- Words by Sandra Jones Photography by Don Denton

In pursuit of a life path, sometimes we seek out the road. And sometimes the road seeks us. For Eric Johnson, owner of Complete Windows in Parksville, fate seemed fixed on funnelling him towards life as an entrepreneur.

香蕉视频直播淓very boss I had told me I was unemployable,香蕉视频直播� jokes Eric.

In truth, early career choices as a drug and alcohol counsellor and a customer service manager for a large food service supply firm successfully took Eric from Calgary to Seattle and Edmonton before landing him back in Calgary. 香蕉视频直播淚 was fortunate to have been in the right place at the right time, but the road kept leading me towards being an entrepreneur.香蕉视频直播�

Eric香蕉视频直播檚 mother and stepfather started Complete Windows in 1992, but by 2012 they were thinking about selling. Eric made the decision to buy the company and move back to Parksville香蕉视频直播攂ut he entered the environment with some trepidation.

香蕉视频直播淲hen I first came here, I was under the impression that the island was a graveyard for business. There were no huge success stories at the time,香蕉视频直播� recalls Eric.

Looking for opportunities, he hit the ground running.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檇 leave the house at 5 am and drive to Victoria. My assistant at the office would Google architects and I香蕉视频直播檇 start visiting construction sites to meet up with architects and builders. I began to see that there were big gaps that nobody was filling in the Victoria market.香蕉视频直播�

Those gaps included a need for high-end windows and doors for large custom homes and commercial projects.

香蕉视频直播淢ost manufacturers are skilled in a particular niche, but not every window is suited for every application. Because of that we now carry seven different manufacturers that all do things well. The advantage is that we can mix and match the right product for the right application; this suits the architects香蕉视频直播� and builders香蕉视频直播� needs plus it means we can meet the homeowners香蕉视频直播� needs in terms of budget.香蕉视频直播�

The second void Eric tackled was service.

香蕉视频直播淢ost window companies supply the product and walk away. We saw that when we supplied the windows and didn香蕉视频直播檛 install them, there were big warranty gaps. We decided to take that headache off of the builder and provide installation. Now we have four full-time crews and a lot fewer warranty issues.香蕉视频直播�

Eric continued to break the mould by hiring more women into what is typically a male-dominated construction industry.

香蕉视频直播淚 saw a huge void with few women in construction and there are massive opportunities with that. I didn香蕉视频直播檛 want a rough, construction feel to the customer experience, so we employ a lot of strong, smart women throughout our operation, and it香蕉视频直播檚 one of the reasons why our customers like to work with us.香蕉视频直播�

One of the women who plays a key role in the business and in his life is his wife Katy.

香蕉视频直播淭wo weeks after I came back to the island, I met my wife Katy when she cut my hair,香蕉视频直播� says Eric.

The couple immediately connected. They married a year later and started a family.

香蕉视频直播淜aty had been looking for a career change and we started to talk about her working in the business,香蕉视频直播� says Eric. 香蕉视频直播淲e wanted to ensure we created the right dynamic between our personal and professional lives.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淲e were pretty thoughtful in the process of it and what role I would play,香蕉视频直播� recalls Katy. 香蕉视频直播淚 started by taking photos of our completed projects香蕉视频直播攑hotography is a passion of mine香蕉视频直播攁nd then moved onto building up our social media presence. Now I manage our overall marketing and branding.香蕉视频直播�

The division of duties plays to the couple香蕉视频直播檚 strengths, providing Katy with a creative outlet and Eric with the freedom to identify new opportunities.

香蕉视频直播淭here is a trend towards building large contemporary homes with big windows. One night we were watching the TV show Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles and saw a reference to Fleetwood Doors. These are the doors that allow you to create a wall of windows that seamlessly glide back into the wall. I jumped on a plane to L.A. and got the exclusive rights to sell this product on Vancouver Island,香蕉视频直播� Eric says, adding, 香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 also a big push right now for steel doors and windows with a thin profile, so we香蕉视频直播檙e introducing a line of these as well. And we香蕉视频直播檒l be one of only two suppliers in western Canada.香蕉视频直播�

While some of the products that Complete Windows sells are from nearby US states, Eric香蕉视频直播檚 goal is to source most of their products from Canada.

香蕉视频直播淭wo days after our son was born, we ran into a warranty issue on one of our jobs. I ended up driving down to Phoenix to pick up 10 replacement doors and was back in a few days. If that product had been from Europe, it would have taken 20-30 weeks to solve the issue. We have a lot more control using suppliers that are close to home.香蕉视频直播�

Almost 10 years into life as an entrepreneur, Eric香蕉视频直播檚 vision and hard work have paid off with long-term relationships within the industry and a staff that feels like family.

香蕉视频直播淲e have the best team that shares our focus on service, and we have virtually no turnover in staff,香蕉视频直播� says Eric. 香蕉视频直播淲e treat them as well as we possibly can and they get to work on some of the most unique projects on the island香蕉视频直播攚hether that香蕉视频直播檚 the Tofino Visitor Centre or the largest single-family home on the island.香蕉视频直播�

The company, which works on projects from Campbell River to Victoria and along the Sunshine Coast, has grown tenfold in nine years, and shows no signs of slowing down.

香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 think you can foresee how much you香蕉视频直播檒l put into your own business, but we have put our whole selves into this,香蕉视频直播� says Katy.

Now with a thriving company and three children under the age of eight, it seems that the road was always destined to lead here.

香蕉视频直播淚f anybody would have told us how hard this would be, I don香蕉视频直播檛 know if I would have done it,香蕉视频直播� says Eric. 香蕉视频直播淏ut I never thought it would be this good either.香蕉视频直播�

Check out Complete Windows .

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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