Today we’d like to introduce you to Johnny Pollnow.
Hi Johnny, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Before starting Northern Stump Solutions, I was working in the wine and spirits industry for one of the top private companies in the country. When my division was laid off nationwide, I suddenly had a decision to make: return to my previous role within the company or take the severance package and move on.
It was one of those rare moments where you have to step back and really evaluate what you want your future to look like. I could choose stability and stay where I was — or I could take a huge risk and build something of my own. I decided it was time to bet on myself.
I began researching business opportunities in my area and quickly realized there was a strong demand for professional stump grinding. I had never touched a stump grinder in my life, but I dove into learning everything I could — equipment, safety, techniques, business structure, and customer demand. Once I understood the industry, I decided to go all in.
I found the exact grinder I wanted on Facebook Marketplace, and within hours I had also found a trailer that would work. I bought the trailer, drove nine hours down to Lake Ozark, Missouri the next day to pick up the grinder, brought it home, and officially launched Northern Stump Solutions.
Fast forward six months, and we’ve grown into one of the top stump grinding companies in Minnesota. What started as a risk and a brand-new skill turned into one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Like most small businesses, it definitely hasn’t been a perfectly smooth road — but every bump taught us something important.
One of the first challenges was simply figuring everything out on our own. Starting a stump-grinding company is more involved than people realize: equipment maintenance, insurance requirements, licensing, quoting accuracy, safety considerations, marketing, and building trust from scratch. There were a lot of late nights spent researching, troubleshooting, and creating our own systems.
Another challenge was visibility. In the beginning, no one knew who we were, so earning those first customers took creativity and consistency. We relied on yard signs, neighborhood posts, flyers, and word-of-mouth. Every job mattered because each one could turn into five more.
Balancing the workload was also tough at first, we handled everything ourselves: communication, scheduling, grinding, invoicing, cleanup, branding, finances, and customer service.
But the biggest challenge was learning to trust the process. Growth doesn’t happen overnight. We had to be patient, keep improving, and remind ourselves that doing things the right way — professional branding, quality work, great communication — would eventually set us apart.
Those early challenges shaped the company we are today: resilient, customer-focused, detail-driven, and committed to continuous improvement.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Northern Stump Solutions is a professional stump grinding company serving the Twin Cities metro. We specialize strictly in stump removal — from single residential stumps to larger jobs for realtors, landscapers, and tree-service companies. Because we focus on one service, we’re able to deliver a level of quality, efficiency, and cleanup that customers immediately notice.
What sets us apart is how we present ourselves and how we operate. Stump grinding is traditionally a rough, trade-based industry, but we’ve built our company to feel modern, clean, and easy to work with. Our branding, communication, and customer experience are intentional from start to finish. We’re known for:
• Fast, friendly, same-day communication
• Transparent, fair pricing
• Before-and-after photos on every job
• Exceptional cleanup and attention to detail
• Professional branding and a consistent, trustworthy look
• A satisfaction guarantee on all work
Brand-wise, I’m most proud that people recognize us. Neighbors message us saying, “I saw your sign,” “I love your logo,” or “You’re the stump company everyone in our area recommends.” That means a lot, because we wanted to build not just a service — but a brand people remember and feel confident hiring.
At the core, Northern Stump Solutions is built on honesty, efficiency, and pride in our work. We want readers to know that if you hire us, you’re getting a company that genuinely cares about doing things right. We show up when we say we will, communicate clearly, clean up thoroughly, and make the process easy from start to finish.
Whether it’s a tiny backyard stump or a full property restoration, we approach every job with the same level of professionalism — and that’s what our customers appreciate most.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
There are a few great ways people can work with or support Northern Stump Solutions:
1. Hire us for stump grinding — big or small.
Homeowners, realtors, and property managers can reach out anytime for fast quotes and scheduling. We make the process simple, and we’re always happy to answer questions or walk people through their options.
2. Tree-service and landscaping partnerships.
We love collaborating with local tree companies, landscapers, and excavation contractors who need a reliable stump grinding partner they can trust to treat their customers well. We offer consistent pricing, fast turnaround, and professional communication that reflects positively on their brand.
3. Refer us to neighbors and community groups.
Word-of-mouth has been one of the biggest drivers of our growth. A simple recommendation in a neighborhood Facebook group or Nextdoor thread genuinely helps small businesses like ours more than people realize.
4. Leave a review after we do work for you.
Google reviews make a massive difference for a growing business. Every positive review helps us reach more people who otherwise may never hear about us.
At the end of the day, we want to be a trusted, dependable service that people feel proud supporting and recommending. We’re grateful for every customer, every partner, and every referral — they’re truly what allow a small business like ours to grow.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.NorthernStumpSolutions.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578401393784
- Other: https://share.google/9y8Qu3aPNQSD8GeNP
