CRIDERSVILLE, OHIO -
Suffering from a moderate to severe drought, area businesses have found a slump in sales and customers, but have found other areas of business improving. The warm weather and lack of rain has resulted in residents refusing to pay landscapers to mow their dead grass and plant flowers, that due to the weather, would require large amounts of watering.
Blass Residential Services in Cridersville, has seen a decline in customers asking for landscaping, but an increase in the number of customers looking for storm damage repair. Friday, workers were out installing a fence after storm winds blew down the wooden fence that once stood in its place. Manager John Cunningham is happy to be doing any type of work, as it prevents him from having to layoff his workers.
Jeremy Beckner was one of the workers on the job today, and with car and house payments, and a family to take care of, Jeremy says he doesn't care what work he's doing.
As for the retail side of the landscaping business, Kevin Kohlrieser, President of Steve Myers Service, says while mower sales have dropped, business isn't doing to bad.
As mid-Summer approaches, management from the retail and service sides of landscaping are giving up on a rebound of Summer sales, and choosing to get an early start on Winter.
