Exterior Designs Landscape and Grounds Management is a design, build and aftercare landscape company that also handles all maintenance on your property. They install complete landscapes from the fencing, patios, walls, water features, arbors, structures to all trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals. Susan Fetters is the owner of Exterior Designs Landscape and Grounds Management.
How did you get started in the business? – The start of our business was a combination of love for trees, plants and the beauty of nature, appreciation for hardscaping such as boulders, patios and waterfalls, and a strong desire to help the person that has a concept of what they want to see and take their ideas to a finished level. Educating the customer is the best thing our industry can do because an educated shopper is a better shopper. We have been in this business since 1980 and have shopped the marketplace for contractors that do great work at reasonable prices so that the customer can rely on us for all facets of work. This has enabled us to build many business relationships with our customers—we still have customers that will call us about projects we have done for them many years ago! Our goal is to work with our customers from conception to completion and beyond.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? – The biggest challenge in this business is locating good help that is willing and able to learn and also keeping up with new plants and products. Plants have become more numerous and specific and the products now are far and away an improvement over what was available even a decade ago.
What has been your most important achievement professionally? – When I think of our professional achievements I feel the most important has been that when we leave a finished project our customer is armed with new knowledge and we hope a new passion for plants. Also, establishing and growing a business that has survived in an extremely competitive marketplace and retaining productive relationships with other businesses in our industry which helps to grow all small businesses.
Tell me a little about your family. – I met and married my husband and business partner, Tom, in 1995. We have a wonderful family–4 boys and 2 girls, several of which have worked in our business, and 10 grandchildren, 7 boys and 2 girls, with whom we spend a lot of time.
What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? – Being outdoors in nature and spending quality time with our children and grandchildren as often as possible.
What are you the most proud of? – Living our lives for God, family and work is key and we believe helps to instill in our grandchildren a respect for other people…hopefully they will learn to “work hard and play hard.”
What is your favorite book, or the last good book you read? – My favorite books for light reading are James Herriot’s All Creatures Great and Small series.
What is your favorite movie? – It’s a Wonderful Life. I really like Donna Reed.
What is your greatest talent that you don’t utilize in your daily work life? – I don’t get to paint as much as I would really like, especially landscapes and portraits in oil paints, but hopefully I will soon when my husband and I retire!
What is your favorite restaurant? – Anywhere in the Old Market.
If our readers would like to contact you how should they do so? – By email at sf_exteriors@hotmail.com or call us at (402) 453-4681. We are always available for consultations and to sit down with people to help them achieve their dream landscape!