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Joe Uses Discarded Honda Mower To Start His Own Business And Get Healthy

October 2, 2009 - “Work has picked up due to the rain, but it’s really hard to mow lawns when it’s bucketing down. It’s a bit ironic really,” says Joseph Pane, owner of Joey’s Gardening Services.

Joe started his own gardening business from scratch, after finding an old Honda mower left on the street for hard rubbish collection while he was at university.

“When I saw it was a Honda I knew there couldn’t be much wrong with it. I changed the spark plug and it worked fine, so I decided to start up Joey’s Gardening Services.”

Joe recently finished his International Business/Arts double degree at Swinburne University, but has decided to focus on his own business venture after a year stint working for Honda Power Equipment.

“I started the business while I was at uni to make a bit of extra cash. I was working in hospitality, but it was long hours and the money wasn’t great,” said Joe.

“My Dad would throw me a few jobs here and there, as he works in real estate, and I developed a taste for working outdoors.”

Joe’s mower lasted several more years before he saved up to buy a second hand contractor mower, and he learnt to service his own equipment from talking to Honda mechanics and staff in mower shops.

He now owns the complete Honda gardening range and looks after residential gardens all over the Eastern and South Eastern suburbs of Melbourne, as well as starting to branch out to commercial work.

“I think I’m quite unique in that I’m a young guy working extremely hard to build up a business, which is something that doesn’t seem too important to lot of people my age.”

“My Uncle helps me out from time to time, he’s retired but he’s my best worker. My Uncle and I both have a really strong work ethic, and he’s the best investment I’ve made.”

“I used to have a lot of allergies working in an air conditioned office, and I was always sneezing. After a year of office work I decided to focus on the business full time, and I’ve been really healthy since. I’ve actually lost ten kilograms from all the exercise; it’s quite a labour intensive job.”

Joe uses a Honda HRU216D SU Buffalo Classic for larger jobs, as it is self propelled and has a 21 inch cutting deck, a HRU19D1 Buffalo Buck Mulch and Catch mower for smaller jobs, a Honda UMK435 brushcutter, a HHH25D Hedge Cutter and a Honda HHB25 Blower.

“Sometimes I get undercut by people that do gardening as something extra, who are willing to work for cheap with low quality gear, but once I’ve done a job people will stick with me. My finished product is just so much better with Honda Power Equipment and it’s a lot quieter and cleaner.”

“I look after a Jewish Synagogue in Kew, which has a massive tree that throws leaves all over the lawn constantly. Most mowers would spray leaves everywhere and make a mess of it, but the Honda Buffalo Classic just sucks it all up, it looks beautiful.”

“I’d like to get into more commercial work now, like Doncaster Shopping Town or Chadstone. Ideally I’d like to get involved with schools as well.”

“There’s always work out there, it just depends how much you’re willing to take on.”