Business Profile: J&R Landscaping/Driveway Plus

Patch interviewed the "J" in J&R Landscaping/Driveway Plus, owner Jeff Cretella.

How long have you lived in Clinton:  About 10 years and my wife is a life-long Clinton resident. Prior to that I grew up in Madison.

How long has J&R Landscaping/Driveway Plus been in business:  Since 1990! I started the company by mowing lawns with a friend in high school. 

How did the business get its name:  J&R stands for Jeff and Randy. Randy was my buddy from high school who I mowed laws with. Driveway Plus was named because I wanted to tell customers that we do more than just driveway sealing--we do everything from plowing to patching, to installing new driveways. 

History of the business:  We have been in the landscaping and asphalt sealcoating business since 1990. Through the years we have been growing to better service our customers. We started the business to save customers time and money by using just one contractor for their outside needs. We have the right equipment for many jobs and the know-how to make sure the job gets done right.

The thing that makes us different from other similar businesses is that we have been around through good times and bad and we keep growing. We hire U.S. citizens, high school and college students for full and part-time work. We find this puts money back into the community and gives young people a chance to learn new skills. We are also a proud member of the Clinton Chamber of Commerce.

Gradually, we became busier and busier. Randy eventually moved on--and that left just me with the business. Since that time, I've tried to increase my advertising and I work hard to maintain a good reputation.  

How many family members are in the business:  My son Joey, who just turned 15, has been snowplowing with me for two years now.  I'm hoping this summer he'll work more with me to start learning the business. I also have two younger daughters and I'm not sure if they have any interest in the business. You get all dirty doing the work I do!

What do you sell and what services do you offer:  We are really a full-service company. Hardscapes have become very popular lately--we do a wide variety of hardscape jobs. We also do drainage work, gravel driveways, digging projects, brick walkways, stone patios, snowplowing, landscaping, yard cleanups, and a whole lot more. I have the equipment I need for a huge variety of jobs and I get calls for just about everything.

~Lawn +Turf Care
~Spring / Fall Cleanups
~Leaf Vac Service
~24-Hour Snow Plowing
~Excavation + Demolition + Backhoe Service + York Raking
~Drainage + Site Work + Trenching
~Foundation Work & Site Work Packages
~Curtain Drain + Galley Installation + Storm Water Management
~Mulch (All Colors)
~Seeding (All Types)
~Sod Installation
~Trees + Shrubs + Flowers + Plants
~Decorative Crushed Stone Driveways + Parking Lots
~Hardscape Installation Services
~All Types Of Brick Pavers + Patios + Pool Decks + Driveways
~Retaining walls + Walkways + Stone Work + Slate Installation
~Outdoor Kitchens & Living Spaces + Fire Pits
~Wood Fired Brick Pizza Ovens
~Fountains & Ponds
~Tree Work + Brush Removal + Land Clearing
~Top Soil
~Asphalt Sealcoating
~Hot Crack Filling
~Line Painting + Pavement Marking
~Comm. Sweeping + Parking Lot Maintenance
~Asphalt Patching & Repairs
~Yearly Contracts + Seasonal Contracts
 
What is in high demand these days:  I would have to say hardscapes, which are outdoor living spaces. Most people didn't even use the term hardscapes a few years ago. Now--everybody's hardscaping. 

What makes J&R Landscaping/Driveway Plus unique:  We are unique because I give each call I get the attention it deserves. I personally go on each estimate and I give my customers a fair evaluation of the work they need. Also, the fact that I own a lot of machinery helps me to be able to price work competitively with companies who may be three times bigger than me because I don't have to incur rental costs.  

What do you like best about town:  I love that it still has that small town feel--even while we have outlet malls and other large developments, we're still a small town at heart. 

What do you least like about town:  Can't really think of anything that bugs me about the town . . . Of course, I'd like to see our taxes go down. 

Fondest memory of town:  I would have to say my fondest memory in town has been watching my three kids grow up here. I can't tell you how many concerts, sporting events, awards assemblies, parent-teacher conferences, etc. that I have attended over the years--and I'm sure there's more to come. This is a great town to raise a family in!

Any personal thoughts you'd like to share:  I appreciate having the opportunity to be interviewed--thanks.

J&R Landscaping/ Driveway Plus | 242 Cow Hill Road  | 860-669-9272