written by
In Appalachia, you never know what winter may throw at you, and Steven Lowe knows that very well.
Lowe has been running his business, Steven’s Lawn Care, since 2005. With around 300 accounts, work is constant for most of the year, but like many lawn care businesses, making the most of winter can be a struggle.
“We were looking for another way to clear sidewalks faster, and in our area, we don’t have many snow events where a snow blower is effective,” said Lowe.
Then Lowe found the SG Snowplow Kit, which easily attaches to Steel Green spreader/sprayers.
“The first year we got to use it, we had an eight-inch snowstorm and it didn’t disappoint at all,” said Lowe.
The Benefits
The weather may be frightful, but the cash flow is delightful.
“It allows us to keep more money in-house, because we don’t have to purchase another separate piece of equipment that just sits in a shed for 11 months out of the year,” said Lowe. “The plow takes up no more space than an average pallet, and we’re able to use the machine itself year-round in our area and keep making money.”
Plus, there are some significant time savings involved, which opens the door to taking on new customers.
“I have about seven miles of sidewalk that we have to clear in one route, and snow blowers take too long,” said Lowe. “This machine allows us to get through faster and provide better results.”
That’s just one route, and it all adds up. Lowe and his team operate in a college town, where many apartment lots hold 25-30 cars, with the largest holding 300. That means lots of sidewalks and lots of revenue potential.
“For what it is, the price point isn’t outrageous; I think it’s well worth it,” said Lowe. “I probably paid for my own in one snowstorm.”
It’s not just for snow, though. The machine can take on ice, too.
“I like my Steel Green because it has a stainless steel frame and I can spread salt with it, so I can pretty much have one man take the place of four.”
Ease of Use
Installing the plow is a breeze, according to Lowe.
“I can put it on myself in 20 minutes,” said Lowe. “The receiver assembly is kind of heavy, so I hold it with a floor jack and put it on, but with two people, it’s a 10-15 minute job.”
Operating the machine is just as easy.
“I wouldn’t put a newbie on it by any means, but any seasoned guy who can use a stand-on mower can grab a hold of this and get the hang of it in 15 minutes.”
Plus, there’s very little risk of damaging grass with the plow.
“We don’t tend to have any trouble with it, and the rubber cutting edge allows us to push the snow off into the grass without tearing up turf.”
Would You Recommend It?
“If one can justify it for what their services are, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it,” said Lowe. “We do have to tow a trailer in the snow, and some companies may not be comfortable with that, but we’ve adjusted to it, and I wouldn’t hesitate because it’s a huge morale booster.”
Lowe expanded on the morale aspect: “When you come up to a property and you may have two miles of walk to clear, the machine is going to do 88% of the work. I mean, that’s just handy as can be, and it’s a huge morale booster.”
Take a look at the SG Snowplow and make the most of your winters, just like Lowe does.
