JOHNNY REB'S: YOUR STOMACH WILL REBEL
I ate at Johnny Reb's this afternoon.  The pictures on its website made the food look appetizing and close to decent, meaning that I didn't think that it would poison me.  Live and learn.  Though their website sold the food, they could not deliver.  

I ordered a half rack of baby back ribs without their syrupy sauce.  Not bad.  I've had better.  A lot better.  How can someone ruin no-sauce baby back ribs?  I don't know what they do to their meats pre-cooking.  But my stomach was in pain for hours afterward.  

I also ordered their salmon in a bourbon sauce on a bed of garlic spinach.  Again, the language makes this dish sound wonderful  And again they could not deliver.  My salmon--obviously farm-raised--was doused in sauce that ran all over the spinach.  When I got it home the spinach looked sickening in the dark sauce.  And bourbon sauce?  Really!  More like corn-syrup sauce.  Corn is a southern staple.  Why not just call it what it is?

The only thing that I found palatable was their cole slaw, for no other reason than it was not sugary and didn't kill me.  

Conclusion:  I do not recommend this place.  The food is far below average, while the prices are above average.  Also, they had a couple of pigeons holding sway in the bar.  I saw one pigeon pecking food up off of the bar and on one other table.  The servers did not notice.  The charm of the atmosphere was completely lost by the pigeons, the overpriced menu items, and the poor ingredients they choose to give to customers.  For everybody's sakes, let's hope that the kids who eat at this restaurant reject it as unhealthy as well.  Regardless of its Health Department rating, this restaurant might end up getting you sick as well.

STAFFING AGENCIES, NORWALK

1.  Department of Labor Employment & Training Administration, DOLETA.

2.  First-Rate Staffing. 562-863-9564.  They serve warehouse and manufacturing.  I spoke with Olga this morning and this afternoon and asked her what type of services First-Rate offers.  They basically offer placement services.  I asked if they offer any training, and she said that, yes, companies will offer basic training at their site but not at First-Rate Staffing's site.

3.  VOLT Workforce Solutions.

17785 Center Court Drive North

Cerritos, CA 90703

(562) 402-5535.  No answer when I dialed this number on 10/1/14.

Industries served:

Warehouse

Manufacturing

4. Link Staffing Services, located at 11657 The Plaza Norwalk, is open from 7am to 6pm.  Their number is 562-868-4933.  Their website is here at linkstaffing.com/santafesprings. 

5.  Alar Staffing Corporation, located at 12631 East Imperial Hwy, #109B, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670.  They can be reached at 714-667-3100.  The receptions, Sarah I think her name was, told me that the main service they provide is placement in warehouse and industrial jobs.

6.  TransGlobal Solutions, LLC, located at 14789 Carmenita Road in Norawalk, CA 90650, can be reached at 562-483-1383.  This company places Class A truck drivers.  I could not tell that by their Google+ page.
7.  Tri-State Staffing Trends, located at 12052 East Imperial Hwy, #200, Norwalk, CA 90650, can be reached at 562-807-2161.  Their website is here.  This company provides placement for general labor, mainly warehouse positions, like forklift driver.  The receptionist was kind enough to give me the name of the company and phone number of the outfit that provides forklift training.  That company is United Forklift and they can be reached at 562-945-5565.  
United Forklift Certification
12401 Slauson Avenue, Ste. B
Whittier, CA 90601
Office: 562-945-5565
FAX: 562-945-5527
Email: unitedforkliftcert@yahoo.com.

According to their website, United Forklift provides training on different kinds of forklifts.  
Level 1 is "Entry Level or Beginner."  That's $45 for a sit-down forklift.
Level 2 is "Experienced."  That's $50 for a sit-down forklift.
For any 2 levels of certification, it is $65.
For any 3 levels of certification, it is $75.
For all 5 forklift certifications, it is $100.
United Forklift provides certification for the following types of forklifts:
Sit-Down

Squeeze/Clamp


Cherry Picker
 

Stand-Up Reach
 
and electric, manual, and ride-on pallet jacks. 
8. 

LOCKSMITH SERVICES IN NORWALK

I called around for pricing.  And here is what I found on this date:

1.  Norm Reeves Honda charges $65 for a programmed duplicate key.

2.  One-Hour Photo & Locksmith charges $50 for a programmed duplicate key.  Their hours are 10am-6:30.

3.  Locksmith Santa Fe, who does housecalls, charges $120 for a programmed duplicate key.  And they're open 24 hours.

4.  A-Armor Lock & Security in Cerritos closes at 5pm.  I'll find out about pricing in the morning.  They open at 8am.

5. Green Locksmith charges $120.  I wonder if these are the same guys as Locksmith Santa Fe but with a different name.  The voice of the guy who answered the phone sounded similar to the guy who picked up at Santa Fe and he asked the same questions--what model car, what year, etc.  Said that it could be done in half an hour.  But $120 is too much for me.  It is the same guy.  The phone number for Locksmith Santa Fe is 562-451-1145.  For Green Locksmith, the number is 562-451-1144.  One digit difference.  Same guy.  Same company.  Different name.  When I called I wanted confirmation that this was Green Locksmith.  He wouldn't confirm that; instead, he said "this is locksmith service" as a way to brush over the fact that it's the same guy using different cover names. 
6.  All-City Lock & Key, 951-990-5020.  This is almost exclusively a mobile service.  He charges $140 for the job, which he said takes 10-15 minutes.  I like the response--quick--but I can't afford that $140.
7.  Norwalk Locksmith, 949-264-1605.  Okay, I guess these folks have no trouble getting business.  She told me that the price would start at $120 and goes up from there.  I asked what she meant, and she explained that the key itself is $120 but to program the key would be extra.  I asked how much extra.  She said that depends, that her crew has to be onsite, plug in a hand-held computer, and then decide.  I don't know how much more she was looking to charge.  Could the price of a key from this outfit go up as high as $200?  It's possible.  She said that her service is exclusively mobile as well.  She said that she could be out to my place in 30 minutes.  I asked how long the procedure would take.  She said 45 minutes.  Not sure if that includes drive time to get to my place or not.
8.  A-1 Stanley Locksmith, 323-771-7244.  Wow!  This guy was to the point.  Said that he could make me a key.  Said that it would cost $45.  So far, this is the best price I've been quoted.  He is located at:
14515 Pioneer Blvd.
Norwalk, CA 90650


9. Norwalk Locksmith Service, 562-314-1815.
10. AAA Locksmith, 800-416-8955.  Okay, these guys are located in Irvine, not in Norwalk as their webpage suggests.  They charge $90 to have a key cut and programmed.  But after he said he was in Irvine, I declined and said thank you.
11.
12.

LANDSCAPE EQUIPMENT COSTS

ITEM	COST
Trucks (2005 Tundra) http://bit.ly/Uoe0op	$7500
Landscape Trailers http://bit.ly/1pd3Fa2	$1200 to $1500
Backhoe http://bit.ly/1A77WRY	$6,000
Lawn mowers  http://amzn.to/1rByGYD	$300 each
Gas-powered Edger/Trimmer  http://amzn.to/Ut5XGH	$100
Rakes  http://amzn.to/WDbXPh	$20
Leaf blower  http://amzn.to/1jVAd9n	$100
Fertilizer  http://amzn.to/WDej0o	$20
Weed Puller  http://amzn.to/1A6CZNU	$30
Large and small shovels  http://amzn.to/1kcfsXn	$30

LANDSCAPE BUSINESS COSTS

PRODUCT	COST
Vehicle Insurance
Equipment Insurance.
Worker Insurance.
Employer Insurance.
Business Insurance, LLC

WINTER LANDSCAPE EQUIPMENT COSTS

ITEM	COST
Snow Blower http://bit.ly/1pH3r9C	$400

RELATED SERVICES

Service	Price
Sprinkler system
Fertilizing
Tree trimming
Hauling trash to dump.
Repairs related to specific expertize—car engines, washing machine, dryers, plumbing

SPECIALIZED SERVICES TO ESTABLISH US AS EXPERTS

Specialized Service	Price
Fountains.
Small construction—laying concrete, assemble IKEA prodcuts.
Grade your yard for adequate and appropriate drainage.  a.    Show owner amount of annual rainfall. b.    How to Grade: http://abt.cm/1runsn3 1)    Rough grade with clay. 2)    Add top soil, sod, and/or rock to finish landscaping. 3)    Rough Grading must be approved by city inspectors. 4)    Grading is often done by the builder.

BUSINESS-GENERATING NETWORK/CUSTOMERS

Network/Customers	Benefit/Reciprocate?
Builders	We get work with them on every new housing project.
City	Commercial gigs.  Get referrals to other builders.
Major Retailers in Town—Indoor & Outdoor Malls, Strip Malls,	Commercial gigs with corporations.
Home Owners
Small Business Owners
Farmers
Arena Owners—rodeos, race tracks, baseball & football stadiums, basketball arenas, convention centers,
Apartment Complexes
Townhome Complexes
City Parks
Affiliates—Realtors, Solar Power installers, Home Building companies or contractors, Interior Design companies, Hot Tub companies, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Hardware stores, Lumber companies, etc.

NEIGHBORHOODS

CITIES
Northglenn
Thornton
Boulder
Westminister
Broomfield
Brighton

MARKETING CAMPAIGN

     1.    Craigslist with video, list of services, list of benefits, list of guarantees.

     2.    Flyers on doors in the neighborhood.

     3.    Local newspaper.  Press release.  All guns blazing.

     4.    Ask permission to put signs with our company name and number on lawns where we’ve provided landscaping and gardening services.

     5.    Vinyl decals to place on work vehicles and trucks.  

      COMPETITION

      1.   http://fortcollins.craigslist.org/fgs/4544649501.html

      2.   http://fortcollins.craigslist.org/fgs/4582386041.html

      3.   Blue Spruce Inc. Here is their website.

      4.   Irrigation Landscape Systems, like sprinklers and fountains.

      5.   Mermaid Gardens

      6.   Northern Colorado

      7.   Here is Davis Landscaping's Craigslist Ad.  Davis Landscaping's Facebook page.

      8.   Greenie Weenie Landscape Services

      9.   Mountain Mowers

     10.  Denver Sod Installation

     11.  Big Green Sprinkler & Landscaping has a website.  It's here.  And here is their Craigslist ad: Big Green Sprinkler & Landscaping

     12.  J&J Landscaping does have a website.  It's here.  But they did not post the URL to their website in their Craigslist ad.  Somebody screwed up.

     13.  Grassbusters.  Here is their Craigslist ad.  Their website contains an interesting price structure. They charge $75 for 24 hour service.

     14.   Mile High Property Maintenance's Craigslist ad.  And here is their website.  Their Facebook page is the best of the three online presence that I've seen.  Okay, this company is not a landscape company per se, but they do offer sprinkler services.  But their main position is property management services.  Smart company.  It offers everything from cooling, heating, plowing, welding, to security equipment.  Nice niche.

     GOOD ADVICE on running a landscape business.