how's everyone doing so far this season?

[bruno_rs]

i'm in northwest jersey and for the 1st time, really feeling the "pinch". been doing this (lawn/estate maintenance) for a bunch of years now and have always counted on happy and/or satified customers, word of mouth and fliers if need be. so far this season i lost a few "problem" customers (good riddens) and unfortunately have picked up NO new ones. i got my (800) fliers out over the last few weeks and haven't received one call... i double checked the contact info just to make sure a mistake wasn't made! are you all pulling in work, or is this "lull" a byproduct of the overall economy? i'm in an area which is quite affluent and didn't think my business would be affected too greatly however some friends, in other fields, said it's "rough" for them too, right now. how are you all doing and what's selling well and/or not, in your neck of the woods?

[packey]

I would say hold on 800 flyers is not alot to get a response off of yet. Is nj just as dormant as northwest colorado. because if it is my customers are not even thinking of lawn work now. I noticed while in dfw metro area a slow start as well. I think people are watching to much tv and doing to much worrying about the economy. Every where I have looked in the past two weeks we where on vacation said that the economy was going strong in their areas. I spoke with a friend who does computer work for Niemen Marcus and he said one of their people was telling him business is only slowing in certain areas. Unfortunatley for you NJ, NY, Pn, Fl, Ca and Mi where where the enconomy is floundering. It seems every where else it is holding its on or growing. As far me I have gone from just over 20 accounts part time last year to back over 70 this year. and I am still waiting to hear from Walgreens, Kmart, Big O Tires and a Holiday Inn.

[Atlantic Lawn]

Good Luck out that way, going from 20 to 70 is a huge jump, what do you attribute it to ?

[bruno_rs]

I would say hold on 800 flyers is not alot to get a response off of yet. Is nj just as dormant as northwest colorado. because if it is my customers are not even thinking of lawn work now. I noticed while in dfw metro area a slow start as well. I think people are watching to much tv and doing to much worrying about the economy. Every where I have looked in the past two weeks we where on vacation said that the economy was going strong in their areas. I spoke with a friend who does computer work for Niemen Marcus and he said one of their people was telling him business is only slowing in certain areas. Unfortunatley for you NJ, NY, Pn, Fl, Ca and Mi where where the enconomy is floundering. It seems every where else it is holding its on or growing. As far me I have gone from just over 20 accounts part time last year to back over 70 this year. and I am still waiting to hear from Walgreens, Kmart, Big O Tires and a Holiday Inn.

hey packey, glad to hear someones expanding... must be nice to take a vacation. i too had a vacation... 4 months of NO snow for my trucks to just sit and COST (not make) me money! oh well, no sense cryin about it, s#!t happens or sometimes don't... hurts, in more ways than 1, when it don't. thought things would pick up, in the spring, but no such luck! weather around here has everyone thinking spring but i'm scary slow. figured i'd get my fliers out and do alittle "fishin"... that's why i got them out when i did. this season i don't know what's happening, thus this thread. as i said, i'm in an affluent area and the economy and/or fuel prices should NOT be affecting many of the customers around here thus the lco's "should" be busy. however, it's becoming painfully obvious, all the "old/blue blood money" has either died off and/or moved away. while some may not like their sense of entitlement they always pay their bills immediately and KNOW they need you. moreover, they are appreciative... nothing worse than working for someone and they make you feel as if they are doing you a favor! unfortunately the "new money", moving in, are just that and tend to live WAY beyond their means. this new bread of customers could care less about your business and/or family... it's all about keeping as much as they possibly can, for themselves. once i get out and about i "should" be ok... i get alot of "got a minutes" and/or referrals from my best customers. in all the years i've been doing this, i've never started a spring season with such a light schedule. best of luck to you all. have a good one

[bruno_rs]

i guess from the lack of interest, in this thread, most of you are kickin a$$ this season. may be time to reevaluate my "plan". i've checked with a few other local lco's and quite a few said their start up has been slower than normal. how are the rest of you north jersey boys doing out there? looking forward to hearing from you. have a good one.

[Smallaxe]

I worked 4 days so far this spring. At least this is Wisco's idea of spring. Will expand the business when summer comes. :)

[rodfather]

above normal start for us with already about 200 yards of mulch put in as well.

[bruno_rs]

[QUOTE=rodfather;2264252]above normal start for us with already about 200 yards of mulch put in as well.[/QUOTE

hey rodfather, that's good to hear. do you run a crew or are you a loan wolf? is your lco full service with commercial and residential properties? just curious... clinton's close but too far for competition :laugh:. i'm trying to get a hold on what's happening in our neck of the woods. late start this morning, gotta go... have a good one.

[shade tree landscaping]

Down here in Monmoth County nothing to jump and down about, nor nothing to complain about. I personally feel, or at least tell myself, that its the weather, all we need is one nice day on a weekend and the phone will be rining off the hook.

[lawnpro724]

I have had better years. This one I will have to wait and see so far its not looking very good.

[rodfather]

[QUOTE=rodfather;2264252]above normal start for us with already about 200 yards of mulch put in as well.[/QUOTE

hey rodfather, that's good to hear. do you run a crew or are you a loan wolf? is your lco full service with commercial and residential properties? just curious... clinton's close but too far for competition :laugh:. i'm trying to get a hold on what's happening in our neck of the woods. late start this morning, gotta go... have a good one.


I run several crews of 3 each in commercial and residential maint with a separate one for hard and landscaping. Should be up around 600 acres of mowing per week this year. 95% of my mowing is residential. 3 - 35 acres estates in Lebanon and Tewksbury township is where I do alot of my business.

We should hook up for lunch sometime. :clapping:

[bruno_rs]

[QUOTE=bruno_rs;2264412]


I run several crews of 3 each in commercial and residential maint with a separate one for hard and landscaping. Should be up around 600 acres of mowing per week this year. 95% of my mowing is residential. 3 - 35 acres estates in Lebanon and Tewksbury township is where I do alot of my business.

We should hook up for lunch sometime. :clapping:

hey rodfather, WOW 600 acres a week?!!! that's a lot of work... 6 day work week + 10 hour work day = cutting 10 acres an hour, if all goes well. what do you about equipment failure, down time and/or inclement weather?

the 3 estates must be nice $... customers like that are more concerned with well maintained "grounds", rather than how much it costs... brings to mind the saying, "if you have to ask how much, you really can't afford it". most of my customers are residential and over 3 acres... largest 6 acres.

i am a "lone wolf" and will only take on as much as i (alone) can handle. years ago, i had a few guys work for me but found it was costing too much time, money and "hair" to keep my equipment from being TRASHED and/or being dependent on their abilities and work ethics, or lack thereof. i found it much more rewarding to work at a pace i like... FAST... time is money!!! my son will be working with me this season and the extent of my "crew".

hope all is well. have a good one.

[rodfather]

[QUOTE=rodfather;2264895]

hey rodfather, WOW 600 acres a week?!!! that's a lot of work... 6 day work week + 10 hour work day = cutting 10 acres an hour, if all goes well. what do you about equipment failure, down time and/or inclement weather?

the 3 estates must be nice $... customers like that are more concerned with well maintained "grounds", rather than how much it costs... brings to mind the saying, "if you have to ask how much, you really can't afford it". most of my customers are residential and over 3 acres... largest 6 acres.

i am a "lone wolf" and will only take on as much as i (alone) can handle. years ago, i had a few guys work for me but found it was costing too much time, money and "hair" to keep my equipment from being TRASHED and/or being dependent on their abilities and work ethics, or lack thereof. i found it much more rewarding to work at a pace i like... FAST... time is money!!! my son will be working with me this season and the extent of my "crew".

hope all is well. have a good one.

we have more than 3 estates. sorry, what i meant is they range from 3 to 35 acres, with 2 of them having their own private polo fields on them as well.

i run two, 3 man crews for mowing alone and then another 3 man crew for hard and landscaping including me. if we get behind on mowing due to weather, i pull them off for a day and put them on mowers to help get caught back up. i have backups of everything including trucks, trailers, and mowers.

only really equipment failure i have is an occasional tire repair and belt breaking. i have a mechanic who comes in nights and weekends to take care of everything for me. that and i don't keep things till they get old and fall apart all the time works as well.

[bruno_rs]

[QUOTE=bruno_rs;2266932]

we have more than 3 estates. sorry, what i meant is they range from 3 to 35 acres, with 2 of them having their own private polo fields on them as well.

i run two, 3 man crews for mowing alone and then another 3 man crew for hard and landscaping including me. if we get behind on mowing due to weather, i pull them off for a day and put them on mowers to help get caught back up. i have backups of everything including trucks, trailers, and mowers.

only really equipment failure i have is an occasional tire repair and belt breaking. i have a mechanic who comes in nights and weekends to take care of everything for me. that and i don't keep things till they get old and fall apart all the time works as well.

hey rodfather, gotta love the private polo grounds!!! the mechanic coming at nights and weekends is always a plus too. i hear ya with the backups... 2 of everything... learned that lesson years ago.

glad to hear you have hardscapers who aren't "above" getting on the mowers to help get caught up... too many prima donnas out there. what seems to work best for you?... word of mouth, ads, mailings, etc.?

if i don't hear from you, have a good weekend and i'll catch up with you next week.

[grassman177]

this year is off to a great start so far. only lost the few, but gained twice or more that already. sure pennies are being pinched, but we are more high end so it has not gotten there as bad yet. so far i am shocked we have not had more problems. we will see how the rest of the year goes eh!

[bruno_rs]

this year is off to a great start so far. only lost the few, but gained twice or more that already. sure pennies are being pinched, but we are more high end so it has not gotten there as bad yet. so far i am shocked we have not had more problems. we will see how the rest of the year goes eh!

hey grassman, sad thing is i'm working in one of the most affluent towns and/or counties in the country and for the first time in many years i'm off to a VERY slow start. i've been losing valued customers left and right due to age/death and/or relocating.

"new money" (customers), in these parts, are very difficult to work for and expect to get what they want/when they want it, for next to nothing. it's amazing... much of the "new money" will buy a home for millions and then drive a couple towns away and pick up illegals, from the street corners, to do their lawn/estate maintenance, painting, cleaning, etc.. moreover, there are quite a few contractors "using" these illegals and although they're making money now, in the end it's gonna "cost" them (financially and/or legally). i've heard some illegals have pooled their funds and are now competing with their previous employers, cutting prices dramatically across the board.

i know it's tough all over (at least my area)... just hope i can hang in there until this s#!t economy recovers and things return to normal (somewhat). my overhead keeps increasing and i can't, nor will i, work for less. my brother said something pretty interesting the other day... it takes years for an industry to build up to a comfortable wage and only seconds for a few "fools" to set it back decades. guess i just got to figure out other ways to "skin the cat"!

[obland]

This year is looking good knock on wood.

[sancho_man_orlando]

Business is growing here in Orlando.

Looking to network with other LCO's in the area.

[andyslawncare]

Worked 10 days straight 12 hrs/day last week!