Ive wondered this here and there lately, since many people have lost jobs and watched their incomes go way down. Will it go back to the days when it was unheard of to hire someone to mow your grass? It may, but probably not for awhile. If it does, it will take all the commercial mower companies and other products that we use with it. What did these companies do back in the 70s and 80s when nobody mowed commercially? I dont know if exmark or scag or ferris was even around back then? Im assuming all the commercial properties just bought a tractor and had one of their employees mow it while on the clock, and the little old ladies just had the local 12 yr old mow their grass. I was a kid back in the 80s, so I dont remember if there were guys out mowing like there is today, but Ive heard there was only a couple, and they only did it part time, nothing like today, when you see lots of trucks and trailers on the road. But if the economy keeps heading south, it will take out some industries all together.
Are the days of commercial lawn care numbered?
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Times are different for sure! That is why we are in the situation we are in but with that said people who have money will always spend their time doing other things not mowing their yard or businesses property. The market may shrink but it will never be that bad. Only the strong will power on!!!!!
i thought you meant commercial compared to residential at first which, yes, i would agree with due to competition... hence why i'm sticking with residential for the most part. mowing in itself? no. just more competition and less customers due to the economy. you just have to sell yourself harder now and give excellent customer service.
I still use a scythe sometimes but for brush, not grass. I have a short hooked brush bar for mine and I like it better than the gas fired brush cutter for some stuff, like bittersweet and grape vines and greenbriar. You can roll up what you cut with it into a ball and then pick it up and put it all in a pile. I gotta fix the lower handle on mine though, it cracked and how keeps wanting to rotate.
But to the real topic, I don't see a mass movement away from people hiring out their lawn care yet, but what I do see is every guy with a pickup truck either calling himself a landscaper or a handyman or both, and these guys are willing to work for $15 to $25/hour. From what I've seen, they're sticking to the small lower end lawns, which I don't cater to anyway.
But to the real topic, I don't see a mass movement away from people hiring out their lawn care yet, but what I do see is every guy with a pickup truck either calling himself a landscaper or a handyman or both, and these guys are willing to work for $15 to $25/hour. From what I've seen, they're sticking to the small lower end lawns, which I don't cater to anyway.
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There will be a steady decline in standard of living in every area. One thing sure to diminish will be hiring a lawn service. But in the macro sense, it's more than that. Ornate high maintenance landscapes will not be built as often. Construction in general is a fraction of what it was during the boom. Homeowners will decide that the lawn doesn't need $100 of water on it and let rainfall suffice. More homes will go to basic care instead of going for that "lawn of the month" look.
When your government runs $2T deficits the writing is on the wall. Books have been written explaining why, but basically we are going to have to move to a production vs consumption economy and during the transition at least we will on the average be poorer than before. Time to pay the piper for the debt fueled spending binge of the last 20 years. It's common sense. You cannot spend as much if your income is going to paying off debt and people will not lend as easily as before.
I would again remind veterans to keep all this in mind before giving your hard-won knowledge away to new competitors flooding the market who come here seeking free consulting work from you. The pie is already going to be a little smaller. Cutting it into more slices won't help.
When your government runs $2T deficits the writing is on the wall. Books have been written explaining why, but basically we are going to have to move to a production vs consumption economy and during the transition at least we will on the average be poorer than before. Time to pay the piper for the debt fueled spending binge of the last 20 years. It's common sense. You cannot spend as much if your income is going to paying off debt and people will not lend as easily as before.
I would again remind veterans to keep all this in mind before giving your hard-won knowledge away to new competitors flooding the market who come here seeking free consulting work from you. The pie is already going to be a little smaller. Cutting it into more slices won't help.
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Very true. Things are going to get worse.
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I could see a big decline in resi mowing, but not so much for commercial businesses. A lot of places, like restaurants, gas stations, offices and banks do not have the equipment or trained personnel to handle all the outdoor maintenance, and this is especially true of anyplace that is corporate. The mom & pop places will just throw the home mower in the car trunk and git 'er done, but not so with bigger corporate accounts. Some insurance will not even allow gas or a machine containing gas to be stored on site.
Very true, we have not seen the worst yet. Things are going to get bad, and God forbid we get attacted again. Something big that will make 911 look like a house fire.
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Thats exactly why I read and post very little about my business philosophy, earnings and tactics. I just stay quiet and learn from others mistakes, problems and ideas.
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I dont know if people will get rid of their lawn service, but it seems that they are being more picky about their services making sure they get what they pay for. Seems like so far this year my calls have more than doubled for people looking to hire a different company because they are no longer happy with what they are getting for their money.
Here we go again! Woe is me, the sky is falling! I mostly lurk on here but sometimes I just have to post. Just turned 60 this month and I can't get over some of the younger guys thinking that these times are tough. This isn't anything compared to the late 60's,70's and even early 80's! At least you can get a job washing dishes or flipping burgers now. Try getting one of those kind of jobs 30 years ago! Try mortgage interest rates of 15-16% as standard. Credit cards! They weren't even available to most of the populace. It is a whole lot easier to get work now than it was 25-35 years ago. Back then people were more "do-it-yourself " than they are now. More people now don't want to do their own yards, especially young people. Back when I started out, most of your customers were elderly or infirm. I know a lot of you guys don't have a long timeframe in which to judge things but trust me, these times aren't bad!
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Are you kidding me, back 25 years ago I was getting better price than I am now. Jobs were so easy to get, no competition, no getting other estimates, just do yhe job. Times are so much tougher now. I feel sorry for you all starting now, good luck you will need it.
i believe lawnworkers statment ment it was going to economically worse.
911 was NOT responsible for the condition the economy is in. we ourselves are responsible for the condition it is in.
as for the lawn industry disappearing. i don't think it will completely disappear. but it could shrink. if things keep declining the only people hiring lawn services will be the commercial businesses and maybe the rich. residential mowing will definitly take a beating if not disappear all together.
the only people that truely NEED lawn service are the disabled and elderly. unless you find people with 3 or more jobs and absolutely no free time to cut there grass you won't find much in the line of residential mowing.
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I have to agree with you alot of people forget, or are too young to remember that the average mortage rate was 20-21% in 1980. If all you guys are so sure that its going down the tubes why the hell are you still trying to stay in business? Maybe you should sell your equipment and find another line of work.
I didnt say 911 was respossible for the state of the economy, but now that we are in this mess ,a catastrophic attack will effect our recovery and probably worsten things.
yes an attack will effect our recovery and worsten things but i don't really think right now the 2 are related.
i don't think 911 was connected in any way shape or form to the way the economy is going and i don't think because of the shape it is in now means we will necessarly have another attack like 911.
i think 911 and the economy is like apples and bananas.
might just be the way i think, but with our statement i get the impression when you think economy you also think 911 and another attack. when i think economy 911 or another attack is the farthest thing from my mind.
your statement just confused me thats all. it's interesting to know others think.
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