- Words by Tess Van Straaten Photography by Don Denton
Mario Conforti began his career as a builder when he was just 14 years old香蕉视频直播攚orking for his cabinet-maker dad back in Italy香蕉视频直播攁nd he says he couldn香蕉视频直播檛 imagine doing anything else.
香蕉视频直播淲hatever we needed, we would make,香蕉视频直播� the 79-year-old founder of Conforti Homes says. 香蕉视频直播淲e used to make windows and doors, and we would even make furniture. You start from the beginning and when you finish, you香蕉视频直播檝e done something. You香蕉视频直播檙e creating something with your hands and the more you build, the more you want to do it.香蕉视频直播�
After moving to Canada in 1965 and starting a homebuilding business with his wife, Vera, that building bug spread to their sons, Gino and Maurizio (Mo).
香蕉视频直播淏oth my brothers have worked with my dad since they were 13 or 14 years old, keeping up the family tradition,香蕉视频直播� Tania Conforti explains. 香蕉视频直播淚 saw that and said, 香蕉视频直播業香蕉视频直播檓 not doing that!香蕉视频直播� I actually worked as a paralegal for 18 years and I never thought I would go into the family business.香蕉视频直播�
Tania began helping out part-time in 2006, but as the Conforti family香蕉视频直播檚 custom home business grew, she realized she couldn香蕉视频直播檛 keep juggling both jobs.
香蕉视频直播淚 was working at a law firm and I was burnt out and this was far more enjoyable,香蕉视频直播� says Tania, who came on full-time in 2019 and handles all the contracts and designs. 香蕉视频直播淚 love design and I love the creativity of it. And because of my background in law, I have the ability to read and write contracts and that makes it a lot easier for us.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淚t was not planned that everyone would work in the business, but it香蕉视频直播檚 fun and we all get along very well,香蕉视频直播� adds Mario, who香蕉视频直播檚 now semi-retired. 香蕉视频直播淲e respect each other and if there香蕉视频直播檚 a problem, we sit down and talk.香蕉视频直播�
The three siblings all have distinct roles香蕉视频直播擬o is the project manager on job sites and they call Gino, a gifted interior finisher, 香蕉视频直播渢he artist.香蕉视频直播� Tania believes their ability to work well together and make both the business and the family work is because they grew up watching their parents do it.
香蕉视频直播淲e learned that business is business and family is family,香蕉视频直播� she says. 香蕉视频直播淔amily is important and, at the end of the day, family is more important than our business.香蕉视频直播�
For Tania, the biggest learning curve has been getting used to working for herself and finding the right work-life balance.
香蕉视频直播淚 spent 18 years working for somebody else, and suddenly I went from my day being 8 o香蕉视频直播檆lock to four, or eight to five, to my time not always being my own,香蕉视频直播� says Tania, whose adorable dog, Lola, joined us for the interview. 香蕉视频直播淲hen you work at home and your office is at home, it香蕉视频直播檚 always there. You don香蕉视频直播檛 get to walk away from it and it香蕉视频直播檚 all about finding those boundaries and that balance.香蕉视频直播�
The biggest challenges for the business right now are the same many companies are facing香蕉视频直播攍abour shortages and supply-chain issues.
香蕉视频直播淕etting products that we need in a timely manner has really been an issue since COVID-19,香蕉视频直播� Tania says. 香蕉视频直播淲e try to get our custom homes done within a year and we香蕉视频直播檙e really good at that, but we香蕉视频直播檝e had to give ourselves a buffer because there香蕉视频直播檚 just things we can香蕉视频直播檛 control.香蕉视频直播�
The pandemic has also hammered up demand for renovation and building projects, which is something that initially surprised this tight-knit family in the early days of the crisis.
香蕉视频直播淲hen the pandemic hit, we all had that nervousness that something might happen to our business because we weren香蕉视频直播檛 sure that people would still want to build,香蕉视频直播� explains Tania. 香蕉视频直播淎nd the shocking part for all of us is that the construction industry boomed. People couldn香蕉视频直播檛 travel so they took their travel money and said, 香蕉视频直播業香蕉视频直播檓 going to make my home my sanctuary.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈
With their business growing even faster than they expected, Conforti Homes has several exciting projects coming up, including smaller developments, and Tania is planning for more growth in the future.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e really found a niche in the building market and we have a good reputation so we get a lot of referrals,香蕉视频直播� she says. 香蕉视频直播淚f you香蕉视频直播檇 asked me two years ago if I could foresee where we香蕉视频直播檙e sitting today, I would have said no. I thought it would have taken us longer to get here.香蕉视频直播�
There are lots of lessons Mario has passed down to his children over the years, but Tania says the one that resonates the most has nothing to do with construction.
香蕉视频直播淭he best advice my dad has ever given me is to do what makes you happy, as long as it香蕉视频直播檚 not hurting anybody else in the process. And I try to live my life like that.香蕉视频直播�
After building a successful business and spending 65 years in his field, Mario also has some key advice for other entrepreneurs or people thinking of starting a business.
香蕉视频直播淕o for it, but you have to be willing to work,香蕉视频直播� he says. 香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 the main thing because you have to like to work because it takes a lot of your time.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淢ake sure you love what you香蕉视频直播檙e going to do because it香蕉视频直播檚 something that香蕉视频直播檚 going to be with you day and night for a number of years,香蕉视频直播� Tania adds. 香蕉视频直播淲e love what we do and it香蕉视频直播檚 more than just building a house for us. We always say we香蕉视频直播檙e building a home because we香蕉视频直播檙e building people香蕉视频直播檚 dream homes.香蕉视频直播�
Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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