What Rural Lifestylers Want from You

Earning Loyalty From Multigenerational Homesteaders

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Brand loyalty can be a big deal to homesteaders and hobby farmers, but personal service can be even bigger.

Sod Producer Finds Opportunity in Selling Robotic Mowers

Thu, 13 Feb 2020 00:01:00 -0500

Robotic mowers have been a natural addition to Super-Sod’s offering of premium-grade seed, sod and turf management solutions.

Rural Neighbors Pool Resources

Sat, 04 Aug 2018 00:01:00 -0400

A simple question across a property line, “Do you like this fence?” has led to an equipment purchasing partnership between large property owners Michael Woolf and Russ and Cynthia DeTrempe of Hartsburg, Mo.

Landscaping for Whitetails

Sat, 21 Apr 2018 00:01:00 -0400

Kasey Thren of Clare, Mich., transitioned from landscaping for people to landscaping for wildlife when he started his deer management business in 2012. He works with Gene's Power Equipment of Coleman, Mich.

Get Up to Speed on Issues Facing Landscapers

Mon, 12 Jun 2017 12:43:00 -0400

Landscapers across the country are facing a variety of challenges, including a lack of experienced workers, made worse by worker visa restrictions; restrictions on noisy equipment; and the ongoing issue of keeping fleets up and running.

Land Management Adds Value to Retirement Investments

Sat, 22 Apr 2017 00:01:00 -0400

Joe and Sharon Kapitany have bought and sold 7 different farms in 4 states over the last 9 years in pursuit of the perfect retirement property — and they have finally found it. In January 2016, they bought 150 acres near Simpson, Ill., and are now building a home and tackling numerous land management projects.

Landscaping Exclusively with Battery-Powered Equipment

Sat, 12 Nov 2016 00:01:00 -0500

The city of South Pasadena, Calif., was named the first American Green Zone Alliance (AGZA) Green Zone City in the U.S. This means all of the city’s 13 properties — comprising 41 acres (including 21 acres of mowing); 15 acres of hardscapes; 1 acre of hedges and more than 7 miles of edging — are maintained with battery-powered mowers, trimmers, edgers, hedgers and blowers.

10 Years of Understanding Rural Lifestyle Customers

Mon, 25 Jan 2016 00:01:00 -0500

Knowing your customers allows you to become more than salespeople and develop into a solution provider for them. You need to know their needs, help them find the equipment to satisfy those needs and follow up with service and parts to keep them working on and enjoying their properties day in and day out. By doing that, you can earn loyal customers.

Finding Opportunities in the Small Farming Trend

Sat, 14 Nov 2015 00:01:00 -0500

Small farms and "micro-farms" are a trend that seems to encompass everything from patio "farming" to the small acreage producer. Here's why you need to pay attention to small farmers in your market who need equipment to grow their crops and their businesses.

What Rural Lifestylers Want From You: Electrifying the Hunt

Thu, 06 Aug 2015 00:01:00 -0400

Chip Davis farms 3,500 acres of cotton, corn, soybeans, wheat and milo in Mississippi. His working hours may be spent on a tractor or in a combine, but his free time is spent in the woods with his family, hunting deer and turkey or trapping coyotes.

What Rural Lifestylers Want From You: Working Together

Mon, 27 Apr 2015 00:01:00 -0400

Mat and JoAnn McCleary of Whidbey Island, Wash., both worked full-time jobs when they started Frog Construction, a landscape maintenance and construction company, and several other business ventures. Their businesses allow them to do what they like best: work outside, be independent and meet new people.

What Rural Lifestylers Want From You: Leading the Way

Tue, 13 Jan 2015 00:00:00 -0500

Jesus "Chuy" Medrano, owner of CoCal Landscape, shares how he has grown his business and stayed profitable for more than 20 years.

What Rural Lifestylers Want From You: Committed to Stewardship

Tue, 04 Nov 2014 00:00:00 -0500

The Batts family's conservation practices maximize revenues from their 375-acre tree farm and preserve it for future generations.

Growing Grapes in Iowa

Tue, 29 Jul 2014 00:00:00 -0400

Wooden Wheel Vineyards generates strong revenues on just 7 acres through a value-added approach to small agriculture.

Landscaping Honors Traditions

Tue, 08 Apr 2014 00:00:00 -0400

Cemetery crew maintains 65 acres year round with versatile, maneuverable mowing and landscaping equipment.

What Rural Lifestylers Want From You: Preserving the Prairie

Mon, 21 Oct 2013 00:00:00 -0400

A.J. Swanson says he's a lawyer, farmer and "someone who can spot a Canada thistle from a mile away.

Rural Lifestyle Equipment to the Rescue

Fri, 12 Jul 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Horses, chickens, ducks, geese, cattle, llamas, goats, sheep, pigs and 165 acres: That's the caretaking and grounds maintenance task for the team at Longmeadow Rescue Ranch in Union, Mo.

Ecological Lawn & Tree Care Grows Business with 'Earth Friendly' Approach

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400

John DeFilippi started his Boulder, Colo.-based landscaping business in 2010 with no prior experience in the landscaping industry. He based his business model on the use of quieter, cleaner and non-toxic practices and his Ecological Lawn & Tree Care now has revenues of more than $400,000.

What Rural Lifestylers Want From You: Transforming Scrub Land

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0400

Janeth and Tom Tomlin’s life in the country began 13 years ago with the purchase of five acres about 30 miles south of San Antonio, Texas. Idyllic? Hardly.

Your Next Customer Segment: Hunters

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0400

This expert bow hunter created an online hunting community, using a variety of equipment to develop a 310-acre whitetail deer habitat.

What Rural Lifestylers Want From You: Beef: It's a Hobby & a Job

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The respect and good service one couple gets from their dealership is enough to win nearly all of their equipment business. Whether you can consider Seboldt Farms a hobby or a job depends on which Seboldt you're asking.

What Rural Lifestylers Want From You - Mike Meeks

mlessiter@lessitermedia.com — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Now on his second rural homestead, this retired exec explains how equipment dealers can "make hay" with customers just like him.

What Rural Lifestylers Want From You: Turner Ranch

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0400

By almost any definition, Dr. Fred Turner and his wife Cindy fit the profile of “rural lifestylers.

What Rural Lifestylers Want From You: Ken Kozminski

jdobberstein@lesspub.com — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Ken Kozminski says it’s easy for equipment dealers who are good listeners to up-sell items to rural lifestylers: “People who are passionate about what they’re doing have a tendency to spend more money on the things they enjoy.”

What Rural Lifestlyers Want From You: Walter and Rhonda Shealy

Fri, 09 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0400

The rural lifestyle dealer that took care of this math teacher when he was a "part-time" farmer will be his dealer as he turns his sideline into a full-time second career.

Trade Shows Key to Christmas Tree Farm Market

jdobberstein@lesspub.com — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:41:00 -0400

The Christmas tree industry has its ups and downs, like any other agricultural sector. The number of farms and trees harvested in the U.S. has fallen in the past 5 years, according to the USDA’s Census of Agriculture for 2007.

What Rural Lifestylers Want from You: John and Ginger Ahl

jdobberstein@lesspub.com — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400

The mature, $1.3 billion-a-year Christmas tree industry can present an opportunity for rural lifestyle equipment dealers willing to understand the segment’s unique needs.

What Rural Lifestylers Want From You: Ken and Doris Bray

jdobberstein@lesspub.com — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400

This retired couple explains the unique equipment needs of rural lifestyle vineyard operators.

What Rural Lifestylers Want From You: Dan and Robin Olson

mlessiter@lessitermedia.com — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Both widowed way too early, a mutual love of rural lifestyle horses eventually brought horse owners Dan and Robin Olson together for another chance at happiness.

Business Executive Seeks 'Deafening' Silence on 75 Mountain Acres

mlessiter@lessitermedia.com — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 18:12:00 -0400

Small business owner Bob Garner found a piece of property that was literally worth moving over the mountain for. He had heard that a cattle ranching family's estate plan included the sale of 600 range acres.