Lima couple: Love your lawnmower

1. This is a multigenerational business. I see the picture of your dad, John, on the counter. Tell me about your parents starting this business. They started out on a dream in 1956, both working other jobs. They started in a little garage here the month I was born. They kept progressively putting one foot in front of the other. My dad always said if you worry about your customer you won’t have to worry about business. I took it over when I was 17½ and I’m now 51, so I’ve been here on the floors a long time. ... Dad died when he was 90, but was in here working on his last day. 2. How has that advice from your dad helped you run the shop on a daily basis? If you’re old enough to know how businesses ran in the 1950s and 1060s, that’s how we run it. You’re not a number, you’re a name and you become like family. We have generations of customers. Grandpas came here, then their dads, and now they’re coming here. That’s how you have to treat them. You’ll never hear me yell, “No. 52, next.” 3. Carolyn, tell me about your role here. I like to reassure the ladies that when they come in by themselves that we’re going to treat them equally and not take advantage. That’s a big thing. I was a single person before and I ran into that on occasion. 4. Tell me about your family. I have two sons from a previous marriage who live out of state. Perry and I have been married 21 years. And we have Justin [Hubbard], who has come into our family [an area student who now plans on taking over the Truesdale business when Perry retires]. I don’t know what we’d do without him. 5. Perry, it’s springtime and the lawn mowing season is upon us. How busy are you? Busy, busy. The season started pretty quick and we’re on a run. Temperatures are warmer and people are a lot happier. 6. Why should people not run lawn mowers so close to the ground? If they cut too low, they’re bound to hit something and it’s dangerous for the lawnmower and dangerous for people. Usually cut around 2½ inches year round and you’re good to do from the beginning of the season to the end. 7. How can people show their lawn mowers a little love? Bring it to Truesdale’s for full service.