Eshal Firoze | The Chronicle
For many students at Mason High School (MHS), balancing classes, extracurriculars, and personal lives, holding a job can be difficult, let alone starting a company of their own. For senior Marshall Archer, what began as a simple neighborhood side hustle has now evolved into a thriving multi-state business, solely powered by him and two other Mason alumni.
From mowing to shoveling to building houses, Archer has found a true passion for landscaping through co-creating his own company, Oddjobs. What started as an idea for a service app, in which people could hire them for various tasks turned into a landscaping business last February after the team recognized the probable success in lawn care.
Odd Jobs founder and MHS alumnus Josh Lydell powerwashing a downtown Mason home.
We started with things like knocking on doors and putting up signs, [creating] a website and [handing out] business cards,” Archer said. “It was all so new, and we were learning as we went along.”
Starting with a tight budget, the three student-owners have had to face their share of setbacks in their early beginnings. Archer said that being a student came with a lack of any real-world experience, which brought disadvantages in managing a consistent schedule during school, learning professionalism, and gaining trust in a competitive field.
“Being a kid, it’s hard for people to trust us. We’re in their backyard and on their property. We can mess up, break things,” Archer said. “If and when that happens, we just have to own up to it. We see our mistakes, learn from them, and just keep going.”
Josh Lydell, a Mason alumnus and one of Archer’s cofounders, said that gaining field experience has been an essential focus for the business, but the real success comes from the behind-the-scenes work. The three entrepreneurs have had to learn how to manage finances, understand marketing strategies, and prioritize communication both amongst themselves and with their customers. To Lydell, social media is where they have a true advantage.
“We have the new generation of knowledge on how to use [social media] to create good ads and quality work online,” Lydell said. “ We’re getting our name out there, anyway we can.”.
Lydell said that even though team has branched out and reached several different counties in Ohio through media like Facebook, Instagram, and even LinkedIn, they still maintain that personal connection through doorknocking, physical flyers, and word of mouth.
The year-old start-up has already made incredible strides in landscaping, allowing the team to expand their horizons and begin new projects like constructing a house from the ground up. Max Makarenko, MHS alumnus and the third branch of Oddjobs, said even though the gravity of this type of undertaking is immense, he’s grateful for the opportunity to do it at all.
“If it wasn’t for starting Oddjobs, I never would have considered doing something as fanatical as going out and building a house.” Makerenko said.
The housing project is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Titled as an unpaid apprenticeship, the team will be working closely with a retired architect to learn the ins and outs of construction from someone with years of real world experience.
Marshall Archer and Josh Lydell measure siding in preparation for a shutter replacement
For them, the hope is that this will be the first of many construction operations. Since they’re tackling this project pro bono, the job is aimed at acquiring valuable experience and possible future investors rather than tangible profit.
In spite of obstacles, their business strategy has remained constant over time: stay focused on connections with customers. Makarenko said it’s always been about the relationships with their clientele, the bonds that have allowed Oddjobs to thrive.
“We prioritize the customer above all else, our main goal is to be more helpful than any kind of corporate ran business,” Makarenko said. “It’s the small town feel that we have that draws customers to us. They like knowing that we’re committed to making the place we live in better.”
Archer, Lydell, and Makarenko all hope to grow Oddjobs as big as it can be, with hopes of even taking it national. Their success has left them wanting to inspire young entrepreneurs to grow just like they did, and encourage other students to take that leap of faith.
“You learn more from failing than from not trying,” Makarenko said. “I’d say it’s worth a shot to make your own company under something you’re passionate about, because if you truly want to enjoy your work, you have to work in a field that you created yourself.”
Photo by Marshall Archer
MHS alumni Max Makarenko, Josh Lydell and
senior Marshall Archer promote Odd Jobs
