Miller, 5 Years | David Miller, Elizabeth Coleman and Thomas Chesebro IV, 4 Years | Mitzie Cuevas, Christen Jarnagin, Dustin Brendle, Harley Bonnell, Joshua Sinclair and Patrick Spain, 3 Years | Daniel Bishop, 2 Years | Jesse Fauth, Alma Bustos and Angela Rice, 1 Year | John Wilmott, Brooks Little, Michael Tuttle, Michael Kirn, Ngase Tuifua, Peter Sherbrick, Rodney Goldston and Timothy Carr.

• September: 44 Years | Glenn Woons, 36 Years | Roberto Lopez-Gonzalez, 29 Years | Brian Williams, 26 Years | Matthew Gibbs, 25 Years | Brian Price, 18 Years | Lee Marbet, 15 Years | Bette Wetherington, 10 Years | Justin Hail, 10 Years | William Arriaza Argueta, 8 Years | Mark Wilson and Charlee Fotheringham, 7 Years | Chester Wright, 6 Years | Jeremy McCoy and Michael Bloemsma, 5 Years | Rhode Rachel and Brandon Salinas Castellano, 4 Years | Brittany Grant and Kyle Capaldo, 3 Years | Fredy Camarena Padilla and Gustavo Valladares-Pioguinto, 2 Years | Dustin Greenhagen, Kapono Balonzo and Michael Nugent, 1 Year | April Wildman, Cheyanne Ludlum, Chrstopher Lydick, Dariusz May, David Roscoe, Jamie Vestal, Joshua Wallace and Britney Espana Leon.

Wishing you a great birthday!

• July: Pablo Salvatierra, Robert Hargrove, Christopher Teachout, Jack Bell, Jeremy Rollins, Ryan Jones, Daniel Authier, James Vaughan, Joseph Peals, Lee Wilson, Brittany Pivero, Christopher Servidio, Christopher Pinchak, Craig Barker, Jaiden Dicarlo, Jeshua Mumm, Jesus Estrada Gomez, Jose Solis Rodriguez, Kenneth Mathieu, Michael Rick, William DuBose, William Holliday, Deborah Siderchuk, Guillermo Avila Indio, Adrian Mora-Sanchez, David Morris, Debra Roberts, Dominick Moore, Kathleen Granger, Manuel Diaz, Mark Heacock, Michael Hicks, Andrew Hargrove, Jesse Fauth, John Wilmott, Loyd Allen, Marco Medrano Reyes, Mitzie Cuevas, April Wildman, Rhode Rachel, Aaron McGurty, Tim Smith, Heissel Gil Boteo, Juan Mora and Norman Gonzalez.

• August: Janeil Nothaft, Nathan Augestad, Rylee Diamond, Scott Allen, Stephany Bringgold, Alexi Garcia Zelaya, Emily Damasco, Howard Lasker, Brooks Yadon, Cole Allen, Deborah Fout, Dwaina Cesa, Israel Elias Aguirre, Mary Neville, Rebecca Heins, Ansley Rolan, David Schmid, George Pence, James Harris, Samuel Chong, Todd Bliss, William Owens, Armando Marquez, Eric Ochoa, Hugo Sequeira, Maura Covino, William Rogers, Jr., Abelardo Bautista Ventura, David Talkington, Dennis Berger, Francisco Guzman, Richard Ashford, Jr., Richard Kearney, David LaCroix, Jessica Gum, Ted Deller, Terry Merlo, Bette Wetherington, Mark Wilson, Jacob Pendleton, Jimmie Hester, John Nehlig, Martha Cerda, Mason Bingham, Neil Donlevy and Ray Pratt.

• September: Daniel Rhault, Ken Armistead, Russell Fillerup, Sierra McKnight, Tobias Harden, Luis Nunez Nazario, Rose Wolfe, Tomas Aquino Vasquez, DR Mintz, Jr., John Wranitz, Luis Velasquez Barerra, Patricia Sylvester, Caleb Stevens, Gary Cook, Adam Dierken, Alexander Porras, Damon Henderson, Viridian Sanchez-Cisneros, Charles Long, Janice Trimbur, Martin Ferro, Matthew Hupman, Barbara French, Blake Dalton, Gregory Peterson, Timothy Carr, Britney Espano Leon, Jake Wilson, Jessica Adams, Corbin Salazar, Jonathan Robinson, Lane Reeves, Juan Calderon Lopez and Mark Smith.

Congratulations on your new role!

• Hannah Douglas | Sales Specialist IV | Landscapers Depot, Kingston, NH
• Ercilla Epstein | Store Supervisor | Nova Stone - Landscape & Masonry, Catharpin, VA
• Joseph LaBuda | Senior Regional Director | Corporate