By PAMELA J. MILLER

Medina Post editor

Spring has officially sprung. The birds are singing, the skies are blue and the grass is growing... and growing... and growing.

The change of the seasons not only brings warm weather, but yard work as well. With help from the knowledgeable staff at The Mower Shop, you can make this year's chores easier and more enjoyable.

"People come to see us because they have a problem. Either their existing machine is broken and not working at all or their existing machine just isn't the right tool for what they need to get done," said Ken Peters, owner of The Mower Shop. "People come to us because they want to make their job or life easier or to do a job faster or easier."

Considering that a new zero-turn mower can be an investment in the $2,000- to $10,000-range, it makes sense to shop somewhere that specializes in power equipment.

"We go to great lengths to sell people the right piece of equipment," Peters said.

Since The Mower Shop has been in business for more than 16 years, Peters and his staff know their equipment well.

He personally handles a number of the sales at the Medina location, although his three store managers are also able to answer any of your questions. Randy Blatnik runs the Stow store and Frank Ohlrich is at the Medina location, while Dale Davis has recently joined the team at their new Strongsville showroom.

"It's basically a brand-new showroom at a brand-new location," Peters said, adding that he has more than 7,000 square feet of showroom space between the three stores.

"I think that the amount of equipment I have in stock that is ready for the customer to take home is bigger than any other dealer in Northeastern Ohio," he said.

The new Strongsville store is simply the latest example of The Mower's Shop excellent customer service.

"I think it's a pretty big deal, in a time when businesses are closing and people are losing jobs," he said. "I think it's a testament to the service we provide and the products we sell."

All of the staff at The Mower Shop will go above and beyond to meet their customers' needs. For example, Peters said that they will even stay late past their regular hours to meet with a customer.

"A happy employee is a productive employee. I try to make sure everybody walks through that door in the morning with a smile on their face," he said.

Cutting-edge equipment

The staff brings that same helpful and friendly atmosphere to all of their dealings, including helping customers pick out the equipment that best fits their individual lawn-care needs. For example, they've recently expanded and improved their showroom offerings with the entire Husqvarna line. Peters explained that they are the oldest and biggest power equipment manufacturer in the world.

"They make the most products of any company out there," he said. "There's not an equipment need that can't be solved with their product line."

In addition to mowers, Husqvarna makes chainsaws, trimmers, blowers, tillers, utility vehicles, tractors, walk-behinds and more. The Mower Shop carries the full line of Husqvarna products, along with other major manufacturers.

"On the floor, we have 99 percent of what every homeowner needs and we can order in that missing 1 percent," said Peters.

Customers can pick out a new mower and take it home with them the same day. According to Peters, they offer same-day delivery in most instances and they don't charge for set-up or delivery of new equipment either.

"We don't just unload the equipment and leave. We unload it and make sure the customer is comfortable with the operations of the machine," he said.

Zero-turn mowers are the latest in power equipment and are perfect for both professionals and homeowners with larger yards.

"Zero-turns are a new thing for most people, although there are a lot of people that have them," Peters said.

He explained that, for many people, learning to drive a zero-turn mower is like learning to drive a new piece of equipment. However, Peters and his sales staff will make the process as easy as possible with personalized driving lessons until you feel comfortable.

"We give you some basic instruction on how to drive it and then turn you loose in our parking lot or yard," Peters said. "If you go to a big box store and buy a zero-turn, you're in the dark with how to operate it. It's the difference between buying something with an instruction manual or buying something with personalized instruction - the difference is night and day."

Powerful service for power equipment

Once you're equipped with the correct piece of machinery, The Mower Shop's service doesn't end there. They offer a full-service repair shop for not only everything they sell, but other equipment as well.

"If you buy the right piece of equipment, you only buy it once," Peters said.

All of their power equipment comes with a warranty and, as Peters pointed out, all of their equipment with wheels is made in the U.S.A.

"Everything we sell, we service. If something breaks, all you need to do is call us," he said.

For more information on any of The Mower Shop's products or service options, you can reach them on the Web or by phone.

The new Strongsville store is at 12570 Prospect Rd., their phone number is 440-846-3300 and their Web site is www.StrongsvilleMowerShop.com. The Medina store is at 3055 Pearl Road, their phone number is 330-723-6693 and their Web site is www.MedinaMowerShop.com. The Stow location is at 4137 Hudson Drive, their phone number is 330-922-3300 and their Web site is www.StowMowerShop.com.