Background:
Friends and business partners Steve Downin and Jeff Rocker were looking for a way to create a sustainable stream of income that would provide security and opportunity for them in retirement. Downin owned Right-of-Way-Turf-Ornamental in Columbus, Indiana, while Rocker owned a law firm, Beck Rocker PC.
Problem:
The two business partners had successful businesses on their own, but each was looking for more. “We wanted a supplement to the incomes created from our other businesses that would provide an almost annuity-like stream we can build on into the future,” Rocker says.
Idea:
For Downin, his many years in the green industry had been fruitful, but the design and install aspect of Right-of-Way-Turf-Ornamental could be feast or famine. He and Rocker were interested in a revenue stream that would be stable, with the potential for growth.
Solution:
When Spring-Green Lawn Care approached Downin about adding a franchise to his existing business, it turned out to be the right solution, at the right time. But first Downin wanted to make sure Rocker agreed and was on board.
The two visited Spring-Green’s headquarters, which helped them decide that a franchise was the right option. “If you’re a landscaper/lawn maintenance person adding on a Spring-Green franchise makes a lot of sense,” says Rocker. “Customers want to use someone they know and trust, it adds legitimacy and distinguishes you from other big companies that are an unknown quantity.” He feels that for his and Downin’s business adding the franchise gave existing customers someone in the community they already knew and trusted, who could now do even more to beautify their lawn. “We want to have the simplest world we can make, so to have one person do two things that are naturally connected is much easier for people than going to one person to plant trees and another to spray the lawn and another to mow and so on.”
But Rocker feels that the biggest reason someone should choose Spring-Green, is the access to the collective knowledge of the organization. “We got asked to bid on spraying for a school system, not everyone has done that before but someone at Spring-Green has, so we were able to get their insight.” He feels that the synergy Spring-Green offers franchise owners is very powerful. “You have available to you on a moment’s notice the shared group knowledge of other franchise owners who aren’t competing with you and who are happy to share with you and help,” he adds.
Success:
After their first year with Spring-Green, both Downin and Rocker are pleased. “Our growth has exceeded the projections,” said Rocker. The duo added a second vehicle and employee in February (their first anniversary with Spring-Green). “Things are moving even faster than we hoped.”
The Future:
“We’ve got to be open to do things the way Spring-Green says to do them and be willing to learn new habits, because we’ve already found that by following the advice of these folks who’ve done this so many times before, we’re getting better results.”
The business partners know they have a lifetime of ingrained business habits to overcome. “We’ve got to be open to do things the way Spring-Green says to do them and be willing to learn new habits, because we’ve already found that by following the advice of these folks who’ve done this so many times before, we’re getting better results,” Rocker concludes. To learn more about Downin and Rocker’s experience with Spring-Green, check out their testimonial video and full business profile.
To learn how Spring-Green’s industry-leading marketing and business strategies can help expand your green industry business call 1-800-777-8608 or visit us at www.growmygreenindustrybusiness.com.
