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Rivers Lawn & Landscape Beautifies Outdoor Spaces
Story by Laz Denes
It warms Evan Rivers’ heart when he sees his young son and daughter watering flowers or helping customers carry plants to their cars in the garden center of the family business.
Evan spent his formative years in Pageland much the same way. He worked weekends and summers at Four Seasons Nursery and Landscaping, owned by his dad and uncles from the 1990s until it closed its doors in 2010. From ages 8 to 18, Evan learned the finer points of managing a 2.5-acre nursery and retail center. He had no clue at the time that he would 1 day be running a thriving business of his own. Now in its 8th year, Rivers Lawn and Landscape in Jefferson provides residential and commercial lawn and landscaping services throughout Chesterfield, Kershaw, Lancaster, and Union counties.
A Family-Based Endeavor
“It was just me with a trailer, a mower, a weed eater, a blower, hedge trimmers, a chainsaw saw and that was it,” Evan says of the first year of his operation in 2018. He brought on a part-time helper in 2019, then began hiring full-time employees in 2020.
Today, there’s a staff of 7 full-timers, which doubles in peak months with seasonal help. The stable of equipment includes 6 mowers augmented with tractors and backhoes, along with seeding and fertilization equipment. Partnerships with other companies bring in heavier equipment, like skid steers and excavators, when needed.
And, not surprisingly, Evan’s business is truly a family affair. His wife, Brittany, recently retired after 10 years teaching at Jefferson Elementary to take over the retail operation. Their children help on weekends. Evan’s mom handles accounting and administrative tasks. His brother, Garth, works full time in the business. His cousin, Jonathan, built the company’s robust website, where customers can order plants and supplies, find landscaping and maintenance tips, request estimates, and schedule lawn care and landscaping projects.
Sandhill fiber internet plays a pivotal role in the online retail operation, and a Sandhill security system helps keep watch over the facility.
“Technology’s a big part of our business,” Evan says. “We have Sandhill fiber internet at our shop, and we rely on Wi-Fi to run the retail store. Between that and the Sandhill security system, we’ve had really great service and results.”
“Since I started, my mission statement has been to improve people’s lives by creating and maintaining beautiful outdoor spaces, and I believe we’re accomplishing that,” Evan adds. “It’s also fulfilling to be able to employ people from the local community and play a role in bettering their lives.”