dockandlift-blog

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MN Dock Progress

MN Dock and Lift has been slowly expanding since we started running the company. We started with about forty-five customers and this past spring we increased to sixty-five lakeshore customers. This has been mostly due to word-of-mouth marketing because of our good, hard work. We’re also from the area which helps us create connections through people we know through the community. We’ve also lost people throughout the years for various reasons but it hasn’t stopped us from growing.

 We started developing business cards which we handout to all our customers and in some cases, supply them with extras to give to neighbors or others who might be interested. The cards are very uniquely designed to look professional and be attention grabbing. I believe this makes our company look somewhat professional and the cards are very handy for the people we do work for. In addition to business cards, we’ve also developed flyers to handout door-to-door to try and create awareness for our company. It has worked to a certain extent but in the end, we realized it takes an outrageous number of flyers to capture a single customer.

 Through our hard work and expertise, we’ve earned a good name within the different lake associations that serve the lakes we work on in the North Metro. This is extremely helpful to us because in many cases when lakeshore owners need help with their dock or lift they go to the association for a word of advice. When our name is near the top for best services, this does very well for us gaining new customers.

 This class is a great step in the right direction towards marketing and getting our company more well know. This was the next direction we wanted to head towards as a company so it’s great getting a head start on it in this class. The rest of my co-workers love the new pages and themes I’ve introduced, and they can’t wait to continue working on what I’ve accomplished in this class once it’s over.

 When we talk about expanding amongst ourselves there’s a little bit of a grey area. I say this because with our sixty-five customers we’re completely booked every season. We’re at the point where if we would like to expand we would have to split up into two separate teams to accomplish everything that we would need done. Our other option would be to sub-out some of the extra jobs we may add to other people while still trying to retain some profit.

 Part of what makes MN Dock and Lift a great experience is working amongst each other from high school. There’s nothing like getting back together with your buddies on the weekends to put in some hard work but in the end, reach a great goal. It’s a great company to have during school and with the abundance of lakes around the area and Minnesota in general, there’s great potential for growth.

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A day in the life of the dock boys

Every spring and fall there’s great anticipation for the new dock season. Every season offers new challenges and obstacles that must be overcome to be successful. There’s also new wisdom that comes with each season which helps us become familiar with the variety of docks and lifts we’re servicing to help us become more efficient. Weather is one of the biggest challenges we face every year. Cold and rainy weather usually leads to a difficult season for us. In the fall, the weather is usually a little colder as we’re taking out docks and boat lifts all the way into November. But on the positive side, the water is still decently warm which makes a huge difference. On the opposite side, spring usually offers much better weather as we work throughout May and get jobs all the way into June. But unfortunately, the water is still frigid cold which makes getting wet absolutely miserable. Although the water is so cold, we would still much rather prefer the spring season due to the warmer temperature.

Another obstacle that we face is broken or damaged docks and boat lifts. This has thrown huge speed bumps in our scheduling throughout the years. We usually schedule each dock to take about an hour. So when we arrive at an appointment to faulty equipment we have to push back the rest of our scheduled appointments or schedule whoever we’re having trouble with to a future date to make repairs. This is a likely occurrence because the water wears on docks and boat lifts throughout the summer season leaving damaged and worn out parts. We also get the customers who want to hang on to their docks as long as they can while making faulty repairs in the meantime which can end up making their docks un-safe. We usually tell them to consider buying a new dock or in some cases we may not even put it out in case it would break and lead to injury.

 One of our biggest pet peeves is picky customers. Some people want their docks and lifts placed with expert precision. This means they want it perfectly leveled, put out or brought in a certain amount, or moved at the last second when the job is just about complete. To their credit, they are the ones that have to look at it all summer so they want it to be perfect but sometimes that can greatly affect our timing throughout the day when special requests are made.

 When we run into these obstacles it puts us into a little bit of a pickle. I’m required to call our customers and explain to them that we’ve run into a few “problems” and might be arriving late. But luckily by these days our customers understand that things come up and that we try our best to always stay on time and give them a heads up if plans change. This small company has taught us a lot about talking with customers, scheduling appointments, managing time, and battling adversity.

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Summer Party Barge

Do you like floating out on the lake with your fiends enjoying a warm sunny day? Well you’re in luck, MN Dock and Lift has added to their list of lake accessories. We’re now selling a brand new line of inflatable party barges ready to take on all kinds of summer fun. We’re offering three different models this summer. The first is the “couples barge.” This style comfortable sits 2-3 people and sells for $75.00. Our next style is called the “fellowship barge.” This style comfortably holds 5-7 people and sells for $125.00. And finally, our last one is called the “presidential barge.” This impressive barge comfortably holds up to 10 people and sells for $200.00. 

Pictured above is our fellowship barge

Photo Cred: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/7951736815433596/ 

These deals won’t last forever. Come in to our store or you may purchase your very own party barge off of our Facebook page. Be the life of your lake party and make this wise investment. Summer only lasts so long!

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Smarter, Not Harder

Save your back by hiring the dock boys 

There’s many reasons why it’s a smart and convenient to choose MN Dock and lift as your premier lakeshore providers. You can finally forget about straining or injuring yourself, be able to rely on our expertise, and you can even share a beer with us. 

1      Convenience: Let’s be honest, come spring time the ice is melting off the lakes and the water is freezing cold. The water level is way up and for the most part the temperature is still sub-par. It’s no fun having to throw on a pair of leaky waders and jump into the icy depths to secure your dock in the lake. One stumble into the water, or an icy wave that runs into your waders can feel like a polar plunge. 

2      Health: Docks and Boat Lifts aren’t made of the lightest material. Many range from aluminum and plastic, to steel and wood. They come in all shapes and sizes but one thing that they all have in common is they weigh heavy. Many lakeshore owners try to maneuver docks and boat lifts around either by themselves or with insufficient help. This can often lead to back and body pain, or even serious injury. Our dock team is equipped with five members to safely move your dock and boat lift without the risk of injuring or straining yourself.

3      Affordability: MN Dock and Lift is highly affordable, significantly less than companies that manufacture docks and boat lifts themselves, and very negotiable. We offer a general price range between $150-$200 on almost all jobs which includes both the dock and lift with a few exceptions. Manufactures often set their prices at about double that regardless of the job size.

4      Experience: We offer eight plus years of experience with dock work and customer service. We’ve experienced countless dock brands and many custom-built docks so we’re prepared for whatever is thrown our way. We have specific methods to go about installing and taking out docks which helps us stay efficient, be on time for appointments, and let you carry on with your day.

5      Entertainment: Although we come to every dock call ready to get work done, we’ll never turn down an ice-cold beer. We’ve come to accept that some of our customers are beginning to expect to have a few beers with us either before, during, after, or throughout the job process. This in fact builds customer relationships and strengthens the bond between us and the people we do work for.   

You can rely on MN Dock and lift to always get the job done. We’ll show up on time, get the job done in a timely manner, display a high level of expertise, and allow yourself and your family to once again get out on the lake or finish storing for the winter.

#MKT400UWL

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Minnesota Dock and Lift

Minnesota Dock and Lift is a local service located in the North Metro area of Minnesota. This company services Dock and Boat lifts for lake shore owners in the near-by area. We install them in the spring and take them back out in the fall. We also offer beach maintenance and repairs for broken or damaged docks and lifts. Why go through the hassle of moving your own lakeshore equipment when we’re just a call away? Save the time, hassle, and most importantly you’re back when using us as your premier lakeshore provider. We’re affordable, near-by, and willing to come out for free estimates. We also provide free adjustments if you aren’t truly satisfied with your dock or lift placement or due to other reasons such as water level. We have eight plus years of experience, offering a dependable and satisfying final product and developing lasting relationships with customers. Whether your dock is light, heavy, or you have a lake shore of muck, we promise to get the job done to the best of our ability.

 Scheduling in the spring and the fall comes on a first call, first serve basis. The earlier you call us, the earlier we’ll put you at the front of our schedule come servicing time. Otherwise we’ll call you according to which lake you live on and what weekends we’ll be working at that specific lake or be in the area. Our main goal is to focus on creating great relationships with every customer to maintain repeat service and hopefully have that translate into word-of-mouth marketing. We’re currently highly recommended in ten different lake associations which helps us gain leverage over our competition.

 We’re planning on creating a deal with local dock and boat lift manufacturers which would allow us to install pre-assembled docks and lifts for the buyers. I think this is truly where we could take off and expand our company. Our marketing efforts have mainly included flyers, business cards, and clothing. We’re currently working on a promotional video and this class will offer an excellent opportunity for us to reach customers through social media.

This business has great potential with the abundance of lakes we have here in the great state of Minnesota. From White Bear Lake, to Lake Minnetonka, to Crosslake, and every lake in between there’s a bountiful amount of docks and lifts that can be serviced. It’s tough work, but with the right tools for expansion, great business plan, and passion, I believe we could go a long way.