Shield & Armor Lawn Care, a family-owned company in Knox County, prides itself on completing jobs when promised, even if that means working after the sun goes down.
"There have been times that we have mowed at 8 or 9 o'clock at night," said the son, Jim Phillips. "It's pitch black, but we're out there with our lights on mowing away, because we told the customer we would get it done. If we tell you we're going to do it, we are going to do it. "
Phillips and his parents, father David Phillips and mother Debbie, started the company in June 2020 after David retired with 30 years at Ariel Corp.
Jim had worked in retail as an asset protection manager for three years and wanted to try something different.
"We always wanted to start a business together," said Jim. "We liked being outside landscaping, mowing."
The name Shield & Armor is from the Bible, said Jim.
"The meaning behind it, too, is also the customer experience, trying to give the best protection to them, trying to be honest and give everyone the best service possible."
In addition to residential and lawn care, the company also does snow removal in the winters, offering year-round seasonal packages so that customers don't have to use separate companies for each service. Jim and David do the lawn care and snow removal. Debbie handles marketing, bookkeeping and other tasks.
Many people just don't have time for yard work and removing snow, Jim said.
"We had one customer who was working three different jobs," he said. "He didn't have time for any of it."
For customers, coming home tired from work to a freshly mowed lawn is a reward for their hard work.
"And it's rewarding for us to be able to help someone," Jim said.
The company offers discounts for veterans, first responders and those with disabilities.
Customers can pay on their phones through an online system called Yardbook.
In addition to lawn care and snow removal, the company offers brush removal, mulching and landscaping services. It also offers pressure washing.
"I love it," Jim said of having a family-owned company. "It's constantly a learning process. But it's also a rewarding process."
