03/05/2022
Dear Friends,
A few of you know already, but on May 27, the end of our 22nd Spring season, I am closing the drive-in and bulk supply part of SouthScape. Here's the long why if you’re interested. As far as this Spring, until that date, it will be business as usual, so give us a call or come see us weekdays 8-5. We will be closed on the weekends.
At the end of 2000, I was 22, trying to figure my first move out of school. Not finding the forestry job I had in mind, I decided to try my hand at starting a landscape supply. My Dad, who had a local farm and garden store back then, hatched the idea. In March 2001, I gave it a shot at his old car wash building off North Main. I never really had a long-term plan, other than survival and making a living from it. I had borrowed a lot of money and didn't see a soul for the first two weeks. Man, I thought I had really barked up the wrong career tree for a while! Thankfully, after a few years things got going. We weathered the Great Recession, and in late 2009, I purchased the current location on East Church Street.
Last year, the little business had endured two decades, which came faster than I expected. I began to think about the next decade or two, and in my gut I knew it was the right time to make a change if I was ever going to. The decision to downsize and go solo was not made lightly. I thought and prayed about it for several months before I told anyone other than my wife. My tallest task was individually preparing my work family of the changes ahead.
- Jonboy, my loyal friend who has worked with me since 2005 “opening gate at 8”, is one of the most talented men I've ever known. He can build, fix, or do about anything, and has had to with all the junk I've purchased over time. 😆If writing parody songs paid better, we'd have already moved to Nashville.
- Joel, our guy for over a decade with the sunniest disposition, corniest jokes, and biggest heart. Although we give him hell daily that he doesn't deserve, he has been a rock for me.
- Lamar has been a part-time truck driver, story-teller, and fawn rescue specialist for us for a few years now. He has the best laugh of the group. He used to dress up as Santa years ago, but even out of costume, small children know it's him.
- Nathan is a good friend of mine that came on a couple of years ago full-time to help us out in a tight spot. Bless his heart, his attempt to better organize us has mostly been in vain. He thinks he's a bass fisherman, but his future hobby lies in falconry, he just doesn't know it yet. Nate's liked by about everybody, and you can trust him to get it done, whatever it is.
Although I informed them a while back, I won’t pretend they were excited at first, but they know a fresh change could be a good thing for them too. They're a fine group of men that I'm proud of, and I've learned much from each of them.
From a business standpoint, the last few years have been good. However, future challenges loom - a necessary web of repair, reinvestment, insurance, and tax management that I don’t want to dive into again for the long haul. The increased liability of men and dump trucks on the road is definitely one of the main reasons for the move. I'd rather simplify to a one-man band while I can.
After this May, I plan on keeping the location, my equipment, and my flatbed truck and trailer for now. The dump trucks will be sold. Although the gates will be closed, some SouthScape services and products will remain. I will still be on the road buying and selling palletized stone and boulders, renting out my equipment, and wholesaling select erosion control products. I can meet customers by appointment to look at or load stone at the yard. I will not be in the dump truck/bulk supply group anymore (mulch, gravel, wheat straw, etc.). I will have a shareable list of those that are. Call, voicemail, text me 770-894-7400, I'll help you any way I can. Our area has other supply businesses and haulers already, and perhaps more coming soon.
To all my employees, past and present, sharing parts of our work lives together was a pleasure I won't forget. You know who you are, and will always be my extended family.
Love and thanks to so many friends and family who helped make it all possible. My mom, Jan, who helped me build out the first room when my only office was a truck that the passenger door was the only way in. She hand made signs, got lunches, picked-up kids, and so many other things over the duration. My dad, Darrell, and stepmom Kathy, who really helped me get started and sent me so many customers and ideas the first two years before they moved (we are glad to have them back!). My wife, Melanie, who has been with me for almost the whole journey. She was always willing to help with the office, drive a truck, load a customer, and most importantly keep the home and kids going many years when I was late coming in. She has taken another full-time job the last few years, so it's now my turn to do more at home as well.
Lastly, to all of my customers. You may have come in one time, or you may be a regular. Thank you for everything. I appreciate the friendships and memories we’ve made. I realize things will be different, but again, I'll still be around. Call or text if you need me. If I don't have it, I'll help you find someone that does.
I've learned the last few years, if you know you need to do something, you better do it. I'm satisfied in the present, but looking forward to the future. As Uncle Ralph says, "Life's too short to be skeered!"
I don’t know how a success is truly measured, but I feel like this little place has been one. I've certainly made mistakes along the way, but for the large part it's been a good run. I've enjoyed it.
“There is no normal life, Wyatt. There’s just life. You live it.”
-Doc Holliday, "Tombstone”
Much love and thanks to you all. Come see us soon. ❤️
Brad
