All I can figure is...it must be saturated

[Nelson]

Hello agian fellas & ladies,

I have done everything in my power to get more accounts...

Door knob hangers 3000....passed them out.......

Add in the local newspaper...............

Referal letters to my few customers......

& everything to no Avail..........

I mean there is a little here & there...but not what i
would expect....with the hours I have put in on Advertising?

Beleive me I am doing everything...cause I want this thing to
happen.... I heard it gets worst before it gets better.....
I hope this is the worst part.......


My severance pay can only last so long.....next the Wife will be on me lol..Not really she is behind me 100%. She does not say a word...as long as the bills r being paid lol.....

Any Positive words will help ..also any Negative words...as long as it's the TRUTH.....

Thanks Peeps...:angry:

[KDJ]

Sound to me like a little rain and you will be covered up.
Just wait, you will be wishing for a day off!!!

[Nelson]

That's Positive....Thanks KDJ....We do need some rain...
It's really dry here....Seems like when it rains... grass seems to grow 2' lol.....:D

[smburgess]

Be patient, there will be good years and bad. It sounds like you've covered all the bases.

[Toroguy]

Nelson,

You have tried everything that I would have done. Maybe a different paper or a nearby paper and area?

It takes one company to fail and 10-50+ customers hit the phones for some help. Hang in there.

[BigJim]

Yep nothing much else to do but wait,sounds like you've done all the advertising you can,I find the harder I try to get jobs the less happens,when you least expect it they turn up and often several all come at once.I always liken biz to fishing ,as long as your hooks in the water you will get something,but sometimes you just gotta wait awhile till the fish run.It will happen..Cheers

[Nelson]

I like that Scenerio BigJim :cool:

[KirbysLawn]

Are you licensed to apply pesticides? Maybe you can do sub to work for others, market pest control, do tree ferts, and so on....if you are not then this slow period would be a good time to start. :D

Considered a website? Best advertising $$ you can spend.

[Tony Harrell]

I was layed off in Nov. and decided to make this a go also (been wanting to for years, just didn't have the courage to step out). I started planning and had all my stuff except the mower by the first of this month. I placed a 3 line ad in my local newspaper and the phone didn't ring at all until maybe 10 days after, then it wouldn't stop. Trouble is, a major employer called and I went to work on the 8th. My ad was prepaid and my phone is still ringing but I've been turning business away. If I'd waited 2 days, I'd have a new Bob-Cat with grass stains all over it. I had $396 a week unemployment coming in through Aug.'02 but the job offers me some unique opportunities for next year. I'm sticking to the job for this year because it will give me (44 yr old) a chance to get my knee fixed. It's also a service job (pest control) so I'll have a database of people who buy services. I hope you can stick it out. Maybe you can get some kind of job to supplement your income until the biz comes in?

[bobbygedd]

do u do other things besides cut grass? add extra services, trimming, fert, planting etc. a month ago i was saying this was gonna be a crappy year, now im struggling to keep up, and have new calls every single day too.

[f350]

It's also a service job (pest control) so I'll have a database of people who buy services...
this takes real balls to post. how come when i post about bidding on a competitors job i get slammed. this guy is talking about doing something criminal..

[TGCummings]

How long ago did you put out the door hangers?

I had 5000 flyers hit the local paper this morning and have had three calls by noon: One good, one bad, and one ugly. ;)

Still, from my understanding, it takes a little time. Someone here recently put some flyers in and waited a week for nothing then, BAM!, 10 calls in one day. Sometimes folks grab those flyers, set 'em aside, and call when they get a chance. Hang in there!

[Nelson]

f350,

R U talking about me doing something criminal?:confused:

If so please explain......Just a poor boy here trying to make
a living......:D

[f350]

no not you buddy, mr. tony harrell...... skimming from someone elses data base is a criminal offence.

[Nelson]

K,

I was just wondering......

TGCummings.....I think U R right when you say people hold
on to them ...till they get a chance....

So next week I need to hear a few rings.......:D

[Tony Harrell]

Maybe I should have explained it better. I will be exposed to neighborhoods that buy services. I wasn't referring to my current customers. It did seem as though I was I'll admit. Sorry about the confusion.

[cantoo]

We just got a job last week from a lady who said she noticed one of our flyers on a post last year and put our number on her fridge so she could call us this year. We always make a point to ask people how they found out about us, most say they have seen our cube van (5x5 sign on each side) at houses and on the road.
When done cutting the lawns you do have go to the houses a couple each way and ask if they would like a quick quote on their lawn while you are there. Maybe some of them have been wanting a quote and just haven't had time or the chance to approach you yet.

[corban]

Hey, are you sure you put the right phone number on there?;) ;)

[gravedigger5]

Hang in there, Nelson, keep your fingers crossed. Every time I run a monthly add in the paper, I don't get hardly any calls till the last week, then the phone rings off the hook!:confused: I've tried a few flyers, no calls, newspaper, some, phonebook, some(usually larger accounts), business cards, definitely, many calls, they work with everything. Give those things to everybody. talking to somebody, give them a card. If they happen to talk to somebody about mowng, they will remember and refer "you" because they got "your" card. Sometimes I put those things in with my invoices, and maybe it will help get my customers to do my advertising. My 2nd year in the biz, just had my truck lettered w/phone#, don't know yet how well it is working. have had a few people approach me though. Guess what I gave those people? "MY CARD" Things were slow this year, til about the 4th week of my ad, now the *%#@ phone is rining off the wall! Goodluck and keep on trying.