Green Paws Lawn Care is Rockin for Rescue!!

[tjgray]

Some of you may have already seen my post about us getting involved with Rockin for Rescue and the awesome work that we think they are doing. If you haven't then you can read about them here http://www.myspace.com/rockinforrescue

Rockin' for Rescue Foundation is a non-profit organization who is helping loyal friends and discarded family members find new loving homes. Their mission is to help provide financial support to credible rescues that benefit the welfare of all animals. Rockin' for Rescue is doing what we are doing with our lawn and landscape company Green Paws Lawn Care, combining their personal love of animals with their professional love of music or in our case lawn and landscape.

It is run by the founders Lisa Umbarger and Lisa Clark, who are putting together shows to raise money for rescues around the country.

I am pleased and proud to update that the CD they are putting together is almost complete and due for release! Confirmed artists are, Edie Brickell, The Cliks, Girl in a Coma, Sarah Bettens, The Retrofrets, Stever, The BAcksliders, Tungsten Coil, Bon Terra, and Frenchy and the Ferals. If you want to take a listen to some truly talented work and beautiful music you can do so here http://www.myspace.com/rockinforrescue

The most exciting thing going on for us right now is that they have confirmed the date in Dallas for the CD kick-off party and even more thrilling they want Green Paws Lawn Care to set up a table to promote our business!! I mean how super cool is that http://www.gophergraphics.com/forum/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif * *

The event will take place on March 16th at Poor Davids Pub http://poordavidspub.com

Headlining the show is Girl in a Coma http://www.myspace.com/girlsinacoma, with special confirmed guest Lisa Dewey http://www.myspace.com/lisadeweyandthelotuslife, Jenn Foster http://www.myspace.com/jenfoster and Tile http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...ndid=217066661 .

I can't wait ya'll these girls rock!! If you have never heard of Girl in a Coma before check out one of their youtube videos here ...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFuvA67MOzI

And as if it could get any better...Cover charge is a steal at $10.00.

Now I am nervous folks. We have never promoted our business at an event before and this one is going to be HUGE!! I am overwhelmed at the thought of networking with a packed pub *occupancy 375* filled with animal lovers that all have lawns and landscapes that need taken care of *well a good number of them anyways*. I just know we are going to add on so many new customers and feel blessed that Rockin for Rescue wants us to be a part of this http://www.gophergraphics.com/forum/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

I stayed up to almost 4am last night after talking with Lisa Clark for about an hour just brimming over with ideas. I think we should have some about us flyers and some of our service flyers out, along with plenty of business cards. I also have some really neat goodie bags from Top Choice that has a brochure, a scratch tablet, a magnet, and some really cute nofireant.com temp. tatoos in them. I think really with a small table this will be enough to hand out...but I am sure open for more ideas and would love to hear your suggestions.

I am also thinking that we can make some really cute t-shirts that say Green Paws Lawn Care is Rockin for Rescue that wouldn't cost very much at all *keeping in mind we are a small company and have a shoestring budget* and the best part about these shirts is that we could wear them to work in also so I wouldn't be ordering them for just a one time gig.

Soooo *and yes I know this is long* I think I got a good idea of how I want to represent BUT and here is what I am really terrified of..

Right now we are still a small family business going into our 5th year with just under 70 customers. I have about 50 that are on weekly or every other week service maintenace plans and about 20 that are not but call us when they need lawn or landscape work done. All of the work is done by my husband and son and right now I have our Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednsdays, and half of Thursdays filled up. We only have room maybe to add on another 20 customers and already this year we have added on 4. One in January which I am still amazed over because we have never added on new customers that early and three that we have added on in the last couple of weeks.

This is what is scaring me..the phone is ringing off of the hook, the guys are out doing estimates and selling services right and left, and we have a huge event scheduled in a month. I think we have found our niche and are going to be slammed with customers. I should be happy and excited right...and really I am BUT while my guys do awesome work with lawn and landscape and I manage the administration, financial and marketing side of the business pretty well NONE of us know the first thing about being employers and well *sighs* The way we are going I think we are either going to have to hire a couple of folks or start turning down work. Soooo while we have been growing at a steady and comfortable rate and have built a good solid customer list I don't want to suddenly explode with business and end up not being able to handle it all...

What I really need is those of you that do have employees and experience to help me by sharing your wisdom and advice...Please

I would be ever so grateful http://www.gophergraphics.com/forum/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif *

Our goal of course has always been to grow but now that we are, I am kind of at a loss on what our next step should be...

At any rate if you read this far...Bless you!

And if you are in the area on March 16th we hope that you will come out and help us help animals in need http://www.gophergraphics.com/forum/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif *

We sure would love to see ya there!!

Whew...ok I think I am done...now bring on the kind words of encouragement and worldly advice please...I can use all I can get *http://www.gophergraphics.com/forum/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[justin_time]

Congrats on the partnership Tara http://www.gophergraphics.com/forum/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

I am also happy that I could help you out with the relocation of your Other side Lawn Company website to your new Green Paws Lawn Care website.

I am happy for ya...

http://www.gophergraphics.com/forum/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Little's]

One thing I have done in the past that may be workable for you is this. When you are close to, or at full capacity, and you are getting more calls for work, instead of turning them down you can take on the better paying jobs and let go of your less profitable customers. If you have a customer that is a collection issue, replace them with a new customer. If one of your jobs is borderline profitable, let them go and fill the slot with a better paying yard etc. This is when it gets fun! You get to be the picky one instead of hoping a potential customer picks you.

[Steve]

Brandon that was a great idea!

Quote[/b] ]The most exciting thing going on for us right now is that they have confirmed the date in Dallas for the CD kick-off party and even more thrilling they want Green Paws Lawn Care to set up a table to promote our business!! I mean how super cool is that

How far away is this location from your service area? I think that would have a great effect on how to go about marketing yourself with this event. What % of the people there would you think could be potential clients?

As far as employees go, here is a good start When to take on your first lawn care employee? (http://lawnchat.com/?p=94).

Also how many vehicles are you running now? Because I was thinking you could split your son and husband into two crews and then get a helper each to assist them. As needed.

[tjgray]

I was actually pretty tired when I wrote this last night but even after posting it I laid in bed for another hour before falling to sleep just thinking about this.

What I think is one of our biggest time waisters is that our routes are not as tight as they could be. The DFW Metroplex is huge and up until about last year we were taking on customers wherever we could get them. This has resulted in longer drive times.

I honestly agree with Brandon and think the time has come to be a bit more selective on the customers we add on. I think we need to learn how to say "No, you are not in our area"

But my husband Donald has such a hard time turning down work. For example the other day he came home all excited...One of our newest customers wife is President of one of the nicest and richest HOA in our area. They have 365 plus trees that need to be trimmed and taken up and she asked Donald to look at them and give her an estimate. He was all gung ho and excited about the opportunity to take on such a big profit job until I asked him to think realistically about it. I asked him honey how many trees can you do in a day and he was like maybe 15. I then said do you realize that if you take on this job it will take you darn near a month straight to do...I said we can't do that. First of all we can't put our other customers aside to do trees for a month and second of all I am pretty sure they don't want it to take a month to get their trees trimmed up. Donald agreed and reluctantly had to tell the lady that even though we would love to do the job, we just weren't a big enough to take it on right now...

At any rate I don't think the answer is to hire more help right now. I think we need to concentrate on buying more equipment to make us more efficient and becoming a bit more selective on the new customers we add.

Also we do have a couple of customers that continiously pay late...maybe it is time to either get them on a prompt payment schedule or let them go...

I am super excited about the event. I think it is a perfect alliance for our company's new direction and I think we are going to have the opportunity to network with a lot of folks and gain some new customers...

I do think this is the year we fill up our schedule!

Justin thank you for your well wishes and yes I am so blessed to have friends such as yourself to help me out when I need it...I think the code re-directing the websites is great and works like a charm! Many thanks again http://www.gophergraphics.com/forum/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[justin_time]

Quote[/b] (tjgray @ Feb. 14 2008,3:32)]Justin thank you for your well wishes and yes I am so blessed to have friends such as yourself to help me out when I need it...I think the code re-directing the websites is great and works like a charm! *Many thanks again http://www.gophergraphics.com/forum/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
http://www.gophergraphics.com/forum/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif http://www.gophergraphics.com/forum/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Steve]

Hi Tara,

Quote[/b] ]What I think is one of our biggest time waisters is that our routes are not as tight as they could be. The DFW Metroplex is huge and up until about last year we were taking on customers wherever we could get them. This has resulted in longer drive times.

I honestly agree with Brandon and think the time has come to be a bit more selective on the customers we add on. I think we need to learn how to say "No, you are not in our area"

Have you considered finding other lawn care businesses that service outside of your area and turn business to them? Then maybe they will start turning business to you and you both can get some tighter routes.

[tjgray]

I know its all about networking and think that is a good plan, but I do not know any other small lawn and landscape companies in the area to do this type of marketing with at this time...

Maybe I need to come up with a plan to meet some http://www.gophergraphics.com/forum/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Steve]

Well, an easy plan would be to possibly just pick some lawn care businesses outside your area. North, South, East, or West. When someone calls you from outside your area, simply suggest they contact the following company. Then send that company an email saying you sent a potential customer their way because it's outside of your area and that you are trying to improve your profits this year by making your routes as tight as possible. Then ask if they could do the same in return. If they do, you will send them more work.

How about something like that?