Transcript
The SnowJobs Podcast: Happy Monday, Snowjobs Nation. We are back again bringing you episode 185 of the Snowjobs Podcast main show powered by Top Gun Backblades, the best show in snow. As always, I'm Steve.
The SnowJobs Podcast: You know who's with me every week.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Rick James is in the house. What is up Jeremy? How are you, buddy?
RICK JAMES: Hey, Steve -O, doing really well. How about you, buddy?
The SnowJobs Podcast: not too bad man not too bad time is flying man winter is coming
RICK JAMES: I guess that's what they say. that's what they say
The SnowJobs Podcast: We're almost Labor Day. I mean, a couple of weeks ago was Memorial Day. What happened? You blinked and shit. It's gonna be...
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: September before we know it here. Everybody's doing bids and getting getting bids awarded already, which is good to see.
RICK JAMES: Yeah, seems weird. Some guys are getting out there earlier and then getting bids back, which I think we got quite a few back, so that's amazing. So.
The SnowJobs Podcast: I've probably gotten 10. texts uh from guys this week saying hey i i got I got that bid awarded like awesome that people are awarding bids early.
The SnowJobs Podcast: That's what happens when you have a bad winter.
RICK JAMES: yeah
The SnowJobs Podcast: They want to lock up snow early.
RICK JAMES: Yeah. for sure. Get these guys locked in, and that just helps everybody. figure out what they need and all that fun stuff.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yep.
RICK JAMES: so
The SnowJobs Podcast: that's it that's it i've only heard out of uh out of 10 guys you figure you've heard like two guys have said uh they're trying to pin pinch pennies a little bit because of the increased costs of last winter that nobody expected but you know what you're in places that are known to have winter But they've had such.
The SnowJobs Podcast: you know, variable winters the last 10 years that it seems like they've slashed their snow budget feeling like it was never going to snow again.
RICK JAMES: Yep.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Now they're all scrambling.
RICK JAMES: Yeah. What they say out of mind out of sight they're out of sight out of mind
The SnowJobs Podcast: Out of sight, out of mind. Yeah, that is true. And they're ah they're now. forced to ante up again. And I think we're going to have. I don't think we're going to be working every three days in the Northeast like we did last year, but I think we're going to get. a good winter again total wise i think it's just going to come and like maybe seven or eight bigger storms.
RICK JAMES: Yeah, they they're small. They're saying for us, super El Nino, which means they say dry up here. so Whether they're right or wrong, I don't know. Mark, you tell me. but um ah The old, uh...
RICK JAMES: Might have to head out east a lot this winter. You never know.
The SnowJobs Podcast: yeah rob put out a thing like super el nino you know it's going to all be temperature dependent but the potential to have big storms is there and it's just going to determine the temperature is going to determine whether it's rain or snow so We will see. shortly.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Can't believe it. Very shortly.
RICK JAMES: Sure. Well.
The SnowJobs Podcast: What are we, 60 days out? 90 days out. I think we're good for an October, end of October snowstorm this year.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: I think it's.
RICK JAMES: Oof.
The SnowJobs Podcast: it's It's usually once every six years, and this is coming up on six years since we've had ah like Halloween -type storms. so I think it's coming.
RICK JAMES: You get them out there too?
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah. Yeah, we get like ah the last week of October, first week in November, every. it seems like every six or seven years you'll get like a surprise you know oh it's going to be grassy coatings with wet pavement and it ends up being six to seven inches oh
RICK JAMES: Damn.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah, we're. we're good for We're good for one of those every six or seven years.
RICK JAMES: Yeah, we'll get some early October snows. but Yeah, indeed. I don't know. sticks around for a day or two and then it's gone. so
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah, yall absolutely. It'll be gone you know by the the end of the next day, but it's ah yeah it messes up the kids' trick -or -treating. It's something you've got to clean up, and it's a pain in the ass for guys that are transitioning back to doing leaves or lawns or whatever else they're doing. but you know it does We are good for it in our area here once every, I think, six to seven years, and it's been seven years. so They should, it should be interesting, but we'll see. We'll see what the weather guys, if they're right. and
The SnowJobs Podcast: You know, they, uh... We'll see what their call is. But how's ah how's everything else? Good?
RICK JAMES: Doing good. Yeah, been a busy week like always here. Just kind of hot. Kind of catching up and maybe winding down a little bit of the God's juice. and You know. Getting ready to move on.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Cool. Very cool. So last week.
RICK JAMES: How about you? what's
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah Yeah, I'm just ah still. Stay in the course here. I got, what, 20? When this airs, like... 22 days and a wake up. so uh That's it and Wrap up, ah wrap up one career just to ah embark on another one.
RICK JAMES: was
The SnowJobs Podcast: That'll probably take more time. But it's it's for a good cause.
RICK JAMES: Yeah. Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: I'd rather. Like I said, that... the The snow jobs universe helps everybody. So ah if I can spend a lot more time on that, then a lot more guys are going to get what they need. and you know, we can help. ah help guys make more money for their family. So that's what it's all about.
RICK JAMES: What do you got, like a countdown? sheet somewhere or something, tearing off pages every day.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Uh... it's 30 days so i'm just keeping track of when i drop my paper uh so it's 30 days from when you drop it so i'm just kind of counting backwards i'm not doing any like sheets that rip off or any gay shit like that
RICK JAMES: Yeah. yeah You get like ah you get like like a fake gold watch or anything from the old... Stay there.
The SnowJobs Podcast: no you get uh i already got my i don't think you get anything for 25 plus i got a 20 year plaque you know when i hit 20 years but uh i don't think you really get anything and i'm not really making a big deal out of it it's just like you know.
RICK JAMES: yeah
RICK JAMES: We're not going to have a big party for you or anything like that?
The SnowJobs Podcast: Oh, we'll have a party. Yeah, it might not be immediately when. when the retirement happens. But we'll definitely have a we'll definitely have a party. We'll have a get -together.
RICK JAMES: Good night, everyone. excuse to get together and...
The SnowJobs Podcast: Absolutely.
RICK JAMES: Do something, Billy.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah, but you know what? It's so close to the winter. when I'm getting out, you know, mid September. And then I'm booked. I literally retire. And I'm booked solid for the next 11 days where I have nothing. I have no time to do anything because I got. What do we got i got? I'm going to make a family golf outing for all my uncles and cousins that I have not been able to make in seven years because of my schedule.
The SnowJobs Podcast: So i'm gonna go right I'm going to retire and go right to Storks. basically and then sns and then i'm going right from sns driving To Lake George, to... participate in the family golf outing Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
The SnowJobs Podcast: And then... ah What the hell do I have when I get back? I think I got something else when I get, I think I got something else holding me Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday of the of the following week. So.
RICK JAMES: Do you need a caddy?
The SnowJobs Podcast: it's
RICK JAMES: I could come carry for it.
The SnowJobs Podcast: You want a caddy?
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: oh that'd be great man yeah i mean i don't know if you need do you need a caddy to shoot like 95 100
RICK JAMES: Oh, definitely You need somebody to drop balls out there, don't you?
The SnowJobs Podcast: yeah that's it Cut a hole in one pocket of your pants and just keep dropping balls down your leg.
RICK JAMES: yeah Found it. Found it.
The SnowJobs Podcast: I don't know. Oh, it's great. But yeah, we'll do something, but yeah, it's, it's kind of, uh, i'm just counting it down and uh when it when it happens still don't know how how i'll feel about it but uh Like I said, it's going to open up time for us to do a lot more stuff that that a lot of guys are asking for and a lot of guys want. so The good of the many. Better than the good of the few.
RICK JAMES: Yes, sir.
The SnowJobs Podcast: So, yeah, it's coming. But ah anyway, so last week we had the three Minnesota guys on that have the field command app and i got a lot of. feedback on that this week guys are kind of excited to try that so good for those guys and
RICK JAMES: Mm -hmm.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yo, it seems like a win -win. Free app, you know, you can.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: um I don't. I don't see the only. potential i see like they're asking like do you see any reason like not to use this and i don't see any reason not to use this i do see a reason why ah Nationals wouldn't want us to use it.
The SnowJobs Podcast: You know the you know the the certain nationals that require you to have a certain weather service for sort certified totals?
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: And that weather service seems to keep things on the low end.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Like if you have 25 guys putting pins in the map, they're saying, yeah, we got eight inches.
RICK JAMES: Yep.
The SnowJobs Podcast: and Somebody else is saying four inches. then yeah that could be interesting. but the
RICK JAMES: Great.
The SnowJobs Podcast: I think the snow guys will love to use the app. I think that'll be a good thing.
RICK JAMES: i don't I don't think, like you said earlier. All the Nationals. They don't like all of us. colluding with each other either.
The SnowJobs Podcast: No.
RICK JAMES: They don't like us talking to each other because they know they know their price has got to go up if if we if we are actually.
The SnowJobs Podcast: No. No. yeah
RICK JAMES: on the same page
The SnowJobs Podcast: what's the what was the famous quote that that guy told us that uh from one of the national fucking managers said those two assholes who single -handedly made my job 10 times harder i i take that as a yeah exactly that is a big badge of honor for me i like that
RICK JAMES: yeah You're welcome.
The SnowJobs Podcast: But, yeah, so those guys were on last week. So check out Field Command. It seems, like I said, it's it's a free app. It's there to help snow guys, and I don't see any reason.
RICK JAMES: a free app that you can...
The SnowJobs Podcast: What's that?
RICK JAMES: it's a free app that you can purchase like a hundred dollars or something if they to do something else
The SnowJobs Podcast: for that's for pro yeah it has other features and stuff but yeah if you just want to see who's doing what in your area and when snow's starting and be able to to help out guys in your area with snow totals and stuff like that.
RICK JAMES: Yeah. Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Seems like a no -brainer. So I'm interested to see how they do and as they're opening it up to different markets this winter. But today. Today, what are we doing today? So today, for your listening pleasure, we have Tyler Gearan of Gearan Outdoor Services. They're out of Rogers, Minnesota.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Uh, we've seen Tyler multiple shows. Jeremy knows him really well. He's a really good dude. Uh, he's been doing this a long time. He typical, you know, startup as a, as a kid mowing lawns. and We're going to hear all about how they've grown and and where they're heading.
The SnowJobs Podcast: So that's what we got today. and We're going to hear from Team Top Gun real quick, as always. We'll come back. We'll do a real quick week in review because most of these events are over that we've been announcing for weeks and weeks. And we'll hear from Tyler.
The SnowJobs Podcast: All right, gang, we're back. So like I said, quick, we can review a storm chasing season two is up and running on YouTube on the storm chasing YouTube channel. Go over and check it out. You got five episodes with one to come. Triple J dropped a couple of weeks ago. Uh, they're killing it. They're doing really well. They're up to like what? 18 ,000 J.
RICK JAMES: Yeah, I saw 18 ,000 views I saw just the other day so They're doing really well.
The SnowJobs Podcast: 18 ,000. So they've already lapped Clint R.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: So they are the undoubted champion of the Canadian episodes. So not that that was going to be hard.
RICK JAMES: Yep.
The SnowJobs Podcast: What's Quintar? Nobody watched that.
RICK JAMES: Well, Kirkham was in it, so who knows?
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah Jesus. Yeah.
RICK JAMES: I know he listens.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Uh...
RICK JAMES: I got to give a shout out to him.
The SnowJobs Podcast: I know. We love Jeremy. Jeremy's the best. But yeah, triple J is doing really well.
RICK JAMES: That's right.
The SnowJobs Podcast: So good for triple J. Congratulations to them. And we got one more episode to come for season two and that's top dog. And that'll drop in a couple of weeks. ah What else we got? September 16th and 17th is our Pennsylvania swing. We got Wednesday the 16th out at Storks in Leesport, Pennsylvania. That is sold out. That is Plow Tech School 2026. That. the class that teaches they teach you how to fix every problem shoot every troubleshoot every
The SnowJobs Podcast: freaking code that comes up on Douglas Dynamics spreaders and plows. So hopefully you don't need a dealer at 3 a .m. when you are least likely to be able to find one open. So it's a great class. They give you ah a great book.
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah It's phenomenal. Unfortunately, it is sold out. Gene has talked about adding a second Plowtech School Day. When we have more information on that, we'll let you guys know. ah If you're...
The SnowJobs Podcast: if you're going to that then it's worth it to drive an hour and a half with me to Scranton right after Storks and head on over to, on Thursday, the 17th, S and &S Snow and Ice Solutions' sixth annual snow show. It's a great networking event. Last year was a great panel discussion on liquids and how it's ah helped. the the guys' businesses that were on the panel.
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah They did a hell of a job. I think it was, that was probably the longest Q and a I've ever seen. Like it just kept going. Like guys, they did such a great job. Guys had like. unlimited questions they were just i think it was like two hours right and then we cut it for lunch
RICK JAMES: Yep. Yep. Yeah, I think so.
The SnowJobs Podcast: it would But it was not like two hours dragging. It was two hours of good information being passed back and forth. so That's a phenomenal, if you want to, if you're in that area. and you want to meet guys in that area and you know build out your network, that is a great event for networking and meeting people.
The SnowJobs Podcast: on sharing information. So hopefully we'll see you there. And then if you are still in Pennsylvania and you got, you know, you're going to. Stick around for the weekend. Head on back to Storks for their open house event. That's Friday and Saturday, I believe.
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah They... All are welcome at Storks. And then let's see.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: We wrap up the season. We think we wrap up the season. We might go to equip. We don't know yet. But October 1st in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, is the third annual Northeast De -Icing Solutions De -Icing Day. Head on over to their website at nedicing .com for registration and also for vendors. They are accepting vendors for their trade show portion of that day. So you can get all the details on that website, as I said, nedicing .com.
The SnowJobs Podcast: What? else do we have snow jobs nation store is open in stock backpacks are ordered so they will be back in stock shortly
RICK JAMES: they're in stock they're in stock
The SnowJobs Podcast: They're in stock. Wow, that was quick.
RICK JAMES: And it starts. Yeah. yep
The SnowJobs Podcast: Wow.
RICK JAMES: Yep.
The SnowJobs Podcast: How did they do that? They turned that around in what, a week?
RICK JAMES: Oh yeah? I got him.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Wow.
RICK JAMES: Okay.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Are they the Yo -Yo ones again?
RICK JAMES: Yep.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Nice.
RICK JAMES: Yep.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Those are nice. Those are nice Ojeo backpacks.
RICK JAMES: Yep.
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah So, yeah, head on over.
RICK JAMES: Yep.
The SnowJobs Podcast: If you're going to these events, you've got to be well -dressed. So head on over to snowjobsnationstore .com. Get all your Snowjobs apparel and swag. Guys, you guys have killed it for us. Our listener score has actually climbed again on the listennotes .com, which is like the Nielsen ratings for podcasts.
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah So we are up to a 40 now. We're still ranked top 2 % globally out of 4 million podcasts. And ah that's awesome, and it's directly related to you guys. So ah thank you very much for your engagement and the amount of time you listened to us. Keep heading over to Apple Podcasts and Spotify, dropping five -star reviews, hitting the like, subscribe, and you know answer you can ask questions on there. You can comment on the episodes.
The SnowJobs Podcast: And we do get all that feedback. It helps us keep bringing you more of what you guys want. ah What else? You got anything else, buddy, or we cover it?
RICK JAMES: I think we're good buddy.
The SnowJobs Podcast: All righty. So let's hit some commercials from our partners and then we'll be right back. We'll get right into it with Tyler.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Alright. We are back. Thank you to our partners as always for supporting us and what we're doing here. We could not do it without you guys. it's it's awesome it's a great been a great ride with our current partners and uh can't thank them enough for everything they do for us so without further ado Let's bring in Tyler Gearing, Gearing Outdoors from Rogers, Minnesota. Tyler, how are we doing, buddy?
Tyler: I'm doing all right.
RICK JAMES: In Thailand.
Tyler: How are you guys today?
The SnowJobs Podcast: Not too bad bud, not too bad.
RICK JAMES: Really well.
The SnowJobs Podcast: What's the weather like out there in Rogers?
RICK JAMES: Doing good.
Tyler: You know, it's actually pretty nice. it's like High 70s, maybe low 80s.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Alright.
Tyler: It's actually kind of cool in the mornings, almost getting close to sweater weather. So it's pretty, it's my favorite time of year. And you know. Snow is right around the corner.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Absolutely.
Tyler: So.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Are you guys in a drought?
RICK JAMES: You're a big hunter.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Are you guys in a drought right now out there?
Tyler: Yeah, this whole summer has been pretty rough.
The SnowJobs Podcast: You are.
Tyler: We got a decent amount of rain this spring. but uh It's been really hot, really dry. We went through like a I think like the third longest stretch of. over 90 degrees Sounds like.
Tyler: well in history i guess or something and the last time was like 1930 so it's been
The SnowJobs Podcast: Wow.
Tyler: It's been a... difficult summer.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah, somebody said they were in it you guys were in a drought out there, and I'm like, well, we had nothing but rain.
RICK JAMES: We are.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Every three or four days all summer long, we've had. torrential rain.
RICK JAMES: Yeah. Who will? word dry as can be around here.
The SnowJobs Podcast: No shit. Alright. Well, thanks. Welcome.
RICK JAMES: And even, I mean, like Tyler and those guys got way more rain than we have. Oh. summer so
The SnowJobs Podcast: Welcome to the Midwest.
Tyler: i remember at storm uh putsy and i were talking and because we're going to get pounded that next day or that night, Thursday night.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
Tyler: Ended.
RICK JAMES: Mm -hmm.
Tyler: Totally miss Fargo. It just like bubbled right around us.
RICK JAMES: Yep. it rained all the way It rained all the way back to Fargo, or to about 30 miles out of Fargo, and then it stopped when I got there.
Tyler: Kind of funny to get that.
Tyler: phil
The SnowJobs Podcast: got it Yeah.
RICK JAMES: Same thing. Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: That's great. All right, Jay, you want to take us away?
RICK JAMES: You bet. Hey, Tyler, why don't you tell everybody about Gear and Outdoor Services, how you guys got started, and what you guys are all about.
Tyler: Yeah. I feel like we kind of started like almost most other guys that you've talked to. My brother and I started really young. We were 8 and 11 years old. We bought our first chainsaws and started cutting firewood.
Tyler: And that kind of led into us buying a mower, started mowing neighbors' yards, friends' yards, stuff like that. We were both homeschooled. So we had quite a bit of free time when most kids were at school. and so as soon as The summer help left. The parents didn't want to mow or anything like that. So then we started picking that up.
Tyler: Uh... Kind of just started evolving 2016 we went Legit, I got our... business all registered and stuff like that and it's kind of just a side project for the most part
The SnowJobs Podcast: Mm hmm.
Tyler: I was still in high school. I was playing sports. And then my brother is a little bit older. So he he went to community college and then kind of was working for a landscaper. So we just sit on the side. Um, Once, uh...
Tyler: Our old boss kind of got out of it. He was in there for 40 years. he pretty much was like, I'm done. and Spencer Cahan. was positioned well within the company to kind of He felt good to take over the clients or send them our way, I should say. He only did landscape install, so I should say that too.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Okay.
Tyler: um And then 2020, I came back from my first year of college. I was playing sports, so I went away and then didn't really like it. I kind of had the business on my mind, and then COVID hit, and Spencer and I decided to go full -time that spring, which was...
Tyler: a wild ride to go full -time into something as soon as COVID hits and the world kind of shut down.
The SnowJobs Podcast: but But that was that like, did you guys blow up during COVID like a lot of landscape companies like that? That was when a lot of guys saw tremendous growth during COVID because. I remember thinking like, shit, I'm going to lose half my business. Everybody's going to be home. They're going to be doing their own lawns, their own mulch.
The SnowJobs Podcast: everything It was the opposite. Everybody was like, no, we don't want to do anything. you know our Our business went through the roof. Did you guys find growth during COVID or was that a tough time?
Tyler: No, we found we for sure found growth. and when we kind of started we've kind of been growing ever since um but also there's a lot of different growth where it's like We were basically just starting out.
Tyler: we went like we A lot of people were reaching out. we couldn't actually service as many people as reaching out but so yeah we had good growth and it was just
The SnowJobs Podcast: Sure.
Tyler: you know kind of like a strange time i'm you know we're young we're buying equipment telling getting told we can't work outside and all of a sudden all these people want us to do all this work and Um, But yeah, definitely. I think that definitely helped us both kind of realize like there's a. big thing here and although it was a weird time at Definitely got us to kind of take that final step of getting out and on our own and fully.
Tyler: Gone with it.
The SnowJobs Podcast: That's awesome. So do you guys focus on like anything in particular, like what services is Gearing Outdoors ah offering now?
Tyler: Yeah, so we offer kind of too many, I would say right now, but our main focus.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Ha ha.
RICK JAMES: ah
Tyler: ah Our main focus in the summer is. Landscape install. And then... we do do maintenance in the summer is like a focus it's just it's a lot more like i don't say autopilot but you know you set it up like the fertilizer that we control
The SnowJobs Podcast: Mm -hmm
Tyler: the irrigation and the mowing you kind of get the good like Foreman. get the stuff rolling it kind of runs itself whereas the install side for the landscaping kind of takes more time um so more brain power towards that we're trying to get a little bit into more like light excavation um get a little bit away from like the super manual like labor you know as it's so hot it's better to get a machine and do some grading or some call for work
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah. Absolutely. Mechanical labor.
Tyler: Yeah.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
Tyler: Versa.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
Tyler: but So.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Sweet. Alright, cool.
RICK JAMES: Do you like how you are? Do you have a like a landscape or designer in -house or you guys just figure it out on your own or what?
Tyler: We don't have one in -house. We have a couple subs that we use. um
The SnowJobs Podcast: Okay.
Tyler: I do a lot of simple designs myself. um So we that's one area we'd like to kind of expand is. more of the design install side of little bit larger projects Art.
RICK JAMES: Okay.
Tyler: I guess bread and butter right now are like the one to four day projects, I'd say. um we do some little bit larger projects but nothing crazy we seem to find better margins in the small stuff and there's some guys that
The SnowJobs Podcast: Absolutely.
Tyler: only want the big stuff and they won't touch if it's under 20 grand and we can bang that out in a couple days sometimes so it's I'm more of a margin guy than a... what I can post on Facebook and an Instagram guy.
The SnowJobs Podcast: I agree completely, 100%.
Tyler: So.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Do you guys do hardscaping?
RICK JAMES: or you don't know how to use Facebook.
Tyler: but Yeah, we do use, we do hardscaping. Yeah. We don't do a ton of it.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Okay.
Tyler: Um, Wait. Spencer's really good at it. It's just kind of building out the crew and like there's a lot more planning that has to go into it, but we've done.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Sure.
Tyler: a decent amount of it this year, and Spencer's been doing it for a while. and So. yeah it's one ah another area we kind of like the part of the design part would be to grow a little bit more in the hardscape side.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Very cool. Sweet. What, so.
RICK JAMES: Yes. but's
The SnowJobs Podcast: Like what's your. We talked about the summer stuff. what What's your snow operation looking like? Like, what's your what's your market as far as, you you know, how much snow do you guys average and what kind of storms do you get?
Tyler: Yeah, I'd say... it's ah It's changed quite a bit, I feel like, the last handful of years. We're right around that 44 -inch average per year.
Tyler: um I would say like. Back when I was younger in high school, we did a little bit of plowing back then. uh not as much but it definitely seemed like we got the bigger storms But then ever since, we've kind of been tracking a little bit more. like The last three years, it's been really down. I think we've been at like... under 30 around the 20 inch mark in the 20s 30s i'd say
The SnowJobs Podcast: Oh wow.
Tyler: Um,
RICK JAMES: Mm -hmm.
Tyler: and we were typically uh In the last couple of years, we normally get the smaller, like... inch to inch and a half two inch storms i'd say we're bound for one to two big ones a year Um,
Tyler: I think four or five years ago, we got doubled up. We got almost 100 inches. and that's winter I believe we had multiple uh storms around a foot 10 inches maybe 14 inches area um That was all before we started using a little bit more tracking and data.
Tyler: We were kind of new into it, just, you know, I'm plowing, but now it's where.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Sure.
Tyler: diving deeper into the data. and Stuff like that.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Cool.
RICK JAMES: What do you, what do you? What do you? services do you provide? HOAs or... Commercial, what are you looking at mostly?
Tyler: Yeah, so we found pretty Like early on, we found decent success with HOAs. so we kind of like focused on drawing that. And then we kind of. thought we were a little different I don't... than most i guess and you know everyone complained about hoas and then We kind of get sorry that started catching up to us and, you know, just like the. crazy amount of little complaints so as we say right now we still do hoas uh we do small uh light commercial
Tyler: and we do residential Residential, we're probably going to... fully sub it or cut it after this year and then The HOAs, we're still taking them on. We're just growing a little bit slower. how we We have a couple internal processes for you know qualifying them and making sure they're a good fit. and then also
The SnowJobs Podcast: 100%.
Tyler: It's just a lot more hand labor, which has been the biggest. issue we've had is now like There's stairs, you know. Small little sidewalks that wind and twist so it's not It takes a lot more manpower. so we've kind of been looking at is if we can find the manpower.
Tyler: And I'd rather put them in a machine than have them shoveling. so That's why we're trying to grow a little bit more towards the commercial. Side right now
The SnowJobs Podcast: HOAs are like snow contractors. They're not all created equal. There are different levels. I'm serious. There are different levels of HOAs. Like, you you can have nightmares. that We have them here.
Tyler: mm -hmm
The SnowJobs Podcast: We have actually, you, you meet with people. And you're like, there's no way I'm touching anything with these people. Like, I can already see that this is going to be a ah problem. They're nitpicky. they're You know, they're trying to tell you how to do your job, any number of things.
The SnowJobs Podcast: So no matter what. money they're paying or offering to pay. It's not worth it. But you have some HOAs that are very well run. They have a very good system. they They've developed it over years. they They understand what it takes to do good snow. and they're great to, to work with. So, yeah, I mean, not, not, not all HOAs are perfect and they definitely, you got to find the right ones for you. That's for sure.
Tyler: Yeah. 100%. I think that's a big thing. and just when I was younger and I kind of you know i just want to do more work and experience more things, I'd kind of maybe look past that. and now it's you know i've done a decent while and had some of those complaints and those issues and now it's like like you said if it doesn't make sense and you know you're not going to be happy and we're probably not going to be happy it's like why i even work together
The SnowJobs Podcast: 100%.
Tyler: Um, It's just a lose -lose at that point. so
The SnowJobs Podcast: Better served by others. Yep.
Tyler: Yeah. 100%.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Absolutely. So what, what type of like commercially you guys trying to target?
RICK JAMES: it's
The SnowJobs Podcast: Like, what are you going after?
Tyler: Yeah, so our main like... focus for size -wise is anything like quarter acre ah up to five acres.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Okay.
Tyler: We don't have a ton around five acres. We have a couple, but mostly the smaller stuff. And those are typically like owner occupied, owner ran businesses.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Sure.
Tyler: Uh... Dentists, vets, office parks, stuff like that. That's kind of what we've found to be. the best we can have a good relationship with them. We do stuff with management companies that seems to be like.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Absolutely.
Tyler: relationship things there still, but... sometimes a little bit more about price. and you know, like I always try to ask. can i have a site walk and i meet with you guys try to get all that stuff and sometimes we're like i'll get the price and then we'll talk about it's like well that price could vary drastically based on.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah.
Tyler: what you guys want.
The SnowJobs Podcast: That price depends a lot on that sidewalk.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
Tyler: and Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Oh my God.
RICK JAMES: All right.
The SnowJobs Podcast: You kidding me? oh jesus
RICK JAMES: You. What's your service area look like, Tyler?
Tyler: Yeah, we're kind of refining it. um We're kinda in a weird spot. or kind of edge uh like kind of in suburbia country i'd say like where I live and where the shop is kind of, it's like.
Tyler: more country so we kind of have one service area that's a little bit closer towards not the twin cities but there's kind of like cities that but up to the Twin Cities like Maple Grove and Plymouth. Um,
Tyler: That's kind of like one of our main hubs is mainly Plymouth. And then we have a hub kind of a little ways away on the 94 is like St. Michael Albertville. um
RICK JAMES: Yep.
Tyler: that same uncle alberville is pretty cool they have a decent amount of light commercial And a lot of it's more like owner occupied. The Plymouth area is a lot more like you see like the CBREs.
Tyler: the big the big management companies there. And you're dealing with a lot bigger pride like property sites and stuff like that sizes.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Gotcha.
The SnowJobs Podcast: 10 -4. What do you think, Jay? You want to take him through all his equipment? Jeremy Lindstrom, Dinesh Leasing Equipment segment.
RICK JAMES: You got it. All right, Tyler, you know me. I love my equipment. Why don't you tell everybody what kind of equipment you're running? and snow all the snow equipment you have for pushers to Salters to whatever you want.
Tyler: Yeah. we've ah We kind of have a mixed fleet. We're kind of so young. and haven't really gone with one brand or anything like that i don't know if we ever will but we've been trying different things so um majority Uh...
Tyler: Our sights. are equipment operated um some we do with trucks but for equipment we kind of run skids We got a mixed bag. We got Cat. We got Bobcat, Kubota.
Tyler: Um. wheeled and tracked so it kind of run different ones depending on the sites and then like the route of that. um We're getting the loaders. We leased a ah mini loader for the full season last year.
Tyler: um And we at least stu typically when we get those bigger storms, we'll just bring on a couple extra pieces of equipment just to make sure everything goes well. And it's also a really good point time to. you know If you have a site failure next to you, it's a... pretty good sailing opportunity if someone's not really ready for it.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Sure.
Tyler: So we've seen that. the opportunity for that. We brought it on last year. Really enjoyed it. productions through the roof obviously um like everyone else Nose. so we're gonna be buying a case this year for uh that
The SnowJobs Podcast: Nice.
Tyler: um Run a John Deere tractors for our. most of our HOA stuff. John Deere's have, or the tractors have the inverted blower typically. And then a Cage on the front.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Okay.
Tyler: Then we also have a... a rear blowers a stuff like that then we also have uh a kotec on the back expandable 12 foot blade
The SnowJobs Podcast: How's that?
Tyler: Um,
The SnowJobs Podcast: You're the first guy we've talked to that has one of those. I've seen them, and I've always thought they look pretty cool, but I've never actually talked to anybody that runs them.
Tyler: Yeah, if you're doing like... two three inch maybe four inch dry like low moisture content snow That thing is amazing. If you're getting that four plus and it's a little bit wetter.
Tyler: like you're losing almost a lot of your traction because it's stacking up right on your tires
The SnowJobs Podcast: Oh, okay.
Tyler: So it's... Yeah, we... Normally... Now with the route we have with the HOAs, it's kind of... It's better for the blower right now. um there's some hoas though or residential driveways at that kotech is a absolute killer on.
Tyler: um it just kind of sucks because then you have to you know push it somewhere still so the nice thing about the blower And inverted blowers, you have a lot less saw damage and a lot less pile issues, which most of these HOAs are being designed by someone out of state that doesn't know.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Sure.
Tyler: that snows here and you know like they have nowhere to put snow so
RICK JAMES: yeah
Tyler: The blower helps out a lot for that.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yep. Absolutely. Cool.
RICK JAMES: Kind of blurry running on the back.
Tyler: We have Normans right now. Um... I saw the... The musk ox head. Both Starman, I guess, up there, Valley Green. and I think probably give it a year, maybe another year just to make sure, like maybe work out some of the kinks, which. im Thinking they probably won't have it. pretty smart about it but probably go that route um the recycling part's huge because like i said we have some that are like You know, you can't blow anything for the first 15 feet of the driveway because it's all landscaping.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Mm hmm.
Tyler: and stupid stuff like that so normally we recycle but it doesn't work super well anyways because it's the blowers we have aren't set up for that. So that.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Gotcha.
Tyler: muskox is out for them and sheer pins is a huge thing it's a non -fail lake Call this. shittiest time of the night you're breaking a shear pin you're out there freezing your hands off Try and get that thing in there.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Oh, yeah, that's a guarantee. Virtual certainty.
Tyler: Right. yeah so
RICK JAMES: cause They have to get a demo of this one in there or something. Try it out.
Tyler: Yeah. Yeah. That'd be cool. I would definitely like that Give it a shot.
The SnowJobs Podcast: I never knew how, how important, like I'm not a inverted blower guy. So I never knew how important that recycle feature was. Until you start talking to inverted blower guys and every all you guys are saying like, no, that's fucking huge.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Like good for them.
Tyler: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Good for them for solving that problem.
Tyler: Yeah, the one thing that sucks about inverted blowers is just like the operator's neck just is cranked back the whole time so That's the one thing the one downfall. But other than that, I haven't found too many others. Tractor has good road speed and good visibility, and you can put the snow pretty much anywhere you want it. But.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Do those tractor seats swivel at all? Like, can you can you move the seat 30 degrees?
Tyler: Not ours at least.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Oh.
Tyler: so
The SnowJobs Podcast: That's unfortunate. You'd think somebody would do that.
Tyler: Yeah, that would be pretty sweet.
The SnowJobs Podcast: cause Even farmers, if if you're using a tractor in an ag you know in an ag scenario, you're still going to be looking behind you, right?
RICK JAMES: Don't swivel.
Tyler: Yeah.
RICK JAMES: Loser. Those were almost football all the way around.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Oh yeah? Just not the smaller ones.
RICK JAMES: Yeah. Yeah. Is his calves just not big enough?
The SnowJobs Podcast: I'm sure you could do something.
Tyler: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Figure something.
RICK JAMES: All together.
The SnowJobs Podcast: we'll We'll figure something out. We'll come out with a Jeremy Lindstrom seat.
Tyler: Like a lazy Susan out there and just he spinning around
RICK JAMES: feather
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah, that'd be cool. Like, I'm not even talking all the way around, but if even if you just pointed the seat towards the door.
Tyler: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: a little bit Like it would make not having to turn your neck completely around like a giraffe. You know, basically, because I understand exactly what he's saying. Like, that's one of the biggest reasons we went with. the We went with. the musk oxes and not tractors with a blade or inverted blower.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Because I know my neck. This sucks. And I know the guys are going to hate it too. like it and that's one complaint you hear from all the inverted blower guys is like, yeah, you got neck problems after, after an eight hour storm.
RICK JAMES: Yeah, i don't think I don't think they get the seats that swivel until they get bigger tractors. and because I know at the farm and stuff, they'll pretty much almost go. not all the way around but they'll go they'll twist on you pretty far so helps you out a lot i just don't think the calves are big enough for your legs and we get around you know so
The SnowJobs Podcast: 10 -4. You run anything from so for sidewalks out there, Tyler?
Tyler: Yep. Yeah, and that's another area we've kind of been. We're... switching up our plan a little bit going into this year but uh we have a couple multi -forces Um, With the blades. four -wheelers and then uh If it's really bad in the past, which it doesn't work very well, we have like the standout mini skid loaders, but. This winter, we're going to be purchasing a RT40.
Tyler: with a blower. We already have the floor, I guess, but we're going to be purchasing in.
The SnowJobs Podcast: ASV.
Tyler: um Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Nice.
Tyler: The uh... We like the... multi forces on certain applications. because they're so fast and if you have a once again lights low density snow you can really get it but
The SnowJobs Podcast: Absolutely.
Tyler: we run into those like where you A sidewalk maybe is on the back of a building. You can't really wing it anyway. Like you're in a landscape bed. And so you're. you're just building banks and you don't have a four -wheel drive or the power to kind of move that so If you're doing like storefronts where you can wing it all.
Tyler: uh towards the parking lot and get it out there works phenomenal but the
RICK JAMES: and love
The SnowJobs Podcast: Sure.
Tyler: back So we'll be running a system between. The ASV and then the... we'll still keep the multi -tracks or the multi -forces but um though it's more like a backup in certain snow.
Tyler: situation type machine.
The SnowJobs Podcast: They're fast as shit.
Tyler: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: They're super fast
RICK JAMES: Are you going to be getting a broom for that?
The SnowJobs Podcast: That's cool.
RICK JAMES: ASV2 or just a blower?
Tyler: We're undecided. A lot of our... Um... broom probably would be a pretty good idea i don't think the blades are super great ideas on that
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
Tyler: You notice how heavy it is? but ah Blower is our main idea, then yeah I'll probably look at getting a broom.
RICK JAMES: and Josh runs one of those for us. Yeah, he's got a broom and blower and stuff for it. It works great.
Tyler: Does it have a Vroom Vroom on that?
RICK JAMES: We're actually going to keep this up.
Tyler: or
RICK JAMES: No, it's I think it's just ASV's broom, whatever. But yeah, he's got actually... two of them in this fleet, I'm pretty sure. with the sub.
Tyler: on us.
The SnowJobs Podcast: i don't I don't know if I missed it or if if you covered it and I missed it or if you didn't cover it. what do you what do you putting You said the skids. What are you putting on front of the skids? pushing.
Tyler: Yeah, I did not hit that. um So the skids have... All cages.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Okay, cool.
Tyler: Um, So a pretty big fan of Cage.
The SnowJobs Podcast: theyre gu
Tyler: And then The Loader.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Good plows. Yeah, they're great plows.
Tyler: Yeah. Yeah, I'd say they're...
The SnowJobs Podcast: They're very versatile.
Tyler: 100%. And I would say they're, I mean. They're super operator friendly. and it's just nice because you can drop the box wing like windrow for your neo stack
The SnowJobs Podcast: 100%.
Tyler: It's nice as you get some bigger parking lots. and some islands and you get wetter snow. It's just nice really angle it so you can kind of move the snow as you turn and stuff kind of the thing we've seen with like the full like unmovable boxes as and you're kind of starting to run over snow as you start to turn and Kind of lose traction.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah.
Tyler: but yeah we've loved them and we we stocked cage parts and we have uh extra cages around like whole plows so it works out pretty well these guys are pretty used to him as. you can hop in and use it. you have to mess around with the settings and make sure it's all it's pretty much Pretty.
Tyler: Bulletproof for that. um
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah, and they're pretty, yeah I mean, we we have we've talked to a lot of guys that have cages, and they all say, like, they're pretty bulletproof.
Tyler: The Lord be with you.
The SnowJobs Podcast: They don't break a lot. so
Tyler: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: It's good.
Tyler: You know.
RICK JAMES: Yeah, it was a... Was it two years ago, Tyler? we You went to Storm Academy with your crew? I came up for that.
Tyler: Yep. Yeah, I think it was two winters ago.
RICK JAMES: Yeah. Yeah. He brought you. A few of your guys are and stuff. and It was kind of cool to watch.
Tyler: a
RICK JAMES: They got some. you know, play around with stuff. So it was it was. I think it was a good learning experience for you and your guys because that was that low winter year where you didn't even have much snow, right, if I recall?
Tyler: Yep. Yeah, it was a low winter. I think we came off of. low winter the year before. had some new guys and of course we have this all set up and we get like one of the biggest storms And they.
RICK JAMES: Yep.
Tyler: like the time. And so we were tired we yeah a That's such a. like a valuable resource that It. It's just... we were super lucky to be able to use it. and i think going forward that's just going to be Kind of like the standard is getting people training.
Tyler: before they even get out there. The amount of problems and things you can circumvent before that. is just That's insane.
The SnowJobs Podcast: 100%. That was the idea.
RICK JAMES: Yeah. Yeah, I think they could do a lot more. in the summer you know with that when we learned we were out there for a storm day and all that the mulch just use the mulch you know that i mean you don't remember when we were out there it was cold as shit wasn't it if i recall Yeah, so it was...
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah, mulch.
Tyler: Yep.
RICK JAMES: I mean... It's a lot easier to stand outside and learn stuff. and talk about stuff. 80 degrees out.
Tyler: Yeah, 100%.
The SnowJobs Podcast: 100%.
RICK JAMES: but
The SnowJobs Podcast: 100%.
RICK JAMES: Whatever.
The SnowJobs Podcast: What do you, uh, what do you, is that, did we miss anything on the equipment?
Tyler: um Loader, we run in Arctic. Um.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Okay.
Tyler: And then... i think that's mostly machines and stuff and then we do still we have plow trucks that kind of support And then kind of hit some out. smaller outliers and stuff like that.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Sure.
Tyler: Um, pretty much run all Ford trucks. got dodger too i think um pretty much all boss plows on the front v plows are typically exts um We got a...
Tyler: Backdrag Blade, a boss back. drag pro i think it's called we just got last year we didn't use a ton
The SnowJobs Podcast: Old drag pro.
Tyler: Yep. And then we got.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Cool.
Tyler: a F12 snow power for the front. One of the front of the tracks
The SnowJobs Podcast: Very cool.
RICK JAMES: Like it?
Tyler: Yeah, it's a sweet plow. Productions. pretty crazy when it works we've had some issues with the wiring and stuff like that i think it's version like the first gen
The SnowJobs Podcast: Absolutely.
Tyler: Um...
RICK JAMES: Okay. Yep.
Tyler: But I mean everything like that kind of When it first comes out, but... Yeah, I mean, you can... move some snow with it fits the right conditions and paired.
Tyler: you know it's not the perfect plow but paired right and Working with like a skid or something I can do some damage
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yes, ma 'am yes, sir
Tyler: So.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Amen.
RICK JAMES: What do you what do you guys got for Salter then?
Tyler: Yeah, we run a Salt Dog. And then we have a Hineker stainless steel. um
The SnowJobs Podcast: Okay.
Tyler: The hint occurs it's kind of like a... We just botted it. Last year, we were sending guys out east. and we just needed more trucks with salters to go so i just started calling everyone i kind of knew and my cousin's company had it sitting around so we just bought it it's actually been a super Super valuable. he said
The SnowJobs Podcast: Cool.
Tyler: Um, the salt dogs um I think it's great because it's pretty simple. We made a pretty. I don't know i didn't know it at the time but our dealer up here they're great but they sold uh They would sell it with like a blue, like the. remote would be Bluetooth.
Tyler: So you only had the power cable going back?
The SnowJobs Podcast: Okay.
Tyler: And I thought that I didn't realize I didn't. thing to ask i just thought that was like a salt dog feature Well, it turns out like that's their own retrofit kind of thing
The SnowJobs Podcast: Okay.
Tyler: so then we started having issues with that so then we basically just had to like pull all that out and rewire the whole like thing we'd already cut off and undid so Um, That was kind of annoying, but other than that. I think they're pretty bulletproof, pretty simple.
Tyler: um Yeah, so that's all for Salters. This year. All right.
The SnowJobs Podcast: What are you running? You running granular? Are you doing any liquids at all?
Tyler: all granular up until this year i think we're gonna We're pretty good. looking into getting a sprayer for the back of our truck. Um... we kind of dabbled a little bit back and forth on the sidewalk side but just haven't had a really good application way to do it So I think this year we're probably going to.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Sure.
Tyler: But. maybe we gonna buy a vsi and started doing some smaller lots and some sidewalk work and just I think that's where it's going, obviously, with the assault shortages. last year and they're already seeing some new shortage this year.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yep.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yep.
Tyler: It just makes sense, I think.
RICK JAMES: Would you
Tyler: to hop on the train and
RICK JAMES: Good.
Tyler: get some knowledge in it before we have to get there.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yup, yup.
RICK JAMES: Would you? Would you just buy Brian or you make your own or what do you think about that?
Tyler: Yeah, we just buy it. There's a, I mean, Turbo Todd.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Got to be tons of places out there, right?
RICK JAMES: Okay.
Tyler: Yeah. I don't know if he sells cells, Brian, but he's like. four miles from me. Um.
RICK JAMES: Okay.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Turbo Todd.
Tyler: And then there's a couple other. big outfits up here that... make a lot of brine that would sell it.
RICK JAMES: Hey. On the last show at Minnesota, guys. do you sell salt too or something i thought they said something about you Selling salt bags or something or no? Oh.
Tyler: Yeah, so what we... We do sell bulk salt and by eggs. We got a salt bunker because we kind of ran into an issue or like. You know, it's all like a storm popped up and it's. Meldonite and... who's open so we just decided like as we get bigger it just makes sense to have our own bunker so we built it And then we just had more and we kind of were trying to.
Tyler: help out like kind of a lot of my friends in the area some of those smaller guys you may only need two tons of time or whatever it is
RICK JAMES: Mm -hmm.
Tyler: Um... So we we were doing that last year. it worked all right definitely wasn't it was kind of like a afterthought like oh we could do this so um we didn't like focus on it but then salt bags and stuff like that just gets better pricing the more you buy so you can you know helps us out and like this year we already have our Salt that like prepaid for and all everything. Hopefully we get it but Um,
Tyler: so yeah then you know mid -season for some of our friends or whatever can't find salt or have issues they can just come over here and grab it from us
RICK JAMES: Nice.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Cool. That's awesome.
Tyler: so
The SnowJobs Podcast: You guys, ah who tells you it's going to snow? You guys use the weather service at all?
Tyler: Yup. yeah we do we use uh Weather pros.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Okay. How'd they do?
Tyler: Ah, oui. What's up?
The SnowJobs Podcast: How'd they do last year?
Tyler: I thought they did really well last year. it's super nice getting the texts and stuff like that it was our first year using it so it was kind of like Anything was better than, you know, frantically checking 10 different apps on your phone like most guys do.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yep.
Tyler: And then we still kind of do that. but
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
Tyler: We use weather pros and then also like. We use field command and we pay for it. So like Bo knows whether. He's a local guy
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yep.
Tyler: who they partner with. he kind of puts out like a I guess kind of like a forecast on there. I think it's probably going to get a little bit better as they focus on a little bit more. but Um, So we did that.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Cool.
Tyler: And then... um
The SnowJobs Podcast: So you used field command.
Tyler: My brothers.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Last year.
Tyler: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: How was it?
Tyler: It was great. i ah We know those guys pretty well. Matt and Chris, I know really well. My brother knows Matt pretty well. Tom, I know. I just don't know him as well. Um... So they kind of helped us out. like They want us a to...
Tyler: test it out so it was pretty sweet because like We don't really have anything by us that makes it like super. like localized snow normally like i know you in the past like the river and stuff like that
The SnowJobs Podcast: Mm hmm.
Tyler: It's like last year we had an instance where... My brother lived in Rockford. which is... maybe 10 minutes from our shop.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Okay.
Tyler: And.
RICK JAMES: okay
Tyler: I was at the shop. It was like. midnight or whatever and They said it might snow, so I was just here making sure everything's good. and Here's it. he like text me a picture and i thought he was fucking with me because he's like i thought it was an old picture because there's like five inches on the ground I'm like...
Tyler: What? Wait, like... what's that and he's like it snowed in rockford so then we started driving around to all of our other sites because we don't have anything like necessarily right in rockford
The SnowJobs Podcast: and Okay.
Tyler: And everything else was like... under like a coating. So it was like.
The SnowJobs Podcast: No shit.
Tyler: you could start seeing field command pop up and like see those
The SnowJobs Podcast: hu
Tyler: like those pins. And that was super helpful. like um
RICK JAMES: Nice.
The SnowJobs Podcast: That's cool.
Tyler: Yeah, so yeah. It's a great app. I think they have pretty big plans for it. so i think it's pretty exciting but even just like as they get like people in the public to use it and report like you know like and if you're taking a picture of snow in a park like On a hard surface.
Tyler: It's not like you can really bullshit it, right? It's pretty unhackable. like You can see the photo. You can see the surface. Um...
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yep.
Tyler: So I think it's a great idea. so
The SnowJobs Podcast: It's awesome. Good for them.
Tyler: All right.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah, I hadn't talked to anybody from Minnesota that actually got to use it last year.
Tyler: tool in the toolbox
The SnowJobs Podcast: so That's... ah that's That's fortuitous that you you used it and could tell us about it. good Cool. Good for those dudes. How many guys do you run a storm?
Tyler: Yep.
Tyler: Yeah, it depends how many you wake up I guess
The SnowJobs Podcast: Okay. ah
RICK JAMES: ah
Tyler: It's kind of always changing like we have our main guys, so I think
RICK JAMES: Thank you.
Tyler: Like. bare minimum and we kind of our contracts are set below the difference like we kind of have different tiers like One is Snowfall.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Sure.
Tyler: We're probably running like 8 to 12. Uh, over two or probably 12 to 15 maybe 18 and then like If. last year where they called for like a megalodon like two footer that we didn't get but And basically at that point, we just kind of. We have a lot of people that like.
Tyler: don't work for us full -time in the winter or whatever but they kind of are just
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah, they'll come when you call them.
Tyler: like, will help out when they can.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yep.
Tyler: So then we kind of just start. shifting it out. and kind of so then I mean, there could be up to them. 30 -ish guys. they're just kind of rotating and making light work
The SnowJobs Podcast: You put the giant Batman light in the sky.
Tyler: Yep.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Everybody come.
RICK JAMES: yeah
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah
Tyler: Yeah, you start making some pretty big promises. and
The SnowJobs Podcast: That's it.
Tyler: Wow.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Oh shit. You know what? Let's let Tyler get a drink. We're going to hit some commercials and we'll keep going with it when we come back.
The SnowJobs Podcast: all right we're back So we'll keep going with Tyler here. Let's see, where are we at? What do you guys, ah every every area is different. We love talking about this, see what everybody does in their area. What's your contract structures like out there? what What's the norm out there? Is it seasonal, per push, hourly? like What flies in your end of Minnesota?
RICK JAMES: He's waiting to get your book, Steve, you remember? You were supposed to send him your book.
Tyler: Yeah. I haven't. I actually haven't sent out any contracts because I've been waiting on that.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah.
Tyler: so
The SnowJobs Podcast: Oh, yeah?
Tyler: myas
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: What do you want?
Tyler: My wonder solely relies on you.
The SnowJobs Podcast: You want the ceiling and the floor deal?
Tyler: Yeah, no.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
Tyler: um I would say like. on the HOA side, it's primarily all per month year round.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Okay.
Tyler: Um,
The SnowJobs Podcast: Smart.
Tyler: Which is nice. It's also an opportunity for...
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yep.
Tyler: not so nice if the weather's kind of difficult. um and then i'd say most commercial is kind of split between per time and per month Uh... we don't get ah asked to do hourly often up here i'd say um nor do i ever really
The SnowJobs Podcast: Good.
Tyler: I don't think I've ever really won any hourly work. Um, I think I may be a little bit too honest. you knowm not gonna throw out a lower rate than charge them double the hours i actually was there but
The SnowJobs Podcast: No. I think hourly is detrimental to snow guys now. In 2025 -26.
Tyler: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Everybody's so efficient, you know, that has, you know, they're buying tier one plows and buying equipment. We're so efficient at doing things quicker. We're costing ourselves money by doing it hourly. Unless you're pricing that hour.
RICK JAMES: Yep.
The SnowJobs Podcast: for you know the money you really need to make for you know the work.
RICK JAMES: But you're not going to, you're never going to get that.
The SnowJobs Podcast: You never gonna get it.
RICK JAMES: You're never going to get.
The SnowJobs Podcast: No, they're gonna be like what $600 an hour. What are you crazy? Oh my god Never going to do that.
Tyler: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: So you're actually hurting yourself by doing hourly in this day and age in snow.
Tyler: 100 %
Tyler: Yeah. I'd agree. um up here i would say like if you were to be so like a subcontractor a lot of guys do hourly And it's kind of like funny because you'll be talking to him and it's like.
Tyler: Okay, so say an eight -foot straight plow on a truck makes expert like 80 bucks. thats That's low. That's just an example. 80 bucks an hour.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yep.
Tyler: and you're like okay what does uh f12 make they're like 80 bucks it's like okay What's that?
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah
Tyler: Eight foot. 10 -foot cage on a skid loader would make $80. What is that? skid with a dirt bucket make 80 bucks it's like Okay, like this sounds so stupid.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah, man.
Tyler: It's like you're incentivizing me.
The SnowJobs Podcast: These things are not relation.
RICK JAMES: Right.
Tyler: to just use a dirt bucket and an eight foot straight plow. Obviously we would never do that. Actually we have other shit to do, but it's like. yeah why would i you know like the cutting edge is way more expensive you know like arctic stuff like that like Why?
Tyler: That makes no sense to me. so Um, yeah, the hourly thing is.
The SnowJobs Podcast: if If somebody was adamant they wanted to pay me hourly to plow the lot, I'd send SSVs out there to do it.
Tyler: it
RICK JAMES: Huh.
The SnowJobs Podcast: you'd see You'd see three or four SSVs tooling around with with the little V -blades that they have.
Tyler: Yeah.
RICK JAMES: Buds.
RICK JAMES: I mean, that's what I tool around to, you know. we played a lot of subs you know hourly not not seeing guys fuck around or anything but it Like you just got done saying it. it's they should be we should have a set rate and
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah.
RICK JAMES: oh that's what you're gonna get because everybody's so efficient now i mean nobody's nobody's
The SnowJobs Podcast: Well yeah. How are these bad for on on all levels? I mean, it just it makes you play a game. Even if you're not a game player, it really does.
RICK JAMES: Yep.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Cause you're going to do it once and you're going to be like. Man, i'm I'm going to do this at the right pace with the right equipment. And you you look at the check at the end of the event, and you're like, fuck, I just made no money whatsoever. Like, I actually lost money because I did it so quick.
RICK JAMES: Mm -hmm
The SnowJobs Podcast: You know, I need to make money. So it it forces guys to start playing games. I just think the hourly model in snow in this day and age is over.
RICK JAMES: Mm -hmm.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Like like Tyler said, back in the day when they were pushing with construction buckets. You know, okay. And eight foot truck plows. Hourly. Might have made sense back then. Today, with the efficiencies available, I do not think hourly is is a thing anymore or should be.
RICK JAMES: Well, you get it you get it done so quick, and then you're like, ah, shit, I gotta pad this a little bit or something.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah.
RICK JAMES: you can't You can't do that.
The SnowJobs Podcast: You can't.
RICK JAMES: Remember, you can't because everything's GPSed or whatever. So it's like. Well, and then you should have. Praise yourself. accordingly. you know. If you've got to pad something, then you... Probably should have priced it accordingly instead of worrying about a pack.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah. it only takes It'll only take you one time to figure out that that shit is not working anymore. you know do it per you know like Do it per event. Have an event price of...
The SnowJobs Podcast: you know at a snow total price One to three is this. you know Two to four is this. Whatever. But figure it out because hourly is just, you know, that's a good way to lose money for snow guys.
The SnowJobs Podcast: on
RICK JAMES: I agree.
The SnowJobs Podcast: um So, yeah yeah, I mean, those HOAs you have on, you know, 12 -month payments, it's great when the money comes in. You just got to put them on a cap and a floor. For the snow.
Tyler: Yep. Yeah, that's ah working on that.
The SnowJobs Podcast: To keep it fair.
Tyler: Kind of the new ones. that reach out or that's going to be part of that The existing ones is a little harder. But it going that way, we do some like. we have blizzard clauses and stuff like that so like certain over a certain amount of inches isn't included and that's hourly it's like That normally really helps on the large ones Because there's just so much more labor and time that takes to.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yep. Yeah, absolutely If you have a blizzard clause already in there, it might not be a stretch to be able to go back and get an amendment.
Tyler: of those lunch times.
The SnowJobs Podcast: to the existing contract and just say, Hey, listen. This is going to keep it fair for both of us. Like if we have a, yeah and you guys have had the variation lately, you said, right? The.
RICK JAMES: Yeah. Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: You've had the deviation.
RICK JAMES: A hundred inch here.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah, you had a 100 -inch year and you had a, what, 20 -inch year, or you said real low.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: If you have that. It's a perfect time to go to them and say, hey, look, let's look at our climatology the last five years. We've had a hundred inch winner and a 20 inch winner. Like, should you be paying?
The SnowJobs Podcast: for If we're basing this on 60 inches or 50 inches, the pricing, should you be paying that much? If if we're only going to get 20. And on the flip side. If we have a 100 -inch winner and we're basing it on 50, should I only be paid for 50 even though I'm pushing 100? You might be able to to go in there because you have that deviation. and get them to understand that you know it's just about keeping it fair for them and you that might be able to be sold.
Tyler: Yeah, 100%.
RICK JAMES: Okay.
Tyler: Yeah, I think
RICK JAMES: Still waiting for that book.
The SnowJobs Podcast: The book.
RICK JAMES: Yeah, yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: I've been busy i'll I'll get on the phone with him. I'll talk him through it.
RICK JAMES: he He texts me every he text me every day. He's like, why didn't Steve send me that book? I'm like, I don't know.
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah I'll talk him through it.
Tyler: Does he hate me?
RICK JAMES: yeah Does he not like me? What's the problem?
The SnowJobs Podcast: oh my god i'm sorry i've been so busy i will i will get on the phone with you and i will talk you through it
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: it's ah It's pretty easy. It's all about how you... structure it.
Tyler: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: but uh
Tyler: And that's the biggest thing is just structuring. communicating that with the client and like
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yep.
Tyler: ah like I feel like so many guys, and I've felt this way too. like then you guys said it so many times that it feels like making money is like illegal but it's like sometimes you've but it's like that's the stupidest thing ever we're in business to make money It has like you.
The SnowJobs Podcast: 100%.
RICK JAMES: Yes.
Tyler: you don't You can't do anything in business if you don't make money. Your people are off the out of job. Like.
RICK JAMES: You won't be in business.
Tyler: They're going to have to go find different service providers. like It has to be a win -win. But like you said, like If you're planning on a huge winner and you get. two storms they shouldn't pay the same thing you should you know like balance that forward. for them and like that's going to help their budgets because so many of them are so so like strapped on budgets anyways.
The SnowJobs Podcast: it's such like if you really think about it it's such a ridiculously retarded industry
Tyler: So.
The SnowJobs Podcast: We are the only industry out there That. Look at the costs increasing in everything the last five years. Art article. Our industry is the only people that are keeping prices the same year after year or dropping them.
Tyler: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Like it makes no fucking sense that the cost of everything has gone up, but our industry, every other industry offering products and services is going up astronomically.
RICK JAMES: Right? So stupid.
The SnowJobs Podcast: We're keeping our prices the same or lowering them. ah You know, most people
RICK JAMES: Because we are morons.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Like, it it makes no fucking sense.
RICK JAMES: theyre more of an industry.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Like I say all the time, it's not. that We have some of the greatest human beings. I've met. in this industry. but their their lack of business basic business acumen.
RICK JAMES: Yep.
The SnowJobs Podcast: is what is failing them.
The SnowJobs Podcast: It just makes no sense
Tyler: Yeah, 100%. Couldn't agree more.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Oh, yeah yeah. Anyway, before we get ranting about that, ah you guys are in Minnesota.
RICK JAMES: yeah
The SnowJobs Podcast: So is there a lot of competition for you guys in your area for what you do?
Tyler: uh yes and no like i don't want to be that guy it's like we're only in competition with ourselves because like i kind of believe that but i also know it's business um i mean yeah we have
The SnowJobs Podcast: Sure.
Tyler: They... i would say the biggest some of the biggest regional players in our area and they're all like have sites in our same cities that we focus on. I mean...
Tyler: Brightview is headquartered. I know they're, you know, whatever. terrible But their headquarters is in Plymouth. They get a ton of the big sites in Plymouth because they have that name. Yeah, they screw up a lot. you have other big companies like uh in our market but i think they're more focused on the large stuff uh we're like i said we're mainly focused on basically as small as it can be, a quarter acre.
The SnowJobs Podcast: I love it Do it.
Tyler: The. I really like the one to two acre mark.
RICK JAMES: Those are money makers.
Tyler: Um.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Dude, that's all you need, man. Let everybody else scramble for the big sites and you just make it up in the you know you make it up in the aggregate.
Tyler: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: you know what What it takes them, what they make in one big site. You can easily make. by doing this by five small, like like sub one acre sites. And you're done three hours before them.
Tyler: Yeah.
RICK JAMES: Yep.
The SnowJobs Podcast: So who's the fool?
Tyler: Right.
RICK JAMES: Exactly.
Tyler: So. Yeah, and I... I'd say like, there's some like really good players in the industry right now around us that you know, like. If we're going against them, it's like they're. high quality service they're priced right that's a good competition I like to be in.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Sure.
Tyler: And then there's those guys that I was like when I was younger, like. probably low overhead no one really told them anything and they're just like oh i can do this for way cheaper i'm gonna get more it's like You can.
Tyler: But, like, you can also get a lot more for it than you really think.
The SnowJobs Podcast: 100%.
Tyler: But yeah, it's just like. so like those guys and just trying to like you know i try and be like a dad to them but you know like hey guys like That's all. Like... let's talk about how to recuperate like assets.
Tyler: Like let's talk about that.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Absolutely.
Tyler: but And hopefully you can take that into your business, apply it and actually like. try to do better and i'm not saying i've like i've missed bids before
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah.
Tyler: too like i've done that i did that last year i missed bids on gap properties i was like oh well taking that but uh You need time and you need some help and just to track your numbers and actually know what you're doing.
The SnowJobs Podcast: You do. We just need to stop.
RICK JAMES: Okay, just...
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah, go ahead, Jay.
RICK JAMES: Guys just need to ask, and nobody wants to ask. And you've got to get there somehow by just asking questions and not be afraid to.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah.
Tyler: Yeah.
RICK JAMES: say i don't i don't really know can you help me you know that's that's Everybody's everybody's got an ego they don't want to be.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Well...
The SnowJobs Podcast: Sure.
RICK JAMES: act like they don't know what's going on but
The SnowJobs Podcast: And there's nothing.
RICK JAMES: You got to talk to people.
The SnowJobs Podcast: There's nothing wrong with being that young, like Tyler said, that young guy with low overhead that can. can do it possibly cheaper and still make money. But what you want to stop and what we're trying to stop is this yo -yo.
The SnowJobs Podcast: The yo -yo of every contract, every three to five years, going up to where it should be and then getting undercut and coming back down. And now it takes us five to ten years to get it back up to where it it was. before we cut it. so Be in that same realm with those quality guys in that area. Ask the questions. Hey, you know can you help me? If you don't know. what you should be getting per acre in your area.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Ask somebody. Like, ask somebody that knows. Don't just ask just anybody. Ask somebody that's got a reputation for making good money on sites. and find out where you should be. and That guy should never be mad if you're now competing and sending in a bid as long as it's long as he's losing by 10 versus you know, 70%.
The SnowJobs Podcast: The whole area's mean average pricing for snow will stay up and come up and stay up.
Tyler: yeah
The SnowJobs Podcast: But we just got to stop the yo -yo.
Tyler: And I think. another big Yeah, the yo -yo is huge and another thing is like i get it dude it's like i think some of these younger guys are they look at instagram they see these massive companies and then like it really is eye -opening to me at storm is like Okay, you have storm and emi two massive companies but it's also like they're totally different.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah.
Tyler: So if you're going to focus on small sites, you shouldn't be at In my opinion, you shouldn't be asking someone that's only focused on industrial how to price it. Like, yeah, they're probably going to get a better idea.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah. Yeah, no, that's a good point
Tyler: advice but it's like it's gonna be totally different square foot pricing all that stuff and someone that does like smaller stuff because If you have smart. Yeah. So that's just mine. Two cents on it.
The SnowJobs Podcast: You can have three. different one acre lots. and your pricing is going to be completely different due to the difficulty. If one's wide open, one has, say, four islands in the acre, and one has 17 islands in the acre.
Tyler: Mhm.
The SnowJobs Podcast: That's three different prices because of the difficulty and time it's going to take you to accomplish. you know that same one acre.
RICK JAMES: earth
The SnowJobs Podcast: So yeah, you need to know what you're pricing.
Tyler: 100%.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Love it, buddy. Love it. What else you got for him, Jay? Want to go five and five or what?
RICK JAMES: ah you Are you planning on expanding much this year, Tyler?
The SnowJobs Podcast: Nigga.
RICK JAMES: What's your plans? or What are you thinking?
Tyler: Yeah. We've got a decent amount of growth. we're trying to accomplish this year. more in that commercial space and kind of more just tightening down the the service area.
Tyler: ah more route work on the machines instead of driving. like trucks around like we used to
RICK JAMES: Mm -hmm.
Tyler: So it's kind of, you can grow substantially or at least where we were and how we were running it, we could grow. The amount of counts and the revenue and not necessarily have to grow people or equipment is just utilizing our equipment more efficiently and smarter Um,
RICK JAMES: Mm -hmm.
Tyler: and another thing that i've kind of just been having to learn is like i always thought people just reached out when they needed snow. cut like pricing i didn't realize you know like i'm not a sales guy and my parents aren't sales people i was not really around that like You can go door knock. You can go. call someone you can you know go network and you can typically get referrals and stuff like that for closer proximity sites. You don't have to.
Tyler: Take all the one two two Two cities over someone's asking me to do i'm gonna go bid that it's like It's cool, BuzzFeed. you know takes you a half hour during the summers and take you an hour in the winter maybe more.
The SnowJobs Podcast: oh yeah
RICK JAMES: Yep.
Tyler: and you're just totally screwing yourself so
RICK JAMES: Right. Yep.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Absolutely. Love it. five
RICK JAMES: Yeah, we can go to five, or five.
The SnowJobs Podcast: 5 -5?
RICK JAMES: Yep.
The SnowJobs Podcast: All right, hit them.
RICK JAMES: All right, Tyler. where do you want to see your company go within the next five years what are you looking for Growth.
Tyler: Yeah, I'd say decent we have a decent amount of growth real tracing um And growth. I mean, it means a lot to different people for us. Obviously, it means like revenue, sites, equipment, people, but it also means...
Tyler: For us, a big... part of the growth is. not having it like you know hair on fire type moments like as
The SnowJobs Podcast: Mm hmm.
Tyler: maybe as it used to be. so
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yep.
Tyler: Something super excited about this. Here in the next couple of weeks, we have a manager coming on. who's in kind of start taking over maybe a little bit more operations. and client relations.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Cool.
Tyler: um Because I love. I love plowing. Like if I could sit a machine, a truck. go actually do the thing. Super fun. Where like the last couple of years, it's you know it's more like phone calls, people not showing up, the problems.
Tyler: That's what I've kind of realized I don't love as much, obviously. So I have to do it.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Sure.
Tyler: I have to take care of it. But kind of spreading out that management so it's not just me or my brother taking all that on. having other people and also like You know, like. Yeah, it's cool being the the main guy and all, but it's like...
Tyler: If you can't. you know get away ever. You just have a really expensive job, I think. So Spencer and I like to travel in the winter. We like to go skiing and snowboarding and stuff like that. and you know like feeling good about that as we leave and having make sure like if something happens like if it snows or something we have people in place that can take care of it yeah obviously it'd be nice if we were here to like it probably run a little bit smoother or not because were the ones i've been doing for 10 years but Um...
Tyler: Just... growth in the sense of like management and also growth in like our people. We want our guys to know what good looks like uh that's something we've struggled a bit on is like What does...
Tyler: good look like and i think
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah, what's your standard? yep
Tyler: Yeah. So, I mean, we were putting guys out in sites and like. Give him Yeti, and we do training, and then... cut them loose and then we're getting you know people saying like this isn't what we want it's like you know that's totally fair i didn't do enough of my job as the owner and the manager to show my people what good looks like so trying to figure out growth in that sense of
The SnowJobs Podcast: a
Tyler: How can we kind of. bring people in. even on short notice if we have an operator too that don't show up and actually like explain to them what good looks like for them so they can one do their job well And they can feel good about it. And then it's not like.
Tyler: I'm getting all that, so I'm like, well... i don't know what you do and they're like i did what you thought i wanted you to do it's like well Yeah. It wasn't clear communication, so.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Gotcha. That's huge, though. I mean, hiring a manager and getting to the point where you say, hey, I i think we need this. You know, that's a great decision. it's ah it's a decision a lot of people struggle with and sometimes they do it too late. So that's a, that's a big deal. That should, that should be great for you guys. Good for you.
The SnowJobs Podcast: So what do you think is the... the biggest decision or best decision you've made in the last five years to get you guys to where you are right now.
Tyler: Um... I would say like... Kind of being open to asking people questions and looking stupid. I uh... I'm not super big on social media so I didn't even know about Glacier. I had a guy plowing for us and he's like,
Tyler: He knew all about him because Instagram and he had a
The SnowJobs Podcast: Mm -hmm.
Tyler: he's like oh you should listen to this podcast i'm like Okay. I didn't never really listen to podcasts either. And he's like, so i started listening to you guys and then shortly after that i was like um so I think I reached out to Jeremy on LinkedIn and I was like, hey, I'm coming through.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Mm hmm.
Tyler: I'm going to Montana. Can I stop in and take a look at the shop? um And he's like, yeah, he's super open about it and was open to talking about it and just like asking other guys in the industry, like.
RICK JAMES: Yep.
Tyler: I've never worked at a company that. p Clouds, no. It's like everything. I'm learning is kind of. on my own which is you know that was my decision but it's like How to recuperate assets. How do you guys run routing? How do you guys run systems? how do like That's kind of what's brought us forward a lot is.
Tyler: been, you know, okay to look dumb and asking questions and going to check out people's operations and seeing how everyone does it. and seeing how like the successful big guys can do it. and then kind of bringing that back and you know you can't implement all that But take the one, two nuggets and start trying to implement that into our business.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah. That's awesome. Good for you.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: yeah don't ever We tell everybody all the time, like don't ever be afraid to ask questions. and Most guys would never. Be like, that's a dumb question. Leave me alone. Like, nobody's going to say that. They're going to try and help you anyway.
The SnowJobs Podcast: You just got to be careful who you ask sometimes.
RICK JAMES: who
Tyler: Yeah, 100%.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Cool. What else you got from Jay?
RICK JAMES: I don't think I got anything. Tyler's a great guy. Like I said, we met. he He called me one day and said he was coming through. and We hung out at the shop for quite a while and talking. and and ever since then we've been staying in contact and yeah he's a great guy got a good business running down there and Whenever he's going through Fargo, he always... reaches out to me and we try to get catch up go at the eater do something together so or if i come down there we get together so
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yep, yep.
RICK JAMES: Great guy. Great. Great business he's got going with it brother and stuff so no he's he's all around One of the best ones I know. know
The SnowJobs Podcast: I got one more for you. What lessons did you learn? And you and your brother there in your early stages. uh or as you started to grow that you'd want to tell other guys about to avoid the pitfalls.
Tyler: Yeah, I think. ah Although it's not necessarily super snow related I'd say my biggest lesson we've learned is on the back end and like you've said about. financial acumen and business acumen.
Tyler: is. I think. Like a lot of other young guys, when we get into this, we get into it because we are good at something. We like working hard. But... it's hard work's not the only thing that's gonna grow your business so i think you got it
The SnowJobs Podcast: Mhm.
Tyler: earlier. than what we did. you have to find you know like good back -end people that are helping your business, like a good insurance guy, a good.
Tyler: CPA. Bookkeeper. Uh... We're working with a fractional CFO, stuff like that. like That's the stuff that actually drives the numbers and you can feel good about decisions. And then kind of like, oh, like, I think we're making money on this. like Let's just go do it and do more of it.
Tyler: Yeah. typically okay and you can survive it if it's just you and your brother you know the owners doing it but as you start hiring people you kind of start be like oh we actually Lots of money, and now we have this. multi -year contract they were losing money on.
Tyler: Um, So just kind of. trying to Fortify the business from the back end and then also just like focus on what you're good at If you're really good at matching people.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Absolutely.
Tyler: manage people if you're really good at the equipment. And you suck at managing people? It's a hard spot to be. but try to hire a manager and you just do what you're good at. and hire and implore other people to do what they're good at.
Tyler: and take over the things that you can't necessarily run out super well.
The SnowJobs Podcast: It's very hard when you're good at everything. that's the That's the big problem.
Tyler: Yeah.
RICK JAMES: Jesus.
Tyler: Thank you.
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah ah No, you're a hundred percent right though.
RICK JAMES: Oh.
The SnowJobs Podcast: That is some guy's biggest problem is they think they have to do it all.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Even when they have guys in their own stable, that may be better at certain things. than them And letting letting go and letting them run with it. i that's a huge that i mean that i don't want to under ah you know undersell what you just said that is massive
Tyler: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: to know what you have, what your strengths are, what your weaknesses are. And if there's people in your circle. that whose strengths are your weaknesses. Let them run with it. If you're not a people person. And you got a guy that's just outgoing and everybody loves and he's great at talking to people. Let him go in and pitch.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Let that guy go in and talk up a potential customer or something. You know, not everybody's like, ah you know, ah very comfortable speaking in public. so I think that that's huge what you just said.
Tyler: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: i don't think I don't think enough guys realize that. That they don't have to be great at everything.
Tyler: Yeah, I think Yeah, a lot of young guys, they just want to do everything. I think there's something to be said about that too, like experiencing things. but Don't go on like... I'm... Really bad at like answering phone calls and texting and stuff and emailing. it like I get hundreds of them a day.
Tyler: it's like i'm trying to keep up it's like i've realized like i'm not the guy for that so that's why the manager's taking that over because he's good at communication he's good at answering phones he's good it's like i'm spending three hours or four hours a day trying to do this and it's probably gonna take him an hour i just bought back my time he's more efficient at doing it and we're getting a better result for our client which is you know
RICK JAMES: Mm -hmm.
Tyler: Ultimately, we're in this industry to solve.
The SnowJobs Podcast: That's it.
Tyler: solve client like issues for our clients or problems.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yep.
Tyler: And it's like, if the problem is communication, which it is in our industry. If you even just raise your communication level just a little bit, you're going to be. bounds ahead of other people.
The SnowJobs Podcast: If a client considers you their easy button. They will pay. What you ask. If you've never let them down and you make things as easy as possible, that will translate to making more money. when you make everything simple on them.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Because at the end of the day, everybody wants that, right?
Tyler: Wow.
The SnowJobs Podcast: nobody Nobody wakes up in the morning and says, boy, I want to bust my ass today and have a lot of problems.
RICK JAMES: Yep.
The SnowJobs Podcast: No, everybody wants everybody wants the day to go well and be very easy.
RICK JAMES: Huh.
The SnowJobs Podcast: And every idea you have in your head, you want somebody to be able to solve it and execute it. and uh you know that's I think that's ah that's huge, man. That's good for you guys. It sounds like you're on the right track, man.
Tyler: Yeah, we're going somewhere. We're going to see if it works. And then if it doesn't, take what you learn. and reapply and Try again.
The SnowJobs Podcast: No, I think hiring that manager, that's a very big step and it's a very big deal. And I think that's going to pay huge dividends for you guys. Good for you.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Anything else for him, Jay?
RICK JAMES: I don't think so buddy
The SnowJobs Podcast: All right. Tyler, you got anything else for us before we let you go?
Tyler: Uh... No, I don't think so. I think, I mean, just like a lot of people say is like this.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Okay.
Tyler: We thank you guys for what you're doing, and you know there's a ton of opportunity here. I think you guys have, and I think you guys see that. um I'm really excited to see kind of what the next couple... years look like as uh this grows more and what else the change in the industry because I think it can be. I think you guys can lead the change on it.
Tyler: So, just like...
The SnowJobs Podcast: Trying, buddy.
Tyler: the vote as here
The SnowJobs Podcast: Trying.
Tyler: physical.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Thank you very much.
Tyler: And.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah, we're we'll we'll keep pushing, as the moniker says, you know.
Tyler: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: it's the
RICK JAMES: Yep.
The SnowJobs Podcast: We got to see, you know, the worst thing possible for. People that don't like us. Is me. down one job like retired from one job because the pedal can go right to the floor now and stay there
Tyler: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: So. and We'll see. Uh, so I guess, uh, I guess we'll see, we'll see you in may in New York, maybe.
Tyler: Oh, I'm down. yeah
The SnowJobs Podcast: Alright, cool.
Tyler: I uh... I might be at Patty Salmon's thing. and Trying to get a trip.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Oh, yeah.
RICK JAMES: Fuck yeah.
Tyler: month
RICK JAMES: Yeah, that'd be great, bud.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Oh, you coming out to see me do the sales pitch? ah
RICK JAMES: See ya.
Tyler: Oh, yeah, that's just an added bonus.
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah
Tyler: What?
RICK JAMES: What about that?
Tyler: I'm telling everyone, wait until October 3rd, and now I'll get you your proposals after I get this packet. but
The SnowJobs Podcast: I told, I told Patty Sam and I said, though he asked me to do it.
RICK JAMES: All right.
The SnowJobs Podcast: And I'm like, well, you're aggravating me a little bit because I hate dressing up. Like I am a, I am a shorts and a t -shirt jeans. You know, I do not like getting dressed up, but when I do.
The SnowJobs Podcast: bid proposals. How are you going to walk in? Like I tell all the young guys this. Do not ever. go in to meet a customer or do anything for the first, your first impression is everything. Do not ever walk in in your dirty jeans and your ripped fucking shirt from mowing all day. and then Try and think you're going to get max money out of that customer.
The SnowJobs Podcast: If you walk in and you're in your khakis and your shoes, you know, polished shoes, your collared shirt logos. you know, branded You got to look the part before you go in there and say, this is why you should pay me. you know $50 ,000 more than you paid the last guy.
The SnowJobs Podcast: yo know You walk in there looking like a hobo.
Tyler: I'm sorry.
The SnowJobs Podcast: That's your first strike right off the bat. They're not hearing anything you say after that.
Tyler: Yeah, I think that's a huge point.
The SnowJobs Podcast: So I said, well.
Tyler: and like A lot of guys in the industry. They're kind of running around a little ragged like I think part of like ways in industry maybe changing that a little bit and
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
Tyler: Big thing. i I have. subscribed to and is like you know like dress for the job you want You know, like if you're going to.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yes.
Tyler: If you're going to sell someone, you're probably in a sales job or higher end management job. like People in those jobs typically don't wear. Holy. greasy jeans and a you know a t -shirt that's cut down and you can see your nipple and stuff like put a colored shirt on, put some nice jeans on.
RICK JAMES: Yep.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yep.
Tyler: Maybe do your hair once.
RICK JAMES: Well, that's...
Tyler: Point of hair, throw a hat on.
The SnowJobs Podcast: 100%.
Tyler: Nice out.
RICK JAMES: Heh.
The SnowJobs Podcast: A hundred percent. How are you going to say, you know, if you got, you're saying we're white glove concierge type snow service that comes with a white glove concierge price tag, how are you going to walk in there looking like a, you know, like a homeless guy?
RICK JAMES: Awesome.
Tyler: Yeah.
RICK JAMES: Yeah, a lot of love is
The SnowJobs Podcast: you know That doesn't correlate.
RICK JAMES: it's a problem a lot of these guys they they'll work all day and then at the end of the day they run around do bids all night no i'm just saying they just need to maybe just take
The SnowJobs Podcast: I get it
The SnowJobs Podcast: Five minutes.
RICK JAMES: 10 minutes certain.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Take five minutes, shower, change your clothes.
RICK JAMES: take Take it. Put it put it.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Comb your hair, no hats.
RICK JAMES: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: You know, no hats. I mean, that that kind of generation, like. They're a... They're dying. Out but like I remember when Hats You know 25 years ago You wore hats indoors. That was like. and a big insult to some people.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Like some people would like freak the fuck out on you or a hat inside a restaurant.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Oh my God. Like.
RICK JAMES: I always wear a hat
The SnowJobs Podcast: I know, but that like certain people, you don't know. You never know. when you're meeting with a group of people that are making decisions, you never know what sets them off. You want to go in there as even keeled as possible and not trigger any of their internal biases or, you know, set off any of their fucking alarms by doing anything. so You know, that's just dressing nice never hurts.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Not wearing a hat.
Tyler: 100%.
The SnowJobs Podcast: you know it's
Tyler: And if you're younger.
RICK JAMES: oh
Tyler: If you're younger and you go talk to like an older board or older owner or something like that, don't talk like you're talking to your friends.
The SnowJobs Podcast: No, God, no.
Tyler: don't say you wanna
RICK JAMES: yeah
Tyler: You want to hire me or not? or no or all these words like no you don't say that like
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah.
RICK JAMES: well
Tyler: Listen to some podcasts. get some like a little bit better language and. And I'll go in there a little bit more polished.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Or again. Hire somebody that you know. can walk in there and have the conversation. If you're uncomfortable at 22 or 23 talking to 65 year old decision makers.
The SnowJobs Podcast: You know? Just that's like anything else. It's like hiring a manager, hire a ringer. Send somebody in there that's going to be able to have that conversation that you're not comfortable having. you know Nothing saying you can't be in the room.
The SnowJobs Podcast: you know, but at least let somebody else tee it up and then you just interject where you need to. But in any case, we're rambling on now. But yeah, i'll ah we'll see you. Hopefully you make it to Patty Salmon's then.
RICK JAMES: Morton Walls concert.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Morton Wallace. Ha ha!
RICK JAMES: Oh, Tyler's probably going to. Trying to win that free semi -load of brine too, so.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Oh my god, it's semi -brine.
Tyler: Yeah. Bring him back to my carry -on.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Alright. well tyler thanks for coming on with us man it was great talking to you good luck uh gearing outdoors going forward, man. We appreciate your time.
Tyler: Thank you guys.
RICK JAMES: Thanks Tyler.
The SnowJobs Podcast: all right then we'll wrap it there all right episode 185 done man 185 mondays in a row wo All right. That'll do it. We'll wrap it. Episode 185 of the Snowjobs Podcast main show is in the books. Thanks again to Tyler. Wish Gearing Outdoors services all the best in the future.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Everybody have a great week. All right. Be safe out there. Keep pushing.
