Total Landscape Care Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/85697
landscaper of the year finalist flips on a light switch to reveal practically every inch of space draped with bundles of holiday lights and decorations used for his latest and most suc- cessful new service. "We've acquired nearly 100 new clients with holiday lighting added on to our business," Phelps says. "Some of the best holiday lighting customers have also become loyal landscaping clients." bugged my parents for money for extra things," Phelps says, "and their reply was to encourage me to get a job by providing an incentive. Every dollar I saved from my job they matched 100 percent." So, he started a business mowing lawns and doing land- scaping projects for neighbors and family friends in the Hershey, Pennsylvania, area. "If you're competent and confident, your level of In 2008, Utopian Landscapes was named New Franchise of the Year by Christmas Décor, which supplies holiday lighting products, training and sales and marketing support to some 400 franchi- sees nationally. story. "While I was in high school, I sometimes AGE IS JUST A NUMBER Phelps' start in the landscaping business is a familiar "The biggest challenge I had was gaining respect expertise matters more than how old you are." and credibility from potential clients," he says. "When you're 16 years old and running a landscap- ing company out of the back of your Subaru, it can be difficult to convince someone that spend- ing $1,000 with you is a good investment and that they'll get a quality job. "But by staying positive and confident, constantly working to increase my skill set and keeping an em- phasis on quality, I was eventually able to overcome March 2012 / TOTAL LANDSCAPE CARE 43 Write 366 on Reader Service Card or visit TotalLandscapeCare.net/info