How Science, Service, and Community Built Tree Amigos

What if building a great local business starts with caring deeply about the community you're building it in? In this episode of Made Locally, host Rahul Jaswa sits down with Andrew Anstrom, co-founder and owner of Tree Amigos, to explore how he turned his passion for arboriculture and the environment into an Austin-based tree care company built around expertise, trust, and meaningful relationships. Andrew shares the story behind Tree Amigos and its commitment to providing science-based recommendations tailored to the needs of homeowners and landowners. Rather than treating tree care as simply a transactional service, he explains how the company approaches every project with a focus on long-term tree health, customer goals, and responsible stewardship of the environment. This conversation explores what it means to build a small business in a highly local industry, from earning customer trust and delivering consistent service to creating a reputation that can grow through community relationships. Andrew also discusses why being genuinely invested in the place where you operate can become an important part of a company's identity and differentiation. Ultimately, this episode is about building locally with intention - combining expertise, customer service, environmental responsibility, and community connection to create a business designed to grow alongside the people it serves. What You'll Learn: Why trust and expertise are critical to building a successful local service businessHow science-based recommendations can differentiate a company in a crowded marketWhy customer experience matters as much in essential services as it does in hospitality or retailHow environmental responsibility can become part of a company's brand identityThe role of community involvement in building a lasting local reputationWhy small businesses can compete by offering personalized, expert serviceHow to balance business growth with a commitment to quality and customer relationshipsWhy having a clear sense of purpose can strengthen a local company's long-term visionHow entrepreneurs can build businesses that contribute positively to the communities they call home Andrew Anstrom is the co-founder and owner of Tree Amigos LLC, an Austin-based tree care company committed to providing expert, science-based recommendations for homeowners and landowners. A lifelong Austin resident and passionate advocate for trees and environmental stewardship, Andrew has built Tree Amigos around dependable service, personalized care, and a commitment to helping create a greener community. Beyond arboriculture, he is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys hiking, snowboarding, and adventure, including summiting Mount Kilimanjaro.  If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts. Instructions on how to do so are here. Episode Resources:Andrew Anstrom on LinkedInTree Amigos WebsiteMade Locally is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so  Check out our three most downloaded episodes:Why Your Ads Aren’t the Problem - Your Follow-Up IsFrom Fully Booked to Fully Independent: The Real Economics of Solo Beauty BusinessesTea, Ritual, and Reinvention: Building a Lifestyle Brand Rooted in Healing and Connection