Q 1.Kindly give our readers an introduction to your business. Please include what your business is all about, in which city you are located and if you have offices in multiple locations/ cities.
Ans: This year, Mac Landscape is celebrating 35 years in business. We are located in The Hamptons, Bridgehampton, NY and are natives to the area, from Sag Harbor, NY.
We are a full service Landscape Company providing Design, Construction, & Maintenance services in addition to providing Tick Control, where it is a big issue for people on the East End of Long Island and selling trees at genuine wholesale prices.
Q 2. Kindly give us a brief description about yourself (it should include your brief educational or entrepreneurial background and list some of your major achievements).
Ans: Tom Mac is a true Sag Harbor Native, born and raised through and through. Chances are he can tell you more about your home and property than anyone. Since 1982, with his deep love and dedication to the area, Tom has been creating and taking care of some of the most beautiful landscapes and properties on the East End. His true talent and expertise lies in knowing what a property needs and working with homeowners and the towns, to achieve and see through, the vision and greatest potential of any project from concept to reality. Tom practices martial arts and makes the correlation between that practice and the study of Horticulture in that the more you learn, the more there always is to learn.
Before moving to Sag Harbor, Cindy Mac was an Art Director in some of the most prestigious advertising firms in NYC. A designer and artist, her passion lies in understanding and identifying the overall concept, design and aesthetic of our clients, their homes and properties. Her love of color, flowers and attention to detail shines through in every project she designs. She is dedicated to family and friends, and painting large scale florals and landscapes inspired by the endless beauty of the East End.
Q 3. What inspired you to (start a new business venture) or (to make significant changes in an existing business)? How did the idea for your business come about?
Ans: Through my experiences growing up, I discovered I had a passion for being creative with
landscaping and stonework. I built my first ever stone wall out of stones that were removed from The American Hotel, a famous landmark in Sag Harbor, when it was an abandoned building. I am very self-motivated and love to connect with people. And the rest is history.
Q 4. What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
Ans: 1. Think Big
2. Hire a great and knowledgeable Business Accountant right off the bat to guide you through
the business and financial side of things
3. Stay focused on what you are building and never knock your competition
Q 5. What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Ans: 1. Get and stay in touch with why you are doing what you are doing
2. Be pro-active/Don’t stay home waiting for the phone to ring
3. Trust your gut and never doubt yourself
Q 6. How many hours do you work a day on average?
Ans: Tom: 10-14 hours a day during the season. This includes meeting with my clients on the weekends when they are out here enjoying their homes.
Q 7. To what do you most attribute your success?
Ans: The mindset that it is not about me, but rather taking care of my clients.
Q 8. How do you go about marketing your business?
Ans: First and foremost, the quality of our work and the trust earned in our relationships continues to bring us a very good share of our business. Cindy Mac used her long term NYC career as an Art Director to develop a strong logo and tone of voice that is genuine and real to our grass roots.
We have consistently run noticeable, entertaining ads in the local papers, developed a beautiful website, and continue to hire professionals that help us stay up to date with technology and reaching our audience.
Q 9. Where did your organizations funding/capital come from and how did you go about getting it? How did you obtain investors for your venture?
Ans: The old story: Started with a pickup truck.
Q 10. What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
Ans: Understanding that a business is a continual work in progress and that you will be riding a lot of waves. As an old saying goes: “Hang on even if your ass falls off.”
Q 11. Where you see yourself and your business in 5 – 10 years?
Ans: As the face of the company, still involved with my clients, providing my expertise and love for taking care of people.
Q 12. Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
Ans: Ray Smith & Associates. When I was very new to the business, he taught me many lessons which I adhere to to this day.
Q 13. How important have good employees been to your success?
Ans: They mean everything to us. We have 5 employees, among many more, that have been with us for 5-15 years and would not be as far along as we are without them.
Q 14. How long do you stick with an idea before giving up?
Ans: I am more of the mindset ‘Never give up.”
Q 15. What motivates you?
Ans: Creativity and problem solving, and the personal sacrifices we make to take care of our families.
Q 16. What are your ideals?
Ans: Commitment to family including my employees and clients.
Q 17. How do you generate new ideas?
Ans: Always thinking outside the box. Always on the outside looking in.
Q 18. How do you define success?
Ans: One aspect of success is trusting that just by giving you will get what you need.
Q 19. How do you build a successful customer base?
Ans: By keeping my word and doing what I say I’m going to do.
Q 20. What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
Ans: Building it with my own two hands, and others as well.
Q 21. What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
Ans: There are so many satisfying moments. The one that stands out right now: One weekend a client gave me a landscape job. It was a new construction. We installed a full landscape. She came out 2 weeks later, stood on the street and cried.
Q 22. What do you feel is the major difference between entrepreneurs and those who work for someone else?
Ans: I am responsible for my own success. No excuses.
Q 23. What kind of culture exists in your organization? How did you establish this tone and why did you institute this particular type of culture?
Ans: The culture that exists is, its all about respect and when a problem or challenge comes our way, we are solution oriented with a flick of a switch.
Q 24. In one word, characterize your life as an entrepreneur.
Ans: Warrior
Q 25. If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
Ans: I honestly don’t think I could do anything differently. I have been told I am ‘salt of the earth’, growing up on the sea and beautiful land, and can’t imagine doing anything else.
Q 26.How has being an entrepreneur affected your family life?
Ans: With my children (5), I have always managed to watch their games and concerts and rarely have missed any of them, so when I do, they know Dad is doing something very important for the family.
With my wife we have made many sacrifices.
Company Detail:
Company : C. Mac Landscape
Contact : Tom Mac
Address : 125 Snake Hollow Rd
City : Bridgehampton
State : NY
Zip : 11932
Phone : 631-726-6088
Email : info@cmaclandscape.com
