thanks to all

[lawncrafter56]

Greetings Friends! I have a small but growing mowing company that has just started competeing with several much bigger outfits that have made nests for themselves with all the major accounts. I have made up my mind to bust the doors down with nothing more than detailed work and personal referals. I will get to there as My company is the talk of the town ..about 5000 people and what seems to be several dozen moweres. The city has what are called thursday nights on main street with food vendors and live music. One night I set up and gave away 700 free cotton Candy Cones for the kids. Yet another night 3 kegs of 1919rootbeer and am planning on giving away slices of ice cold watermellon when in season just a few weeks from now. I have been watching & learning from all for a few months now. I enjoy watching what all are doing and the forum lets me wind down after a day of service. I don't chat much but again appreciate you all bobby wolfram www.wolframmowing.com

[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

Hi Bobby, Welcome to our forum! What got you interested in starting your own business?

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[lawncrafter56]

Ive been push mowing and bagging a few very exclusive yards for a number of years. I hit a train on my Harley 20 years ago and managed to survive only to find myself needing a little extra walk-around money just to get by. I have a great name within the community but just never wanted more than just a small handful of accounts due to my desire to roam the Country at will along with a painful disability that haunts me to this day.
Now I have established a profitable small mowing business through advertising with a all new Toro push mower and other name brand equipment.
Here in Clear Lake, Iowa there are commercial mowers at every corner.
I want to be the best

Taking the Lawn Business School in spare time has given me plenty of new info also. ie. "insurance". had a few laughs too. Will be posting some pics soon...

best wishes, bobby

[Steve]

Bobby,

I look forwards to seeing your pics!

What kind of advice do you have for others who want to stay small? It seems a lot of times they run into difficulties when trying to stay small because they get a bunch of cheap clients. How does one elevate themselves from that kind of situation to providing service to only a few exclusive yards?

Is there a certain way they should go about marketing such a business? Is there a special way they should act or treat the customer that the average lawn care business owner doesnt do?

How did your accident happen hitting a train? That sounds like it must have been a really crazy situation.

[lawncrafter56]

I sported the middle finger attitude for years along with hair down to my *** but managed to volunteer and be supportive of those less fortunate.
Cut my hair short a few years back, continued to do good for others even when lacking myself. To this day I still do way more than my share of freebies including a small Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources park that I mow weekly, about an hour due to State budget cuts. It will come back to serve me well in the future. "press release"
Most days my mowing stuff moves around this tourist town with me even though I've met my schedule. My weekly schedule is not full by any means but it will be in time which is exactly what it's going to take.
A nice dressed appearance with clean equipment is very important to me.
Taking a interest in your community along with writing sincere Op ed pieces with a little humor for the local paper also has helped me with name recognition.
I've had some breaks also along with good teachers willing to give me a chance.

[Steve]

Oh there are so many great things here to talk about. Let me focus on a few at first.

To this day I still do way more than my share of freebies including a small Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources park that I mow weekly, about an hour due to State budget cuts. It will come back to serve me well in the future. "press release"

We talk about doing good in our community quite often but I don't see too many examples on here of doing that. Can you tell us a little about how you go about putting together and sending out press releases on the good deeds you do? What should a lawn care business owner do when doing this and what shouldn't they do?

Have you ever gotten any of your press releases printed? If so, what kind of responses did you get from being in the media?

Taking a interest in your community along with writing sincere Op ed pieces with a little humor for the local paper also has helped me with name recognition.

This is great! How did you get started with this? Are there certain topics you like to write about and others you try to avoid?

Can we see an example of your op-ed piece?

[lawncrafter56]

Here is a little stunt I pulled a few years back in the op ed pages of the newspaper

Guest View: Conservation concerns ignored
By BOBBY WOLFRAM, Ventura
Over the last year, I have been trying to persuade our county supervisors to change roadside management to a more environmental, conservation-minded approach. In the process, I have been lied to or misinformed, but it doesn't end there.

In just a few days, I collected more than 500 signatures of people from all walks of life supporting a change in philosophy. Having produced the result to Supervisor Bob *******, he said that there were more than 50,000 residents in Cerro Gordo County and that most city people could care less what's going on in the country. Period.

A biologist from a well-known pheasant conservation club contacted them. He was shunned.

Employees of the county candidly question why.

I have tried to talk with Ron ******* of the County Conservation Board. However, he wouldn't discuss it. Maybe it was because I wasn't wearing a bow tie and French cuffs.

Employees of DNR also question quietly what is happening to the ditches.

Young hunters are concerned about the future of their sport, and some landowners are afraid to speak out.

Today, my friends, I boldly speak out to you.

Is it right for the elected to ignore the voices of the more than 500? If not, whose voices are Bob ****** and Jay****catering to?

Our supervisors and county engineer are blatantly breaking Iowa Codes 314.7, and in question are 317.10, 317.23, 314.22, 314.23, 314.24 and 319.13

We need to groom strong, principled leaders. They are among us in potential, and we must demand a climate in which they will flourish.

Election day is not far off. Change is needed. Please join in looking for a supervisor candidate who will make all voices heard, not just those with a special interest or big bucks.


Yet another
http://www.globegazette.com/articles...xport30214.txt

[Steve]

This is fascinating! I was wondering if you would get involved with political discussions in your op-ed piece.

I think it is great you do. I have found though that many small business owners tend to shy away from such things as I am sure it could potentially cause problems.

Have you ever had any problems come from the op-ed pieces?

Have you ever thought about taking a step further and doing a podcast on local political topics?

I noticed your article says "By BOBBY WOLFRAM, Ventura" Is that a reference to Jesse Ventura?

I am looking forwards to reading one of his books in the upcoming future. "Don't start the revolution without me."