On this interview, Steve Griggs shares his story about constructing his 7-figure landscaping enterprise with us. He began off in development and realized he wished to be his personal boss and that’s when Steve Griggs Design got here to fruition.
Steve has had large success with SGD however he has large aspirations for the longer term. Be sure to learn until the tip to see what Steve has deliberate.
1. Are you able to inform us a bit bit about your self and what impressed you to begin your enterprise?
I’m a panorama designer & architect who likes to get his palms soiled. My dad launched me to development however watching him depart the home at 5 am each morning made me need extra. He was all the time on the mercy of those that ran development firms which led to some lean occasions in our house. I made the choice early that I might be my very own boss. That was 40 years in the past and I haven’t missed a day working for myself.
2. May you element the steps concerned within the launch of your enterprise?
Launching a panorama design & structure agency started with chopping grass. Though I had a level as a panorama architect it took me some time to work as much as getting my first design consumer. I began my enterprise at a time when knocking on doorways and handshakes had been the norm. There are not any detailed steps outdoors of getting a reputation for my enterprise and constructing a fame one garden at a time.
3. How do you strategy designing and planning landscaping tasks in your shoppers?
Each design and plan begins with a dialog. A lot is revealed in how the consumer desires to reside within the area. Moments and recollections from the previous can result in a dream design. If there are kids then now we have to ensure there’s room for them to develop so a brand new design just isn’t wanted at each section of their development. Having boots on the bottom as we stroll and speak offers concepts for daylight ceilings and partitions made from bushes, rocks, or bushes. It’s a sense you possibly can’t get from photographs and drone photographs.
4. You speak concerning the distinction between panorama design and life-style design, are you able to share a bit extra about that?
Panorama design is for any and each area, a park, a resort, or perhaps a public backyard. Life-style design is crafting areas that present limitless moments of how you reside and revel in life. You possibly can put a pool anyplace or you possibly can design a pool that reminds you of your favourite getaway spot with the stone bench the place you watched the sundown. You possibly can plant rose bushes or sunflowers that remind you of being a child once more. How a consumer lives with the area is every little thing.
5. How do you appeal to and retain clients?
A superb portion of my enterprise comes from referrals. Additionally, my shoppers have trip or second properties they name me for. I’m at present working to enhance my content material advertising but it surely’s a real studying curve for somebody who’s used to doing enterprise nose to nose.
6. What platform/instruments do you utilize for your enterprise?
I preserve an old-school strategy by first utilizing pencils and paper to sketch designs. They’re my instruments of option to get the concepts, tough drafts, and prerequisites out of my head. We additionally use Wix for our touchdown web page and CRM. There’s design software program for 3D renderings. We use Instagram and YouTube for content material advertising.
7. What methods do you utilize that work the most effective for advertising and selling your landscaping enterprise?
My phrase of mouth enterprise is so robust I didn’t begin advertising and selling till the final couple of years. Now I’m establishing model roots that place Steve Griggs Design as a worldwide boots on the bottom design company. I’m studying storytelling and producing content material that shines a light-weight on designer moments and recollections.
8. Are you able to talk about your strategy to pricing and the way you establish mission estimates?
Most individuals mistakenly assume the design is included with development. I simply occur to be one of many few designers who speaks development. Meaning I can deal with the job from consulting to development to completion. However, if somebody simply desires a seek the advice of that’s $4000. If they simply desire a design, then that begins at $25,000. Boots on the bottom with the development crew varies.
9. What recommendation would you give to somebody who desires to begin a landscaping enterprise?
Do it as soon as, do it proper. Be taught to like the outside and know methods to do greater than design. Perceive plant science, structure, furnishings, and so on.
10. What’s your imaginative and prescient for the longer term development and improvement of your enterprise?
My imaginative and prescient for the way forward for SGD goes again to an earlier reply of going world. I need to design all around the world. I additionally need to begin a product line. I haven’t determined what that shall be however you recognize will probably be outdoorsy. I additionally need to do some mentoring. Not everybody desires to be indoors at a pc all day. A few of us nonetheless wish to get our palms soiled.
11. How can others discover you as we’re all followers of you now?
Comply with us on IG and YouTube at Steve Griggs Design. You may as well join with me on LinkedIn.
Wow! Thanks a lot for sharing your story with us Steve Griggs! We’re positive there shall be far more to come back from Steve Griggs Design. Be sure to try his web site to study extra about SGD and to get some inspiration!