Jim Wilkinson is the managing director and founder of Pro Landscaper in the UK. He has guided the magazine and website since its inception in 2011.

Wilkinson carefully researched the landscaping market before launching Pro Landscaper. He recalled the financial risk that he and his wife took at the time: “We sold the house we were living in to fund it. We literally poured everything into making it a success. Everybody had a vested interest into making sure it worked.”

Wilkinson noted that Pro Landscaper began as a 52-page magazine in the UK with 10 ad pages, and has since expanded to 132 pages with 40-50 ad pages, and industry-related events.

Wilkinson explained how Pro Landscaper has evolved into a community: “I always felt like the biggest compliment is when you’re speaking to people in UK landscaping, they believe Pro Landscaping is part of them, it’s theirs. The language they use is very inclusive… relationships have been built through our pages, through our events, through our social media.”

Wilkinson says the future of Pro Landscaper includes “launching a magazine for consumers” and “international expansion” that includes more of the U.S., including California. Oh, and this time he won’t have to sell his house.