GREEN BAY (NBC26) — With a slower than normal snow season, locally-owned snow removal companies hope the incoming weather will bring with it some much needed business.
Matthew Pagel and Collin Martin are co-owners of Ultimate Edge Landscaping, LLC. When winter arrives, the business focuses on residential and commercial snow removal around the Green Bay area.
With less than 24 hours before a large expected snowfall, Pagel and Martin made sure equipment is ready to take on heavy snow. They also used salt to pre-treat surfaces so snow won't stick on pavement.
"Usually for the bigger storms, it helps because you can prepare for them a little bit so you can make a little more," Martin said.
The company has five trucks and a skid steer for its snow removal service. Pagel and Martin said they expect to use all machines Thursday into Friday.
"We're going to send our whole fleet out tomorrow," Martin said. "We're looking forward to it."
Less snow this season has put a strain on many small business owner's finances.
"(I'm) to the point where I had to take on additional work just to get by," said Joel Giesau.
Giesau owns Xtreme Landscape & Curbing. He offers commercial and residential snow removal through the business around the Green Bay area.
Due to the small amount of snow in the area this year, Giesau said current business is slow. That's why Giesau recently picked up work through Plowz & Mowz.
Customers can find snow removal and salting services near them through an Uber-like app. People can order a snow plow to their home, and receive real time updates and photos of the completed job.
"You go and plow for the contracts that they have available," Giesau said. "If you want to take them, you take them. If you don't, you don't. Within a couple days you have your money in the bank."
Snow fans or not, the winter weather is a way of life for these business owners trying to make a living during the pandemic.
"I know nobody wants to hear it, but for us we want the snow to keep coming," Giesau said.
And for them, the more snow the better.
