Talk about job security!!!!!!!

[LAWNS AND MOWER]

Read in the paper the other day that the elderly (over 65) population will increase by 80% by the year 2025. Baby boomers are finally growing up. This has to be great news for us lco's. The average age of my customers is probably close to 70 years old. One drawback is that by 2030 I'll be part of the elderly pop. Fellow lco's-- be prepared to expand because these baby boomers will have plenty of $$$$$ to spend and won't want to mess with their outside chores!!!!

LAWNS AND MOWER

[thelawnguy]

I've been telling you guys this for the last three years, but it seems most of you are content chasing the yuppies in their McMansions so you can show off your stripes and such just to be under-bid every spring. Not to mention having to chase after your money in competition with a Lexus payment.

The elderly hate change. Once a customer they are yours for life (literally). They also are meticulous about paying right away, if not on the spot with cash-ola. Maybe this is why my advertising budget for last year was $100 and this year will be zero.

[Fantasy Lawns]

ya .... I'd have to agree with this one ... almost 90% of our Cocoa Beach jobs are snow birds & retired folks .... good payers n extras .... never change long as you show up on time n do a good job

[awm]

i do agree with this post.its here already an getting bigger .
good deal for those who service homeowners.
long as there is not to much moving into condos an apartments.
some are selling the homeplace an doing that.

[Albemarle Lawn]

You have to get fired 60 times to lose all of your income.

If you have a boss, you only have to get fired once to lose all of your income.

Just got forbid you get hurt or chronic illness...but that could happen with a regular job too.

Ken

[Nelson]

Originally posted by Albemarle Lawn
You have to get fired 60 times to lose all of your income.

If you have a boss, you only have to get fired once to lose all of your income.

Just got forbid you get hurt or chronic illness...but that could happen with a regular job too.

Ken

Alb,

BOSS,

The only thing with a regular job as in a "Management position".
If you are in a valuable position? They will take care of you.
Beleive me I know....
In Lawn Service you r on your own correct ... ????? :confused:

[heygrassman]

The only thing with a regular job as in a "Management position". If you are in a valuable position? They will take care of you.

I thought the same thing until I got ripped from a Upper Level Sr Mgt Position in Oct.. Not the bosses fault. Mr. Economy does not have favorites.

Time to turn a love into a dream.....22 days until flyer number one hits the streets..

Jeff

[Nelson]

Originally posted by heygrassman


I thought the same thing until I got ripped from a Upper Level Sr Mgt Position in Oct.. Not the bosses fault. Mr. Economy does not have favorites.

Time to turn a love into a dream.....22 days until flyer number one hits the streets..

Jeff

:eek: Hate to hear that?

I know that anyone can be just a number?
I know that also ..........

[JimLewis]

thelawnguy;

I agree with ya 100% about what you like about elderly. They do pay on time or early every month. The do stick with you for life. Etc.

But I'll still take the yuppies in the $500K+ houses any day of the week.

ON AVERAGE: They are willing to pay more $. They like to have everything plush (this means more money in irrigation, new plants, water features, more frequent maintenance visits, etc.). They are more understanding and reasonable than elderly. They aren't on a fixed income. They typically live in tight new subdivisions with a lot of other houses right nearby. Etc.......

And the things they aren't as good at (e.g. paying on time, not quite as loyal...) are easlily rectified if you are creative enough (e.g. automatic payments, creating a service that deserves their loyalty....).

To me, they are worth every bit of the trouble.

We still have probably 20% elderly people. But when you count their total sales per capita per year against the yuppies, they just don't compare. The yuppies got the money. And I want to be where the money is - period.

[walker-talker]

This is an issue I have been debating with myself recently. This year I want about 15 new accounts and next year would like approx 30-40 new accounts, but not sure to what market I want to target. I have narrowed it down to the two that is being discussed (the elderly or yuppies).

I would enjoy hearing opinions from others on this subject!
Jim Lewis, you make some valuable points.

MATT

[thelawnguy]

I would be interested in seeing how much jimlewis spends per annum on advertising, yellow page ads, etc. all of which would not be necessary with elderly clientele, as they are yours forever and their friends also.

Well not completely unnecessary. Every successful business has a balance, and in reality a well balanced mix of yupsters, oldsters and commercial accounts will even out the rough roads so to speak.

[_GUNNER_8]

Originally posted by thelawnguy
I would be interested in seeing how much jimlewis spends per annum on advertising, yellow page ads, etc. all of which would not be necessary with elderly clientele, as they are yours forever and their friends also.

Well not completely unnecessary. Every successful business has a balance, and in reality a well balanced mix of yupsters, oldsters and commercial accounts will even out the rough roads so to speak.

I couldn't agree more with this quote I know of know successful company that doesn't have mix in Lawn care, yeah would be nice just to have all yuppies and nice turf but thats not reality,most guys don't understand yuppies are dying to spend money but they are not going to spend it if you don't approach them,you got to know what your selling and be confident, and you should be able to get your share of pie, and once you get in the yuppie crowd its like a click successful people like dealing with successful people, i'm firm beleaver in nice quipment, nice trucks, nice uniforms, very clean cut guys it makes all the difference in world , it has for me, and it can for you. Far as elderlys we do some but their on budget so most only going spend so much,thats why i like high end homes and commercial.

[JimLewis]

I would be interested in seeing how much jimlewis spends per annum on advertising, yellow page ads, etc.
I don't run yellow pages ads any more. Our advertising last year consisted of; Lettering on Trucks, Flyers, Yard Signs, Sending letters to previous customers, and good ole' word of mouth. I probably spent a good $1000 for all of this. But that aint bad considering how much volume we did and how much we grew by.

We were so swamped last year from just the trucks, yard signs, and referrals, that this year I am going to tame it down even more. We're doing one post card mailing soon ($400) and mayble lay a few fliers ($100) and that will be about it for this year. I could do nothing and we'd stay busy. But I like to be swamped with work. I like the money. So I always over-advertise.

Anyway, I don't see it as a big deal. We spend a little but we get a lot back in return.

[Barkleymut]

The yuppies also don't like to chat with the lawn boy too often whereas the elderly see us as their best friends. I have a couple of older customers that I love like my own grandma but I just don't have time to talk for 20 minutes every week. I find that the elderly are very loyal but are very price sensitive. I wouldn't raise the price on my 2 favorites and I even feel guilty for charging them $30 to cut. BUT I make it up when I make $70/cut across the street -- the yuppies who were referred by the old ladies!:D

[JimLewis]

I have to concur with B-Mut. The elderly people are nice as heck (most of the time). But some of them wanna talk and talk and talk.... They are also more concerned about exactly how much time you're spending there each week. IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW MUCH TIME YOU SPEND AS LONG AS YOU DO THE JOB AND DO IT WELL! But a lot of them feel they need to get a certain amount of time in to justify the amount of money they spend. That gets annoying. The faster we move on to the next place, the more money we make. They don't understand that. They want to chat about the daffodils, etc......

The yuppies are usually not home and never see how much time we spend. Furthermore, they don't care as much as they care that the place looks nice. As long as everything looks good, they never complain.

[stslawncare]

wow with those stats by the time i am about 40 as long as i have a few good employs ill be able to sit in the office and watch everyone else work!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D :p :blob3:

[walker-talker]

I have a question. Between those 2 markets (elderlys & yuppies) which of the two insist that their lawns be serviced towards the end of the week and how do you guys usually split this up? By splitting up, how do you decide which lawns get serviced in the first part of the week and later in the week. I know a lot of people want their lawns serviced in the later of the week because they want it to look nice for the weekend. Is it strictly geographical, or do you service the wealthier, higher paying customers, in the later part of the week?

MATT

[JimLewis]

I find the yuppie people who live in really ritzy neighborhoods are usually the only ones who request mowing near the end of the week. The reason, I am sure, is because they do more entertaining at the home, than most people do.