Meet Carrie Poff, Owner of Brown Hound Tree Service and Heart Wood Tree Salvage
"We can also leave homeowners with something to remember their tree by. If there was a sentimental attachment to the tree, for example, if their children once had a tree swing and played in that tree, we can coordinate having a bowl, table, bench, etc. made from the wood."
Who or what inspired you to start your business?
When our first child was born, my husband James took a week off from his work. I had a high-risk pregnancy and very scary delivery, and when an exhausted James returned to work, he was not received with open arms, but with criticism. By the end of that first day back, he had quit with grace and dignity. We decided to strike out on our own for several reasons: to become the type bosses that we believed bosses should be; to have control over our own lives, schedule, and destiny; and most importantly, to build something that our son could’ve proud of. Now, his old employer is a client of ours and we have a very good relationship with them, thanks to how James chose to handle that one very stressful day, four years ago.
What has having your own business meant to your family? (the good, the bad, the ugly)
Owning and operating our business means everything as it is our only source of income. It means clothes on our children’s backs, food on our table, fuel in our car, and money up pay the bills. It means that the company’s bills and our employees’ payroll comes first because without out them, we could accomplish nothing. Up until year three in business, which is a milestone, it has meant feeding ourselves last, if at all, in order to build our business. It means stress like you wouldn’t believe, followed by sweet relief when things start clicking into place. It means arguments with your spouse over business operations, protocol, and finances, followed by overwhelming joy when things are running smoothly. It means you can’t get comfortable or complacent because if you do, things can spin out of control in a second. Your ship can steer off course with no one at the helm.
What's something that sets you apart?
We salvage wood for woodworkers. We can also leave homeowners with something to remember their tree by. If there was a sentimental attachment to the tree, for example, if their children once had a tree swing and played in that tree, we can coordinate having a bowl, table, bench, etc. made from the wood.
We also do at least one philanthropic activity a year. In the past, this has included trash pickups, red bud and apple tree plantings, trail cleanups, taking down trees and cleaning up the historic Boon-Hardy Cemetery in Boones Mill, and fundraising. A recent project includes rescuing two screech owls found in a tree that was being fed through the chipper and we raised over $700 for the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke! It was awesome! We believe in giving back!
If you had to choose one strength that you possess that has helped you be the most successful- what would it be and why?
One strength- According to the DiSC personality assessment, I am as high C as a C can be! This means I’m more detail- oriented than people- oriented. I pay incredible attention to detail and eat data for breakfast. I love document production and have created everything from our business plan to our estimate sheets to our marketing material and I developed our online presence which included designing our first website. These details set us apart from our competition in our field; we aren’t taking down trees as a side-gig. We are legitimate (and licensed and insured)!
What are you passionate about?
In our business, I am passionate about taking care of people and meeting their needs. Sometimes our company is not the best match for the client, and sometimes we let people down, but we can’t please everyone and we have learned to shake that off.
I’m passionate about “casting,” not just “hiring” my employees. I don’t conduct formal interviews because I want the person coming in to feel comfortable. I want to know if we click. If this person doesn’t have the experience but feels like they’re a good fit to our family, we will train them. In our industry, the 2nd most dangerous profession in the country, you want to know that the people you’re working with value each other enough to care about each other’s safety.
Outside of work, I am passionate about my children, gardening, art, and music!
What piece of advice would you give yourself if you were just starting your business again today?
Just one piece of advice; it’s difficult to narrow down because we have learned so much. I would say to prepare for the worst and hope for the best! Don’t have any expectations and you won’t be disappointed. Learn to let go; don’t fixate on the problems, focus on the solutions. Schedule time for yourself. Disconnect from your business- turn off the phone and computer. I’m still working on these things.
In what ways can your business help another mom?
We own and operate a tree care company, so we can help make your trees and yards safe for you and your family. We also rescue cats.
I would say that if you’re wanting to start your own company from the ground up, not reselling, but truly grassroots, I am happy to sit down and answer questions about where to go for licensing, marketing, insurance, and support. I’ve tapped into some pretty great resources and have met some truly great people thanks to our business, and I would be happy to make the connections and offer advice!
What has been your favorite local resource to support you in your business?
The Small Business Development Center at the Roanoke Chamber of Commerce and the Advancement Foundation in Vinton and their Gauntlet business plan competition, have been incredible resources! They are gifts that just keep giving!
Macaroni Kid Families can save $50-$100 on tree removal service by Brown Hound Tree Service.
Learn more: Brown Hound Tree Service
