Aussie LawnStars

I've made the effort to seek a good balance between contractors that are killing it, and those that are relaxing and enjoying the lifestyle and benefits of being their own boss. Between the hustle and bustle of Inner Melbourne, Sydney and Brissy, and the remote regions of Griffith, Kalgoorlie, Mudgee and Huon Valley. From the tropics to the Dessert to the Antarctic, Australia covers it all. Well t...

South Australia has less than 2 million humans, so its human population is around 6% of the total Australian population. That is more than Tasmania and the NT combined, While West Australia has around 10% of the total population.   Today I found one of those South Australian's and he is a prominent member of LMCA. Jake Mantel has been in business for almost 4 years since he bought a tractor and sl...

I made the trip to Mudgee to interview Dave Herman who has set up a local mowing business. Mudgee is about 3 hours from Lake Macquarie or Newcastle and it is a truly rural part of Australia. Rugged mountains and harsh farmland along with local families that are generational in the community. I always try to engage with the person I am interviewing so you get to know them a little as a person as we...

Jake Machen is as Tasmanian as they get, born and bred. Jake is local to Huonville and works around Hobart and the Huon Valley. He shares what it's like working in one of the most remote regional areas of Australia. We could argue that some areas in the middle of the mainland are more remote, but   different regions are remote for various reasons whether it's the sheer distance from others or the...

Geoff started his business over 30 years ago and there has been a lot of changes in that time. For those who are concerned that you might not make it thru the economic crisis currently affecting us, a business can survive and thrive through all manor of economic challenges. There have been a lot of businesses that didn't continue for various reasons and many challenges that they faced, but it is n...

Ryan Emery works in and around Hobart. The population of 200,000 gives plenty of opportunities for work in Lawncare and Ryan has found several ways to ensure his business is recognised locally for its professionalism and preferred over others. Property reclamation and Fire Abatement work are two of the specialties we discuss along with his history prior to starting his business, this episode will...

Episode 100 is a milestone and with that comes a great giveaway. Four prizes to four lucky people. Thanks to Bushranger, EGO and COX mowers for supplying the awesome prizes. And please support Mower Merch with a whopping 15%off the entire store for the entire month of July 2023. Enjoy the sweet sound of Sheree interrogating me.

Barry Crowhurst from EGO Power Plus - Chervon spent over an hour discussing battery tools, Battery Technology, Weather and temperature issues and shared an exclusive on the new releases coming to Australia from EGO.

Today we've got Will Harford in for an interrogation. Will loves a lot of the same things I love from lawn contractors gear to motorbikes. A good quality robust technical discussion about maintenance and robotic mowers. Make sure you support Mower merch store as a sponsor for Aussie LawnStars. During the month of July they are offering 15% off using the code Lawnstars just for listeners of this po...

Today We've got Aiden Andrews from Cox mowers in the dungeon for an interview. Aiden is younger than my oldest child, but this is no reflection on his achievements. He has operated a lawncare run as a school kid and joined the team at Cox Mowers, initially on their admin team and quickly made his move into the Sales rep for Cox Commercial range. He knows the Cox commercial ZTR, Wright Stander rang...

As part of the 100th episode celebrations I have a special interview to bring you today. it's taken almost two years to pin down Paul Sheehan from Roy Gripske and Sons. Some of you will have seen Paul on the LMCA Facebook group. Some of you may even recognise that RGS or Roy Gripske and Sons is the Australian family business that brings you brands like Bushranger, and GA Spares, Stiga, Spartan, Su...

Ben and I talk about dirtbikes for almost an hour…but I've cut and paste that to the end of the episode so you get your fill of lawn mowing and business skills before we make you sleepy with motorbike talk. Ben has an amazing background from learning from his Dad's trade to working for the companies that specialise in turf care and products and this has carried thru to his passion for running his...

Danny Borg shares his reasons for transitioning from being a Farrier to doing Lawncare and landscaping. He finds this industry is much kinder to his body and he has built his business around factors like lifestyle, working solo, and ensuring he can provide for his family comfortably.

Simon Coddington has made a precise and methodical entry into the Lawncare business realm and his interview gives great insight into the way he has assessed each aspect of business before getting into it. He has a great mind and we can learn a lot from his wisdom.

Simon Coddington has made a precise and methodical entry into the Lawncare business realm and his interview gives great insight into the way he has assessed each aspect of business before getting into it. He has a great mind and we can learn a lot from his wisdom.

Prez has a wealth of knowledge from working in management and he shared more of that in this episode.

Prez Maddly is another contractor that works FNQ around the Atherton Tablelands. His skills in leadership have helped him in business and we cover topics around working in semi rural to residential and mental health in business. Running a small business can be challenging in many ways, but for some, the stress can let the black dog loose. Lets go to FNQ to have a chat with Prez.

Turtle Aka Simon Tirtahardja works in Melbourne. We talk about his business, equipment preferences and the type of work he does to have an enjoyable and profitable business. Turtle also loves fishing so we couldn't help but talk about that too.

On the 3rd of April I had a nice long discussion with Brad Cox from Far North QLD. Brad has a background working for mower shops and distributors and a trade in small engine mechanics. We had a great chat about hand held OPE, or outdoor power equipment and mowers and we spent a bit of time talking about his Stihl iMow robotic mower.

The Easterly Breeze has blown me back over to WA today for a ripper of an interview with Evnironmental Industries Brendon Winterbourn. I found Brendon on LMCA sharing some intriguing wisdom around business running costs or expenses that seem to fly under the radar. When I reached out to Brendon I realised that he runs one of the larger maintenance businesses on the West Coast. We had a great discu...

I'm back to tropical FNQ looking for Ross River Fever and crocodiles and the best 4wding in the world! This time I've got the pleasure of speaking with Trina Lee from Cairns. Trina and her partner Simon Clover moved to Cairns and started a Jim's Franchise together. Along with a total Sea Change, lifestyle and business, they have also been able to provide work for Trina's son flying him up from Bri...

Ben Toll has been busy building a business to give quality of life to people who are often treated as less than or inferior. When someone has a disability they are often written off by onlookers, family and certainly government who usually view them as a liability to the community. Ben has found that people in his community, immediate family and further afield can participate in lawncare at a comp...

Caleb Hearn shares about the weather and the culture and his path to running a successful lawncare business with multiple employees.

Clint from Water Pro made time for me in his busy schedule so he could share some wisdom from his experience. His pursuit of business goals is evidence that his entrepreneurial side is on fire. His thought process leaves me spell bound as he is constantly thinking about how to improve and strategise whether we talk about his business or advice for listeners. I made the effort to get Clint to break...

Ben and I have remarkably similar experiences in business despite the geographical distance between us. Ben is working in a regional area where there is a significant variation in property sizes so he needs a 21" mower as well as a 42" zero turn. Lets go talk to Ben about the Atherton Jungle… I mean juggle between solo and having an employee, targeting the kind of properties I have often underchar...