Review Crew: Meet The Owners of Focal Point Features

I always talk about how business owners in Austin are way too humble, and Melissa & Dan Johanson are a perfect example.

For more than half a decade, they’ve been running Focal Point Features – a boutique landscaping service that specializes in natural looking water features, like fountains, river beds, and ponds (big enough to swim in).

Ask ‘em what they do, and they might say something like, “we build custom water features.”

What they sometimes forget to mention is that they’ve been all over the country for the trade, have been recognized nationally for their designs, and have worked with high-profile property owners (like Gary Vee’s dad).

They’re an excellent example of how love for your craft can take you all sorts of places, and in this piece, Melissa looks back on more than a half-decade of entrepreneurship to share highlights, challenges, and lessons learned (including how their strategy has evolved, how their marriage impacts the business, favorite purchases, and more.)

Enter Melissa…

What's the backstory behind Focal Point Features?

Focal Point Features began as a true blend of my passion for entrepreneurship and Dan’s creative artistry.

Dan grew up exploring the creeks of Central Texas, completely fascinated by plants, fish, and wildlife. He’s a natural artist who loves working with his hands, and over 20 years ago he found his calling when he started building water features — a craft that brought together all of his passions in one place.

I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit and a background in customer service, operations, and marketing. For years, I knew I wanted to run my own business but struggled to find the right fit. After three years of dating Dan, I had an “aha” moment: why not build a business around his incredible talent and passion? I knew his artistry paired with my business drive could be something special.

We both grew up valuing time outdoors, where family moments were spent in beautiful backyard spaces. Today, we bring that same sense of warmth, connection, and craftsmanship to every project.

As partners in life and business, our shared values, complementary strengths, and commitment to excellence are the foundation of Focal Point Features — creating spaces where water becomes the heart of gathering, relaxation, and lasting memories.

Tell me the story of how you got your first customer.

Our first customer came through Dan’s existing network in the landscaping world.

While he was still working for another company, Dan had done a small project for a client who later reconnected with him about overhauling a rental property in East Austin.

The project lasted about a month and included creating a dry creek bed lined with blue glass, xeriscaping, and lighting to give the illusion of a moving stream.

It wasn’t a traditional water feature, but it was close enough for us to take on as our first official paid job. The longer timeline gave us the breathing room to start building our online presence, showcase what we could do, and begin attracting more work.

How has the growth strategy evolved since then? What was one thing that worked surprisingly well to help you grow?

Since our first project, our growth strategy has centered on building strong relationships and a solid reputation. Our network—including contractors, landscape designers, pool companies, architects, general contractors, interest groups, and realtors—has been an invaluable source of leads. Over the past nine years, we’ve strengthened those connections by offering perks and kickbacks for professional referrals, as well as referral discounts to both customers and the friends they send.

Our online presence has also been a major driver of growth. We’ve created a website that looks unlike anything else in the industry, paired with a distinctive brand identity that helps us stand out. Reviews have played a particularly powerful role—our employees even receive cash bonuses when their name is mentioned in one. This focus on trust, relationships, and standing out visually has been key to our continued success.

Have there been any memorable "Oh shit" moments where you thought the whole thing might fall apart?

Like most small business owners, we’ve had our share of “Oh no” moments. Winters have been especially challenging, with slow seasons bringing the constant worry of making it to the next month. Over time, we learned to secure work in late summer and early fall to help bridge the gap.

Hiring has also been one of our toughest hurdles—finding competent, reliable, and skilled team members takes constant attention, growth, and patience.

During the busy season, the workload can become overwhelming, leading to months of early mornings and late nights. For us, that has meant balancing the demands of the business with the need to protect our time together as husband and wife—a challenge we continue to navigate each year.

What was the last purchase of less than $1,000 that made a serious impact on your life? (Feel free to share links)

The best under-$1,000 purchase I’ve made recently is the Law of Attraction Planner.

I’ve tried just about every planner on the market, but this one is on a whole different level — it’s like having a personal coach, vision board, and productivity system all in one.

It’s incredibly detailed, with space for daily, weekly, and monthly planning, habit tracking, goal setting, and even affirmations and gratitude practice. It keeps both my life and business goals clear, organized, and actionable. Since using it, my workflow has been sharper, my actions more intentional, and I’ve felt more in control of everything I juggle as a business owner.

Honestly, it’s been a game-changer.

A question I like to ask founders: How'd you meet your spouse? And in what ways have they contributed to your success over the years?

Dan and I met in 2011 through an online dating app — two very different people in very different worlds who probably wouldn’t have crossed paths otherwise. I’m naturally more of a planner and big-picture thinker, while he’s deeply present and focused on the day-to-day. That balance has been huge for me. As a planner, it’s easy to get stuck in the ‘thinking’ phase, but Dan helps me take action. I can also be an anxious person, always worrying about what’s next, and his grounded nature constantly helps me slow down and reconnect to the moment.

Over the last decade, that influence has completely changed me — I’ve learned to be more mindful and present, and it’s transformed the way I approach both life and business. He’s also been unwaveringly supportive of everything I’ve ever wanted to do. No matter how out-there an idea might seem, or how big the investment, he’s always been there to back me up and do whatever he can to help me succeed. And of course, he’s the creative backbone of our business — producing stunning work that practically sells itself and makes my job infinitely easier.

You can read more about Focal Point Features on their website, or follow them on Facebook for local plant swaps, news, and regular updates from their projects