Today we’d like to introduce you to Elijah Thomas.
Elijah, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Atlanta Landscape and Fertilization (ALF) is a culmination of a couple stories. Adam Johnson and I, both owners, come from two separate backgrounds. Adam comes from a convenient store background initially from a family run business. Over the years, his family shifted into other businesses one of which was landscaping. Overtime Adam purchased the weed control and fertilization side of the business. Ten years later, he’s operating a successful business that has sustained the good and bad times of the economy.
I come from a little bit of a different business background. Although Adam and I were college friends and similar business majors. I decided to take the corporate route when I left college. I worked for a variety of heavy equipment dealers over the span of ten years. Then eventually I received an opportunity to work for a worldwide agriculture equipment manufacturer. Little did I know within in 24 months, I would be subject to a layoff. Disgruntled with corporate life, I decided this was my opportunity to start something of my own. After some planning and seeking some financing, I had a couple mowers and trucks then off I went.
I finally began a little success with the routine maintenance side of my business. We were also doing things from a landscape installation perspective that even amazed us. I’d be remiss to say if it wasn’t for Adam’s company, family, and friends for their support. And Georgia Mountain Regional Commission also took a chance on me with start-up financing. Anyway, as we grew beyond our infrastructure, my weaknesses became more apparent. I wasn’t very good at controlling the inflows and outflows of cash. I’m great at bringing the business in and improving on what moves in the business. But the other stuff, I needed some work. So this is where Adam graciously steps to help me with my finances. And here is where things start to come together for ALF.
Overtime as I became a little more self-sustaining. And as things changed for Adam’s side of the business. We saw the opportunity of how our businesses could help each other. And honestly, we were already creating quite a bit of synergy off each other anyway. We already had all the pieces to the puzzle. We just didn’t have the services branded under one name. So here we are almost two years after the idea of ALF was created. We’ve experienced continued growth. We’ve experienced an improvement in processes, personnel, customer service, and quality. We’re now excited and poised for a 2018 that will take ALF to the next level.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It’s been a bumpy and curvy road. It’s very lonely sitting in the start-up position. I had figured out I knew far less than I thought. It’s hard to find people that understand where you are in business, in life, and in your own head when owning your own business. The overhead grows with the business. The amount of personnel grows with the business. But as we’ve matured. We have figured out a few things. We realize the struggles are more easily managed. And we really don’t look at them as struggles anymore. They’re just challenges and problems that need solutions. We just recognize, solve, learn, and move on to the next challenge quicker now. Yes, we’ve had our missteps along the way. But we feel blessed every day that more opportunities and challenges are presented to us.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Atlanta Landscape and Fertilization – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
We’re most proud of our reputation and level of customer service. Like anyone else, we have our faults. But at the end of the day, we know that our employees and management always put their best foot forward for our customers.
We essentially are a customer service company that happens to offer landscape management services. Our services may change but no matter what they are our main priority is the customer service aspect of our business. We do our best day in and day out to make sure our personnel, services, and products meet or exceed customer expectations.
As far as services, we offer anything you can think of to help with lawn care needs; weed control, fertilization, mowing, installation, flea and tick control, mosquito control, tree and shrub care, mole control, grub control, fungicides, snake control, sprinkler maintenance, aeration, seeding, and much more commercial or residential.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
We have big plans for the future. There’s a lot of business planning and ideas that get thrown on the board every day. You’ll just have to stay tuned to see what ALF unveils in the future.
Contact Info:
- Address: 40 Hightower Pkwy
Dawsonville GA 30534 - Website: www.alfga.com
- Phone: (844) 369-TURF (8873)
- Email: info@alfga.com
- Instagram: alflovesgrass
- Facebook: alflovesgrass
- Twitter: @alflovesgrass
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