Business #3…Aspen Creek Landscaping, Inc.: Mark Turner.

Business #3…Aspen Creek Landscaping, Inc.: Mark Turner.

Lakewood, Colorado
303-929-5804
www.aspencreeklandscape.com/

Year you started your business: 1989
Favorite Business Book: The Slight Edge by Jeff Olsen

Like many business owners, Mark Turner got bit by the entrepreneurial bug while working in the landscape industry for another landscape company. Mark appreciates his early times because as a sales person that got paid on commission, it made him understand the sales process. If he hadn’t, he would not have made much money. He seemed to enjoy those early days, but a lack of customer service and follow through by the company he worked for really bothered him. He was the one with the relationship with the customer, and it was out of his control to truly take care of them. So Mark took things into his own hands and started his own business.

Aspen Creek Landscaping was started as a true bootstrap focusing on residential new construction. Mark knew in the beginning, as he does now, that keeping his overhead low, and paying for things as he needed them, would allow him to keep a positive cash flow, and get profitable fast. That meant buying an inexpensive truck and some hand tools. When they needed heavy machinery like back hoes, trenchers, or dozers, he would rent them. As he had cash, and could afford theses essential tools, he would buy them. Not putting all his money in equipment allowed him to spend money on marketing his company, which he knew would be critical.

I asked Mark how the economy has affected him. He admitted to being just as busy as ever, but the margins have gone down. He has had to lower his pricing to win contracts. The reality is that many of Mark’s competitors don’t carry the necessary workman’s compensation or liability insurance; which is common in contracting. Despite the economy, Mark employs up to 10 guys during the busy summer season, and goes down to 4 or 5 guys in the winter months.

The toughest part of running Mark’s business is the stress that is created from a few areas. First, Mark confessed that working 60 to 80 hours a week in peak season is hard on him. He truly cherishes his family time which is the first to get compromised. The other area of stress for Mark comes from the need to provide great customer service…one of the main reasons Mark got into his own business in the first place. While he doesn’t like to have to do this aspect, he does it well. When we talked further about this, Mark relayed a great story of how important this aspect is for his business. Aspen Creek had just finished a project where they had installed a retaining wall. While they had been installing it and other landscaping, Mark provided a bid to one of the neighboring homes. Just after the project was complete, Colorado experienced a tremendous rain monsoon. When the rains subsided, the retaining wall showed signs of giving way…too much water, too soon. Mark got a call from the homeowner about the problem, and immediate sent his crew to repair the problem the next day. Now, I don’t know about you, but this is fabulous customer service. Needless to say, the neighbor that had received his bid next door, and bids from at least five other contractors, was so impressed by the remedy that they call Mark to award their project to him as well.

One thing I am sure of in business is that things will not always go according to plan, and problems do happen. The true mark of a great company is how you respond to those problems that will always make you stand ahead of the pack.

This type of action has been important for Aspen Creek Landscaping since they have built the business in a large part on word of mouth. I will say, Mark has done a fabulous job at building a website that truly shows off his work, and speaks to their level of professionalism. They have done flyers and letters to potential customers, but nothing is as effective as the testimonies of their happy clients.

Different things have excited Mark over the years as he has run his company. When he first started, he was excited about making big dollars, and becoming successful. Then, as he grew as a designer, he was excited about designing great landscapes. Today, Mark is excited mostly about how to market his company. This is evident in the newly redesigned website that features video testimonials, drawings of past projects, project photos, and original music Mark creates from his love for music.

Mark has a vision to create a company that competes less on price and is able to focus on their ideal customers. Mark would also like to implement systems that allow him to spend less time in his business and more time working on his business. To accomplish this, he knows he needs one thing: “Good employees. They are crucial.”

Parting thoughts for new or aspiring entrepreneurs:
“Keep your overhead down. Treat customers as you want to be treated. Market. Market. Market.” -Mark Turner

Thank you Mark for sharing your story with us. It is evident from the work you do that you are a business owner that strives for integrity and value for your clients. I wish you the best luck as you pursue your vision to own a company rather than to just own a job.

Until next time, enjoy the adventure and Belay On!