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This Lawn Care Operator WON a Mower and Trailer!

πŸ“… June 17, 2026 ⏱️ 1:00:13 🎀 Matt Dickey, Greg, Mel

Chapters

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  • 1:55
    Transition to Lawn Care
    Matt Dickey, owner of Plum Creek Lawn Care, recounts his journey into the lawn care business after working in a coal mine and running a firewood business.
  • 4:15
    Small Town Marketing Strategies
    Matt explains how he built his business in a small, rural town through community engagement, personalized service, and effective use of yard signs.
  • 6:30
    Equip Expo Experience
    Matt shares his experience at the Equip Expo, highlighting the value of networking and the vibrant industry community.
  • 7:19
    Winning the Viper Mower
    Matt details the exciting story of how his wife won a Viper mower and Karma trailer at the Equip Expo.
  • 8:20
    Hiring and Training Employees
    Matt discusses his unique approach to hiring and training new employees, including a day-long observation period to assess fit and teachability.
  • 9:00
    Optimizing Work-Life Balance
    Matt outlines his strategic 4-day work week to accommodate rain delays, equipment issues, and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
  • 9:25
    Service Offerings and Growth
    Matt talks about his streamlined service offerings, focusing on basic maintenance and cleanups, while also looking to expand with skilled employees.

Speakers

M
Matt Dickey
Owner, Plum Creek Lawn Care
G
Greg
Host
M
Mel
Host

Key Takeaways

✦

Leverage yard signs and local social media: In smaller communities, visible local marketing, especially yard signs on active job sites, can significantly boost brand recognition and attract new clients.

✦

Prioritize community engagement: Building personal relationships and providing exceptional service that encourages word-of-mouth referrals is a powerful growth strategy, especially in close-knit communities.

✦

Focus on teachable, essential services first: Start with core services that are easy to train employees on to ensure consistent quality and efficient operations before expanding into more complex offerings.

✦

Implement an observation-based hiring process: Instead of traditional interviews, consider offering paid observation days to truly assess a candidate's work ethic, teachability, and team fit.

✦

Structure for work-life balance: Design your work week with buffer days (e.g., a 4-day work week) to account for unexpected weather or equipment issues, reducing stress and improving overall team morale.

✦

Attend industry events for networking and growth: Events like Equip Expo offer valuable opportunities to connect with peers, gain insights, and even win essential equipment, contributing to business development.

✦

Continuously upgrade equipment strategically: Begin with reliable, even if used, equipment, and gradually upgrade to new, commercial-grade machinery with warranties as the business grows to ensure efficiency and reliability.

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