Peter Masi, co-owner of Muench Co. in Stamford; Richard Masi, co-owner of Roundhill Tree Services in Greenwich; Christine Monaghan and Stephen Masi, co-owners of Muench Co.
With the recession tightening pockets, property care pros say homeowners are more willing to pick up the sheers and gas up their mowers.
“It”™s mostly in the maintenance end of it, grass cutting, shrub trimming, that kind of thing, people are realizing they can do themselves and save some money,” said Peter Masi, co-owner of Muench Co. in Stamford.
Muench has been a supply company for professional arborists and landscapers since 1931. The business was purchased in 1995 by the Masi family.
Richard Masi, the father, and his son Rick own and operate Roundhill Tree Services in Greenwich, which has been in business for 50 years and complements Muench. Masi siblings Peter, Stephen and Christine operate Muench Co. and its sister landscape company Pro Landscape.
“The tree surgery business began in Connecticut,” said Richard Masi, co-owner of Round Hill Tree Services. “We see that as part of our lineage. This area is where it started.”
Peter said that many people are taking their lawn care needs upon themselves, though the Muench Co.”™s advantage has been to supplement the service business with the retail.
“The business has become two businesses,” said Peter. “We do a lot of business with those two trades, landscapers and arborists. We also do estates and municipalities.”
Peter said that he does see the trend of homeowners getting back outside and caring for their properties themselves sticking around after the recession has run its course.
Though the recession has left many arborists and landscapers still in business, Peter says that Muench has become the only servicing dealer for large power equipment in this area, a business area that has grown.
“We never really got ourselves out there to accommodate that business,” said Peter. “They were finding us, but now we”™ve begun to expand and evolve to accommodate them more.”
Peter said being able to offer more services to accommodate their customers has also allowed their family-owned store to stay afloat while others have been struggling.
“We”™re able to maintain a parts stock and mechanics, as well,” said Peter. “That”™s to our advantage; we can turn around equipment for professional guys and so we”™ve become their choice. If they purchase the equipment at a box store, they can”™t get those things serviced that easily.”
Peter said their stock of heavy machinery equipment is selling the least right now.
“We can survive by supplementing the businesses,” said Peter. “But you have to be hands on. Being a family business, we can tighten our expenses fairly easily. Some of our business has suffered, but some has grown in this economy.”
Peter said the area has seen a decrease in lawn care, though the business is not in trouble because of the affluence that remains in the Fairfield County area.
“More in trouble are the tree trimmers,” said Peter.
“People are looking for ways to cut down,” said Richard. “But they won”™t stop maintaining their properties. They”™re looking for ways to shave.”
Richard said that he has had to knock off certain services from his offering, ones that a homeowner could do without for a year, in order to keep customers.
Richard said homeowners are letting their arbor care needs stretch or waiting for the municipalities to take care of them.
Peter said shipping and Internet capabilities have also allowed for the Muench business to appeal to customers who may have otherwise ended up in the box stores by default.
The Web site is: muenchcompany.com.
