PAGE OCR 6 – September 2009 – The Ontario Construction Report
PARKLAND
Plumbing – Heating in Kenora
20 years of success
by getting the basics
RIGHT
STAFF WRITER – The Ontario Construction Report Special Feature
Vern Poschner started Parkland Plumbing in Kenora in 1989 with $3,000
and a desire to be close to home with his young family. Twenty years later,
he is ready to hand over his thriving $1.3 million Northern Ontario business.
In this interview with NOCN, he tells his story.
Tell us about your background
I worked two summers (1973 and 1974) as a plumber’s helper with a Win-
nipeg-based mechanical contractor on an extensive renovation to a local hos-
pital. I led about my age to get the job – I was only 15.
After I graduated from high school in 1975, one of the plumbers I had
worked with started his own business and asked me to sign on. I had planned
on going to University (to major in marine biology) but didn’t have the
money, so I took the job thinking that it could be a way to save some money
to go. As it turns out, I signed up as an apprentice and got my journeyman’s
ticket in 1980.
I did a bit of bouncing around in the 1980s, working for different con-
tractors in British Columbia and here (including the Ontario Department of
Government Services) and learned the aspects of servicing different types of
equipment
Why did you start Parkland Plumbing – Heating?
It was after the birth of my daughter (our second child). I barely made the
delivery room on time, as I was working out of town.
It seemed that most of my work took me to remote places.
Kenora had gone through a construction boom a few years previous and
there was a lot of equipment out there to maintain and service, but these tasks
didn’t seem to be a priority for any mechanical contractors in the district at
the time.
So I decided to start a service-oriented business. (But there is another as-
pect: I’m rather bull-headed about my ideas and make a poor employee.)
What problems did you encounter on the start up?
I started on a shoestring budget – my tools, a truck, and $3,000 in the
bank. No one (suppliers, banks, etc.) would extend credit, so for a while
everything I made went back to the business and we learned how to cook
macaroni 100 different ways.
What was your big break?
Another plumber helped me price out a job he was too busy to take. I
was guilt-ridden about the price but submitted it and got the job. I made a de-
cent profit, so we could have meat with macaroni. And I realized that we
offer a special service and most people will pay for that.
Also (at that time) about four ‘old timers’ in the plumbing field were at the
retirement stage. They liked me and gave me a chance at taking over their old
customers.
How did you build up your business?
I stuck to the basics, (and still do). Treat your clients like they are royalty,
try and do the work properly (the first time), and give clients a decent return
on the money they spend with you.
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