A little help

[Southern Magnolia]

Hey guys,

So I guess a little background is needed first. I've just recently, 2 months, started my own lawn care business. It sort of fell into my lap after the company that I was working for laid me off. My father builds custom houses in Myrtle Beach and has been trying to talk me into starting my own business for about 3 years now. I finally took his advice. I have no debt thus far with the exception of what I have put in for marketing. I have all the equipment I'll need, thanks to my fathers faith($) in me. So you are probably asking what in the world would I have to whine about. Here goes.... I have put of nearly 1000 flyers, most of which went into the newspaper box on the mailboxes, a few others went to HOAs that I had contacts with, others went to community boards in neighborhoods and the rest I have asked friends and family to pass around. All of that with magnets with my business card attached. I have yet to receive a single call, expect for my dear Auntie (mostly I think for a little support).

I've attached my flyer, it is 2 sided. Any advice would be wonderful.

As for whether or not I am just another sap trying to bring down the market, I AM NOT. I love doing this. I have all the proper licenses, am insured and KNOW that I can make this a successful run. As I said before my father runs his own custom home building company and once I prove myself, I will have contracts with all of his current and future clients since he includes yard care for one year with his homes.

[Southern Magnolia]

And the back.....

Just a note, I do include contact names and numbers, jsut took them out to post on here...Thanks again http://www.gophergraphics.com/forum/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[bogilvie]

Hey there!
I am pretty much in the same boat, with exception to the fact my daddy dosent have houses built! lol

I am in Charleston. I started up two weeks ago. I was encouraged to go ahead and start up now. I was going to wait until the 08' season. I am debit free and fully insured, ETC.

I have a very professional flyer and even have a Roomate friend of mine who owns the largest residential tree service here in Charleston. So I have a big resource and umbrella to work with.

So,I am distributing flyers, cards, calling people and have sales team members from the tree company selling for me. So far I have 5 clients, 3 are selling thier homes and of the three, 2 were referals from the first!

SO, keep on trucking along! If not this season, next season or even fall you can get in on fall clean-up or what have you. Try and network with some of your dad's contractors, like fence builders, and roofers, tree company, or irrigation ETc...they can steer people your way!

Once people know your reliable, and do good work and your friendly to work with..its like a log rolling down hill, except we dont have hills in the lowcountry!

Feel free to give me a call....I live in Charleston. 843-810-0924.

[Steve]

Hi Southern Magnolia,

Welcome to our forum. I guess my first question to you is, why lawn care, when your dad runs a custom home company? Why aren't you getting into construction? Maybe to one day take over with what your dad is doing?

If he has been in business for a while, I bet he has a lot of infrastructure that you could benefit from.

[Southern Magnolia]

Unfortunately, my brother has already laid claim that taking over the business from my father. He always wanted to branch out and create a lawn care business but "just didn't have enough time." So I guess in part I have kinda taken over a part of his dream.

As for his connections, I have to prove myself. Being an "old southern man", women are supposed to stay home and keep the house and to be taken seriously, I am going to have to build this business before using his name "as credit".

[bogilvie]

Not that I am trying to "pick up" on you, but how old are you and whats your proximity to Charleston-Myrtle Beach area?

If you know someone who is selling thier house and not yet sold it, but is moving. That is what I have picked up on in Charleston, A Lot of houses for sale that need upkeep to look thier best!

[Steve]

Hi Southern Magnolia,

I can understand the situation you are in. Can you do things that utilize your father's business? For example like send out letters to his client base that promotes your company? Can you work on more markting ideas with your dad like the one you mentioned where you "I will have contracts with all of his current and future clients since he includes yard care for one year with his homes."

Could you present your dad with landscape ideas that you could do on the properties that would help increase the value of his new homes?

Here is another wild idea. Could you make some type of video that showed the new home project and landscape project and put it on your website? I bet people would love to see the entire process of making a home and new landscape on video.

Also is your father a member of different civic and busines associations in the area? Have you considered joining them to help yourself network with his contacts?

[tiedeman]

You hit the nail right on the head of what I was going to say. Use your fathers business to help you out. Do landscaping installation, hardscapes, etc. You can use your fathers business for marketing purposes. You could do one or both of two things:
1. Have you dad built in landscaping insultation into the price of building.
2. Have you father present customers with your marketing material to "Complete" the building of their home with a beautiful landscape