what to do now...

green feat · #1 (**permalink**) 01-03-2006, 12:03 AM

hello y'all
my name is Jeremy and I am new to this forum. I've been reading quite alot here and have to admit how thankful I am to have stumbled across GTX. - lots of wisdom & knowledge here that I hope to gleen and apply to my ventures in the green industry.
okay, "here's the skinny"
I just moved back to northeast Tn. from Alaska. I saved about 20k with dreams of opening my own small mulch supply yard
here in Tennessee. I signed a lease on a great lot and we're hoping to be up and running by late feb. early march. I figured this would be a good idea for landing landscaping contracts as well as making a decent ammount through the mulch yard. The pickle is that I'm thinking about eliminating myself as competition and niching into just supplying the would be competition- quite saturated with all phases of landscapers.
Would doing just rip-outs and site-prep be useful? Any feedback on this idea would be very helpful.
Thankyou - jeremy

Stonehenge · #2 (**permalink**) 01-03-2006, 12:20 AM

Jeremy, one idea I've considered myself, especially after driving through Florida and seeing the big mulch blowing rigs down there, would be to set up a situation where you don't compete, you are a sub of other companies. Get a blower and the mulch and pound the pavement. Figure out how to offer these companies the service of doing the mulch in their installs for a hair less than what they can do now (so they can mark it up and still make a little), be sure you can provide turn-on-a-dime service, and start blowing mulch. There'd be more cash outlay at the start, but I think it'd be a nice possibility.

green feat · #3 (**permalink**) 01-03-2006, 07:17 PM

thankyou so much for the instant feedback Stonehenge. I will surely consider that - as it does seem to be a good Idea.

I've also considered the possibility of doing just the trenching for irr. installs if that would be considered useful. or the whole job as a sub. if they need.

another concern is ...well..landscapers may be a little hesitant at the get-go thinking maybe I will scam their jobs. I cant afford to take it too slow by waiting for skepticism to fade.

does this cross anyones mind - the skepticism thing?

of course I will be shooting myself in the foot if I did that, seeing that I would be running a local outfit - only a moron would consider scamming jobs. I'm trying to build a good rep. not close myself from my own livelyhood

Bill Schwab · #4 (**permalink**) 01-03-2006, 08:02 PM

There are companies out here that live very well just doing Bobcat/demo work. Need a site scraped, send them in, cut the check when done, and you are ready to work.

Regarding the scam thing, we do all associated work for a job in house, with one excaption being pool tile and coping, and concrete finishing. We hire that out.

With regard to the scam thing, along with billing for services rendered every 3 days, we pay for work completed the day it is completed to our site foremans satisfaction. So, there is no scam capabilites.

As far as skeptiscm goes, after seeing the capabilites and manorisms of the local crowd down here, their own surf board syndrome created the opportunity for us to do all of our work in house. More often than not, everything is done tomorrow, done half right, jobs left uncompleted for months on end. Thier own lack of respect for those who pay their salaries has created the opportunity for us to kick it in the rear and go get the work. What I am trying to drive home is, so long as you are fair to yourself first, you can then be fair to your clients. Don't let anyone ry to talk you into working for less than your rate, and if they ask for more, bill more. Be very descriptive about the job scope of work so they know EXACTLY what you are doing, and what they pay for. Don't get into that give away the store mentality, even if someone has a problem with what you have done. Fix it, and bill them as per the contract.

Go in like you are the only act in town, confident, proud, and fair. You won't see any skeptiscm unless you are skeptical of yourself or your work.

And while I mentioned RATE, have you even thought of what you are going to pay yourself and charge for your work yet?

cutntrim · #5 (**permalink**) 01-03-2006, 09:33 PM

The type of idea your floating sounds like it'd probably work out to me. Along a somewhat similar vein, there are at least a couple outfits up here that sub services for landscapers and seem to do fine. One does post-holes and sets posts, another will do site prep work like Bill mentioned, and then there are the lawn application companies (I use WeedMan myself for larger-sized properties) that will act as subs for landsape maintenance companies for spraying weeds and/or insects.

If a company is comfortable with it's customer and vice-versa, does good work, and has their contracts in order, I don't think fear of being scammed should enter into the equation.

Rob Shauger · #6 (**permalink**) 01-03-2006, 11:07 PM

Same thing here in NY with the Bobcat and Demo work. I know a local guy who has a couple pieces of equipment,F650 dump and a trailer. He is busy as all get out.

Get a biz plan together before doing anything!

green feat · #7 (**permalink**) 01-04-2006, 01:51 AM

thankyou guys sooooo much..
I really appreciate the feedback.

I got pretty excited after reading who sent feedback.
I've been viewing this site alot and have already come to respect the knowledge from all 4 of you guys.

Bill that totally makes sense, however I still haven't quite figured out what to pay myself yet..hmmm..I'm gonna be thinkin' on that one. The giving the store away type thinking made me smile , all too often I've caught myself in that predicament

Cut-n-trim , "check that" I think youre right, and I believe if a co. is comfortable - which it is my duty to make sure of that - then I should have no prob.

Rob , thats exciting to hear - I too hope to be busy as all get out.
The biz plan is what I need to do a.s.a.p.

thankyou again