Business Spotlight — Earth Works North

Published 5:04 pm Monday, March 30, 2009

Earth Works North Landscape Supply, located at 2550 Snow Rogers Road in Gardendale, is owned by Sheila and Ben Doss.

The business can be reached at 631-2464.

The couple hails from north Jefferson County. Sheila graduated from Fultondale High School while Ben graduated from Gardendale.

While the couple own the business, Ben works for a printing company. Sheila mans the store and handles everything from sales to loading landscaping supplies into waiting pickup trucks via a Bobcat.

It’s the first business for Sheila, after having worked for BellSouth and at her sister-in-law’s stationary business on Oxmoor Road.

She shared the following information about her business:



• How long have you been in business? “It was two years on March 1.”



• What products/services do you provide? “We provide earthing products like mulches, limestone and pea gravel, red rock and dirt in bulk.”



• What’s been your greatest success as a business? “It really amazes me how much product people buy, especially the mulches. I thought people just bought the bags.”



• What’s the greatest joy of being the owner or manager of a business? “I believe it’s just talking to all the people that come in. It’s amazing the people you meet that have been around for a long time. I listen to all the older folks as to what you need, how to do it and when to do it.”



• Is your line of work something you would recommend to someone else? “Yeah, because I have so many women who work inside and who tell me they’d love to do what I do. I run the Bobcat when the trucks come in and sometimes the men are a little unsure of me doing it.”



• What are you doing to combat the current economic climate? “We are going to be at the Magnolia Festival (April 18) and will offer 15 to 20 percent discounts to some people and give away door prizes.”



• What future plans do you have for your business? “I’d like to expand. I just have one dump truck, so I’d like to purchase one or two more.”



• Why should someone shop with you or use your services over a competitor? “We’ve got really top products and we keep really good grade products in the yard. We want everyone to be pleased. If they’re not, we’ll do something to make them that way.”