Dwight Wolfe was looking to start his own business in 1996. An ad in the Democrat-Herald led him to a presentation and before he knew it he was a business owner.
“It happened pretty fast, but everything fit what I was looking for,” said Wolfe, who for the last 13 years has owned and operated Weed Man, his own lawn care business.
It was a new venture in many ways for Dwight and his wife, Debbie, who actually pioneered Weed Man in the United States.
“We were the first franchise in the country,” he said. “It was started in Canada in 1976, and the Northwest was one of their first stops when they wanted to expand into the United States.”Wolfe said Weed Man provided the perfect opportunity to use his background in agriculture. Still, establishing a presence with a business no one had really heard of took determination and effort.
“Marketing was – and still is – a challenge. I spent a lot of time going door-to-door, but within 10 days after starting I was getting paid for work,” said Wolfe.
From that point it was a matter of providing good service. Wolfe says being a part of a franchise has its perks, including an advanced computer system and specific guidelines. But he also emphasizes that the company is his.
“They provide great tools to help you succeed, but I do what’s best for my business,” said Wolfe.
Photo: Steve Lathrop / Democrat-Herald.
