From Retail to Jim’s Mowing: Gavin’s Journey to Entrepreneurship
In the bustling world of franchising, Jim’s Mowing has carved out a unique niche, offering aspiring entrepreneurs the opportunity to take control of their professional and personal lives.
One such success story is Gavin Piazza, a former retail professional who found his calling in the world of lawn care.
Gavin’s journey to becoming a Jim’s Mowing franchisee began in 2021, when he found himself at a crossroads in his career.
After 24 years in the retail industry, Gavin realized that the demanding schedule and lack of work-life balance were no longer serving him.
“I loved retail, but then yeah, you have kids and priorities change, and you need more freedom, you need more of that work-life balance that we always talk about,” Gavin explains.
It was during a moment of clarity on a Friday night, just before the Grand Final, that Gavin decided to take the plunge.
With a newfound determination, Gavin turned to the internet and searched for businesses for sale in Bendigo, his local area. That’s when he stumbled upon the Jim’s Mowing franchise opportunity.
Embracing the Jim’s Mowing Franchise
Gavin’s decision to join the Jim’s Mowing family was a swift one.
Within days of his initial inquiry, he had signed on the dotted line and was ready to start on his new adventure.
The onboarding process, which was conducted remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, proved to be a pleasant surprise for Gavin.
“I was really disappointed in the fact that I was going to be sitting at home in front of a laptop for five and a half, six days,” he admits.
“But I was amazed at how good it was. I didn’t get bored at all, my back didn’t ache, I didn’t have to live off five coffees a day or anything like that. It was really, really good.”
Gavin’s enthusiasm for the training process is a testament to the Jim’s Mowing team’s commitment to providing a comprehensive and engaging onboarding experience, even in a remote setting.
As Gavin notes, the company offers in-person training opportunities for franchisees who want to experience the full immersion, and he’s eager to take advantage of this option in the future.
Navigating the Early Challenges As A Franchisee
While Gavin’s transition to becoming a Jim’s Mowing franchisee was relatively smooth, he did face some early challenges that he had to overcome.
Gavin’s first few weeks were a whirlwind of activity, with customers calling, leads coming in, and a sense of chaos that he wasn’t fully prepared for.
“It was just madness,” he says.
“Customers ringing, leads coming through, and I didn’t at that stage, I just wanted to get into it, so I was very impatient.”
Gavin’s advice to new franchisees is to take their time and get their systems in order before diving headfirst into the work.
“If I had my time again and I say it to new people starting, don’t rush to get on the tools,” he advises.
“Make sure all your banking is set up, make sure you’ve got control of your leads and your emails on your phone so you understand it all as well as your laptop.”
By taking the time to get his business set up properly, Gavin was able to gain control of the chaos and establish a more efficient and organized workflow.
“I just had to stop and say, ‘No, no, I need to take a breath here,’” he recalls.
“I turned off all my leads, and I said, ‘This day, I’m not going to go out on the job. I’ve just got to get everything set up the way it needs to be set up.’”
Building a Thriving Business: Gavin’s Strategies for Success
With the initial hurdles behind him, Gavin set out to build a thriving Jim’s Mowing franchise.
One of the key factors in his success has been his focus on reliability and customer service.
“It’s more about what your price is, it’s more customers just want reliability,” Gavin explains.
“They just want to know that if they’ve got a regular garden, are they going to turn up when they say they’re going to turn up?“
Gavin has fostered strong relationships with his regular clients, to the point where he considers their gardens to be his own.
“It’s almost my garden,” he says.
“It’s, ‘Gav, you just do what you need to do to maintain the garden.’”
In addition to mowing, Gavin has expanded his services to include a wide range of gardening tasks, from gutter cleaning to small landscaping projects.
“If I go to a job site, a regular customer, and they’ve had someone else do something that I could have potentially done or helped them with, I’ll go, ‘Why didn’t you call me? Why are you calling someone else?‘” he says.
Gavin’s willingness to take on a variety of tasks has not only provided additional revenue streams but has also strengthened his relationships with his customers.
“I just build a relationship with them, and they trust me,” he explains.
The Jim’s Mowing Advantage: Gavin’s Perspective on Franchising
One of the key advantages of being a Jim’s Mowing franchisee, according to Gavin, is the support and resources provided by the company.
“You can rest easy with that,” he says. “I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought, ‘She, hasn’t leads turned on for four months, why don’t I go out independent?’ But my head straight away goes to, ‘Because I wouldn’t have any support.’”
Gavin also believes that the Jim’s Mowing brand carries a certain level of trust and credibility with customers.
“I think just the trust, I’ve got quite a bit of commercial work, and without them saying it, I believe it’s based on the fact that I am a Jim’s Mowing,” he says.
The flexibility and control that come with being a Jim’s Mowing franchisee are also significant factors in Gavin’s success.
“You work the hours you want to work, you can do the jobs you want to do,” he says.
“I reckon an absolute max of 40% of my business would be actually mowing. It’s everything else, all the other add-ons, that keep you busy.”
Overcoming Seasonal Challenges with Jim’s Mowing: Strategies for Winter
As with any lawn care business, Gavin faces seasonal challenges, particularly during the winter months when lawn mowing slows down.
However, he has developed strategies to keep his business thriving throughout the year.
“Domestically, your regular domestic customers, they definitely slow down,” Gavin explains.
“So, things like a gutter clean or something like that, if they come to me in November and say, ‘Hey, can we get the gutters done?’ I’ll say, ‘Yeah, more than happy to help you out with that, but right now, we don’t need to do it as such. It’s not a priority.’”
Gavin also focuses on commercial work during the winter months, such as rental property cleanups and preparing homes for sale.
“There’s a lot of work with them in terms of whether it’s a rental, and the tenants have moved out and left the yard like a dog’s breakfast, so you’ve got to go in there and you might spend six hours cleaning up the place and it’s only one hour of mowing,” he says.
By diversifying his services and adapting to seasonal changes, Gavin is able to maintain a steady flow of work throughout the year, ensuring the long-term success of his Jim’s Mowing franchise.
The Financial Rewards of Franchising: Gavin’s Perspective
While Gavin’s primary motivation for becoming a Jim’s Mowing franchisee was the desire for a better work-life balance, the financial rewards have been a pleasant surprise.
“The financial side of it now is, it’s up to you,” he says.
“It’s no issue on my end.”
Gavin’s approach to pricing has evolved over time, as he has gained confidence and experience in the industry.
“In the beginning, I wasn’t worth it, and I was well and truly underquoting myself because I was so fearful as I said, that rejection and not getting work,” he explains.
“But now, I know what I’m capable of doing, what I can knock over in a day or a week or whatever it is, so I’m almost price double as opposed to what I would the first three or six months that I was in the job.”
Gavin’s success in building a thriving Jim’s Mowing franchise is a testament to his hard work, dedication, and willingness to adapt to the changing needs of his customers.
By focusing on reliability, customer service, and diversifying his services, Gavin has been able to create a sustainable and profitable business that aligns with his personal and professional goals.
Advice for Aspiring Jim’s Mowing Franchisees
For those considering a Jim’s Mowing franchise, Gavin has some valuable advice to share:
- Take your time and get your systems in order: “Don’t rush to get on the tools. Make sure all your banking is set up, make sure you’ve got control of your leads and your emails on your phone so you understand it all as well as your laptop.”
- Embrace the support of the Jim’s Mowing brand: “Don’t go independent, go get a Jim’s. That’s the simple answer. I actually don’t know going independent how you would build a workload. I wouldn’t even know where to start personally.”
- Focus on reliability and customer service: “It’s more about what your price is, it’s more customers just want reliability. They just want to know that if they’ve got a regular garden, are they going to turn up when they say they’re going to turn up?“
- Diversify your services: “If I go to a job site, a regular customer, and they’ve had someone else do something that I could have potentially done or helped them with, I’ll go, ‘Why didn’t you call me? Why are you calling someone else?‘”
- Embrace the flexibility and control of franchising: “You work the hours you want to work, you can do the jobs you want to do. I reckon an absolute max of 40% of my business would be actually mowing. It’s everything else, all the other add-ons, that keep you busy.”
By following Gavin’s advice and embracing the support and resources of the Jim’s Mowing franchise, aspiring entrepreneurs can unlock the secrets to building a thriving and fulfilling lawn care business.
Gavin Piazza’s journey from retail professional to successful Jim’s Mowing franchisee is a testament to the power of franchising and the opportunities it can provide.
Through his dedication, adaptability, and focus on customer service, Gavin has built a thriving business that not only aligns with his personal and professional goals but also provides a valuable service to his community.
For those interested in exploring the Jim’s Mowing franchise opportunity, we encourage you to visit the Jim’s Mowing franchise website to learn more.
You can also check out the Jim’s Podcast for additional insights and advice from industry experts.
Remember, the key to success in franchising is to embrace the support and resources provided by the franchisor, while also staying true to your own vision and values.
With the right mindset and a commitment to excellence, you too can unlock the secrets to building a thriving Jim’s Mowing franchise.