Kurt Shelley of Premier Landscape

[Steve]

Kurt Shelley of Premier Landscape got media attention for assisting a local member of the military. I applaud him for doing a good deed and for gaining attention because of it. This should build up the level of goodwill between him and his community. If you are trying to come up with ways to gain more attention in your area, have you considered this? Volunteers help take care of soldier families' lawns - Kurt Shelley of Premier Landscape Doesn’t know the Canto family, but he knows a lot of men had to leave their homes for military service. His crews mow lawns all day long, and he figures doing one extra wouldn’t hurt his business nearly as much as it will help this soldiers family. “They’re doing a good service for our country I believe if I was in their place I would want somebody to do the same thing for me,” says Shelley. There are about 150 families in Utah with a father or husband serving in the middle east. Most of them have lawns that need mowing and trimming. Shelley says, “There are a ton of families who need help doing this kind of stuff so I am sure that everybody would appreciate it as much as I do or more.” Shelley plans to keep mowing the Canto’s lawn every week for free until Sergeant Canto comes back home.

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[Clean Lawn]

Lawn care business tips

OK question because I service an enormous military heavy area in Hampton Roads. How was it decided who would receive the free lawn service? How did the person go about letting the city/town and surrounding area know this company was doing this so that a person could be decided upon? How did the media find out that this was happening? Its actually a great idea. Afterall there are numerous soldiers overseas that risk their lives everyday for the freedom we freely use every moment of our existance and are rarely given the thanks they rightfully deserve. If anyone has any suggestion for this topic, I'd like to get more suggestion, thoughts regarding how they would go about this if they were going to do it themselves in the town/city they service with their lawn care company. Like I said Hampton Roads is a very heavy military area and I think this would be but a small thanks that could be given to one military family in Hampton Roads. I want to make sure its done correctly so that the soldier and my company both get the kudos for something well done. Obviously something like submitting a military family for free lawn care for X amount of time and why you are submitting this family. The one with what CleanLawn would consider the best story wins. Make sure the media gets involved with is somehow. What do you all think?

[Steve]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]Obviously something like submitting a military family for free lawn care for X amount of time and why you are submitting this family. The one with what CleanLawn would consider the best story wins. Make sure the media gets involved with is somehow.
What do you all think?

I like your idea a lot! This could very well work too. It's been my experience though that things like this, require more energy to find someone. If I were to do it. I would ask around the people I know if they have any friends or family that live in the area and have a family member over seas. Contact that person and ask them a little about what their situation is. Learn about them, what the service member is doing and if they could use your free lawn care for a while. Then would they be ok if you promoted the story to the local paper?
The more human the story, the better chances are of it being published. What do I mean? Say for instance, a couple has their 18 year old son over seas and you are cutting their lawn, well that certainly is a nice gesture but it wouldn't get as much interest compared to a soldier who had to go overseas and leave his wife with 5 small kids to raise all on her own.
People will really feel and relate to the tougher situations and you will look like a bigger hero for doing this. Ultimately you should look for the biggest bang for your buck. The best story line you can find.
Then once you find it, create a press release and send it out to the local papers, radio and television. I think it would be amazing!

What's your view?

[Clean Lawn]

I was thinking along those lines. I have a girlfriend who is a military wife. Her husband recently got sent over to Iraq. They already have a 4 year old and she is pregnant with their second child that is due in December. They have their own home in Portsmouth, Virginia. I don't know if she is working this year or not but I know she is an interpreter for the deaf in Norfolk Public Schools. I think they would fit the bill perfectly and I know them. They are a great couple who really would deserve something like this to help out. Especially with her husband over in Iraq and the baby on the way. I am going to shoot her an e-mail about this and see what she thinks.
I think this would actually be extremely good for them but could also work out very well for CleanLawn's behalf also.

[Steve]

Great idea! Keep us posted on how things go!

[landonkade]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Team Gopher @ Sep. 16 2007,5:35)]Great idea! Keep us posted on how things go!

we have a military base here, that would be a good idea, its helping out, but also getting noticed at the same time. How can i go about doing this, who would i have to get in touch with

[Steve]

Do you know anyone that is in the military in your area? Can you ask around your network of friends and family first to find someone?

[landonkade]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Team Gopher @ Sep. 16 2007,10:38)]Do you know anyone that is in the military in your area? Can you ask around your network of friends and family first to find someone?

no not really

[Steve]

Are you a member of any local organizations? Is there a vfw in your area? Maybe you could ask through there.

Put up a few flyers in your local stores? Ask your customers if they know any military families.

If none of that will work, put an ad in craigslist or in your local paper about you are looking for a family to assist.

Maybe put a phone call or write your local newspaper editor on this and ask for their help.

Do any of these ideas help? Could you try any of them and let us know what works for you?

[Little's]

I put an 2 ads on Craigslist offering free yard care to 1 or 2 families with an active person overseas, or veterans. I got over 10 emails from people thanking me for what I was doing and didnt get any takers on the free offer. I live in an area of about 100,000 people, and a very large number of active and retired military. Thought that was kinda strange.