I was looking at my rear garden this afternoon and wished the snow hasn’t melted – my lawn was my pride and joy but nearly two years of having a GSD puppy and my two other dogs have sadly taken their toll. I have promised myself that I will restore the lawn back to its formal glory this year. I may even be tempted to call upon the services of one of the many talented landscape designers that reside in this neck of the woods and start from scratch.To be fair to the pack of dogs, it wasn’t all their fault as 2008 has been one of the most challenging and, in some respects, the most disappointing year I have known. We had another difficult time weather-wise, with snow and rain in March, unusually low summer temperatures followed by monsoon type rains bringing floods. The start of 2009 doesn’t look a lot better but hopefully we will be back to more normal seasonal temperatures within the next few weeks.Because of the wet summer we introduced our non rear roller mowers – whilst not all of our clients appreciated the lack of stripes the Etesia Pro mowers offered a sharper cut and caused less damage to the grass sward.However the Hayter mowers (and the stripes) will soon be back!At the start of the 2008 season, we took the painful decision to reduce the number of residential clients in particular those from areas just outside our main operational base. As a result we retired two of the Ford Transit vans and focused on our core activities within a 20 mile radius. This was taken in part to ensure that we delivered a truly superior service and try to recover our operational costs.Whilst our prices have historically been very competitive for many years in fact probably some of the lowest in the area for at least lawn cutting we were forced to introduce a fairly modest increase to help offset the every rising fuel prices. Unfortunately we will again have to increase our prices this year but we will still be competitive and offer an affordable superior service.We aim to cost each service from a position of quality and sustainability by offering an appropriate and fair balance between cost, quality, and timeliness thus ensuring that our clients receive the service for which they have paid, at a standard which they deserve. We have seen too many companies and single operations under cut their prices to win contracts only to default on service so that they can at least cover their costs!Over Christmas we always like to make the most of the winter months to get organised for the upcoming season. It gives us the opportunity to evaluate our business and find ways to improve our service.We received a fabulous response from our clients and our confirmed bookings are up by over 40% on last year. In fact we are confident that we will increase our turn over by at least 60%.The commercial arm of the operational looks just as promising, we have been approached by a number of potential clients requesting quotations for 2 – 3 year contracts.By advance planning has allowed us to ensure that we will have sufficient resources in place to met the demand and increase our capital expenditure. We just hope that the banks share our belief!Yes 2009 will be a testing and exciting time, we know very well without our customers it would be impossible for us to exist. I am very serious about making certain that every single client we have is satisfied with our service and believe that the development of a strong relationship with our clients is crucial to the success and continued growth of our company.I just wonder if I will ever get the time to sort my lawn out this year!
Votes: 0
E-mail me when people leave their comments –

Comments

  • If business is as good as it looks, I will seriously consider getting the whole garden redesigned. Don't think decking would work just yet as the GSD has a liking for anything wood.
  • PRO
    By Coincidence I was cleaning up my hard drive and sorting a few things out this morning.
    I cam across a couple of photos of my old lawn in Oakhanger.

    Considering there were twenty two workers feet, a Labrador dog and a couple of young children (not to mention their friends) walking and playing on it, it always looked good.

  • What a fabulous garden. When the GSD stops digging and eating everything I will start with earnest.
  • WOW that is absolutely beautiful!
  • Here is a picture of the culprit – The other two will never get too close to get a photo of all three together! Having seen the damage to my garden I fully understand why.

  • And washing line contents
  • I have no idea where he got that from - Not mine I can assure you! :-)
This reply was deleted.

You need to be a member of Landscape Juice Network to add comments!

Join Landscape Juice Network

Open forum activity

JANINE MCMAHON replied to Oliver clarkson's discussion Rose spray
"Look forward to hearing your results.
 "
21 hours ago
John F replied to Richard Farley's discussion Nature Loving Customers !!!
"It's interesting though how many customers see any creature within their garden territory as an intruder . 
Fear of the unknown perhaps ? 
Must admit though the unfortunate  label of slow worm does them no favours . "
yesterday
Billybop replied to Richard Farley's discussion Nature Loving Customers !!!
"to be fair, if they were unaware of what Slow Worms are, from the name alone, they might sound like a pest, like some outdoor type of tape worm"
yesterday
Honey Badger replied to Richard Farley's discussion Nature Loving Customers !!!
"By breaking the laws on protected species."
yesterday
Dan Fish is now a member of Landscape Juice Network
yesterday
Richard Farley posted a discussion
Had a brief chat with a once a year customer , where I just cut his knee length grass down . I happened to mention the abundance of wildlife in his garden , and that last year I saw some slow worms basking in the sun.He looked at me and replied " Oh…
Tuesday
David Benson replied to Henry's discussion Etesia Hydro 80 failing to start
"no expert on this but the safty switch on the seat will not allow any power to the starter unless you are sat on it or bypast. Ihave come accross other switches on the deck if ther is a removable flap 
is the earth on the starter ok "
Monday
David Benson replied to Peter sellers's discussion Compost survey
"i have used clover multi purpos which has some peat in it no lumps or rubbish in it. 3 bags today for potting and seeds did not come accross anything i had to chuck out "
Monday
Neil brown posted a discussion
Hi Everyone Does anybody use project completion forms for customer's to sign at completion to say they are satisfied with the outcome to avoid payment issues when sending the final invoice Thanks in Advance Neil 
Monday
Billybop replied to Brian's Garden Maintenance's discussion Clients contracts for wet Grass cutting
"hi Brian, the charge would essentially be doubled. Tripled even. Or something close to that. Depending on when I would be available to return. Especially on the big gardens which are not easy to reschedule. So there is no incentive for the customer…"
Monday
Brian's Garden Maintenance replied to Brian's Garden Maintenance's discussion Clients contracts for wet Grass cutting
"Thank you, Adam, for your replay
That is a great help. if you don't mind me asking. How much would you charge for the nock back what sort of a percentage do add on extra for the second visit, please?
 "
Monday
Brian's Garden Maintenance replied to Brian's Garden Maintenance's discussion Clients contracts for wet Grass cutting
"Adam One of my clients I do need water wings on the lawnmower it is that wet! LOL Luck I got a 4 wheel lawnmower!
 "
Monday
Brian's Garden Maintenance replied to Brian's Garden Maintenance's discussion Clients contracts for wet Grass cutting
"Thank you, Billybop for your reply.
Yes, there are domestic types! If you don't mind me asking. How much percentage do you charge extra for the second visit, please?
 "
Monday
Andrew replied to Peter sellers's discussion Compost survey
"I agree that the quality of compost, PARTICULARLY peat-free p.compost is appalling.I find sticks,bits of plastic/stones,string etc in these 'environmentally' friendly brands.Basically, we're in wild west country now where any old tom,dick and harry…"
Monday
Henry replied to Henry's discussion Etesia Hydro 80 failing to start
"I did wonder that but it's not getting 12v at all on the trigger wire, so I don't think it's being "asked" to energise "
Monday
Henry replied to Henry's discussion Etesia Hydro 80 failing to start
"That's really helpful, although I haven't replaced my loom it does sound like a very similar issue and gives me a few things to try "
Monday
More…

Nature Loving Customers !!!

Had a brief chat with a once a year customer , where I just cut his knee length grass down . I happened to mention the abundance of wildlife in his garden , and that last year I saw some slow worms basking in the sun.He looked at me and replied " Oh…

Read more…
3 Replies · Reply by John F yesterday
Views: 131