 Chuck Bowen, Editor |
In 1973, a 22-year-old named Tom Jones drove to Wausau, Wis., with nothing but his gold ’62 Chevy Impala and $50 in his pocket. He and his friend were there to purchase a tree care company. Jones had spent the previous summers working for his friend’s uncle’s landscaping company in Milwaukee, installing landscapes and managing a few projects. That uncle advised them about the Wausau company for sale. The owner, “Old Ed” Blackford, knew the two young men didn’t have any capital beyond the $50 and whatever the Impala would bring in at auction, but he sensed something in them and did them one better than selling the company. “He gave it to us, because we didn’t have any money, any collateral,” Jones says. With a few signatures, Jones and his friend – who before this point hadn’t ever been to Wausau and couldn’t find it on a map – owned the company. They went to the bank with their newfound collateral, took out a loan and, eventually, paid Old Ed back. Fifty-some years later LandArt has moved beyond tree care and does design/build and snow removal for clients in the North Woods. And Jones says it’s poised to have its most profitable year ever. He credits it to the company’s solid reputation and relationships with clients, and not bowing to the price pressure so many of his competitors have. He’s got cash in the bank, and was able to buy a couple hundred thousand dollars worth of equipment for next year. I’m writing this shortly after returning from the 2010 GIE+EXPO and GIC in Louisville, Ky. Most everyone I talked to was optimistic about the coming year. According to our 2010 State of the Industry Report, 80 percent of owners are either somewhat or very confident in the industry’s ability to rebound in 2011. Maybe entrepreneurs and business owners are more positive than the average person. Maybe driving to a place you’ve never been to buy a company you’ve never seen is a little crazy. But people like Jones – owners who have stuck to the basics of good business and have a strong faith in the ability of themselves and their employees – have a good feeling about 2011. “We’re looking at some really nice projects. We’ve got a healthy amount of work to start the spring,” Jones says. “I think it’s going to be a really good year.” I’m inclined to agree. |
Explore the December 2010 Issue
Check out more from this issue and find you next story to read.
Latest from Lawn & Landscape
- Sunseeker's Insight: Take Your Lawn Care To The Next Level
- Sunseeker Orion X7
- TerraMow autonomous mower hits the market
- TruGreen appoints Belknap as Chief Human Resources Officer
- Bobcat launches new Machine IQ enhancements
- Full steam ahead
- Zech Strauser introduces Urture Apparel line
- Revolutionize Your Routing
