J.D. Lawn Service
J.D. Lawn ServiceJoe Dawson has been cutting grass since as early as he can remember. What started out as a part-time job throughout school ultimately led to a life's passion. "In 1990 there was an opportunity to purchase a small company that was getting out of the lawn care business," explains Bonnie Dawson, Joe's wife and business partner. "We formed J.D. Lawn Service and started working for ourselves full-time." Initially, the Dawsons operated out of their home in Brigden. They worked through the day alongside a few staff members and finished the paperwork in the evening. "All this while having a newborn baby at home," Bonnie laughs. "I don't know how, but we made it work." The couple outgrew their home setup and eventually purchased land at 125 Duff Drive in Sarnia in 2004. They built a custom 7,000-square-foot facility, fully equipped with administrative offices and a state-of-the-art shop, which allows for in-house maintenance and repair of their equipment.
J.D. Lawn Service provides complete grounds maintenance services for residential and commercial customers. "We are more than just grass cutters," explains Alex, their son, who started working full-time with his parents in 2006. "We are hired to look after the customer's property like it's our own. Attention to detail and personal service is what sets us apart," he adds. "We know our customers by name, not by address."
Their daughter Heather spent summers working in the garden beds and alongside her mom in the office. She officially joined the company in 2015 as the office and human resources administrator after graduating from a business administration program at George Brown College. "I've been around this business my entire life, it was a natural fit," she shares. Heather is passionate about contributing to what her parents have built and believes that the key to their success is the relationships they build with their customers. "We've been on some of the same properties for 30 years. They know my family personally and trust in the quality of our work."
J.D.'s fleet includes 21 Walker mowers, 12 four-wheel drive John Deere tractors, 8 Kubota utility vehicles with plows, and 12 trucks for both landscaping and snow plowing. The Dawsons employ 10 people full-time year-round and as many as 30 throughout the year, depending on the workload. "Our business is dictated by the weather. If we get a big snowstorm, we need to have people in place. We are lucky to have some of the best," shares Joe. "There is a tremendous training procedure that happens here. A lot of people can tell you they know how to cut grass or plow snow, but there's an art to what we do."
The Dawsons are proudly celebrating 30 years in business. They don't over-book or take on more business than they can handle. "We have developed a reputation for quality service with a 98% repeat clientele," shares Joe. "We've built a successful business that our kids are interested in moving forward with, and we've done that as a family, which is really rewarding."
Related Stories
Johnny G's Premium Pizza
By her own admission, Amy Ewing spent a lot of years bouncing from one low-paying job to another. That all changed in 2020 when she and her dream team—brother Cody and her dad Don—purchased Johnny G's Premium Pizza in Petrolia. Now she's rolling in dough. My brother was working at Joh
Stonepicker Brewing Company Inc.
From bacon to beer. That pretty much sums up the career path Joe Donkers has taken. A pig farmer for nearly three decades, Joe did a 180 about five years ago when he made the decision to start brewing his own beer at home. That ultimately led to him and his wife Mary starting Stonepicker Brewing Co.
One Tooth: Active Wear
As a customer, Dan Little liked the clothing store One Tooth so much that when he heard it was being put up for sale, he bought it. "I took it over in August of 2021," Dan says. "My wife and I were customers of the store and we really liked it. We knew the previous owners so when we found out
Greens Organic Café
Being a vegan is a lot easier these days, says Brynn Pearson, owner of Greens Organic Café and a vegan for the last eight years. I want people coming here to feel comfortable. We do get some people that say they aren't vegan and that's okay. We just encourage them to try it and see if they l
Related Stories
BDO Canada LLP
In 2021, BDO Canada will celebrate 100 years as an accounting firm. They have offices across the country, including in Sarnia. The original Sarnia office grew out of W. L. Smith and Partners, which dates back to the '40s. Lyle and Jimmy Smith joined their father's firm, and were integral in g
Steve’s BBQ Detailing & Services
There is no rust growing on Steve Mansi. When the 25-year-old found himself with a lot of spare time on his hands because the lube and oil change shop he worked at wasn't very busy due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Steve started wondering what else he could do to fill his days. I was basically sitt
Rotary District 6330 Passport Club
Marsha Kalakay and Joyce Nolin-Capman believe their Rotary District 6330 Passport Club may be the future of Rotary. Rather than relying on in-person gatherings like traditional Rotary Clubs, Passport's members hook up online. It is, they insist, so much more convenient. Many of us left Rotary or
Hucker Floor Coverings
Charlie Hucker started working in the flooring industry when he was 18 years old. In 1992, after many years in both installation and sales, Hucker bought a shop-at-home flooring franchise. All the flooring samples were in his van and he brought them right to the customer's home. Ten years later, h
Own a local business in Sarnia-Lambton?
Your customers, your link, your revenue. We do the rest.
Become a #local Partner and we pay you 100% of every gift card members spend with you. It costs you nothing to join.
Free. Takes about three minutes.
