Dreamscapes Unlimited New to Board

[jrwalker333]

Hello to all, My name is Rich With Dreamscapes Unlimited out of Cincinnati, Ohio I was referred to this web-site by a friend. *I am not sure really how to use this site it seems a bit confusing. *I am a member of Lawn And Landscape message board occasional poster there ,and recently joined the ******** forum another friend referred me to, it seems this site has alot of marketing forms etc and valuable information to use. *I have been in the industry for 28 years have worked for the small landscape companies (mom & Pop) to the industry giants in sales, technical, and management positions. *I have had 3 other lawn care companies I have started all with some success and with some issues like divorce, bad partner etc, and basically hit the 500,000 annual mark with all three and closed all due to issues beyond my control. *I am really just looking to improve my current company I have owned now for 11 years our retention rate exceeds 96% annually and we are small, but I strive to not sacrifice quality. *We are trying to aggresively grow this year have attended marketing seminars etc department of agriculture recert courses and am focusing on my first web-site currently in process of develpoment and seriously working on marketing plan to achieve my goals. *Sorry to ramble just trying to introduce myself and little past history by the way married and have 5 boys. *Yes I said 5 boys. *Any information would be helpful. *Again sorry to ramble. *Your site is definetely informative alot to try to see.

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jRichardWalker

[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

Hi Rich, Welcome to our forum. I agree it's very cluttered and I am always experimenting with it. When you look back at all the businesses you have been involved with, what do you think you would have done differently if you were to start over from scratch?

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Hi Rich! Welcome!

Wow, that's an impressive story! You've surpassed the $500,000/year mark and you currently have better than a 96% retention rate? Seems that we may learn a good bit from you, as well!

If you need anything, feel free to ask... we've got some pretty knowledgeable people here that are more than willing to help others out when they ask for it......and if you need any website help or graphic work (logos, etc), let me know... I'll help you personally! =)

Again, welcome!

[jrwalker333]

Steve, hopefully this post correctly? About site I am not really good with determing any web-site this one just seems very packed full of things, not bad, when I used to be in retail management this would be considered very useful as far as working your selling space comparable maximizing space for overall profitability.

The question you asked about starting from scratch? All 4 lawn companies I have started from scratch with no capital Just big dreams. The first in 80's closed due to divorce lost 250,000k liquid assets started from scratch. Cut a tree down used money to buy push mower etc developed that to 500,000k in sales 14 commercial mowers 6 trucks in 3 years and gone over night. Second started over again just an idea in West Palm Beach 2-3 years 500+k walked away due to on going custody battle left company with a friend ,and asked for nothing. Moved back to Cincinnati to get my son started again with no capital ,bad decision took on a business partner built that in 3 years to almost 500k then he filed personal Bankruptcy and that wiped us out. So I tried Retail Management ,then decided running multi million dollar businesses I was good at but bored to death especially in Spring, when I would see the lawn people out side working IT WAS IN MY BLOOD I had to be back outside gave up that career and continueed with my dream that I was only doing part time and went back to work for myself 11 years later I am still plugging away at it and never want to go back to the miserable way of life I had in 80 hour weeks in corporate management jobs. Dreamscapes was started as my first business was out of the trunk of a car and with a push mower, 11 years ago. To answer Patricks ? question we have not hit the 500K with this one yet sales low six figure averages but yes 96+ retention rate. Started all with just a burning desire to do what I have enjoyed since I was a young kid. Sorry again to Ramble.
Rich

Welcome Rich...great name btw.

[Steve]

Hi Rich,

No matter who you are or where you go it seems we are all going to have these ups and downs in life.

It's good to have you here.

What do you feel is the toughest part of running a business? What part do you feel you know the least about or do you feel you just haven't got it right yet, or the way you want it yet?

[jrwalker333]

Hi Steve, some good points you brought up, you are right everyone has there ups and downs. ( it seems I have alot of downs, but no quit in me either I refuse!!) To answer your first question I know my worst problem is having TRUSTING RELIABE AND DEPENDABLE workers not having people just for a paycheck. However throughout my career I have learned that it seems to be every companies biggest down fall quality dedicated trusted employees are a desperate, and not so often found necessity for all of us. The other part of your question I will have to give some serious thought?? I think I am pretty good and well organized at most things but I am sure there is alot of areas for serious improvement or at least I think, or I would be where I wan't to be in this venture.02.













By the way after being on site a few times now it seems a little easier to navigate then I thought it was. More elaborate then then L&L site though especially the topic layout.

Have you or do you own a lawn business??

[Steve]

You know it is kind of a fascinating topic.

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]To answer your first question I know my worst problem is having TRUSTING RELIABLE AND DEPENDABLE workers not having people just for a paycheck. However throughout my career I have learned that it seems to be every companies biggest down fall quality dedicated trusted employees are a desperate, and not so often found necessity for all of us.

I agree. This seems to be a big problem for most lawn care business owners. But maybe for a lot of other industries as well. I can't remember the exact turnover rate of fast food restaurants but I think it is like 80% annual turnover rate. Which is just huge.

The way they seem to make it work is to have all the jobs very specific. Easily trainable and everyone is continually supervised.

Some lawn care businesses are able to break through and get larger while most seem to be under a two truck crew.

No I don't run a lawn care business, I just like to talk about and explore business.

I did change around the site a little to try and make it less cluttered.

You also brought up another great point. As we go through life, the common thing we bring through all of our experiences is us. Do you ever wonder if we all at times get tripped up on the same thing over and over again and we just can't see it? I think that has got to be one of the toughest things to reflect on because none of us ever want to be told what we are doing wrong. Or that we are doing anything wrong for that matter.

Maybe that's why so often you hear from those who have become successful, to find a business mentor. So then at least if you don't want to hear from others what you might be doing wrong, you can see by example of how others do things when they are doing things successfully and re-create it without having to think about it.

Your story is very fascinating because it's like you hit a home run each time you were up to bat. You seem to have a lot going for you. A lot of knowledge and strength. You have a gift to really bounce back.

So what's my take on this so far? If you find yourself getting flustered or frustrated at a certain point, take a moment. Take a break. Maybe a vacation if possible and just reflect on it all. Maybe that's all you need then to clear your head and push even farther further than ever before.

Did that help at all?

[jrwalker333]

Hi Steve, I appreciate your input . You speak words of wisdom especially the reflecting etc. Something my wife always says figure it she has an MA Degree in religious studies and Ba Arts Etc. Always telling me to be grateful for what you have and to reflect and take a momment etc. You seem to have very good insight with the business world etc. I guess in alot of ways you really can not judge success because to some you will always seem to have achieved it and to many you never will,or maybe it is the standards and goals you set for yourself that make you feel that you can't never achieve your true purpose or intent. like you said kind of running in circles and never working out of the loop, I have had a few people that I have looked up to in the past successful friends examples multi-millionaires etc. However even they have there own flaws I guess that is just human nature. Really is there a way to measure true success?? I would think not just having a family a home and enough for the next day could be considered success for me I just wan't to be able some day to say I really achieved my original goal since I was about 14 years old. And then who knows what the next day would bring. Thanks again great advice.

[Steve]

Hi Rich,

Great thoughts!

I was wondering if you could tell us your view on this.

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]I really achieved my original goal since I was about 14 years old.

What is that original goal?

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]We are trying to aggresively grow this year have attended marketing seminars etc department of agriculture recert courses and am focusing on my first web-site currently in process of develpoment and seriously working on marketing plan to achieve my goals.

Also, you don't have to say if you don't want to, but I was wondering why is there a drive now to aggressively grow?

Here you are running this current business 11 years and you have grown over time. What things do you feel you did differently in the other businesses that allowed you to grow more than you have grown with the current business? Or what factors would you say were different between then and now?