Company of the Week: Mulkey, Inc.
This week we spoke with Daniel Mulkey, from his family business Mulkey, Inc, which is family owned & operated and founded in Rome in 2004.
What made you choose this type of business?
Danny (the owner) is my father and I, Daniel, have been working with my dad since graduating from school in 2016. I always wanted to help my dad but never knew how. When he started the roll off business, and put me in charge of it, I felt like I found my place in the company.
What service(s) or product(s) do you offer/manufacture?
My dad started Mulkey Inc as a landscaping company. Over time, the company grew and started taking on new projects and adding new services. Today, Mulkey runs a tight-knit team that provides a variety of services ranging from landscaping and grading to roll-off containers and dirt/gravel hauling.
How do you advertise your business?
In addition to the billboard advertising we have recently done, we invest in digital marketing. Google Ads has been very successful in growing our brand and name-recognition. Because of Google Ads, Mulkey is always one of the first names you will see for many Google searches ranging from “landscaping” to “dumpster rental”. We also invest in social media platforms, especially Facebook. I do think, however, it is also very important to strive for organic growth. Many people can see an advertisement and dismiss it, but other local businesses and potential clients do enjoy seeing the projects that you share on your page. A genuine presence creates genuine clients. This balance between “boosted posts” and organic posts is very important to our company. A simple presence online can make a huge difference for a local business, and you can incorporate it into your business on any budget!
What is unique about your business?
We invest in long-term relationships. Some of our clients have been doing business with us nearly as long as we have been around. We are there for our customers to solve their problems however big or small the project.
To what do you attribute your success?
My dad, he is a fixer. Over the years, he has gained a wealth of knowledge and experience and, like a Swiss-Army knife, can handle any problem or high-pressure situation. From an early age, my dad set an example for me to work very hard and pushed me to be the best I could be. I would have to say one of the most valuable lessons I have learned from him is a “buckle down and stay focused” mindset. One challenge that we had recently was offering a larger roll-off container to our customers. The bigger containers were sitting for a while and we had to figure out how to get the word out and advertise that we were now offering this new size. Because of the close-knit team at Mulkey, we were able to make our new product the most valuable and in-demand service we offer now.
If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out in small business, what would it be?
Put yourself out there and make as many connections as you can. You have to hit the road and make yourself known in order to build name recognition and establish your brand. Also, reach back out to potential customers. Maybe you haven’t closed a deal in the past, but there may still be a good opportunity. Believe in your product and what you are marketing, and you are taking the first steps to successfully grow your small business!