Tshirt & hat printing

#1 03-06-2008, 06:40 PM

Hi everyone. My husband has been in business for 13 years, I've been helping him for 4 and this year is gonna be great! We already have three times the customers we had last year. So, we want to get tshirts and hats, signs and all that. We will only need a very small quanity, there are 4 of us doing it all (its insane! but we love it). Where can I get a good deal without having to buy 50-100 items?

#2 03-06-2008, 07:23 PM

Lawn care business tips

Quote:

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (czyheifer @ Mar. 06 2008,7:40)]Hi everyone. *My husband has been in business for 13 years, I've been helping him for 4 and this year is gonna be great! *We already have three times the customers we had last year. So, we want to get tshirts and hats, signs and all that. We will only need a very small quanity, there are 4 of us doing it all (its insane! but we love it). * Where can I get a good deal without having to buy 50-100 items?

We offer that...shirts/sweatshirts from 1-10,000
signs of all kinds.

Check out our website http://www.696signs.com for more info or email me at tony@696signs.com

There are a bunch of companys on this site that use us as well just to name a few.

We specialize in lawn/landscape company signage.

Hope to hear from you.
.

Steve · #3 03-06-2008, 09:14 PM

Hi Becky,

Welcome to our forum! Thanks for joining up.

What kinds of things do you do to market your lawn care business?

#4 03-06-2008, 10:03 PM

Hi,

Its all been word of mouth. Over the years it has grown and we have very loyal customers who keep us busier and busier each year. I had a good housekeeping business, I cleaned their houses and he cared for their lawns but now its all about the lawncare. We both enjoy it and want to do it all ourselves but have had to bring in a part-time helper and planning to add another this summer, maybe 2. Word of Mouth advertising is the best you can get. We are just wanting signs & stuff so people know who we are when were out and about. We have new customers we havent even met yet and a different truck so our old customers wont recognize us right away. Its just time to step it up. We are excited and ready to get started. Snowed in at the moment but ready for spring!

Steve · #5 03-06-2008, 10:06 PM

That's amazing!

Do you forsee yourself doing any marketing with flyers, door hangers or newspaper ads this year?

#6 03-07-2008, 08:57 PM

Nothing like that this year, were already so booked were not sure how were gonna do it. *After we see how this summer goes we probably will. *We just need to see where were at, we had planned on advertising this year then people started calling. we are full service and want to be able to spoil our customers a bit so we need to make sure things go as planned with scheduling and workers. *We've only had 3 weeks off this winter (not consecutive) and that was due to weather.
We love being busy, were addicted to hard work but its only fun as long as you can stay caught up. *

Steve · #7 03-07-2008, 10:27 PM

That is just so fantastic to hear that you already have yourself all booked up!

Congratulations!

#8 03-08-2008, 12:43 PM

Thanks. Were excited and nervous! haha *Last year was crazy enough. * This is where we hoped to be, we want to grow every year, and have little by little. The past couple of years we've grown almost too fast. *We have been blessed. * I just wish we could go one year without having to make a major equipment purchase. *And gas is gonna be ridiculous this year!!! *Were not gettin rich but were doin well and having fun!
I love this site! Wish I had found it sooner. Ive been checking out some of the websites that people have mentioned on the boards and its been helpful. *
thanks so much!!

Steve · #9 03-09-2008, 09:10 AM

Becky,

Do you have any advice for other newer lawn care business owners? Have there been any pitfalls you found yourself dealing with that could have been avoided and others could avoid with your advice?

#10 03-09-2008, 02:22 PM

We have good relationships with other lawncare businesses in the area, and have made some really great friends. We dont consider them competition, we couldnt mow the whole county if we wanted to. We are just groups of people with the same intrests and we help each other out.
Most important is the relationships we have with our customers. If we have a slow day because of weather we will go visit with them and make sure they are satisfied or if they need anything. Almost ALWAYS these visits give us more work. They are always thinking of things they would like done. We change light bulbs, have dogsit, housesit, put up Christmas lights, painted, carried things to the attic for storage. We try to be there for them always.
We send and recieve Christmas cards, I make christmas candy for them. Some of them have adopted us as family haha. My husband has been a pall bearer at customers funerals. When we had our first grandchild we were suprisingly showered with gifts. Just treat them like family, we see them more than family in some cases and they are providing for our family by allowing us to work for them. Respect them and their property as you would your own and be fair in pricing. Go easy on churches and elderly who are on fixed incomes.
Always remember if not for them you wouldnt have a job!

Hope you all have a great year!!!!!!The best ever!

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