Danny Smith: A Colorful Career

October 1, 2026

In the few decades since colored mulch gained a foothold in the landscaping market, it’s likely no one moved more colorant than Danny Smith.  

For almost a quarter century, the kindly gentleman with an easy smile and a deep faith traversed a region that stretched from Pennsylvania to South Carolina — not only a large footprint but also a region with a significant appetite for colored mulch.  

In the later years, his territory focused on the Carolinas and Virginia, as the growing business of colored mulch required additional personnel to take on the other states.  

In June of 2026, Smith, 72, called it a career. “With Danny, I think he really took to heart one of Becker Underwood’s mottos: ‘Make it easy for your customers to do business with you,’” said Nick Lincoln, national sales manager at Colorbiotics. “Spending time riding with him in his territory, it’s like he and his customers are all best friends.” 

Unlike many industries, sales in mulch colorant are not driven by slick presentations and silver-tongued spiels. They are forged through 4 a.m. phone calls, stained safety vests and sincere relationships that extend beyond the mulch yard. “My favorite part is the people that I call on,” Smith said before his retirement.  

“They become part of your family. You’re not just a salesman, but you’re partners with your customer.” - DANNY SMITH, RETIRED TERRITORY MANAGER 

Family and fishing are a couple of his priorities in retirement. And the friendships he made over the decades were not ones of expedience: he’ll stay in touch, even if visiting in person will be the exception. “It’s going to be hard,” Smith said while choking up. “That’s the part I’m going to miss: the people.”