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PRISTINE LANDSCAPING, INC - your best choice for the lawn you really want.
In Business Since
1998
Candid conversation with Andy Aydelott
Courtesy of the Business Examiner
12/08/2008
 Andy Aydelott is the owner of Pristine Landscaping Inc. in Graham. He is the incoming president of the Pierce County Chapter of the
Washington Association of Landscape Professionals and has seen the amount of work available in the market grow exponentially since he started his business 10 years ago in
Kent. Aydelott believes everyone should have the opportunity to run their own business. Here, he talks about the evolution of his firm and what he wished he had known along
the way.
Q&A
Describe your enterprise.
We are a landscaping company. We do maintenance, lawn installation, pruning, irrigation, lawn renovations, aerating, thatching and cleanups. I have five employees.
How did you get into the industry?
I started my company in June of 1998 in Kent. I was in corporate computer sales before that and getting burned out. I was looking for something I could do that would
challenge me and allow me to control more of my life.
How did you prepare for your career?
I kind of just jumped in. That is the way I do things. It is scary, but you never know if you can do something until you try. I liked working outside and the physical
aspects of the job.
What did you learn during your career that you wish you had known in the beginning?
Don’t give away jobs. When I first started, I would take any job and usually lose money on it. I needed to have more faith in my abilities and learn how to cost jobs out
more efficiently.
Describe how the business has evolved and how it operates now.
I started out with one employee, myself, and a truck with a few pieces of equipment. Now, the company currently services property from residential homes to home owners
associations that are more than five acres of landscape.
What is the most surprising thing you have learned in your career?
That every person should have the opportunity to run their own business. It is a very learning experience that guides you in other aspects of your life. It teaches
people skills, accountability, troubleshooting and multitasking.
Is this what you dreamed of doing with your life?
No, but I took a risk on myself and succeeded.
What kind of community activities are you involved in and why?
In the past, my company has supported Team in Training for Leukemia (for which I ran a marathon in 2006), Operation Sunscreen for the troops overseas through the Mary
Kay Ash Charitable Foundation and the Graham Business Association.
What advice do you have for others contemplating a career in your field?
Be thick skinned and be honest.
What have been your biggest business challenges?
Controlling growth and employees. A few years ago we had considerable growth, but not controlled growth. It was very stressful. I decided after that to scale down and
enjoy the business, which in turn made us more profitable and lean. I currently have very good employees that have been with me more than four years. Employees can make a
company or destroy a company.
If you had it to do over, what would you do differently?
Nothing. It has been a learning experience that has allowed me to still be in business after 10 years. It is not easy, but is rewarding.
Who have you modeled yourself after?
No one, but I do listen to other people in my industry and am a member of Washington Association of Landscape Professionals. I will be the Pierce County Chapter
president next year, which allows me to gain more knowledge as I interact with other vendors and business owners.
How has your business fared during the slowdown in many sectors of the economy?
We work 12 months out of the year and with little slowdown. Most people would rather spend time with their families than worry about their landscape. We create time for
them to do that. Our firm is steady and actually looking for more business in residential and commercial properties.
What measures have you taken to be successful while other companies struggle?
I believe in getting as much information from all sources and re-inventing yourself as need be. Don’t be complacent, if you want to succeed. I know I don’t know
everything and am willing to listen to other people’s advice – doesn’t mean I have to take it, but I have that option.
What do you do for fun?
I like auto mechanics, travel (I have family that live in Germany), working on our property and just hanging out with my family.
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