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Derrick Paas and Eric Gummer are the first to admit that they香蕉视频直播檙e unlikely entrepreneurs.

香蕉视频直播淲e weren香蕉视频直播檛 business guys,香蕉视频直播� says Gummer, co-owner of Saanichton-based Thomas Philips Woodworking. 香蕉视频直播淲e didn香蕉视频直播檛 go to school for that so it was definitely the biggest learning curve.香蕉视频直播�

And yet, the skilled tradesmen have managed to build a successful custom cabinetry and millwork company that香蕉视频直播檚 grown from just the two of them to 11 people in five years, and won several CARE Awards for craftsmanship along the way.

香蕉视频直播淟et香蕉视频直播檚 launch a business in a recession,香蕉视频直播� jokes 44-year-old Paas. 香蕉视频直播淚t sounds crazy but we both had lots of contacts in the industry so I think it was an easy transition for us.香蕉视频直播�

But it wasn香蕉视频直播檛 without its challenges. Both men were unemployed when they decided to start the business back in the spring of 2012 and they worked out of their garages to keep costs down.

香蕉视频直播淲e started with really small jobs and we used Eric香蕉视频直播檚 garage for cutting all the pieces apart. Then we assembled them in my garage and rented another space to spray them,香蕉视频直播� Paas explains.

香蕉视频直播淚t was quite the ordeal and not at all practical,香蕉视频直播� adds 32-year-old Gummer, laughing at the memory. 香蕉视频直播淏ut it got us started and we started to get busier, so it gave us the confidence to take the plunge.香蕉视频直播�

Without any major contracts lined up, the pair signed a three-year lease. It was a big risk but Paas and Gummer are passionate about their craft and they knew they could make it work.

香蕉视频直播淥ur first three months of rent were free so we had those months to find work and that gave us a cushion,香蕉视频直播� explains Gummer. 香蕉视频直播淚 was living in a $600 basement suite and didn香蕉视频直播檛 have a mortgage and kids like Derrick does, so the risk and stress for him was probably a lot higher than it was for me.香蕉视频直播�

But the gamble paid off and they landed their first big job as Thomas Philips Woodworking, which is derived from their middle names, in about three weeks. That first job even won them their first CARE Award 香蕉视频直播� a foreshadowing of the success to come 香蕉视频直播� and they haven香蕉视频直播檛 looked back.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 still a little shocked at how successful we香蕉视频直播檝e been,香蕉视频直播� says Gummer. 香蕉视频直播淏ut we香蕉视频直播檙e not complacent 香蕉视频直播� every time we get a job we want to do the best we can.香蕉视频直播�

They also attribute a lot of their success to Gummer香蕉视频直播檚 dad, Gordon. The retired Victoria Police officer helps with the books and has been an integral part of the business behind the scenes, especially when it comes to office management and leadership advice.

香蕉视频直播淕ordon has been so great and he keeps us organized and in line so we can do the work and get the clients,香蕉视频直播� says Paas. 香蕉视频直播淲e tried to double his wage, but double of nothing is still zero so we finally got him to take a trip to Hawaii.香蕉视频直播�

But the 香蕉视频直播渧olunteer dad香蕉视频直播� says he香蕉视频直播檚 just happy to help. He credits the passion and hard work of his son and Paas, who still put in long days and work through weekends, with the business香蕉视频直播檚 success.

香蕉视频直播淚 think they have done remarkably well and they香蕉视频直播檝e succeeded because they have such a good reputation within the Greater Victoria community,香蕉视频直播� Gordon Gummer says. 香蕉视频直播淭hey are both so passionate about their work and they bend over backwards to help their clients.香蕉视频直播�

As the company香蕉视频直播檚 grown, the duo has also put a lot of time and resources into employees 香蕉视频直播� something that香蕉视频直播檚 especially important in an industry plagued by a shortage of skilled labour.

香蕉视频直播淕etting good, skilled staff that fit within our company is definitely the biggest challenge,香蕉视频直播� says Paas. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e put a lot of effort and money into our employees, including a full benefits package, and we picked the top (tier) because that香蕉视频直播檚 what they wanted. We have such good employees and that makes all the difference.香蕉视频直播�

It香蕉视频直播檚 one of the reasons Paas and Gummer take such pride in their employees香蕉视频直播� success. For them, one of the most rewarding things about being business owners is watching their staff succeed.

香蕉视频直播淎 few years ago our apprentice, who was just out of high school, won a CARE Award and I think we were more proud of that than the projects we won for,香蕉视频直播� says Gummer. 香蕉视频直播淎nd one of our guys just got into the housing market, so it香蕉视频直播檚 nice to know he could afford to buy a house.香蕉视频直播�

And even though business is booming, they don香蕉视频直播檛 plan to let the company get too big, as doing so would mean giving up some of the customer care and quality control.

香蕉视频直播淚 think what香蕉视频直播檚 made us successful so far is our customer service and attention to detail,香蕉视频直播� Gummer says. 香蕉视频直播淲e don香蕉视频直播檛 want to lose that. Word of mouth is massively important in Victoria.香蕉视频直播�