Today we’d like to introduce you to Steven Martin.
Hi Steven, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
2005 after losing my mother, father, and grandparents in six years, I was homeless for two years. That is where my drive comes from—never wanting to experience that again. Here is my story. Six years ago, I found myself at age 34 without trade and looking for work. I ran into a salesman of a pest control company who informed me they were hiring. After researching the different licenses, I became very intrigued in the field. I loved the pest control industry and making my customers even more happy. I studied nonstop, and after obtaining my technician license and continuing my education, I eventually obtained my commercial applicator certification. I had been promoted to a manager position but knew my future potential. After over five years with the same company, I put all my faith and trust in God and started my own company Ecotopia Pest Control. It was tough, but my wife worked tirelessly and believed in me. I had bills to pay and nothing coming in; failing was not an option as all my eggs were in this one basket. My wife Jennifer started a social media campaign targeting my customer base, and I spent endless hours going from business to business and house to house. The beginning was slow, but my drive was strong. It’s true what they say you get what you put it. As the calls started coming in with every service, I made it a personal goal to be the best service the client had ever received. I don’t want the client just to be impressed; I want the client to be completely blown away! Word started spreading as word of mouth became my first tool for receiving new clients. Having sincere care for my client’s home/business gave results that created a trustworthy reputation, bringing many new clients.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
Some of the struggles with starting a business is putting money out with insufficient coming in. It was tough coming up with the financial means needed in the beginning. It took a lot of sacrifices to pay the bills of the norm, much less the added bills that come with starting a new business, figuring out how to reach your customer base, and then convincing them to give you a chance.
As you know, we’re big fans of Ecotopia Pest Control. What can you tell our readers who might need to be more familiar with the brand?
Ecotopia Pest Control is a locally and family-owned and operated company. Here at Ecotopia Pest Control, we pride ourselves in being eco-, family- and pet-friendly. We use the best products on the market and specialize in providing pest control with the safety of your family and the environment as our first priority. When we come to your home or business, you are getting a commercial applicator who knows the pest’s biology and understands the behavior. This knowledge gives us an advantage in how to treat all your concerns most effectively. We don’t believe in more chemicals as the solution. We believe in using IPM ( integrated pest management) as the primary tool to solve all your pest concerns. Using IPM, we look at your surroundings, conducive conditions and evaluate your property to provide a service plan specific to your environment.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those just starting.
Find something you’re good at, love, and do it better than anyone else! Know who your customer is and develop a plan to get their attention. Remember, your business should be about the customer, even the name. It’s not about what you think. It’s about what the customer wants. Also, ensure there’s a demand for your idea and find where that demand is most desired. Last but not least, there will never be a perfect time. Have faith, believe in yourself, and do it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ecotopiapestcontrol.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/ecotopiapestcontrol?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089718357508&mibextid=LQQJ4d
