Ya, sorry, I didn't mean it to come across like I was telling you what to do, just trying to give a little helpful advice. Still working on my morning coffee...lol
Ya, I just end up using crappy wood that we remove from customers property. Most of it isn't great, but some is - burn it each winter to help cut back on the heating bills =D.
The snow season has been good but I'm enjoying this little break for a week or so - doing some ice fishing tomorrow.
No offense taken. First year with our wood stove and loving the cost savings. Got a late start with wood though and had to do pick up loads from up north to get seasoned.
I like the idea of picking it up from customers too.
Yeah the break is nice. Posted via Mobile Device
Wakey Wakey....let's go folks. What are your plans for this coming season? March is typically our last month to make preparations before it's "GO TIME". How was everyones' winter? Can't believe it went by so fast. Hardly had time to relax at all.
Maybe looking at some properties this week. Plans are to streamline operations, increase sales by minimum of 10% and hopefully start a shop build. Posted via Mobile Device
hey guys, late fall thru this winter season have been busy. i have attended the regular trade shows and horticultural events, along with attending the lectures and seminars, just to stay up to date and ahead of the game to be profitable. i do consider myself to be lucky to have 100% client retention again this season. looking forward to the up coming flower shows and hardscape demonstrations in the coming weeks. i do hope that the coming spring will be more dry, it was rough last year, wet for so many days. i wish you all a healthy and profitable 2014.
Below freezing for the next week straight with lows approaching zero, solid foot of snow on the ground if not more. I'm hoping winter makes an abrupt exit just as it did not waste anytime arriving. I would love to hit the ground running 1st week in April. That always used to be the target start date. I think I was the only moron to buy a mower in November instead of outfitting my truck for plowing/winter services. Due to other work I was unable to commit to any serious plowing this year anyway. Judging by what is popping up on CL I think I made out quite well making a last minute end of season purchase instead of waiting until now when everyone will be asking premium prices.
I'm going to wait until a decent thaw and the majority of the snow is gone before sending out some post cards, reconnecting with past customers, and making a marketing push to hopefully pick up where I left off and gain a handful (10-20) of quality full service residential accounts. If spring clean ups go well and I get enough of them I'll have my truck set up with a Fisher plow so I will have everything in place to offer FT year round service. The increased and sustained heating and energy costs due to the colder than usual temps have not been fun or helped the cause.:wall
Waiting to place some bids on some apartments and a shopping plaza in mid March. It seems a bit late for bids but the pm company says that's when they like to do it. Working on tightening my local mowing route and adding 20-30 residential customers. Good luck everyone Posted via Mobile Device
hey guys, late fall thru this winter season have been busy. i have attended the regular trade shows and horticultural events, along with attending the lectures and seminars, just to stay up to date and ahead of the game to be profitable. i do consider myself to be lucky to have 100% client retention again this season. looking forward to the up coming flower shows and hardscape demonstrations in the coming weeks. i do hope that the coming spring will be more dry, it was rough last year, wet for so many days. i wish you all a healthy and profitable 2014.
What are you finding for shows, seminars, etc here in Maine? I live Down East so we don't really see anything for this type of thing. The Bangor Garden show is the nearest. Just wondering what else is out there.
Ya, and the Bangor Garden show ain't much...hahaha. I wish I could attend more - there are some good ones in Mass and southern Maine in the winter, but they fill up fast, and if you pre-register for classes, then you usually pay in advance, then we get hit with a few snow storms and I'm too busy to make it anyways. lol
Hi, MSS MOW, their are a few trade shows and lectures,demos, seminars in MAINE, as well as in N.H. - MA. - CT. - R.I. - PA.- MD. information can be found in any of the green trade magazines. today i was in ma, for lectures. in maine, you have the AGI and MELNA trade shows and lectures in augusta, in january,in february you have MANTS in MD, and new england grows in ma, MANTS is a great show, forest and hort in N.H., i could go on and on with the number of events. this event i have been to a few times, i wish i could go every year is the GIE and expo in KY. there are many in the green trade that say there to busy or it's expensive, well it's all tax deductible and they are relaxing. i'm not a big poster as i'll be retiring in the next three or four years after twenty eight years of rewarding work, looking forward to spending all winter in Florida with a home that i owned for nine years. Good luck all.
Dig419 what is the name of your company if you don't mind? I live in this area and worked for another local company from the late 90s to mid 2000s. I'm quite sure you would know my father in law as well, he is the tree warden for Kennebunk and was in partnership with Tamarack Tree and Landscape years ago. Posted via Mobile Device
Hey thanks a lot!! I probably would need it delivered or have one of the local guys go get a few dumps for me. But those prices look a lot better...even WITH a delivery fee. Also saw J.D Raymond Transport sells bulk as well, but not sure on their prices either. I'll follow up with them this week. Thanks again for the tip.
Hey Guys! Not necessarily new to the site, but first time posting...I'm located in the Midcoast Area, and have been doing landscaping for 3 years now just in the summers...about to enter my 4th - and go full time. Long story short, I'm looking for recommendations for insurance providers and suggestions on general business acumen, as that's really what I struggle with. Got quickbooks, but my accounting chops are weak at best. Any peeps down my way here around Belfast? Looking into Lavoie's resources, haven't bit on that yet....
Hi, MSS MOW, their are a few trade shows and lectures,demos, seminars in MAINE, as well as in N.H. - MA. - CT. - R.I. - PA.- MD. information can be found in any of the green trade magazines. today i was in ma, for lectures. in maine, you have the AGI and MELNA trade shows and lectures in augusta, in january,in february you have MANTS in MD, and new england grows in ma, MANTS is a great show, forest and hort in N.H., i could go on and on with the number of events. this event i have been to a few times, i wish i could go every year is the GIE and expo in KY. there are many in the green trade that say there to busy or it's expensive, well it's all tax deductible and they are relaxing. i'm not a big poster as i'll be retiring in the next three or four years after twenty eight years of rewarding work, looking forward to spending all winter in Florida with a home that i owned for nine years. Good luck all.
Hey Guys! Not necessarily new to the site, but first time posting...I'm located in the Midcoast Area, and have been doing landscaping for 3 years now just in the summers...about to enter my 4th - and go full time. Long story short, I'm looking for recommendations for insurance providers and suggestions on general business acumen, as that's really what I struggle with. Got quickbooks, but my accounting chops are weak at best. Any peeps down my way here around Belfast? Looking into Lavoie's resources, haven't bit on that yet....
Welcome! I'm downeast. As for insurance, I use Norton Insurance. They are in the Brunswick area. Best thing you can do is hire an accountant to help you out. It's well worth the investment, and not really that expensive considering what they can do for you.
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