Shawn and Andrea Wilson met about 13 years ago in a bar in Collingwood, Ontario. Shawn had just retired from the Navy after more than 10 years of working in naval acoustics. Not long after their meeting in 1997, he joined the Canadian Army for two and a half years as a mechanic, only to be trade-reassigned to the Air Force for about the next seven years to work in air-traffic control as an air defense tech.
“He never would tell me what he really did… He said he would have to kill me,” Andrea said, laughing, of her husband’s multiple employments.
Andrea, described as a “fireplug” by her husband, worked in a bank’s administrative branch for around eight years and quit about a year ago to help run their business. She’s been in customer service since she was 21, a key asset in running their landscaping business.
Their 9-year-old son, Jack, plays hockey and resembles Shawn’s personality, but Andrea’s looks. “He is really, really smart. But I’m biased. He’s my kid,” Andrea said.
Although he is only 9, Jack is more than willing to help. “He’s a bit money-hungry. Any job he can help out with, he does, just to earn money. He’s lucky because I pay him well over minimum wage!” Andrea said.
Just as in many family-run businesses, Shawn has high hopes their franchise will stay in the family. “I’d like to be able to leave my son a little bit of the legacy, maybe have him work beside me, learn more about it and eventually take it over,” Shawn said.
Shawn spent over 20 years in the Canadian military and Andrea worked indoors, directly with customers, so…
How Did They End up in Lawn Management?
They began Greener Pastures about 3 years before Shawn retired from the military, as Shawn felt the need for something to support his pension once he retired. (The name was thought up by Andrea, although Shawn disputes it, only willing to compromise by saying they “collaborated on it.”)
During the first two years in the military, Shawn held a part-time job selling John Deere equipment. “I was selling to landscapers and decided to research it out a bit. Then I decided, ’When I get out, this is what I want to do.’”
A Military Toolkit
“The Navy was like a well-oiled machine, much like The Dwyer Group and The Grounds Guys,” Shawn said.
The military instills many principles and characteristics that are claimed to be the most useful tools in running one’s own business. Among those are self-discipline, desire, will and the ability to face challenges daily.
“You have to be taught these and the military will do that. There are many life-skills I brought with me. I found it was very easy to adapt some of my military life into my business, although sometimes, it doesn’t work too well with employees,” he joked.
“Sometimes, I slip and bark an order, and they stand there and say, ‘We aren’t in the military, you know.’ I catch myself when I do it, for the most part.”
Trouble in Paradise, then Even-Greener Pastures!
About 2 years ago, the third year in business, it began to seem as if they didn’t have time to run the business the way they wanted to.
“We were going after people who were late or behind on payments. It was hard for us to get the money,” Shawn said.
They began to feel like it was taking too long to get quotes out, which is quite time-consuming.
“Once we joined The Grounds Guys and their system, we immediately saw how streamlined and more efficient the business was. It was just that much better for us,” he said.
What truly pulled the Wilsons toward aligning with a brand name was the commercial business. They just weren’t able to break into the commercial jobs in their city; the local businesses wouldn’t let them.
“After about two years on my part in researching which franchise I wanted to buy, I narrowed it down to about two or three,” Shawn said.
That first potential franchise waited too long to call him back. He was already in the midst of signing with The Grounds Guys. Shawn had initially decided to go through the process with the second franchise, until they performed a huge deal-breaker.
“This guy phoned me at 7: 30 in the morning on Saturday, the only day I really and truly have off. He started asking me did I have all the paperwork done, the whole nine-yards. That was when I knew, all he wants is money. He could care
less if the franchise survives. He just wanted the cash,” Shawn said.
After two dead ends, the Wilsons called The Grounds Guys and went to Orangeville for Orientation. “When I left, I knew I wanted to be part of it. I would have been heartbroken if they said no. Right off the bat, it was totally professional. That‘s where I wanted my business to go. That’s where I wanted to be,” Shawn said.
Shawn and Andrea attended Orientation twice. The first time, they didn’t feel as though they had all of their finances in line. The first time, he went down with a promissory note, though Andrea didn’t feel comfortable doing that.
So they took all of their money out of savings and went down about a week later to finish the deal. “Andrea was a little worried at first. I’ve never seen someone do a turnabout as fast as she did. I think she would be a great spokesperson for The Grounds Guys, as much as she likes them,” Shawn said.
The Wilsons were the first Canadian VetFran franchise awarded by The Grounds Guys.
Those van Stralen Boys …
“Orientation was amazing. Everyone was just so positive. You know how most people walk around depressed and miserable? Not them. The brothers have surrounded themselves with lifelong friends and family, always willing to help them in the business. It’s all so family-oriented. They have this amazing outlook about what your life can be,” Andrea gushed.
I teased Andrea that she sounded smitten by the 10 brothers, who she described as “not hard to look at.”
Continuing the joke, I asked Shawn if he was just as smitten by the brothers, jokingly, of course!
Very directly, but will a small inflection of humor, he informed me that no, he wasn’t smitten by them, but it would be hard to say he wasn’t impressed. (Although, while he was saying this, Andrea was yelling, “YES YOU WERE!” and laughing in the background.)
Shawn retorted with a laugh that, “we don’t say that sort of thing when you have been in the military, you know?”
And now …
Andrea said they are now giving the larger companies a pause for thought, those
that wouldn’t leave their contracted construction companies managing their landscape.
“They weren’t even using landscaping companies! Just construction companies who needed to keep their guys and equipment busy in the slow months,” Andrea said.
Because they weren’t a larger, brand-name company, the companies wouldn’t give them a chance.
“North Bay is a bit backwards, like you’re living on the moon. But we’re going to turn the industry on its ear. That’s exactly what is going to happen here,” Andrea said.
Andrea and Shawn are planning a trip to Hawaii soon to renew their vows … And it looks like they’ll have plenty to celebrate.
To review the original e-mail, see below:
Hi Steve,
Shawn said you wanted me to e-mail you about going from being scared out of my wits and putting my life savings into something I really didn’t know anything about, to being amazed and honored to be part of something so great.
When Shawn and I started out on this journey, I was supportive but skeptical. As the months passed and the banks didn’t believe in cashing in our life savings, I became very apprehensive and honestly the night before we were to go to training I wanted to back out. But I had committed to supporting Shawn so down to Orangeville I went.
Then I met the Van Stralen brothers and the team that they’ve surrounded themselves with.
Day one of training: pretty scared. Day two: starting to see the potential. Day three: I took off the life jacket and jumped in with both feet right up to my neck in the excitement of what my life was now going to be.
Now, one month later, I am blown away with what Sunshine/ The Grounds Guys can accomplish. Two months ago, Shawn and I were struggling to keep our company afloat. Now, we are planning a trip to Hawaii to renew our marriage vows.
You can use this testimonial for any non-believers who can’t see the potential in joining our team.
Thanks,
Andrea
