Bailey Outdoors Puts Customers First

Bailey Outdoors Puts Customers First by Mark Bailey B ailey Outdoors opened its doors in June 2013 after I drove to Cleveland to buy parts for my Cub Cadet Lawnmower, since the local dealership had closed. As I inquired about the possibility of seeing a new dealership open up in Dalton, I was told that the area representative was looking for someone to fulfill that need. I started thinking about the possibility, and as many people never realize, starting up your own business is a multi-step process. After locating a building on East Morris Street, getting a business license, hiring employees, and buying products to sell, you quickly realize this is just the start. You have to handle workers’ comp and liability insurance, create a payroll, pay the power bill and the electric bill, and set up a computer system.

My wife, Wendy, and I prayed hard if God was leading us in this direction to start up a business. We had never taken on a task like this before but also realized every business out here, whether it succeeds or fails, comes from a dream of what you want to do in life and from trying to give the public a different choice. My entire working career was centered around the transportation industry, and she worked in the school system, which she still does today. One of the biggest lessons I learned in management for over 26 years is you don’t always have to have all the answers, but you do need to build a team that supports different aspects of the business to be successful.

Our goal is to give every customer “The Greatest Customer Experience” when they walk into our dealership, and the first rule I have for any new employee is simple. “I’d rather you tell the customer the truth and have them walk out the door than lie to them to get their business.” If you tell them the truth, although it’s not what they want to hear at the time, you have left the door open for them to return. If you lie to them and they find out, it will spread like wildfire. I also tell my employees, “If someone walks through that door, acknowledge that they walked through that door, and don’t forget about them.” Sometimes people just want to know that you acknowledged their existence.

Growing up in Dalton my entire life, working my entire career in Dalton and Rome, raising my family here, seeing

both children growing up here, and now having children of their own grow up in our area, it gives me a sense of pride to want to see our area grow and establish a successful business in our community. We want our community to be where people still buy local, support small businesses, become a valued customer to us, and get the support they need in the products they buy without any hassle. One of the biggest challenges we face today is e-commerce and big box stores. They offer free shipping or opening of credit cards to get the product now and pay for it for 12 months. People will search the web for whole goods and parts trying to save 50 cents or 50 dollars, cutting the small-town business owner out of making a living; yet at times, when the order arrives, it’s not exactly right. As an owner, as long as we are provided the right information, we will stand behind ordering you the right part and, in most cases, give you credit back right away if it’s wrong.

People go to the big box stores looking for equipment, and they may bring someone out of plumbing to sell you a mower. Many people think if they purchase at these places, they are getting a better deal. The bottom line is, you’re not. Our price is exactly the same. The biggest difference is you’re getting the support from my dealership when it comes to factory parts, warranty service, and pickup and delivery service if needed. You are talking to sellers specialized in our products, not a general salesperson. Once we uncrate a unit, we go through a 120-point checklist and put fuel in the unit, so once our customer begins to use the unit at home or in business, it is ready to go. Other locations uncrate, install the seat and steering, and roll it out front to sell.

I have people each year ask how the business is working out. I tell them, first of all, “The business belongs to the Good Lord; He just lets me run it for Him.” We have had

steady growth each year of business, heading into our seventh year. It takes a lot of faith to step out on your own. It can challenge your self-esteem, it can challenge your marriage, it can challenge your family life and friendships, and at times, I’m sure it has challenged my faith.

When we opened our doors, we started with just the Cub Cadet Brand of power equipment. As each year went by, we understood that to expand our portfolio of customers, we needed to expand our product selection. During year two, we added RedMax outdoor products for trimmers, blowers, edgers, hedge trimmers, etc. We also added Ferris zero-turn mowers because of their suspension technology. During year three, we added Wright “StandOn” mowers for commercial users on slopes. During year five, we added Vortexx pressure washers, which are ranked No. 1 in the market, and this year, we have added Walker Mowers to our lineup to meet the need of another market. Each brand we carry specializes in certain markets, and we can fit the needs of any homeowner, all the way up to a multi-crew professional landscaping business.

For more information, visit www.cubcadetofnorthwestgeorgia. com, call us at (706) 226-3126, or stop by and see our diverse selection of outdoor tools for yourself at 921 E Morris St Dalton, GA 30721. We’re open Monday–Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. We look forward to helping you!