< PreviousFIND OUT MORE: ABTDRAINS.COM 800-438-6057 BLUE-GREEN ROOFS LID LANDSCAPES LID HARDSCAPES PODIUM DECKS URBAN TREES ATHLETIC FIELDS SIX RESILIENT WAYS TO MEET NEW STORMWATER REQUIREMENTS Permavoid structural cells provide increased storage and deliver precious water back to landscapes through capillary cylinders to create the most sustainable cities of the future. In addition to this, Form and Build Supply's team works closely with engineers and spec-writers to get the latest feedback from a rapidly changing construction marketplace. This forward-thinking approach has proved both effective and efficient on many occasions, most notably during the COVID-19 pandemic. As steel prices were starting to increase and the supply chain was experiencing delays, construction companies were on the lookout for alternative solutions to meet both budgetary and time constraints. Thanks to its extensive supplier network and deep product knowledge, Form and Build Supply could examine each customers' indi- vidual requirements and suggest viable alternatives, such as a reinforcing fiber mesh to replace rebar and steel. By quickly delivering this innovative, affordable product, Form and Build Supply enabled its customers to complete their projects in time and within budget. Over the past 48 years, Form and Build Supply has provided materials for a wide variety of construction projects. Under- standably, it has worked on several high-profile projects. For example, the company worked on the refurbishment of the Darlington nuclear power plant and the building of numerous hospitals. One of the most remarkable was the Gordie Howe Bridge in Windsor. This new structure, built across the Detroit River, will connect Detroit and Windsor by linking Interstate 75 in Michigan with Highway 401 in Ontario. For Ross, the company’s involvement is hugely significant. "It is slated to be completed in 2025/ 2026. [We are] so very proud to be supplying material on such a large, symbolic job from both a Canadian and US perspective," he says. With key industry knowledge and strong relationships across the sector, Form and Build Supply is in a very good position. These factors ensure that its clients can rely on the company to come through, regardless of the requirements. Not only that, but it enables Form and Build Supply to identify, source and secure materials and services with minimal delay. This level of customer service means clients receive a speed of delivery that is second to none and is something that makes the company truly stand out. Not only that, but Ross believes that there is another, equally important factor that contrib- utes hugely to the company's responsiveness: its staff. “We will oftentimes get a customer call at 4:00 pm on a Tuesday, "Form and Build Supply is a company that understands the path to success." | 30 SEPTEMBER 2023saying [they] need a truckload of material by 7:00 am tomor- row. We will get that truck ready, get it loaded up the night before, and have somebody out the next day. It reflects the commitment of our team." To put this in perspective, Ross and Spindler believe that the company can attribute its success to its staff, saying that it may never have achieved such great results without them. For example, the Whitby branch which opened in 2022 is a clear example of the team’s dedication and commitment. "From the people in sales to high-level managers, [we] were all involved in figuring out what was going to work for Whitby. We had some great conversations at all levels, which really contributed to having succeeded in the way that it has," says Spindler. Form and Build Supply is a company that understands the path to success. By creating a collaborative and coopera- tive working environment, staff will thrive and the company will succeed. Ross believes that initiatives such as the employee profit-sharing program means that everybody is both an active contributor to, and beneficiary of, the com- pany's success. "We're proud we have fairly low turnover compared to other companies in our industry. I think [that's because] people appreciate the culture," says Ross. How- ever, in some ways being part of the Form and Build Supply's team is more like being a member of a community. As Spin- dler explains, the company takes huge pride in its staff and invests heavily in supporting staff members. "Whether it's overcoming a problem or celebrating something, we created a close-knit group across all six of our branches, which is unique. Nobody stands alone because they know they have resources." To emphasize this point, Ross adds, "There's a lot of coordination going on between six branches and our employees treat one another with respect, as equals, and it just makes our job a lot easier." The company's solid entrepreneurial vision and commitment to excellent customer service have earned Form and Build Supply several awards. The primary example is the Contrac- tor Specialist Retailer Award, a category of the Outstanding Retailer Awards (ORA), which the company won in 2018. After opening its latest branch in Whitby last year, Form and Build Supply is keen on expanding the team with new talented staff members and growing its footprint in Ontario. In 2025 the company will celebrate its 50th anniversary. While looking forward to celebrating this important milestone, Ross and his team are always ready to take on new challenges. "We don't have any specific plans at this point for a new branch, but we are always on the lookout for new opportunities." | 32 SEPTEMBER 2023WRITTEN BY CHRISTOPHER CARTER F or over three decades, Hickory Dickory Decks has been helping homeowners across Canada build beautiful outdoor living spaces to enhance their homes. Starting out as the ambitious dream of founder and CEO Tom Jacques, the company has grown into the leading deck builder in Canada with 87 franchisees nationwide. From these humble beginnings to international success, his story is an inspirational one. | 33 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONBack in 1987 when Jacques started the business, the concept of being a deck specialist was still new. As he recalls, “There was no specialist company in the deck-building business. Back in the 1980s, it was mainly general contractors and landscapers who were building the odd deck.” But Jacques saw an opportunity to create something focused and unique. As he puts it, “One, it was about working outside; two, it was quite creative; and three, nobody was doing it.” From the start, franchising was always part of Jacques’s vision. “Many people told me it couldn’t be done, that you couldn’t franchise a custom-made, highly skilled product,” he says. Nonetheless, with a firm belief that a network of deck builders under one trusted brand would be a winning formula, Jacques persisted. Those early days of trailblazing were filled with unique chal- lenges. With no established industry standards, Hickory Dickory Decks had to invent processes and best practices as the business developed in real time. “When we first started, manufacturers didn’t even have installation manuals, and we were inventing as we went along,” Jacques recalls. But the young company powered through, securing a formidable rep- utation for hard work, ambition, and a commitment to doing things right. Growth came swiftly as a result of this driven approach. According to Jacques, the impact this growth had on the company was phenomenal. “I had two employees in the first year and 17 in the second, so it was gangbusters right out of the gate.” In those early years, word-of-mouth referrals were crucial to building the company’s presence in the market. As Jacques emphasizes, "There is no better advertising than a referral from a happy customer." But earning those referrals took time and effort. He recalls, "Creating a base of happy cus- tomers takes time. When initiating any new business, trust and brand recognition needs to be earned." A strong focus on quality workmanship and customer satisfaction formed the foundation that allowed Hickory Dickory Decks to grow in leaps and bounds. | 34 SEPTEMBER 2023Discover your sanctuary. Note: See your Fiberon seller or visit www.fiberondecking.com for details on limited warranties and exclusions. ©2023 Fiberon. All rights reserved. FIBERON and the Fiberon logo are trademarks of Fiber Composites, LLC. Registered trademarks are registered in the U.S. and may be registered internationally. Sanctuary PE composite decking in Chai. Your outdoor living space should be a place to relax. A place to escape from the busyness of daily life and unwind with the people you love most. Let us help you create your personal, backyard oasis. Discover Sanctuary ® decking at fiberondecking.com. By 1999, Hickory Dickory Decks began officially offering fran- chises. Growth was steady at first, adding a couple of fran- chisees each year. But over time, the pace accelerated. The company really took off during the pandemic, adding over 15 new franchisees in 2021 alone - a record year of growth. Throughout the years, Hickory Dickory Decks has stayed true to Jacques’ founding vision of being the foremost deck spe- cialists on the continent, and beyond. As he says with pride, “We have now become the largest installer of low-maintenance decks in Canada.” The company offers customers the widest selection of composite and vinyl decking products, much of it sourced directly and exclusively. With its own lumber yard supplying pressure-treated wood and architectural cedar, Hick- ory Dickory Decks provides franchisees with comprehensive materials to build dazzling decks of all shapes and sizes. But for Jacques, it always comes back to the custom side of the business. Even now, decades later, he still enjoys meeting with homeowners and designing decks himself. “We have now become the largest installer of low-maintenance decks in Canada.” | 35 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONThis combination of hands-on custom work with consis- tent brand identity and economies of scale is what makes Hickory Dickory Decks unique. But great products and systems aren’t enough if you don’t have happy customers. Keeping customers happy, according to Jacques, takes great franchisees. He prioritizes providing support so fran- chisees can focus on building stunning decks as well as strong client relationships, and with that in mind, he fosters a spirit of collaboration where franchisees help each other with advice and mentoring. As Jacques notes, "Guidance and mentorship are commonplace within the company. With many years of franchising under our belts, along with a proven business model and a company that feels more like family, franchisees all over the country are enjoying the freedom that being part of the Hickory Dickory Decks network brings." This sense of family extends throughout the Hickory Dickory Decks team. From headquarters staff providing adminis- trative support to franchise managers assisting new fran- chisees, everyone works together to fulfill the company's number one goal. As Jacques describes it, "Creating happy customers is our business." Strong values guide all of Hickory Dickory Decks' success. As Jacques tells it, "We have always strived to become the leader in our industry in delivering a quality built custom deck to our customers on time, and to their satisfaction at a fair profit." Integrity, honesty, pride in quality work, and valuing team members are all core principles that drive the business. In this regard, Jacques is clear when asked to explain the company’s goal: "To focus our company’s growth on quality custom decks built by team members who believe in giving value for the money to our clientele. To have team members who create custom decks that they would be proud to have in their own backyards." After 35 years of continued growth and exceeding custom- er’s expectations, Hickory Dickory Decks has certainly proven itself as the top deck builder in Canada and stands as a respected leader in the industry. But Jacques and his team aren't resting on their laurels. He’s adamant the company will keep putting best practices into place to stay one step ahead of the competition, no matter what. For a young entrepreneur who started out with a dream of franchising custom decks, it's safe to say that Tom Jacques | 36 SEPTEMBER 2023has built something special. Through hard work, persever- ance, and dedication to quality and service, Hickory Dickory Decks has blazed its way to become Canada’s number one deck company. With the real estate boom and increasingly popular work-from-home trends driving continued demand for outdoor living spaces that enhance the home environ- ment, the company is poised for even further expansion. The future looks bright, but for Jacques, it always comes back to the core foundations. As he says, driving the point home, "Happy customers are the foundation of our business." Jacques’ singular dream required not only a healthy dose of ambition and a strong vision, but also the maverick ability to adapt and evolve with the times. The company's longevity is a testament to meeting each new challenge head-on. No matter the obstacle over the past 35 years, Hickory Dickory Decks has drawn on its strengths - exceptional people, top- notch products, and unwavering commitment to customers. These pillars will doubtless continue to guide the company as it keeps building into the future. For aspiring entrepreneurs, Tom Jacques is an inspiring example of a founder who believed in his idea for a quality business and put in the hard work required to make it succeed and reach great heights. He took a simple concept - building decks - and grew it into the top company in Canada through vision, innovation, and perseverance. For Jacques, his satis- fied customers, and entrepreneurs who may be inspired by his story, Hickory Dickory Decks shows how creating a com- pany with a vision is not just about selling products, but also about building dreams. | 37 APEIRON CONSTRUCTION| 38 SEPTEMBER 2023WRITTEN BY ERIC O’CALLAGHAN W ith a team of over 250 of the industry’s most skilled trades people, it is safe to say that Roberts Onsite is no small business. Generation after generation, family after family; the company has continued growing throughout its 85 years of business to become one of Ontario's largest multi-trade contractors providing turn-key solutions for indus- trial, commercial, institutional and energy projects. Unlike the majority of large companies, the overall culture at Roberts Onsite is less of a corporate environment and more of a family occasion. The quality and pride its employees possess is a trait that stands out to the team at Roberts Onsite, especially to Vice President, Wayne Barnard. With this in mind, it is no surprise to learn that work culture is of the utmost importance to Barnard, and he believes the family style team atmosphere that has been carefully cultivated at the company is reflected in its product. This could be because a lot of the team are actually family; in one form or another. | 39 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONNext >