By Megan Miller, Editor
TRUSSVILLE — Trimm Landscapes has been serving the Trussville and greater Birmingham area since 1979, and maintains the reputation of the go-to source for landscaping. However, the company is working on expanding services and products to better serve their clients.
Although landscaping to most typically means planting enhancement around the home including trees, shrubs, ground cover and annuals, to Tommy Trimm, President of Trimm Design Build, this also entails retaining walls, pavers and how the property is being used in general.
“It’s about how you want to use and manage the space you have,” Trimm said.
On site in their garden shop, Trimm Landscapes currently carries trees, shrubs, annuals, ceramic glazed pots, potting soils, wind chimes, garden art and more. Trimm said that people primarily come for blooms, but leave having gotten better service than they could have gotten at a big box store.
“I used to work at a big box store, and the biggest difference here is service and variety,” said Trimm. “They are going to buy what the big boxes offer, but if they want a specific plant we’ll order it for you and have it within two to three days.”
Trimm said the next phase for Trimm Landscapes will be to expand the natural stone selection, as well as pine bark, sand and other naturals. The company also plans to expand into the furniture and appliance business.
“I’ve had customers urging me to get into the pool and patio furniture business,” said Trimm.
Trimm does pool and outdoor kitchen design, which often entails grills, shelving, containers and outdoor refrigerators. Trimm said he would like to be able to carry a selection of some of these appliances, rather than having to purchase from an outside source.
Trimm said the company also plans to better feature the design aspect of their landscaping services. Tirmm’s son is responsible for the design, with a degree in industrial design from Auburn University.
“He told me last Saturday he didn’t want to design anything or do anything if it wasn’t going to be in Southern Living magazine,” said Trimm. “We want to attract customers that it means something to them. Picky customers don’t bother us because they want that standard of work.”
Trimm said a common misconception people have about the business is that price and value are the same thing, but the lowest price isn’t always the best price.
“You’ll get value by its use, and being cost effective, versus something that’s just cheap. We fight that every day,” said Trimm.
The bottom line for Trimm, in everything he does, is offering great customer service to everyone who passes through the garden shop or who does design business with Trimm Landscapes.
“I like being here on Saturdays, which is kind of unusual. It gives me a chance to interact with our customers, since I’m usually doing behind the scenes operations during the week,” said Trimm. “I’m not going to be happy until 90 percent or more of people are buying from us. I don’t like to think we’re selling anything, I like to think we’re solving people’s problems.”