RMD Ventures

[robertmichaeldavies]

Interior Inspections: An Idea for Expanded Site Monitoring Service Offerings

I’m back to work now at the Seasonal RV Park I manage, and in contact with many returning seasonal campers in advance of our April 24th opening.  Many conversations quickly turn their eagerness to check on the condition of their trailers after a long winter away.

Apparently, I’ve been conditioned by my Entrepreneurship course term project developing a Site Monitoring business, because in a phone conversation, I found myself offering escalating levels of service to a camper expressing their concern for their property.   First, I offered to go to their site and take photos of their trailer and patio enclosure exteriors.  Then, realizing we were holding their trailer key in our office as we do for many campers, I offered to go inside and take interior photos. I didn’t inspect anything very closely or open any cupboards.  I could only assure them that there had been no obvious leaks.   Still, they were very pleased with my effort and gained some peace of mind knowing that they wouldn’t come into any major surprises when they arrive in a couple of weeks. This was someone who was unaware of the Site Monitoring service I offered to a small, trusted group of campers among my social media contacts.  I didn’t ask for any compensation, because I had answered the phone as a representative of the park, and offering this as a paid service felt uncomfortable when there was no precedent for it.  I was content offering this service for free as proof of concept for expanded Site Monitor offerings and for something to write about this week in this space.

All along there was a voice in my head telling me that maybe I was overstepping my responsibilities.  This was my managerial persona, telling me not to set expectations too high for the future when I would have difficulty delivering this level of service if I were any busier with my standard responsibilities. Still, I might consider including interior inspections of trailers if I were to expand my Site Monitor service next winter.  I would want my employers to be supportive of this, meaning I would need to fully consider whether by performing this type of service, I would be in any way liable for anything I overlooked.  Perhaps a carefully worded waiver and clearly defined inspection points would be enough to limit my liability. I’ve spent the past several months building familiarity with the requirements of this sort of monitoring work and apparently there is still new territory to explore . . .

[robertmichaeldavies]

Easy Money Through Customer Relationships and Reliability

I’ve been writing weekly in this space about the small business I’ve developed for my Entrepreneurship course term project: a site monitoring service for the seasonal campers at the RV park I manage.

My original idea was to generate revenue during the winter months, when I’m off work and the park is closed, snow-covered, and largely inaccessible.

I expected few revenue opportunities once spring arrived and campers started coming to check on things themselves in anticipation of the park opening at the end of this month.

This week, however, I earned a small amount of income from an unexpected source.

A camper contacted me after their friends noticed their kayaks had been moved off their site to allow for tree removal.  Their kayaks had been left off their rack, open-side up and were collecting water.  It would have been easy for the friends to fix this themselves, but instead I got the call.

They asked me to just to flip their kayaks over where they sat but I went beyond that.  I returned the rack to their site, properly positioned the kayaks on the rack and sent a photo to confirm everything was back in place.  It took 5 minutes of my time.

The camper was very appreciative and offered to buy me beer as a gratuity.

 I asked instead for payment so I could report it as business revenue for my course project.  They sent $20 via e-transfer.

What’s interesting is that this revenue wasn’t the result of proactive monitoring like I’d planned: it came from having previously built a service relationship with these campers.

I had shoveled their trailer roof last winter and I told them I'd let them know if I thought this needed to be done again this winter.  When spring arrived early, I sent them photos showing there was little snow left on their trailer and reported that no roof shoveling would be needed.  Basically, I had offered my Site Monitoring package for free.

Being known as someone who is willing and available to help creates additional income streams. This was also the case earlier this winter when I arranged to ship a package that had been mistakenly delivered to the park and when campers referred me to people outside the park to shovel their driveway while they were on vacation.

Opportunity multiplies when people know you are available and reliable.

[robertmichaeldavies]

Sounded Simple - Then I Looked Into It

I’ve been posting here each week about the Site Monitoring service I’ve developed for my Entrepreneurship course: helping seasonal campers at the park I manage keep an eye on their trailers over the winter when the park is closed.

At this point, there’s not much new to report. Spring is here, the snow has mostly melted, and campers are generally able (and eager) to get back into the park and check on things themselves while they wait for opening at the end of the month.

So this week, I thought I’d reflect on an experience I had at an earlier stage of this project.

At the time, I was considering the practicality of offering a service to clear snow from trailer and patio enclosure roofs. I realized liability insurance would be necessary because there are a lot of ways to damage these structures when removing snow from their roofs. I called my auto insurance provider for a quote, and my agent estimated coverage would cost $3500 to $4000 per year if the underwriter didn’t reject the idea outright. Instead the underwriter wanted answers to the following questions:

What experience do you have with rooftop snow removal?

What risk management procedures do you use?

Where is the snow deposited after removal?

What types of locations are you working on?

How do you prevent damage to the roof?

How many properties do you expect to service?

Do you use any heat in the removal process?

I had good answers for most of these questions, but one in particular exposed a gap in my preparedness.

I could provide a reasonable answer for the question about where the snow would be deposited. Last year, I did have to remove some snow piles I had made from shovelling roofs because they were putting pressure on doors and windows.  However, since people generally aren’t walking in these spaces these accumulations are less of a concern than they would be in a residential setting with regular foot traffic.  A contractor I know told me he avoids this type of work because if he were to shovel a roof leaving snow on a sidewalk, it might turn to ice and even months later, someone might slip and sue.

The question about risk management was the one that made me realize I was underprepared.  My “system” last year had been informal: check inside the trailer to guess where vents and AC units are, avoid scraping right down to the roof, and stick mostly to patio enclosures where there’s less to damage. I also hadn’t really considered the risks to my own safety from working at heights.

It became clear that managing risk would be a major undertaking. Given the estimated cost of insurance and the timing (early February), I would have had to seriously hustle just to break even. I chose not to proceed pursue a quote and instead pivoted to the more manageable Site Monitoring idea.

There might be an opportunity for me to offer rooftop snow removal service in the future, but I would need a structured risk management plan and to start earlier in the season.

[robertmichaeldavies]

Lessons in Opportunity, Timing and Seasonal Demand

This winter, through my entrepreneurship coursework, I developed what I still think is a strong business idea: a site monitoring service for seasonal campers storing trailers at the RV park I manage.  My primary service is site checks and photo reports so owners can stay connected to their property and protect their investment when the park is closed for the winter.

The profitability of this business has been limited by missing the timing when demand was surely highest.

The biggest driver of demand for this service is the inaccessibility of the park in the middle of winter.  When the roads aren’t plowed and significant snow has accumulated, campers can’t easily access their sites, and concerns about snow load causing roof damage are at their peak.  That’s when monitoring provides the greatest value.  At that point this winter, I was still evaluating whether I could move forward with my original business idea of rooftop snow removal, given the liability concerns involved.

Then, as February turned into March, spring-like temperatures arrived, reducing the structural risk of snow load, improving access and relieving any urgency.  In contrast, at that time last year, I was busy shovelling trailer and patio roofs, an experience that set me on the path to exploring the entrepreneurial possibilities of these types of services.

Now, at the end of March, demand for site monitoring has essentially disappeared. I’m still touring the park and keeping an eye out for issues, but now it’s reactive, ready to offer help when I spot something rather than proactively selling a service. Instead of an empty park, I’m likely to run into campers doing their own preliminary checks ahead of our April 25 opening.

Last year, at the end of March, a major ice storm caused extensive damage throughout the park.  I would never want to experience a repeat of that, even if it could create profit opportunities. This is a tension I hadn’t fully appreciated earlier: the potential conflict between the profit motive of a site monitoring business and my responsibilities as park manager.

If I were unaffiliated with the park, running a separate monitoring business and misjudged a situation, such as failing to flag dangerous snow buildup that later caused damage, there would be liability concerns. But in my case, as park manager, it could also impact my working relationships with campers and even with my employers at the park.

If I revisit this idea next winter, I will begin promotion earlier, align the service with the period of highest need, and set clear expectations—potentially including waivers to manage liability. This lesson on opportunity, timing, and seasonal demand, particularly how a window of opportunity can be much narrower than it first appears, is one of many that this winter’s entrepreneurial experience has provided

[robertmichaeldavies]

Calculating Snow Load and Structural Risk

I eventually moved on to the idea of a site monitoring business, but one of the earlier concepts I considered was a service that removed snow from trailer roofs. In general, however, I don’t think this service is necessary in most years. During my many years managing a campground, I have only seen damage to trailers or patio roofs during a single winter. The structures that failed were patio roofs of the type not supported by walls, as opposed to enclosed patio rooms where walls provide additional structural support. In that particular year, several patio roofs collapsed after repeated cycles of thawing, freezing, and additional snowfall. The failures occurred in late March, after layers of snow and ice had accumulated.

If snow removal can be avoided, it may actually be preferable. The removal process itself could cause damage. Climbing onto the roof of a trailer adds additional weight that could become the proverbial “straw that breaks the camel’s back.” In addition, trailers have many vulnerable components on their roof, such as skylights, air conditioner covers, and plumbing vents, that could easily be damaged by a misplaced shovel during the snow removal process.

I sent a survey to campers asking about their level of concern regarding snow and ice accumulation. A large majority indicated that they were worried to some degree. One camper who also advised me that liability insurance would be essential if I were to launch a snow removal business also sent me a link to a snow weight calculator from Les Couvreurs Duro-Toit, a Quebec-based roofing company that offers snow removal services (www.lescouvreursdurotoit.com/en/snow-load-calculator).

I thought this was an interesting marketing approach. Rather than directly trying to create fear, they provide relevant information that may encourage customers to take action. Other roofing companies offer similar calculators.

Les Couvreurs Duro-Toit's roofing calculator uses a formula that estimates snow weight:

Weight of snow = (length of roof × width of roof × snow load) ÷ degree of slope

For trailer and patio enclosure roofs, the slope is typically very low or zero, which places them at greater risk. The snow load variable relates to the density of the snow.

According to the calculator, snow weight exceeding 20 pounds per square foot may begin to cause structural damage. On a fairly standard 300-square-foot patio roof, this would translate to roughly 6,000 pounds distributed across the roof.

By Les Couvreurs Duro-Toit's estimates of snow density, this weight could occur with:

40–48 inches of fresh snow

12–20 inches of compacted snow

About 4 inches of ice

Patio enclosures are typically supported by narrow three-inch walls and a nailing strip attached to the RV, so in some ways it is surprising that we have not see more collapses in the past.  The snow accumulation last winter was particularly extreme.  Many roofs had more than 2 and a half feet of snow depth. but we did not have any structural damage. For the purposes of my monitoring business I would advise removing snow if depth exceeds 18 inches.  Removing just a few inches of depth could relieve hundreds of pounds of structural stress. We had accumulations of roughly that depth at the start of March before the early arrival of Spring weather melted away any concerns we might have had.

[robertmichaeldavies]

I've been exploring an idea for a small site monitoring service business called WinterWatch. The concept is based on a real situation at the seasonal campground I manage, where campers leave their trailers unattended during the winter months. This short presentation introduces my business, explains the problem it addresses, the services it provides and how winter site monitoring can provide peace of mind for seasonal campers.

[robertmichaeldavies]

When Plans Melt, Where Are the Opportunities?

If you’ve read my previous Tumblr posts about my Entrepreneurship term project, you may be familiar with my efforts to find a profitable opportunity connected to a situation at the seasonal RV park I manage. During winter closure, campers worry about their property when they aren’t there to look after it themselves, while I live onsite and can respond quickly if issues arise.

Through market research, I confirmed that campers would pay about $100 per hour for a service removing snow from the roofs of trailers, patio enclosures, and other structures. However, the $3,500 investment for liability insurance required for that type of work would involve levels of risk and commitment unsuitable for the course and incompatible with my other commitments, making the idea unfeasible.

Because of that, I pivoted to a site-monitoring concept. Instead of removing snow, I offered inspections with photo reports to track snow accumulation and notify campers when it became dangerous. I generated a small amount of monitoring revenue, but the early arrival of spring weather meant demand for winter monitoring melted along with the snow. Warmer conditions also make the park more accessible and inviting, so many seasonal campers are eager to make a day trip of driving to the park and walking through the receding snow to check their sites themselves.

Interestingly, most of the revenue I’ve earned so far has come from channels I hadn’t planned. These opportunities arose unexpectedly, such as arranging shipment for a package mistakenly delivered to the campground or shoveling a driveway for someone outside the park who had been recommended to me by campers I spoke with about snow removal.

If I’m going to earn any more revenue in the remaining weeks of the course, it will likely come from unexpected sources. Rather than trying to sell a predefined package of services and then looking for customers, I will need to reverse the process: stay observant, identify problems or needs as they arise, and see whether those situations can become small revenue opportunities.

The underlying situation remains the same: campers worry about uncertainty, and I am on the spot to offer peace of mind. For now, I will continue touring the park looking for issues and potential sources of revenue.

[robertmichaeldavies]

WinterWatch: Timing, Risk, and Capacity

Winter is winding down, and with it, the narrow window of opportunity for WinterWatch, my site monitoring service for campers storing trailers at the seasonal RV park I manage.

If I had launched earlier, I likely could have captured more demand. My survey showed strong interest.

But I hesitated. especially when pivoting from rooftop snow removal to site monitoring.

Part of that hesitation was strategic. I abandoned making snow removal my focus when I realized the necessity and prohibitive cost of liability insurance.  The underwriter’s questions made it clear this couldn’t be a casual side hustle.

Part of that hesitation had to do with my capacity. With my other commitments, I had to ask myself: If I were to advertise to the entire park population instead of the smaller group of social contacts I surveyed, could I realistically meet the demand?  I’m not sure I could.

If I had insured myself, I could be very busy now shoveling roofs.  The current weather is exactly when snow loads can become dangerous. We’ve had heavy accumulation, a thaw, and now a freeze. If more snow falls on top of that dense base, weights could become destructive. Using a snow load calculator a camper shared, we estimated that one foot of snow can equal roughly 20 lbs per square foot. Across a trailer roof, that adds up to thousands of pounds.

I’ve now begun advertising to the seasonal campers I surveyed. I’ve made it clear I won’t perform rooftop removal due to liability concerns. Instead, I’m offering a $30 WinterWatch package: hike in, photograph snow accumulation, and clear sheds and trailer slide-outs that are the most vulnerable to snow weight and are safely reachable from the ground.

Smaller, but safer.

There have also been unexpected gains.

Seasonal campers recommended me to nearby homeowners who were away on vacation. I shoveled their driveway four times and earned $120. That forced me to add travel expenses into my budget, something I had originally planned to avoid.

Another surprise came when an Amazon package was delivered to the park because a camper mistakenly used their summer address. I shipped it to them via UPS, and they paid me $20 for the service.  It was really a tip, but I’m counting it as ancillary revenue.  It made me realize there may be other small income opportunities connected to site monitoring and off-season support.

One insight stood out to me this week. A friend of mine mentioned wanting to start a side business to supplement his income.  I asked him when he would find the time on top of his 40-hour work week and family commitments. Service businesses trade time for money. That’s challenging alongside a full-time role. We talked about how an ideal side hustle would involve selling a niche product rather than selling hours. A merchandising business could scale better because it isn’t as directly tied to being physically present, although it introduces new risks like storage needs and unsold inventory.

What else I’ve learned:

Timing matters. Just because people want it doesn’t mean I can deliver it. Revenue reveals hidden costs. Opportunity often shows up in small, unexpected ways. Winter doesn’t wait.

[robertmichaeldavies]

Financing: A Reality Check

I had what looked like a promising idea for my Entrepreneurship term project: a rooftop snow removal service for seasonal campers at the RV park I manage. I surveyed a segment of campers and confirmed meaningful demand. Pricing above $90 per hour seemed realistic, and the revenue potential was attractive.

But once I factored in estimated insurance premiums of $3,000–$4,000 per year to cover liability and safety risks, I realized this idea was unfeasible within the constraints of this course.  Not only would I exceed the $50 seed funding assumption, I would also need to work 30-40 hours just to break even on insurance.   With no guarantee of sufficient snowfall, plus school commitments and other responsibilities, the risk of losing money became very real.

So I pivoted to something smaller and safer: a winter property monitoring service.

This involves checking trailers after major snowfalls and windstorms, watching for visible issues such as excessive snow accumulation or fallen tree limbs, alerting owners to concerns, and sending photo updates. I may occasionally charge a small group of friends for limited snow clearing, but only from the ground using an extension roof rake. I’ll invest my $50 seed money toward that too and expect to quickly recover my small capital investment through initial service revenue.

There’s no need for additional financing at this smaller scale.

Still, it’s worth imagining what this business might look like if I tried to fully meet the demand for rooftop snow removal that my survey revealed.  I would need at least the $3000-$4000 in start-up capital required for insurance.  In an average winter, $10,000 would be a reasonable estimate of gross revenue from customers within the park.  To justify my investment in insurance, I would likely feel pressure to hire staff and expand beyond the park. That would require additional spending on advertising, equipment, and transportation.

If I chose to scale this business, I would start with my own money. I would hesitate to seek “love money” from family or friends. wanting to avoid financial strain spilling into personal relationships.  Also, I would prefer not to give up equity when only modest profits are available, and maintaining control helps protect relationships with my potential customer base.  This business doesn’t have the sort of growth potential or originality that would attract angel investors or venture capital.  Crowdfunding might be possible, given the enthusiasm expressed in the survey. Still, I would be cautious about taking on debt, since revenue depends heavily on snowfall, something I can’t control.

If lenders were to evaluate my loan credentials, the assessment would be mixed. My professional profile is strong: as park manager, I understand the customers and the operating environment. But the project’s viability is limited: my survey confirmed demand exists, but weather unpredictability threatens profitability and there are few meaningful efficiencies to be gained as economies of scale.  Although my credit is good, my financial strength is limited by modest revenue projections.  I would probably be better off using personal savings for start-up costs, rather than pledging assets to guarantee a loan for a small, weather-dependent operation.

If this sort of snow removal business were to grow, its growth should be financed by reinvesting earnings rather than relying on outside capital.

The same reasons the scaled-up snow removal venture might not attract investors are the reasons my pivot to something safer and more manageable makes sense.  The risks and limitations that make it difficult to finance at scale are indications that I’m better off focusing on what I can realistically and responsibly accomplish through property monitoring and limited ground-based snow removal.

[robertmichaeldavies]

Pivoting: Smaller, Safer, Smarter

I sensed strong demand for a small business removing snow from the roofs of trailers and patio enclosures at the seasonal RV park I manage. Campers worry about heavy snow loads damaging their trailers and patio enclosures.  I did some of this work informally last year, and people were more than willing to pay.

So I did some market research for my Entrepreneurship term project.

I sent out surveys to 42 seasonal campers within my social network and received 26 responses.  The survey confirmed demand exists and people would pay.

Conservatively applying the survey results to the wider customer base suggests that I could potentially serve more than 25% of the park’s 200 seasonal campers - but could I realistically manage that amount of work?

Encouragingly, 75% of respondents said they would accept pricing above $90 per hour. Based on prior experience and that feedback, $100 per hour felt reasonable and competitive.

I estimate about one hour to clear either a trailer or a patio enclosure. If half of potential customers wanted one structure cleared and the other half wanted both, total revenue could approach $7,500 for roughly 75 hours of work. Under ideal snowfall conditions, that’s meaningful side income but also an awful lot of work to fit in between my other commitments.

I also recognized the personal safety risks involved in climbing ladders and working on roofs, as well as the potential for accidental damage when shovelling snow from trailers. Several experienced individuals I surveyed reached out to express concerns about my liability exposure and urged me secure insurance coverage before undertaking this type of work.

I contacted my auto insurance provider to ask about coverage for rooftop snow removal. While waiting for underwriter approval, my agent estimated premiums between $3,000 and $4,000 annually, and approval wasn’t guaranteed.

At $100 per hour, that’s 30–40 hours of labour just to cover insurance before making a dollar of profit.

And the course project assumes $50 in seed funding.

I went from being excited about the idea to having to accept that it was unfeasible.

The Pivot

After talking it through with my instructor, I decided to shift my focus.

The demand my survey identified wasn’t just for snow removal - it was for peace of mind. So, I’m pivoting to something smaller and safer: a winter trailer and site monitoring service. Within the context of the course, it’s the smarter move too.

This service would involve:

Checking trailers after major snowfalls and windstorms

Watching for visible issues such as excessive snow accumulation and fallen tree limbs

Alerting owners about concerns

Sending photo updates

Drawing a Line (in the snow)

I may occasionally charge a small group of friends for snow clearing, but I am drawing a firm boundary around what this business is.

I am not advertising rooftop snow removal. I am not building a commercial service around climbing ladders onto trailer roofs. The insurance requirements alone make that impractical within the requirements of this course.

Operational Reality

From an operational standpoint, this monitoring service will be simple.

I already spend time cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the park during the winter  Now, I will plan my routes around my monitoring responsibilities.

I don’t require any inventory.  I’m generating core resources internally -my time, my access to the park, my ability to document and communicate. I already own most of the tools I'll need: a smartphone, snowshoes, cross-country skis. I will advertise among a group even smaller than the one I surveyed. Even without any further solicitation, I expect I'll hear from some of the survey group.

If I decide the circumstances are appropriate for limited, low-risk snow removal, I have the snow shovels required. I will put my $50 in seed money toward purchasing an extension roof rake so that any roof clearing can be done safely from the ground.  I have priced suitable models at around $100 and would contribute the remaining balance as a small personal capital investment, expecting to recover that amount quickly through service revenue.

I’ll operate solo, handling inspections, communication, and recordkeeping myself. No special trade license is required for monitoring services. Most importantly, this can realistically be launched within the remaining 6 weeks of the course.

What I Learned

Having to pivot this way helps me understand that while entrepreneurship involves spotting opportunity, it also requires stepping back when the numbers and risks don’t support scaling up.

At this point, the prudent move isn’t to take on more than I can comfortably manage. It’s to redefine the opportunity.

[robertmichaeldavies]

[robertmichaeldavies]

My business:

My snow removal service intends to provide reliable winter roof-clearing for returning seasonal campers at the RV park I manage, helping protect their trailers, patio enclosures, and sheds from heavy snow and ice build-up when the park is closed and deep snow makes their sites hard to access.  Creating a persona for my ideal customer helps me understand their motivations and why they would choose to hire me.

My ideal customers, Steve and Mary:

About Steve and Mary

a retired couple and returning seasonal campers with a trailer and other outdoor structures stored at the RV park over the winter

have invested considerable time and money in their site and trailer setup

are proud and feel social pressure to keep pace with the maintenance standards set by neighbours

feel a loss of control when the park is closed in the winter because roads aren’t regularly plowed and site access becomes difficult

have seen or heard of structural damage to trailers from heavy snow and ice loads

live far enough away that driving to the park after a storm is inconvenient and stressful

spend extended winter vacations in tropical locations

would struggle physically to haul ladders and shovels through deep snow and climb up to do a tough, slippery job themselves

have comfortable financial savings    

Benefits

Peace of Mind that their investment is protected

Prevention against costly snow and ice-related damage

Convenience during winter when the park is closed

Safety by avoiding ladders and slippery conditions

Reliability so they don’t need to scramble to make last-minute arrangements when storms occur

Use Case

Steve and Mary are vacationing in Mexico for two months with a group of friends who are also seasonal campers at the park. While they’re away, they follow the news from home and hear about a series of heavy snowfalls making winter conditions difficult in our region. They talk with their camper friends about the handful of past situations where snow and ice buildup has caused structural collapses in the park.  Someone points out that trailer roofs are designed to hold a tremendous amount of weight, and that problems are more likely when ice combines with heavy snow. Even knowing this, Steve and Mary can’t rule out those conditions occurring, and they want to enjoy their vacation without worrying about their property back home. The previous winter, they relied on family help for snow removal, which proved inconvenient due to travel distance, difficult site access, and breaking a shovel.  They decide to hire someone to safely and quickly clear the accumulated snow before it becomes a bigger issue.

Previous solution & pain points

In past years, Steve and Mary have dealt with the worry about potential damage to their trailers and outdoor structures from snow and ice build-up in a few ways:

Ignoring it and hoping for the best, which left them feeling uncertain and provided no real peace of mind

Removing the snow themselves, which was exhausting because they struggled walking through deep snow while carrying ladders and shovels and climbing in slippery conditions

Trying to find last-minute help, which felt like an emergency, inconvenienced family members and left them vulnerable to paying premium rates  

The biggest pain points for them were the risk of damage to their trailer, the difficulty of accessing their site, and the high cost of emergency help.

Buying Trigger

Steve and Mary decide to enlist a snow removal service when:

A series of snowstorms causes snow to accumulate quickly

Cycles of thawing and freezing turn packed snow to ice

They hear and see reports of heavy snow loads from other campers, both in direct conversation and in social media posts

They begin to worry they may be waiting too long to act

They feel the cost of prevention is justified compared to the potential cost of damage

Buying Process

Steve’s and Mary’s buying process is straightforward and efficient:

Worrying about snow and ice buildup after a series of storms represents a problem

They look for a reliable and convenient solution

They ask for recommendations from their social contacts in the park and the park office

They are willing to pay a premium for the work to be done without much delay

Seeing before-and-after photos helps them feel confident that the job was done properly and was worth paying for

Choice Factors

Their options might include unfamiliar contractors who charge premium “emergency” rates or are reluctant to take on the job due to the challenges of locating and accessing sites during the winter when the park is unattended.  Steve and Mary would prefer to choose a service based on:

Trust (someone familiar to them and knowledgeable about the park)

Safety and care (someone careful to avoid damage in the snow removal process)

Responsive and reliable (someone who can complete the work promptly)

Convenience (simple booking via text or Messenger)

Clear pricing (straightforward and transparent rates)

How Understanding This Persona Helps My Business

Developing this persona shows me that customers are hiring me to remove worry along with snow.  They are buying peace of mind, convenience, and protection. Understanding this will guide how I advertise, communicate with customers and design pricing to manage demand during heavy snowfall.

[robertmichaeldavies]

I manage a seasonal RV park where many of our clients store their trailers on-site through the winter while the park is closed.  During periods of heavy snowfall, many returning campers worry about the potential for damage from snow and ice building up on the roofs of their trailers, patio enclosures, and sheds.  Because the park roads aren’t regularly plowed, access is difficult, so campers could drive considerable distances to the park and trudge through deep snow with ladders and shovels, just to attempt a strenuous and precarious snow removal job themselves.  Many will happily hire someone to take on this work for the peace of mind that their investments are protected. I’m preparing to launch a snow removal service to meet this proven demand.  This post will examine 3 types of competition my mini-enterprise will face. First, there is direct competition from a professional landscaping business owned by one of our seasonal campers. He offers the same type of snow removal service I intend to provide and advertises directly to our campers through the same Facebook groups I plan to use. Compared to outside contractors, we both have the advantage of pre-existing relationships with potential customers and knowledge of the park that really matters in winter, because if you didn’t know the park well, it would be difficult to find site numbers when no one is around to direct you.

Last winter, he was charging as much as $500 to remove snow from trailer and patio enclosure combinations.  He even chastised me for charging too little for the snow removal jobs I did. He has the credibility of being insured, having a professional-looking website and active Facebook and Instagram profiles.  He also has excellent Google reviews from customers and strong Glassdoor reviews from employees, supporting the idea that he runs a professional and reliable operation.

Overall, he is a serious competitor, but he doesn’t seem to have a reliable way into the park in deep snow, such as a snowmobile. I suspect he prices his jobs so high partly because he would rather not deal with the difficulty of trekking into the park. This is where I think I have an advantage, being comfortable moving equipment around the park in deep snow while wearing snowshoes. A second type of competition comes from outside contractors. These are professional landscaping and snow removal businesses with insurance, websites, social media profiles, and strong reviews, but they don’t advertise directly to our campers. This is likely because they don’t realize this niche market exists, or they simply don’t want the hassle that comes with it. The difficulty of accessing the park in heavy snow is a major barrier for any business that isn’t already connected to the park community. There are plenty of companies that do landscaping work here in the summer who would theoretically be familiar enough with the park and its customers to offer snow removal services in the winter, but working in a closed seasonal park comes with legitimate complications.

I recently saw a Facebook post from a snow removal operator that was basically a rant about how undervalued snow removal work is, which helps explain why many outside companies might either quote very high prices or avoid these jobs altogether. We really don’t ever see outside contractors doing snow removal at the park in the winter.  Most campers, before bringing in someone from outside, will call the camp office for a recommendation, supporting the competitive advantage I share with my direct competitor.  Third, and finally, there is the type of competition that comes from anything that could eventually make a snow removal service obsolete, similar to the “future rivals” described in BigCommerce’s competitive analysis discussion. https://www.bigcommerce.com/blog/how-perform-competitive-analysis/

There is no indication that climate change will eliminate the need for snow removal in our area anytime soon, but this business does depend on highly fluctuating demand. In some winters, snow banks build up fast, and “snow removal bank accounts” can build up fast, too. In other years, there may barely be any accumulation to speak of.

The bigger long-term threat of obsolescence comes from automated snow-melting technologies.  That said, I don’t see most of these solutions being well-suited to the vacant trailers and patio enclosures. Heating wires and cables are impractical for flat roofs. Heating mats seem prohibitively expensive both to purchase and to operate. Even if campers invested in a system like this, it would still require monitoring to ensure it was working properly and consistently receiving power.  Currently, solar technologies can provide that monitoring role, but evidently cannot provide enough energy to melt large amounts of snow in winter when sunlight is limited.

I don’t need to focus on these long-term threats of obsolescence because I’m concentrating on the demand that I know is here this winter.  Even if I were to plan on making this an ongoing business, my investment in tools is minimal, so my financial risk is low.   When I look at the competition overall, it’s clear that the access challenges of a closed park, and the limits of current snow-melting technology work in my favour and strengthen my competitive advantage

[robertmichaeldavies]

[robertmichaeldavies]

My Strengths and Weaknesses

My assignment was to discuss my strengths and weaknesses.   My strengths and weaknesses are apparent in the manner that I completed this assignment.  Not being ready to show my work until the due date is revealing.  I’ve been thinking about how I would approach this task for days. I intended an honest assessment, instead of framing weaknesses as strengths like job interviews generally expect.  I took BDC – The Bank for Canadian Entrepreneurs’ aptitude test twice and contemplated the results.  Many of my classmates have posted their personal assessments days ago.  I’ve read these to see what sorts of responses this assignment might inspire.

This is typical of my working style. It can be a weakness, but I try to translate it into a strength.   It shows that I’m driven to excel but that I’m less comfortable dealing with uncertainty.   I’m most productive when I can give attention to multiple things at once, doing what’s obvious at first glance.  When the next steps become less clear, I prefer to step back and let my subconscious figure out what to do next before circling back.  For me, action is paramount.  I would rather take a shot at something, work until I recognize my progress declining, and then regroup.  This isn’t so much deliberation as it is repetition.

This is also definitely procrastination, and it has the potential to lead to spectacular failure.  Sometimes there are viable shortcuts that I overlook or dismiss.  Even when a perfunctory effort would suffice, I generally try to give my best effort both for my own esteem and that of others.  Eventually, a deadline approaches with the prospect of having to show my work.  I work well under stress and use it as motivation to complete projects.  I hope to succeed more often than not. Is there an easier path?  I generally think there is, and I try to simplify things as much as possible.  There’s value and beauty in both complexity and simplicity.  Finding a healthy balance would be ideal. Discussing my strengths and weaknesses has helped me recognize some uncomfortable patterns.  It hasn’t resolved the tension – it has only made it visible.  As always, there is more work to be done.