Franchisee Profile: Jean-Marc Grolier, Lawn Doctor of Wappinger Falls, NY

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Q: Where are you originally from?
A: I was born in France but moved to the US when I was 2 weeks old. Except for going to high school and college in France, I’ve lived in Manhattan ever since.

Q: Before Franchising, what were you involved with?
A: I worked in the restaurant business for several years and managed restaurants in France and Westchester County. I also always wanted to be a police officer, and after 9/11 I decided to pursue that dream of helping and protecting people.

Although I’m still a police officer, I began looking into a supplemental career in the lawn care industry after purchasing my own home and seeing the work required to create a healthy, beautiful lawn.

Q: Are you a first time business owner?
A: I owned my own landscape business for a year. I did mowing and blowing for about 10 customers with large lawns. What I liked about a franchise concept was the stability a national brand provides. Most mom and pop shops fall apart within the first five years, but your life span as a business is greatly increased with the marketing and support a franchise provides.

Q: How did you learn about the brand?
A: I’d seen the Lawn Doctor name on vans and through regional advertising for the Red Plum location. Everyone is familiar with the Green Thumb, even if they live in an apartment and don’t have a lawn. I also worked with John Pelliccio, who owns a number of Lawn Doctor territories in New York. He was very positive about his experience with the brand and, although he couldn’t service my lawn, provided great lawn care tips that helped me perfect my yard. That led me to become passionate about lawn care, and when John let me know there were territories for sale, I jumped at the chance.

Q: Why was this brand the right fit for you?
A: I looked at Lawn Doctor’s competitors but none of them could compare based on the patented, ground-metered equipment and power seeder Lawn Doctor uses. The financial requirements needed to start and market a business were also more reasonable with Lawn Doctor.

The strength of the Lawn Doctor brand was also a motivating factor. The company has a national reputation as the best lawn care franchise, and their support system is structured to let me tap into other franchisees whenever I need help.

Q: How has your past experienced helped you as a Lawn Doctor franchisee?
A: There are a lot of similarities between the restaurant business, being a police officer and owning a Lawn Doctor franchise. Although I started out as an individual in all three settings, there was the potential to be in charge of a team. My experience as a manager at various restaurants has helped prepare me to run a business with multiple employees. Learning how to juggle roles and handle customer needs has also been very helpful as a franchisee.

Franchisee Profile: Bill Elwood, Lawn Doctor Franchsiee of Central Bergen County

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Q: Where are you originally from?
A: I am originally from a small town in the Catskill Mountains, Delhi.

Q: Before Franchising, what were you involved with?
A: Before becoming a business owner I went to college and got a Computer Information Systems Degree. I grew up on a small dairy farm and I knew if I put the computer degree with the landscaping and manual labor background I would be lethal. Then I decided to learn the technical end so I worked with TruGreen for a couple years, then with Scotts for about 4 years and then finished with Lawn Doctor for a couple years. Once I perfected the knowledge of the hands on and customer relations, I thought the next step was to own my own business. I realize I will be a great business owner because not only do I do an amazing technical job, I also treat people how I would like to be treated.

Q: Are you a first time business owner?
A: Yes I am a first time business owner. It was something that started off as a dream and has now come true through dedication and hard work, never giving up, and a wife as the greatest support of my life.
Q: How did you learn about the brand?
A: I learned about the brand because as I worked with other companies I saw them as direct competition. Lawn Doctor had patented equipment, a professional image and a chance to become a young Business Man.

Q: What specific steps did you take in validating the brand prior to joining the system?
A: Instead of doing what most people do and read about it and go on interviews, I actually took a few years to work with a franchise owner who explained the way Lawn Doctor does things. I realized with professional staff, professional equipment, and a professional image and results, validating the brand was not an issue.

Q: Why was this brand the right fit for you?
A: This brand was the right fit for me because I didn’t feel like I was trying to be sold anything. The Lawn Doctor Corporate staff was extremely polite and generous with everything they provided. I worked in it first hand and got to experience how things work on all the technical levels as well as learning the business so it was a perfect fit.

Q: How do you see the brand connecting with your local community?
A: I see the brand definitely connecting with the local community on many levels. I recently got married and am starting to plan a family. I am a family man and would like to sponsor a little league team or other similar youth activities. I feel charity gets you the furthest in life and with this attitude I should make a positive impact not only in this community but in communities all over.

Q: What have been some career milestones for you/your business?
A: I wanted to become completely self-sufficient while providing a professional service to the community. I would like to bring Lawn Doctor to the front step of everyone’s door. I feel with a candid attitude and immaculate results there really is no need to set a milestone because the sky is the horizon.

Q: What are your future goals? Development plans?
A: My future goal has been the same it’s been forever; Wake up tomorrow and be the best I can be.

Franchisee Profile: Jeremy Hildebrand, Lawn Doctor Franchisee of Beavercreek, OH

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Q: Where are you originally from?
A: I am originally from South Charleston, OH. I moved to this area for school at Wright State University in 2000 and have been here since.

Q: What did you do before becoming a Lawn Doctor franchisee?
A: I have a Bachelors of Science in Nursing and worked in the ICU as a Registered Nurse at Good Samaritan Hospital until recently. I have also been in the Ohio Army National Guard for 11 years and flew helicopters in Iraq in 2009. I’m now a U.S Army combat veteran and continue to serve as a UH-60 Blackhawk pilot in the Ohio Army National Guard.

Q: How did you learn about the brand?
A: I learned about Lawn Doctor through the International Franchise Association while I was researching potential business opportunities. I’d heard of the brand in the past but wasn’t very familiar with them. After researching it and meeting key leaders in the business, I truly believed this was the best choice.

Q: Why was this brand the right fit for you?
A: Lawn Doctor was a reputable company and very professional. I liked that they had national brand recognition but the local owner was still the face of the company to customers.
Q: How do you see the brand connecting with your local community?
A: As a Lawn Doctor franchisee, I have the ability to take a national company and put a local face to it. I live in this community, my family live here and I feel like I can add a person touch of home for my customers.

Q: What are your future goals or development plans?
A: I’d like to expand to the immediate area surrounding my territory in the next three to five years.