Feature Article March 6, 2002
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Our informal survey of the local economyWayne Millars retirement...or not??by David BrisonWayne Millar of RR #1 Tichborne has been operating his lawn service and home maintenance business for nine years. Based on his own experience, he is upbeat about the prospects for small businesses in the area. You figure out what people need and provide that service, Wayne says. He provides services to cottagers but not exclusively. Many of his clients are seniors.
He was able to bring his daughter Jodi Pulak, her husband Charles, and two grandchildren Matthew and Hollie, up from the Niagara peninsula three years ago and the business supports both families. Jodi works with full time in the business. One of the fun things we do is to sit down and brainstorm about the directions the business can take new services we can provide. The four of us Jodie, my wife Ena, Charles and I, really enjoy doing that, says Wayne.
One of the new ideas that they came up with is to start a gardening centre. The centre will open in Tichborne on May 15. A full range of plants and gardening materials will be available.
Wayne and his wife started coming to the area bout six years before he moved in full time. They had a trailer at Tumblehome Lodge. At the time he was living in Dunnville and was in the waste management business. One day I told my wife that we should leave the rat race, move here, retire, and start a business, Wayne recounted.
The Millars had five acres of lawn in Dunnville I had experience cutting lawns and the equipment so I decided I start there, Wayne says.
They moved into home maintenance and then into a cottage watch program where they look after cottages in the winter when the owners are not there. We do odd jobs like painting and building docks, washing windows, snowblowing walks and driveways in the winter. There arent many things that we turn down. Today, we are going to a seniors home to hang blinds, Wayne told me.
One interesting direction that the business has taken is to suggest contractors for work that summer residents want done, like renovations or electrical and plumbing work. Wayne then oversees the project and lets the owner know when it is satisfactorily completed.
The Sharbot Lake Lawn Service and Home Maintenance program is another example of a business that is expanding because it is able to provide services for the increased number of seniors that are moving into the area.
Next week, we will publish an interview with Wayne Robinson. Waynes view of the local economy is based on his own experience in operating a very successful business which provides financial services for area residents.
