- Story by Tess van Straaten

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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Derrick Paas and Eric Gummer are the first to admit that theyB次元官网网址檙e unlikely entrepreneurs.

B次元官网网址淲e werenB次元官网网址檛 business guys,B次元官网网址� says Gummer, co-owner of Saanichton-based Thomas Philips Woodworking. B次元官网网址淲e didnB次元官网网址檛 go to school for that so it was definitely the biggest learning curve.B次元官网网址�

And yet, the skilled tradesmen have managed to build a successful custom cabinetry and millwork company thatB次元官网网址檚 grown from just the two of them to 11 people in five years, and won several CARE Awards for craftsmanship along the way.

B次元官网网址淟etB次元官网网址檚 launch a business in a recession,B次元官网网址� jokes 44-year-old Paas. B次元官网网址淚t sounds crazy but we both had lots of contacts in the industry so I think it was an easy transition for us.B次元官网网址�

But it wasnB次元官网网址檛 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.

B次元官网网址淲e started with really small jobs and we used EricB次元官网网址檚 garage for cutting all the pieces apart. Then we assembled them in my garage and rented another space to spray them,B次元官网网址� Paas explains.

B次元官网网址淚t was quite the ordeal and not at all practical,B次元官网网址� adds 32-year-old Gummer, laughing at the memory. B次元官网网址淏ut it got us started and we started to get busier, so it gave us the confidence to take the plunge.B次元官网网址�

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.

B次元官网网址淥ur first three months of rent were free so we had those months to find work and that gave us a cushion,B次元官网网址� explains Gummer. B次元官网网址淚 was living in a $600 basement suite and didnB次元官网网址檛 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.B次元官网网址�

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 B次元官网网址� a foreshadowing of the success to come B次元官网网址� and they havenB次元官网网址檛 looked back.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 still a little shocked at how successful weB次元官网网址檝e been,B次元官网网址� says Gummer. B次元官网网址淏ut weB次元官网网址檙e not complacent B次元官网网址� every time we get a job we want to do the best we can.B次元官网网址�

They also attribute a lot of their success to GummerB次元官网网址檚 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.

B次元官网网址淕ordon has been so great and he keeps us organized and in line so we can do the work and get the clients,B次元官网网址� says Paas. B次元官网网址淲e tried to double his wage, but double of nothing is still zero so we finally got him to take a trip to Hawaii.B次元官网网址�

But the B次元官网网址渧olunteer dadB次元官网网址� says heB次元官网网址檚 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 businessB次元官网网址檚 success.

B次元官网网址淚 think they have done remarkably well and theyB次元官网网址檝e succeeded because they have such a good reputation within the Greater Victoria community,B次元官网网址� Gordon Gummer says. B次元官网网址淭hey are both so passionate about their work and they bend over backwards to help their clients.B次元官网网址�

As the companyB次元官网网址檚 grown, the duo has also put a lot of time and resources into employees B次元官网网址� something thatB次元官网网址檚 especially important in an industry plagued by a shortage of skilled labour.

B次元官网网址淕etting good, skilled staff that fit within our company is definitely the biggest challenge,B次元官网网址� says Paas. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e put a lot of effort and money into our employees, including a full benefits package, and we picked the top (tier) because thatB次元官网网址檚 what they wanted. We have such good employees and that makes all the difference.B次元官网网址�

ItB次元官网网址檚 one of the reasons Paas and Gummer take such pride in their employeesB次元官网网址� success. For them, one of the most rewarding things about being business owners is watching their staff succeed.

B次元官网网址淎 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,B次元官网网址� says Gummer. B次元官网网址淎nd one of our guys just got into the housing market, so itB次元官网网址檚 nice to know he could afford to buy a house.B次元官网网址�

And even though business is booming, they donB次元官网网址檛 plan to let the company get too big, as doing so would mean giving up some of the customer care and quality control.

B次元官网网址淚 think whatB次元官网网址檚 made us successful so far is our customer service and attention to detail,B次元官网网址� Gummer says. B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 want to lose that. Word of mouth is massively important in Victoria.B次元官网网址�