Economy Affecting You?

[Sean Adams]

Some say its only going to get worse. Others say the end is near. Others are putting a lot of pressure on our new President to save the day. No one knows the answer to solving this just yet and no one really knows how bad it might get and when it might end. I am not a doom and gloom kinda guy so I always try and look for the positives in every situation.

So I am wondering - is the recent (year long) recession we are experiencing affecting you personally? What about your business? I am curious to see what you are doing to cut back or even ramp up. From experience, times like this can be a golden opportunity to secure a very big share of the market - while others are running scared or even closing down shop, you can stand out in the crowd, let everyone know you are here to stay, pick up work you may not have had the opportunity to secure, and then when the smoke clears, you are still standing.

[whoopassonthebluegrass]

Business as usual here. Will market aggressively this spring and anticipate being bigger than ever (just like every year before this one).

[Sean Adams]

Now that is what I like to hear!!!! :weightlifter:

[NEW CITY LAWN CARE LLC]

I've done nothing but gain business this off season, and been doing a lot of estimates and listening to people tell me why they let their last guy go because he quit showing up over the winter, LOL, Just means more business comes my way!!

[FYS777]

Looks like an awesome year coming up also,

[Fife Lawn&Lane]

I hope thing go that way north of the border as well. I lost my day job to Mexico in Nov so going full time this spring.

[skennedy04]

Looks like a great year ahead so far,new clients,lots of estimates.
I think in times like these can be a great opportunity to build a business ,you just need to put your head down and work your ass off.

[cod8825]

I lost a few but I am OK with that. I am going to up marketing and actually go to school for some professional sales training as I think that is the area that I am horrible at. Good thing I am debt free though. I know that there are several businesses closing shop here.

[FYS777]

That sounds awesome, if there are some, closing its a goog time to market,?? do you know about IHOP.:)

[cod8825]

FYS777,

Are we talking about IHOP International House of Pancakes or IHOP International house of Prayer. I know both one of the guys I work with goes to IHOP there in Grandview MO

Matt

[FYS777]

Yes the one in Grandview, my wife has been there 5 or 6 times with a friend. I think it is good that we have a place that is 24/7 praying for all of us,:)

[White Gardens]

I'm looking to double my gross again this year. That would make it 4 years in row of doubling business.

Last year was the first season I pushed the higher end install end of my business, and steering away from marketing the maintenance side of my biz, but keeping my current accounts.

So far I have a waiting list until at least July on installs and will have more than a few maintenance accounts to keep me going all season.

I've only got one customer who lost half her retirement last year, so she wants to put off the landscaping for a while. I would have had it done last spring if it hadn't of been for a slow crew doing masonry work on her porch.:angry:

I think the key for the next couple of year is Advertise, Advertise, Advertise. You'll need to stand out from the crowd as much as possible as you see some middle of the road companies close shop, and more unemployed people venturing into LCO work.

[jsw2008]

I agree that advertising is key this year. I'm doubling my advertising this year. It's not costing twice as much as last year, but it will be twice as much exposure. I place my ads in small local newspapers that cover my entire county. I converted most of my first time leaf cleanup customers this year to mowing customers starting in March, so I'm far ahead of where I was this time last year. I started my spring mowing ads yesterday so I can get the jump on the competition. I'm the only one in the newspapers as of this week but that won't be the case for long.

[JPsDuramax]

So far this year has ben very very slow for myself. I think I worked a whole four payed days. I have been out bidding on commercial jobs but they will not start till March. All of my leaf cleanups are done and my residentials are on hold till about March (its winter in Georgia, not much to do).

I work with a few agents on foreclosures but because of the moritorium on those, the ones that I had left have sold. I see the light at the end of the tunnel but it could be a long couple of months.

[FYS777]

So far this year has ben very very slow for myself. I think I worked a whole four payed days. I have been out bidding on commercial jobs but they will not start till March. All of my leaf cleanups are done and my residentials are on hold till about March (its winter in Georgia, not much to do).

I work with a few agents on foreclosures but because of the moritorium on those, the ones that I had left have sold. I see the light at the end of the tunnel but it could be a long couple of months.

Boy tell me about winter, down time here is from mid. novem. to mib march, for lawn maint. depending on weather, how did the foreclosures work out for you, reason I'am asking is because in about two weeks I am going to evaluate about a 1000 places that have been foreclosed on. do you have any incites, what to look out for.:weightlifter:

[JPsDuramax]

Boy tell me about winter, down time here is from mid. novem. to mib march, for lawn maint. depending on weather, how did the foreclosures work out for you, reason I'am asking is because in about two weeks I am going to evaluate about a 1000 places that have been foreclosed on. do you have any incites, what to look out for.:weightlifter:

Most banks have a fixed amount that they will pay you. There is no negotiating. Make sure you do a top-notch job and the representative sees that. If they know that you do a great job and they can count on you to jump on anything they throw at you they will keep you around. The agents I work with know I will complete any new properties they have on the same day or the next.

You just have to take the good with the bad.

[FYS777]

set rates is that for mow edge and blow ? what about clean-ups , and extra work, this is kind of a stretch but, but i'll have to see if they will give reasonable prices, Same day or the next is usually how it turns out for the property management company I work for. if you think of anything else let me know, thanks.

[lifetree]

fys777,

are we talking about ... Ihop international house of prayer ...

lmao ... !!!

[FYS777]

lmao ... !!!

real smart

[JPsDuramax]

set rates is that for mow edge and blow ? what about clean-ups , and extra work, this is kind of a stretch but, but i'll have to see if they will give reasonable prices, Same day or the next is usually how it turns out for the property management company I work for. if you think of anything else let me know, thanks.

The set rates are for the mow, edge and blow. It may also apply to cleaning up an overgrown yard. Usually extras are limited in my area because the banks do not want to pay for them. That said, I am removing three small ponds today at one foreclosure. It is with the one agent I always work for. Make sure you do not bid high because it is the bank. When I gave the agent the price for myself plus one to do the work, she said the guy that bid against me was more than double :dizzy:

[FYS777]

Hey, thanks I figured that it might be something like that, ya the guys with the high bibs are usually the guys with the big outfits, they have to much overhead, I really appreciate the info.:waving::clapping::):)

[JPsDuramax]

No problem. Hope it helps. And just FYI, the pond removal took a whole 4 hours. Two men and a bobcat.

[thomaslawn]

I believe this to be a great industry to be involved in during this economy crunch. I personally have heard too many stories of individuals that I know who are losing their jobs. I worked for a large corporation some years ago in the financial industry, I heard that are shutting down the ENTIRE division that I worked in, very scary. There are people who have worked in that division for 15+ years, making a great salary. I think where I would be now if I had sold my business and stuck with that position.
Personally I did not lose any customers last season due to the economy, of course that does not guarantee non will be lost this spring, however with the proper advertising more customers can always be obtained. In this economy, now more than ever I am thrilled to be controlling my own financial future. I do not wake up every morning worried if I am going to lose my job. In fact I worked on my projections for next year and I am striving for a $10k raise for myself. Wish me luck, I just bought my wife a new SUV yeaterday, I figured a large car payment will be that much more of a motivator to kick some butt this year.

[obland]

playing the wait and see game.

[LawnGuy73]

playing the wait and see game.

About the same here, hasn't really effected the snow customers so I'm hoping that we will be ok for summer.

[Harrington Landscape]

we just went out and bought out one company with 100 mowing and maint accounts and we have already resigned our past accounts and looks good for the up comming year so far.

[GreenCare for Troops]

Mr. Adams,
Thank you for your wonderful positive attitude towards our economic situation. You can't go climb in a hole and wait, and, you can't wait for others to pull you out. We are a strong nation and always will be no matter what. Think of ways to move forward with what you have and remember to have a little faith. Take care.
Joy
GreenCare for Troops.

[Sean Adams]

Joy,

I think it is necessary to have a positive outlook right now - no matter who you are or where you live. Whether you like Obama or not, like our Congress or not, like the stimulus package or not, that is not going to change. Someone metioned a few posts back that they are excited not to have to worry about waking up and getting a pink slip - certainly the nice part of being your own boss. But whether you own your own business or work for someone else, attitude is what will get you where you want to go.

I have always believed this - even in the eye of the storm.

[GreenCare for Troops]

Dear Mr. Adams
I agree !

[FYS777]

Yes well said, Attitude with Gratitude, I think that when we keep pressing forward, as an industry and like many others that we are doing are small part to bring this economy into a turn around. any time money is being exchanged, even a few dollars at a time helps change:):) these time of ???

[GreenCare for Troops]

Yes ! indeed !
If you would like to volunteer with our GreenCare for Troops program in your area , please let me know. I manage a national non-profit program that provides lawn care services thru volunteers to our military families at home with deployed soldiers. I manually match in all 50 states. To date I have 7500 military families and 2100 volunteers - volunteers are green industry professionals and citizen volunteers. If you have a group that would like to adopt a family, and/or you would like more information please visit our website at www.projectevergreen.com click on GreenCare for Troops...we also have a facebook page "GreenCare for Troops Group" . When you have a moment take a peek at it. Thank you for your time. Respectfully, Joy.

[uniquechev]

Last yr the economy didn't really hit me too hard. But this winter Its practically shut me down. A lot of my customers signed contracts for plowing and i have lost a lot of them or had to drop some of my pricing to keep them aboard for now. I'm really skeptical on how this spring is going to turn out and the whole yr to be honest. I tried to make the customers that i had lost happy with little incentives but they still where not having it. I'm running solo this yr, well for now unless something falls into my lap and i need to hire someone, so i have that at least going for me. I started the business 2 yrs ago and decided to go full time the start of last fall and i know its what i wanted to do but im not too sure that it was the smartest thing to do now that im not holding onto some of the accounts the were nice to have. This yr i looked into the advertising at my local bank that they offer there commercial customers, its a table in the main lobby for one month, and i have it for march right before spring gets here hopefully ! I've had people call me from yahoo and things like that but they wanted way too much money for what i could afford at the time so i've been sending out letters or post cards to different high end neighbor hoods in the area's but some people actually wrote with a black marker no and sent it back to me. I have couple commercial sites that i'm happy to have but some are still try'n to get out of paying the agreed amount we signed on. I'm offering incentives for the 55 and older and people that will be willing to sign a 3-4 season contract with a no cancellation allowed. not too sure what else i can to to try and turn peoples head to say ok i'll do that and get the job. I just hope that the economy will turn around very soon or i might be forced out of business :wall:realmad::wall

[GreenCare for Troops]

I am so sorry to hear that. The economy is affecting our non-profit program too for our military families at home. I think it has hit just about everybody in one way or another.
I really hope that everything works out for all in the very near future. Keep the faith !
Blessings. Joy

[Doster's L & L]

Unique,

Chances are that if you have several clients that are trying to cancel or avoid paying you the amount you both agreed on, chances are pretty darn good that you did something that those people really didn't care for. Seeing that you've been in business for only 2 years, you have quite likely enrolled yourself into the School of Hard Knocks.

Just something else that I noticed by reading above.... You can't expect ANYTHING to fall into your lap and you also can't expect anyone to agree to do a "no cancellation allowed" contract either. Ya can't go around attempting to screw old people and expect to be successful in business. Sorry. my .02.

[pararest]

Things are slowing down for the winter..... I cant wait until spring. I hope things are as busy as this year was.

http://paradiserestored.com PORTLAND LANDSCAPING

Expert Sprinkler System Installer (http://www.paradiserestored.com/sprinklers.html)

[GreenCare for Troops]

Glad to hear it was busy for you. I do hope next year is good too.

[DA Quality Lawn & YS]

Good year here despite the economy. Mowing was a little slack though, I figure many folks just cut the lawn themselves this season rather than hire out. Hoping that segment of biz picks up in 2010.

[Stillwater]

next year it will

[GreenCare for Troops]

Happy Thanksgiving week to all of you ! Joy (GreenCare for Troops)

[americanlawn]

Happy Holidays to you as well. We try to offer discounts or free app's to Soldiers & their families whenever we can. Check out this link....

http://www.americandrycleaner.com/article.cfm?articleID=17983 :usflag:

Our daughter recently raised enough money to supply an entire batallion of the 82nd Airborne to have pillows. Her husband has 88 troops under him, and they are scheduled to be in Afganistan by the end of the year.

It saddens me that the federal government will bail out unsuccessful corporations before they will supply our Troops the support they need for going into battle. :confused:

Happy Thanksgiving week to all of you ! Joy (GreenCare for Troops)

[Tyler7692]

Don't count on the economy getting better. This is the end of the American Century. Our ponzi economy is going to collapse and the dollar will be worthless. The entire economy is going to shrink dramatically. Guaranteed.

US GDP is now 71% consumption. OBVIOUSLY, that is way out of proportion. If we are 71% consumption, then we are only 29% production. How can you consume what you don't produce? YOU DON'T.

[Tom3982s]

Sure there can be some amazing opportunities out there. I just think for others though being in the same career for example for years and getting laid off, times can be tougher.