Expanding the Enterprise
Photos by: John Burns
Naly’s Outdoor Co. began as a two-mower lawn care side hustle in 2015 and has now evolved into an expansive enterprise transforming yards into entertainment areas replete with putting greens, pergolas, patios and pool houses.
Alejandro Mateos was a 17-year-old high school student when he first spent summers helping his dad, Guadalupe, a remodeler, maintain a 39-acre section of the Topeka Cemetery and a few residential lawns.
Later as a commuting freshman at Johnson County Community College, Mateos’ disenchantment with college life prompted him to look deeper into the lawn care industry as a lifelong career. He gleaned inspiration from YouTube videos on how to turn the business into a year round landscaping company.
“I had a lot of driving time to think about my future and I considered the opportunities I had right in front of me with the business,” he said. “I liked the challenge of making something out of nothing and connecting with people. Customers often asked us if we could do more and my dad had carpentry experience so I got excited about the possibilities.”
He connected with an online platform of professional landscapers willing to share resources along with their successes and mistakes before pitching his plan to his dad.
“My dad was shocked that I didn’t want to go to college, but when he realized that it wasn’t so much about me leaving college as it was about seeing potential in our business, he trusted the vision,” said Mateos, now 23.
The family business also includes Mateos’ sister, Lariza Chavira, who does design work and handles the company’s human resources and technology needs. The company’s current business model focuses on
providing design and build services for any number of options customers seek to make their outdoor living spaces more inviting and convenient for entertaining, including pavilions equipped with a kitchen, fireplace and television option for game-day viewing.
“Our clients want to enhance outdoor environments for hosting family and friends and are willing to invest in their backyards instead of looking elsewhere for a place to spend quality family time,” he said.
Because of the family’s experience with landscaping, concrete and construction work, Mateo, a licensed general contractor, said his company can typically take on a client’s job start to finish. Subcontractors handle electrical, plumbing and gas line work when required.
Mateos said he is committed to maintaining high-quality standards through continuous training and cultivation of strong supplier relationships.
“I’m always looking for resources and attending expos to learn more and see what’s new,” he said.
Time-lapse videos of projects have been a popular way to engage with the community and highlight the company’s capabilities.
“It’s been really gratifying to see the projects we’ve done come together,” he said. “Our ultimate vision is to be a one-stop shop for whatever customers want so they only have to work with one contractor instead of multiple ones over a period of time.”
