Today we’d like to introduce you to Dereck Stewart.
Hi Dereck, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
After working in the restaurant business for many years, I was looking to change direction with my career but I didn’t know where to go. My pastor kept preaching entrepreneurship. And that’s when I got the idea to start my own business but I had to figure out what to start. One day I saw an old classmate cutting the grass at a local Burger King and it intrigued me because he started his own lawn business and it inspired me to do the same. After much prayer and sowing seeds of faith. God showed me myself in dream having a lot of business. All I could afford to invest was $1000 into new equipment, which bought me a push mower, weed eater, a blower and some rakes and tarps. I didn’t t have a truck but my mom let me use her car. I folded my mower up and put it in the trunk and the rest of my equipment when I went to go do lawns. I didn’t care about being embarrassed using a car, I was just happy I was making money through a form of business that I started. I was able to accumulate clients through marketing such as word of mouth, social media, friends and family. And through the years I saved up to being able to buy my own truck, trailers, and all the equipment I needed to be successful. In year four of my business I was able to work full time for myself no longer having to work a job and run my business. I have been running my business for six years now.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road hasn’t been smooth but it has been rewarding. When I first started a lot of people invested in me. I got a mentor who is also a long-time friend who already had a very successful lawn business. My mentor invested wisdom in me, gave me numerous amount of clients and guidance. My father bought me my first zero turn mower and my mom let me use her car until I bought my truck. People from the church supported me by becoming my clients. Once I got off my feet, I never had a problem with clientele. The rough part is maintaining business throughout the winter. This is a business where you definitely have to save your money because during the winter not all your clients need work done. So there’s a big drop in business if you are not set up correctly going into winter. That’s starting to improve for us every year. We are a small business that may work 2 to three employees full time during the busy season so if one person is lacking it affects the whole team. I’ve found some difficulties juggling the business, being a single father, active member in the church and taking care of home. So it’s been rough and I see I need a good team in business and also family-wise.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I run a lawn maintenance business out of Dallas, Georgia that mainly operates in Paulding County and some of the surrounding counties. Our main Service we specialize in is lawn maintenance and small landscaping jobs. I’m proud that I have built my business up to the point where it is now and that I’m able to provide a service that solves problems and allows me to meet so many people. I think what sets me apart from others is that when I have an interaction with my clients, I show them that I genuinely care about our relationship and take pride in proving them with the best service possible and provide more than what’s expected.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
First, I think having a relationship with God and always seeking his guidance and wisdom is important. And also practicing good business such as keeping in contact with your client. Doing what’s agreed on for a fair market price and providing excellence.
Contact Info:
- Website: Sharper-image-lawn-service.business.site
- Instagram: Sharper_image_lawnservice
Image Credits
Dereck Stewart
