Business
Local entrepreneurial ingenuity shines at City Glass & Locks
Local entrepreneurial ingenuity shines at City Glass & Locks
About this update from South Star Battery Metals Corp
[{"type":"text","content":"\n\n\n\nOct. 20, 2009 (Canada NewsWire Group) -- BATHURST, NB, Oct. 20 /CNW Telbec/ -- The dream of building a better life for his family led Allain Ouellette to change careers. Since acquiring what was a small custom glass business in 2004, the 34-year-old former salesman has transformed City Glass & Locks Ltd. into a shining example of entrepreneurial ingenuity. Expanding to serve the entire province of New Brunswick, the business has grown at an average of 20% a year. For his success, Allain has won BDC's Young Entrepreneur Award for New Brunswick and will be honoured tonight at a ceremony in Ottawa.Before he bought the business with his wife Annick, a chartered accountant, Allain had no background in the industry. A successful salesman at one of the largest vehicle dealerships in the region, he felt there was little room to grow after six years and believed there was more he could do with his life. \"I knew there was something out there for me; I had to think outside the box. When the opportunity knocked, I jumped.\"Expanding province-wideWhen they acquired it, City Glass & Locks had seven full-time employees and a good reputation, serving a fairly small population in the Chaleur region. The company offered a variety of residential and automotive glass products, doing only limited commercial business. \"I'm not from the industry, but I'm a quick learner and knew I would be surrounded by great employees.\" With the existing team, Allain expanded the operation to serve the entire province, growing the commercial side so that it now accounts for 60 to 70% of the business. \"We had no choice but to grow. We had the knowledge and the know-how, so we divided up the teams and went to it.\"City Glass & Locks became a recommended sub-contractor to many construction companies. \"Our reputation has given us something of an extra advantage. Contractors come to us.\" To ensure there would be sufficient work to operate year round, they diversified their offerings to include everything from vehicle accessories to windshields, garage doors, mirrors and shower units. Today, with business thriving, the company has doubled the number of employees to 14 and has seven trucks on the road, compared with three in 2004. Allain says the toughest challenge has been finding and retaining sufficient new employees to keep pace with their growth. \"I coul...