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September 16, 2024
EAU CLAIRE – Since 1978, Green Oasis CEO Nathan Bollinger said the lawn, landscape, irrigation and pest company has focused on an unwavering commitment to customer service and satisfaction.
Headquartered in Eau Claire, with a secondary location in River Falls, Bollinger said Green Oasis has spent decades servicing the northwestern region of Wisconsin and the eastern region of Minnesota.
Bollinger said Green Oasis was founded as a small, but promising, company in the Town of Fall Creek under the original name Greener Grass Systems – specializing in irrigation and limited lawn fertilization programs.
In 1984, Bollinger said his parents, Wayne and Julie, saw potential in this small venture and decided to take the helm.
By 1985, he said the fruits of his parents’ labor began to show as the company tripled in size.
The 1990s, Bollinger said, saw a flurry of activity and expansion in services and customers.
The company, he said, expanded its reach from 1992 to 2006 with organic growth and small acquisitions.
Bollinger said this period solidified Green Oasis’ presence in the area and expanded its geographic footprint significantly.
In 2008, Green Oasis made its largest business expansion yet, he said – purchasing The Greenskeepers in River Falls.
Bollinger said this was quickly followed by the acquisition of Emerald Acres in 2009, further expanding Green Oasis’ customer base to Rice Lake.
When a fire in 2009 destroyed the company’s headquarters, he said his parents moved swiftly on plans for a new land acquisition and the construction of a new retail and office complex, which was completed in 2010.
The next decade, Bollinger said, was marked by significant developments, including his “official” start with the company.
Bollinger said he knew from a young age that he was interested in the business.
“Obviously, I was around it a lot,” he said. “My parents would bring me into the office a lot. There was never really a ton of pressure put on me to join – it was more an opportunity than anything.”
After graduating college in 2013, Bollinger said he became a full-time manager at Green Oasis.
“I’ve never really looked back,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed my time here.”
Since he had already been engaging in a high leadership level, Bollinger said when he took over as CEO earlier this year, the transition was an easy one.
Working closely with his dad for a decade before taking over, he said, definitely helped as well.
Now at the company’s helm, Bollinger said he has his sights set on the future and the company’s growth potential.
With more than 3,000 customers split between lawn care and sprinkler systems, Bollinger said he has his sights set on the future – with the Green Oasis legacy at the forefront of the landscaping industry for years to come.
Standing out
When asked what makes Green Oasis stand out from all the other landscaping companies, Bollinger said it can be summed up in a single word – longevity.
“It wasn’t always there of course,” he said. “However, at this point to find a company that’s been around for 46 years, much less a company in our industry, that gives us a certain expertise and advantage.”
Bollinger said on average, most landscaping companies stay in business for around five years.
Green Oasis’ success, he said, can be credited to a mix of brand recognition, doing things right and happy customers.
“We do quality work, we stand behind that,” he said. “We’re a big enough company that we have our own customer care team. We have project managers. We have dedicated department managers. We’re reachable – if you need to get a hold of us you can. Plus we do a lot of different services under one roof.”
The company’s list of services includes everything from lawn care and pest control to irrigation and tree/shrub care – all of which have their own respective services.
Winter services, Bollinger said, include putting Christmas lights up and snow removal.
Green Oasis, he said, even has a garden center – Green Oasis Gardens – which specializes in nursery, greenhouse, garden decor and supplies and apparel.
Bollinger said a lot of their clients like the “one-stop shop” aspect of the Green Oasis – another aspect that helps differentiate the company.
From diagnosing diseased lawns accurately to complex irrigation solutions he said, “I think people feel taken care of and that their property is in good hands when they use our services.”
Retention, it’s more than just employees
Retention for Green Oasis, Bollinger said, includes employees and customers alike.
“We’re not retraining a whole new staff every year – the retention rate is above industry averages, so it’s good,” he said. “I think of our experienced technicians, our landscaping and irrigation foreman – we’re getting quality people who do quality work for our customers.”
During the height of the summer season, Bollinger said Green Oasis employs around 150 people.
With any larger project, Bollinger said Green Oasis will have a project manager, project coordinator and a team of designers who put together 3D and 2D plans.
“We’re a big company for our industry, and we work within the commercial and residential sectors,” he said. “The residential project, no matter how big, is getting the same expert care and concentration as the commercial. It’s the same staff doing the job so that also helps all around.”
Bollinger said having a satisfied customer at the end of the project, day or season is what keeps him going – citing it as one of the most rewarding aspects of the job.
The team he works with, he said, is an equally rewarding aspect.
Curb appeal
Bollinger said the COVID-19 pandemic actually positively impacted their industry.
“People became more focused on their houses and really started investing time and money into them,” he said. “After all, they couldn’t go on vacation, so why not enjoy the house? I think that really helped homeowners and property owners focus on their properties again.”
For those looking to achieve a certain curb appeal for selling their home, Bollinger said irrigation and landscaping is almost a guaranteed 100% return on investment.
“When it’s done for people, and they can just move in and have a nice space that they don’t have to curate, I think people really appreciate that,” he said.
Green Oasis’ fertilizer application, Bollinger said, is unique as the company still uses a liquid fertilizer – whereas a lot of other companies use dry spreaders.
He said they use liquid fertilizer because it gives a more even application “and it will look nicer.” Bollinger said it is one of Green Oasis’ most popular programs.
The uptick in pest control over the last few years, he said, continues gaining more awareness. Green Oasis has a mosquito and tick defense program – which is an exterior defense drench program where they spray the outside of the home creating a barrier for insects coming into your house.
“This year especially has been a bad year for mosquitos,” he said. “People have tried all sorts of things, and Citronella candles can only do so much. We have a program that we’ve developed and perfected over time. There’s a lot of demand up by the lake homes and north of us.”
For more on Green Oasis, visit greenoasis.co.
Local recognition
Bollinger said the company’s continued success and growth over the past 46 years – partially over the last 12 months – were recently recognized by the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce.
Green Oasis was selected as one of three finalists in the 50-plus employee category for Business of the Year.
A winner will be selected at an awards ceremony Oct. 23.
