the value of building trust so that your relationships with customers are strong and long term. He has no interest in competing to just be the cheapest bidder: “it’s easy for a guy with a truck and a hammer to come in with a cheap price. But at what cost? What’s his warranty? Everyone knows it’s less expensive to get it done right the first time than to get it redone.”
He talks about the challenges of being a successful business owner in this region, where success is often greeted with suspicion.
“As Maritimers, we have a reputation for pulling each other down rather than helping each other up. I believe this is a key factor holding back prosperity in Maritime Canada. Anyone who achieves success or wealth is often vilified as someone who must have done something under- handed to achieve success, or they are lucky. One of my favorite quotes is “the harder I work the luckier I get”.
RELATIONSHIPS Building trust is the first step in creating the solid relationships that Dan values. Relationships are the reason customers return, as he notes. And Monk’s relationships with suppliers and vendors are of paramount importance. Dan names some of the suppliers and contacts he values: Payzant, Quest Kitchens, Tower Interiors, Taylor Flooring. “I’ve seen jobs where I was two tiles short - I called up Michelle Horsman at Taylor, and she took tiles from a sample board to help me out. That kind of service is based on a good relationship. Taylor is great.” Another relationship that has helped his business - his friendship with real estate agent, television and radio host Vanessa Romans. The two met in 2008, when Dan was about to incorporate his business. Vanessa was flipping a house and needed the hardwood floors redone. Dan came in and actually ended up redoing the floors and windows. The two have been friends ever since, with Vanessa bringing Dan in as an expert to speak on her radio show. Dan tends his relationships with the overall industry as well - he is a director on the board of the NS Home Builders Association and is co-chair of the Renovators Council. PASSION You only have to speak to Dan Monk for a few minutes before his passion for his work comes through. He believes strongly not only in what he does, but in the way he does it. He talks with energy about
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SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS • APRIL 2016
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