| A ‘Peach’ of a business |
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By: By ERIN EDGEMON, Business Editor – April 13, 2008
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Ten years ago, Bryan Clayton and Chip Burnette never would have thought they would be the owners of a multimillion-dollar landscaping operation with clients located across Middle Tennessee.
The owners of Peach Tree Inc., a full-service landscaping and irrigation company, contribute their success to a little bit of luck and lots of hard work.
“It did seem like the harder we worked, the luckier we got,” Clayton, who was 18 when Peach Tree was formed, said.
“If you told me I would be running an operation of 100 men — sometimes I wake up and can’t believe it,” he continued.
Peach Tree, based in Lascassas, has more than 600 commercial clients in Middle Tennessee. The company had $7 million in gross sales in 2007.
Approximately 80 percent of business comes from commercial clients and 20 percent from residential clients. Peach Tree has 35 crews equipped to do jobs ranging from $2,000 to $2 million.
“Every day there are 40 trucks going in and out,” Clayton said, adding about 10 jobs can be going on at one time.
Burnette and Clayton didn’t originally form their partnership necessarily believing they could offer the best service in the market. They thought combining Clayton’s lawn mowing operation and Burnette’s landscaping business would make financial sense for both of them.
“We had a plan,” Clayton said. “We wanted to create a brand that people knew in this community.”
They knew they could be available to clients, give them the best value and offer a wide range of services.
“The initial goal was make a living,” Burnette said. “I think through both of our work ethics and customer service it took off.”
Clayton said 30 percent of what Peach Tree does now is maintenance, 30 percent is landscaping installation, and 30 percent is irrigation installation.
Even though the bulk of landscaping work is seemingly done in the spring and summer, Peach Tree’s schedule never slows down any month of the year.
Clayton said there is ongoing maintenance that has to be completed.
Peach Tree gained clients by being persistent, knocking on doors and staying in contact.
That is how Peach Tree managed to secure its first major corporate client: Jack in the Box in 2001.
Clayton and Burnette said that contract is what launched the company.
“That enabled us to go from making a paycheck to building a company,” Burnette said. “We still have them as a client today.”
Another high-profile client is Cracker Barrel. Peach Tree has installed landscaping at its restaurants in the Middle Tennessee area and across the country. Other corporate clients include Centex Homes and Fifth Third Bank.
Peach Tree recently completed a two-year landscaping project at Stones River Mall, which is undergoing major renovations.
“Peach Tree Landscaping has been part of the Stones River Mall redevelopment since 2006,” confirmed Jeff Liposky, general manager. “They have always exceeded expectations, and the quality of work has been exceptional. Their attentiveness to customer needs is the truly unique trademark of their company.”
Another key to the success of Peach Tree was slow and steady growth that didn’t overrun profits.
“We have grown our business debt free,” Burnette said. “Every piece of equipment has been paid for.”
Still, Peach Tree never had to turn away any business.
“I can’t say we ever said no to anybody,” Burnette said. “We found a way to do it.”
The partners also give much of the credit to being located in a growing region and having reliable employees.
“We are so lucky to be a part of a community that is growing,” Clayton said.
He said Peach Tree has been fortunate with the employees they have hired.
“We have such a good group that takes ownership in what we do,” Clayton said. “We couldn’t ask for better employees.”
Peach Tree does rely largely on a Hispanic labor force working in the United States on temporary works visas. Some of them have been working for the company for seven to eight years.
“They know what is expected,” Burnette said. “We keep a documented workplace.”
Clayton, now 28, and Burnette, 55, met on the job.
“Bryan and I were stumbling over each other,” Burnette said. “He was moving lawns and I was landscaping.”
Clayton had been mowing lawns for extra money since he was a kid. By the time he was 18, he and another partner were mowing 100 lawns a week. Burnette had been working in landscaping for five years.
“I was a young kid, but I had dreams and goals,” Clayton said. “I knew early on I wanted to do something different.”
Burnette said he had no hesitations about going into business with a teenager.
“Bryan is a hustler,” he said. “He doesn’t mind making cold calls. He is very good at keeping in touch with the customers.”
Even though they no longer have to be, both Clayton and Burnette are still involved in every project. Burnette still goes out to every job site to see what conditions and obstacles his crews are up against.
Peach Tree moved into a new and much larger facility six months ago to accommodate growth. The company has a contractor’s license and constructed its own building.
Even with what they have achieved, Burnette and Clayton aren’t satisfied with the status quo.
“We are driven people,” Burnette said. “We are always looking for the next opportunity” to branch out or expand the business.
Both are partners in a real estate and a land development company.
Clayton and Burnette said the hard work it took to build the business and the ongoing labor is worth it simply for the satisfaction of owning and operating their own company.
“Anything that is worth doing is hard work,” Burnette said. “There is no get-rich-quick deal.
“You have to build credibility, longevity and a reputation,” he said.
Clayton agreed.
“I am of the mind that nothing is easy,” he said. “We enjoy operating a successful prosperous business, but it is challenging.”
The most gratifying aspect of their job now, the partners said, is standing back and seeing the finished project.
Erin Edgemon can be reached at 869-0812 and at eedgemon@murfreesboropost.com.
Peach Tree Inc.
6863 Lascassas Pike
273-8733
www.peachtreeinc.com
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