Competition

[matt321]

is the competition from the bigger chemical companies hard on a new small chemical buisness

[J Hisch]

No not at all. However as you get larger and they feel you have a good share of the market they will seek you and and offer to buy you out.

[bobbygedd]

not at all? that's pretty funny. i lost a client to blanklawn, based on this price- my price= 6,000 sq ft of turf. 4 ferts, one pre-em crab, two post em weed, one surface feeding insect control, one lime, aeration. $430. they left a flyer on his door, the same program, ADDING merit, and MANAGE, PLUS seeding along with the aeration, thier price $330. the only way they won't hurt you, is if you lower your prices down to thiers

[turf hokie]

You will lose a few to price...but those are the customers you may not want any way. I have picked up a few from the big companies for more money b/c the customers were fed up with false promises and "we will have a tech out there tomorrow" lines.

I picked up a lawn --their price $90 per app 5 ferts, 2 pre-em, weed control as needed. all else extra. My price $125 same program, the guy didn't even blink started the next day.

[Green Dreams]

I have finally got it thru my head that I don't have to compete with these guys. They can do their scam and blast on the cheap.

Today I got a new customer. I gave her an estimate and she had chinch bugs bad...real bad. Mega Scam Lawn came in and told her it was all brown patch (trying to sell her fungi apps) to boost someone's commission. This is standard practice and would happen regularly when I was there in the early 90's. I was told to just give them what they needed and be done with it. So they pay for a high $$ fungi and get insecticide.

Keep it up, fellas. I appreciate it.

[josh mcguire]

Tell me do you provide a better service than your competition? I hope that you do after all the huge companies are not known for there customer service. Let your customers know that they are paying for customer service not the product that you are applying. You can't afford to meet there prices nor do you have to beat them w/ quality. I know this works because for years we crushed Truegreen in our area. Then we sold out to Scotts and they lowered our prices go figure. However when we sold we had over 25,000 satisfied customers being serviced out of 3 branches all within 65 miles of aech other.

J mcguire

[lawnservice]

Tell me do you provide a better service than your competition? I hope that you do after all the huge companies are not known for there customer service. Let your customers know that they are paying for customer service not the product that you are applying. You can't afford to meet there prices nor do you have to beat them w/ quality. I know this works because for years we crushed Truegreen in our area. Then we sold out to Scotts and they lowered our prices go figure. However when we sold we had over 25,000 satisfied customers being serviced out of 3 branches all within 65 miles of aech other.

J mcguire
actually, we used to pick up customers from that cape operation often.

not that you guys were a bad operation but you were big enough that trying to hire ALL quality people just gets impossible. Employee quality control begins to slip. Your company is only as good as the person running the route.

[Garth]

Aye, but when a sma' jobbie sells oot some beggy eejit smiles. Dirty buggers, some o' those bigjobs.

[josh mcguire]

LANW SERVICE
You may have picked up customers on ocasion but the funny thing is I don't know who you are and you know who I am. Funny how that works. No matter how good you are you loose a few customers. However we were leaders in the Industry for Customer retention. Just rember "there are always dogs out there picking up table scraps. I however enjoyed the whole meal."

[Runner]

Josh, without a doubt, you were at an admirable size. I'm glad to meet you and look forward to talking to you in the future. We have an operation around here that is going to be about that capacity. He is well over 15,000 customers right now, two locations, and working on a third. He has our county about wrapped up and I believe is outdoing biggreen. About every job I am getting is being serviced by this company. His quality DOES suffer some, but overall, for what he does, he does well. He has all his numbers in place and loses more each year than what I do EASY. His marketing is hard to keep up with. They are calling on ALL the businesses, so many residential - including ex-customers, and on top of that, have salespeople who are selling the stuff for way too low. I have talked to people who have had his salespeople offer about half the price of what an acre should go for. I can't even compete with that, but I sell the account on personability and service (not to mention better product). It is when these sales people do this, that corners start getting cut. The techs show up getting credit for only approx. 25-30M when they are having to do 50. Like I say, THIS is when the corners get cut, backyards start getting skipped, and so forth.
Anyway, I would just like to say welcome aboard, and I am sure there is much to learn and talk about with you. Thanks for joining.

[lawnservice]

LANW SERVICE
You may have picked up customers on ocasion but the funny thing is I don't know who you are and you know who I am. Funny how that works. No matter how good you are you loose a few customers. However we were leaders in the Industry for Customer retention. Just rember "there are always dogs out there picking up table scraps. I however enjoyed the whole meal."
I dont use my real name...and you did, so I know (actually not you but your dad although i do remember you as a high school kid that did aerations for his fathers company) guess your all grown up now.

now, maybe its me, but i sense a little hostility?? Or maybe a swollen ego??

I certainly give credit where credit is due. Your dad's ex-company was one of the larger independently owned lawncare companies in the northeast.

I simply stated we picked up customers fairly often from that company, even more now that its scotts.
i didnt mean to ruffle your feathers.

By the way, I dont dabble in real estate, yet i know you do....funny how that works, huh??

[GreenUtah]

it DID come across that way, now didn't it. comedy

[TSM]

LANW SERVICE
You may have picked up customers on ocasion but the funny thing is I don't know who you are and you know who I am. Funny how that works. No matter how good you are you loose a few customers. However we were leaders in the Industry for Customer retention. Just rember "there are always dogs out there picking up table scraps. I however enjoyed the whole meal."
lol
my dad had a very successful business as well AND i also enjoyed "the whole meal" that MY DAD provided!

now i'm building my own business in this industry and hope one day my son will enjoy the 'whole meal'....

I also recognize your last name, but lets give credit to E (dad).
What exactly was your role in that company??

[Pilgrims' Pride]

LANW SERVICE
You may have picked up customers on ocasion but the funny thing is I don't know who you are and you know who I am. Funny how that works. No matter how good you are you loose a few customers. However we were leaders in the Industry for Customer retention. Just rember "there are always dogs out there picking up table scraps. I however enjoyed the whole meal."


Josh,

YOUR FATHER WAS A LEADER IN THE INDUSTRY.
NOT HIS little boy.
Your dad is/was a great man, a great business man and a great employer as well.

You need to earn your meals.

Be careful where you step.

Lots of guys here remember your dad.
and you.
You will get smoked here.

[Runner]

Dog gone it! And I am wanting to learn something! Is dad still around? He sounds like a very interesting (and smart) man!
How involved in the business were you, Josh? How come you didn't just keep it going at your age? I know I would've wanted to! How long ago did you sell? There is soooo much that i would love to know about an operation of this calibur.

[lawnservice]

I sincerly hope we have not run Josh off the board.

(Josh, bet you're wishin you had made up some sort of off the wall screen name, huh?) :D

But there are local folks on this board who have many years in this industry who are very familiar with that old company and its operation.

So, come on and participate with us in here. I'm sure there is much that you know, whether from first hand experience or through the dinner table conversations with dad, we'd like to hear more from you. Also please ask about us as well, like i said most of us have been around for some time now and we just might teach you as well?

lets all check our egos :dizzy: and learn from one another

group hug???
:)

[Pilgrims' Pride]

OK LS,

Now it doesnt mean I want to take long, warm showers with you till the wee hours of the morning, but maybe I was a little tough with Josh too.
Sorry kid.
Group hug!

[KLR]

... However we were leaders in the Industry for Customer retention. Just rember "there are always dogs out there picking up table scraps. I however enjoyed the whole meal."
Hey, your welcome!!!
I spent a few years with that company, Josh was a high school kid back then who did work in the summer ( i do recall him doing aerations, i'm sure there was other things he did as well, i guess?)

So, your welcome Josh.
your welcome for the whole meal you enjoyed.
your welcome for the customer retention (at the time I had the lowest cancel rate in the company)

I dont come in here much, but i had to get in on this thread.

Ken Reis

[Runner]

So, I'm still interested in why it sold...I am also interested in a whole bunch of structural thing s I want to know. I am wanting to build a business like this. I'm going to build a chem business that that is all we do. We specialize and do what we do well...VERY well. I'm bound and determined, and KNOW that I can do this.

[DUSTYCEDAR]

the big dogs swipe a few bones off the table each year but it always seems to be the milkless bones i didnt need anyhow.

[josh mcguire]

Ken thanks

I do remember when you worked for the Company and yes I was an aerator back then. Now that I think about it that may be why I did not wan't to keep the Company. I hated those damn machines. I did however stay with the company for many years after that. Worked in all fields of the company from feild rep to management and when it came time to sell I backed my father 100 % in the decision. The reason I did not wan't to take over the company, for anyone that want's to know or infact knows me. I was by no means ready for the responsability of close to 100 families depending on me for a job. Hell I was in my mid 20's my Father never started the company until he was 35. I did not wan't at that time all of the preasure. The other reason, anyone out there who is self employed knows that you are in business to make money. Well by backing my father in his decision to sell he made alot more money than he ever would have by keeping the company. That was his Company and I worked for him Just like the hundreds of other people who worked for him over the years. He is one of the smartest people I have ever met and if I had to do it all over again I would do it again the same way. After all as you have learned i "now dabble in Real Estate" and it seems to be working out just fine.

I do regret that decision when I see what happen to the company but remember "it's nothing personal it is just business."

[KLR]

Josh, I'm a bit flattered that you remember me (as i recall there was a couple of ken that worked there, i'm the funny lookin one :) I left the company in 1995)

I'd bet that most of us in this industry are setting the same goal that your dad set. Build a profitable business,....when the time is right sell it!

thats my plan.



I've talked to your dad on a couple of different occasions in the last couple of years. he is always willin to help out.

Actually, i heard a rumor a couple of months ago that he might be getting back into lawncare??? (this isnt the place to get into details so i'll leave it at that).

maybe we can do lunch sometime this winter? uh, you can buy:rolleyes:


and by the way....aerating, though profitable and though very benificial....sucks!

Ken

[josh mcguire]

That has been out here ever since he sold out. I think it is more wishful thinking from some of our former loyal customers and employees I found this site and signed on and pissed a few people off oh well not the first time or the last. On the lunch thing I want to remind you he sold the company not me lunch will have to be dutch.

My father loves the industry and is still very involved at a state level but he has no intentions of going back to work. He just learned how to retire.
Ken have a good one.
Josh

[lawnservice]

glad you didnt get run off.

BTW, I know Ken. He has one heck of an appitite....not the kind of guy you want to buy lunch for, it'll cost you a furtune!!

easy Kenny, just kiddin

hey, if I can join you guys for lunch I'll pay!

[KLR]

lawnservice, that 'other equipment that is useful' that you list on your signature line......

you know if you use that 'equipment' by yourself it could make you go blind, or at the very least cause hair to grow on the palm of your hand

[Runner]

Well I for one want you to know that you didn't tick ME off..........I SURE don't have anu problem! :)