My New Lawn Signs - Bartering 101

[Hedgemaster]

It's amazing I get any grass cut at all... more photos! viewed from the other direction... And hey, look! I finally got around to putting the chrome back on the truck! This location is great because it's a busy "shortcut" to a decent area to work in and there are also a lot of "dog walkers" as well as moms who come to pick up the kids at the bus stop on the corner. With the truck taking up half the street, cars have to slow down or stop to allow the opposing traffic by - this gives them a chance to see my sign. Smile and wave to everyone - say "What a beautiful day for a walk" to those passing by. If they are going to see your sign, you want them to associate "nice guy" with your business. They may tell a friend. Oh, and since I don't have anywhere else to put these, here are a few random shots of the truck doing what it does best - waiting patiently for it's master's return. Probably should approach those people about their overgrown hedges... Talk about a HILL! The photo doesn't do it justice. Once I park I have to struggle to get out of the seat - feels like I'm leaning back in a rocket waiting for the countdown! Anyway, that's it for now. Oh yeah... if you look, you'll note that since putting the chrome on, I almost always turn the wheel to make the front tire more noticeable when viewed from a passing car. "Advertising" takes many shapes and forms - people notice "shiny". Anything that gets a potential client's attention is a good thing.

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Last edited by Hedgemaster; 06-30-2011 at 11:20 PM.

[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

Probably should approach those people about their overgrown hedges... I bet if you do, you will get the job. Keeping your eye open like that for potential work is a great way to go.

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[Hedgemaster]

Lawn signs at work today...




I was mowing a lawn and I saw a lady waving to get my attention. She wanted to know if I trimmed hedges and asked if I could stop to look at a few things she needs done. She saw the sign, but wanted to get a card because "I'll forget your number by the time I get home".

No, I didn't have my "Take a Card" holder on the truck. I lost my magnetic one, and haven't gotten around to replacing it.


Oh, I stopped to look... she has some hedges that can be trimmed, but the rest, I had to pass on. Big tree trim, and gutter cleaning. Ladders and I don't get along so well.

[Steve]

Well it seems all the marketing is working!

[Hedgemaster]

Originally Posted by Steve

Well it seems all the marketing is working!

Proof that you can make it without spending a lot.

I picked up a new client AND one-time cut today because I had the signs out.

[Hedgemaster]

The signs are working.

I was at a job today - truck parked along curb as seen in the previous photos with a sign ahead of the truck and one behind it, orange cones out for safety AND attention...

I had just finished mowing and was getting the trimmer from the truck when an SUV came to a stop and the passenger side window lowered... "Do you work for this company?" a female voice asked. "Is this your company?" she again asked while pointing to the lawn sign. I chuckled as I replied "I AM the company - it's just me!" "How can I help you?"

"We are very dissatisfied with out current lawn service and I see your tuck and signs here every week, so I wanted to ask if you could help us out".

Long story short, I stopped by after I was finished and we talked for a good twenty minutes about the property, the lack of care that they were receiving from their regular service (the place was a disgrace), and the types of services I could provide, as well as the things I can NOT do.

I find that people appreciate honesty much, MUCH more than hearing someone blow smoke up their a$$ telling them about all the stuff they can do (but can't). I explained that some of their "plans" were slightly beyond my scope at this point in my business' growth and she was fine with that - most people I've talked to like this are fine with having me maintain the lawn/hedges while they hire someone larger to do some of the things I do not offer yet.

Again, I asked if she wouldn't mind telling me how much they had been paying their service for the lawn care. She didn't have the exact figure, but mentioned a HUGE (I nearly choked) check that she had just written and that the work had yet to be completed. When I told her I was thinking somewhere in the "forty dollar range" for weekly service, her eyes nearly popped out of her head.

She had initially stated that she was going to keep them until the end of the season, but cut ties after that - that I would most likely "have it if I want it" in the spring. After I told her my price she said she may just "settle up" with them, and have me take over! LOL!

Wish me luck. It sounds like they are really screwing her over on price in a BIG way and the interaction between us went quite well, so I think it's pretty likely that they will be calling.

Oh, I almost forgot the most funny part. She told me that she kept seeing me around the neighborhood and after discussing letting the other guys go with her husband, said "I'm going to talk to that guy I see down the street all the time", but by the time she would come by, I was gone.
"When I saw your sign today, I said OOOOHHH!!!!, I'm gonna go get his info!"
She drove out of her way down the street to me and held up traffic while I took down her info. "I finally got you today - that blue car could just WAIT while I got your info!", she said. LOL!

The signs identify me. With regular use, people start to notice you. Then they hunt you down and hire you!

[Steve]

That is a great story.

She told me that she kept seeing me around the neighborhood and after discussing letting the other guys go with her husband, said "I'm going to talk to that guy I see down the street all the time", but by the time she would come by, I was gone.
"When I saw your sign today, I said OOOOHHH!!!!, I'm gonna go get his info!"
She drove out of her way down the street to me and held up traffic while I took down her info. "I finally got you today - that blue car could just WAIT while I got your info!", she said. LOL!

It makes you wonder how many other potential customers you are missing because they don't have your information. Is there anything else you could be doing to make sure they do in the future?

[Hedgemaster]

Originally Posted by Steve

That is a great story.



It makes you wonder how many other potential customers you are missing because they don't have your information. Is there anything else you could be doing to make sure they do in the future?

Yes. I could get my act together and get my vinyl lettering figured out and installed!

[Steve]

I have a feeling that when you get that done, you will be saying 'oh that was so easy, why didn't I do it sooner.'

It's going to really look great on your truck too.

[Hedgemaster]

Heh. Yesterday I was doing some final trimming near the street and saw an SUV approaching out of the corner of my eye. It passed me, then stopped abruptly and began backing up. The passenger window went down and I heard the driver exclaim, "Hey, how's it going?!!!" (Huh?) "You don't recognize me, do you?", he said. I actually couldn't even SEE him due to the lighting, but when I walked up to him, I realized it was a guy I know from another forum who I've also met at a club I belong to.

"I saw your sign and said to myself, HEY, I know him!" LOL!
I have a thread that's sort of a "blog" about my business venture on the other forum, so he knows my business name and has seen my logo. He said he started looking around for me and that's when he stopped.

Turns out he lives right down the street from one of my regulars, so he asked me to stop and give him a quote - "I'm getting tired of cutting it" he said. He said he will probably have me do his lawn next season.

The signs work in mysterious ways.