An old truck, a snowblower, a commercial mower … and a $20,000 investment. Fulton-based D&S Landscaping of CNY has grown to employ 20 people
By Stefan Yablonski
Q: What kind of business is D&S Landscaping of CNY?
A: Landscaping … We take pride in delivering reliable, high-quality landscaping and snow removal services throughout Central New York, whether residential or commercial.
Q: How did all this begin?
A: I think it was 2003. It may have been a little before; but it was January 2003 I got my DBA certificate. I had a little snowblower, started helping out my uncle in the winter times. When I came back from Florida [after high school], I worked at Price Chopper when I was 18 then got a job at C&C Appliance doing their deliveries. Worked there probably a year and a half. After that I told myself I didn’t want to work for anybody else. I always wanted to do my own thing.
Q: You went back to Florida doing cleanup after a couple hurricanes, right?
A: Yes. I went down to Florida after Hurricane Charley hit in 2004; loaded up my tractor and got hooked up with a company from Mississippi hauling right-of-way brush to dump sites. Then, in August 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit, so I headed back down South. I bought a used excavator and started picking up all sorts of work. I was down there for seven months and came back to New York in April 2006. I have continued to expand and add equipment.
Q: How has business been?
A: I went down to Florida and Mississippi after Katrina and worked. That’s where I started getting into heavier equipment. It was hard to get started up in Central New York at first. After that, we started to build up our clients. I used to worry about whether I would be getting enough work to stay in business. Not anymore — we are plenty busy with our regular clientele and we get new clients all the time. We stay booked up! It’s really picked up the last 10 years, honestly. Actually, it has picked up every year since we have been in business. I am very fortunate to have some good customers. I am too busy. I work harder now, I am almost 43, working harder now than my whole life it seems.
Q: Do you remember how much you had to invest to get things started?
A: I didn’t invest a lot at first. I had an old truck, a snowblower and then I jumped into some mowing and got a commercial mower. I’d say probably, right from the get-go, my initial investment was probably right around $20,000 or so.
Q: What advice do you have for someone considering this line of work?
A: If you’re considering this line of work, you have got to be committed. You have got to go all in and do what you say you are going to do; follow up with your customers — that is what keeps you going. It’s not easy and it’s not for everyone. It’s very hard work. You are working 24/7, there are no days off. You take it home with you. The second you wake up, your mind is thinking about the job. You have to be a certain breed to do this business; it’s not for everybody. My mind never rests. I am constantly on the phone, thinking what are we going to do next? It is really tough on you mentally.
Q: What was the biggest project that you ever did?
A: We have done stuff like site work and all the foundation for like the Walgreens in Fulton. We do a lot of stuff at Nine Mile, too. One of our first big jobs, which was probably 16 maybe 17 years ago, Pontiac Terrace Apartments — we did a two-tiered retaining wall. It’s still there to this day and it looks good. We’ve done so many projects over the years. We have a lot of repeat customers too, that’s nice.
Q: Do you have a big staff?
A: I have 20 people give or take. We stay right around that 20 mark. We have had as many as 25. I have a couple businesses. I do some trucking, a used car lot [in New Haven on 104 at the intersection to 104B]. But the landscaping is my main business. I have concrete crews go out and do new installs. We have three lawn mowing crews now. I have three full-time mechanics in the shop to keep all of the stuff going. We’ve got an excavation crew. Done a lot of projects over the years — especially lately. In my line of work, you have some guys who are just there and some guys that just want to grow and learn. I have a good group.
Q: What is the best part of your job?
A: I enjoy us being able to take the customer’s vision and make it a reality for them. I enjoy the people that do this and my customers. There are some great people that work for me. Some come and go but still stay in touch. I love to see the new kids that want to learn a trade, you don’t see it as much anymore. I have worked with the CiTi BOCES program for the last five years.
Q: If you weren’t doing this, what would you be doing?
A: If I wasn’t in business for myself, honestly, I don’t know what I would be doing. I’ve been doing this since I was 19 or 20 years old. So, it’s basically my whole life.
