So in March 2000, forsbergseedscarifier Braswell founded PowerHouse Equipment, which he hopes will become "the leading national direct provider of compact hydraulic equipment."A multi-market opportunity for lawn/garden professionals?Braswell thinks so. He''s established dealerships in Sacramento, Dallas and Austin, Texas; Jacksonville and Orlando, Fla.; and Charlotte and Raleigh/Durham, N.C. In addition, he''s created satellite sales in eight other locations.Why? "Contractors'' employee time is extremely valuable," says Braswell. "Our equipment makes each worker much more efficient."What trends does Braswell see in OPE marketing?"In the last few years, we''ve seen lots of power equipment dealers concentrate on the professional customer rather than the consumer," Braswell says. "With that comes focus on a service department that offers really quick turn-around, so the busy landscaper avoids downtime. If a dealer sells to landscapers -- and knows their needs -- he might sell similar products to tree professionals, forsbergseedscarifier irrigators, nursery people and fencers.

Landscape company goes publicIn 1998, Southern Tree & Landscape -- along with six similar firms -- went public on the NYSE to form Land Care USA. (This company was later acquired by Service Master, which merged it with TruGreen/ChemLawn.)Then, Braswell discovered an amazing Australian skid-steer product that launched him forsbergseedscarifier into a new career.Creation of Toro Dingo opens multiple marketsThe product -- a forsbergseedscarifier small utility loader -- allows its user to apply hydraulic power with a variety of attachments. Braswell brought the technology forsbergseedscarifier to the United States, then later sold the rights to Toro.Compact hydraulic equipment, Braswell saw, could be a way to serve many industries such as landscaping, fencing, nursery, irrigation, utilities, construction, cable installation, rental and even roofing.

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