I can still drive to the home where I refinished my first tub 20 years ago. Just a man and a van. And I was fast, 6 hours to clean, prep, and spray in. (Now the expectation is 3 hours) I was so excited about doing my first tub, I called Karen on my way home to tell her all about it… so excited, like a 5-year-old on Christmas Day. My first phone call to schedule work, my first business cards, my first job. Everything was shinney and new to me.

Big shoes to fill

I was just a man and a van running his business out of his house feeling on top of the world. Looking back, I knew just enough to be dangerous but not enough to fail. I was lucky, Bob Donaldson, the fine gentleman I purchased the business from, offered to provide me with 6 months of technical assistance as part of the sale of his business. Little did I know it would turn into a 10-year friendship until his passing. I treasure our memories together to this day.

Home Show Season

Karen resurrected photos of my first Home Show booth. Talk about having no idea how to put a booth together. I had a 10 by 10 space, old carpet, bad lighting, and even more atrocious samples, but my ignorance was bliss. Fast forward to today, we have a 20 by 20 space. Our booth features a kitchen with beautiful cabinets and our very own refinishing work on the countertops. A bathroom with a refinished vanity and tub shower unit. Track lighting and beautiful L.V.P. add to the overall wow factor. Our decorative concrete resurfacing highlights our back patio and garage space we have created. How our Home Show booth has changed.

How the times have changed

20 years ago, It was just me. I would answer the phone, schedule the work, do the work and at some point, fill out the paperwork. 4 months into the business I hired my stepson, Jacob; he is still with me after all this time. 18 months after opening my doors, Karen quit her job to work in the office full time. We were operating out of the house and my garage was the “show room”. 10 years into the business, we finally moved into a bonified office space with real offices, show room, storage, and shop. Over the years, our trucks have evolved from used Ford Rangers to fresh off the lot Ford Transits with a logo wrap.

The one constant in business

Looking back over the last 20 years, it is truly amazing how the business has grown and evolved. The one constant however has been our customers. They have been trusting, loyal, and gracious to allow us into their homes to do refinishing work and referring Michael’s Refinishing to their family and friends. It is a very humbling experience.

What lies ahead?

20 years ago, if you had asked me what my business would look like in 20 years, I would not have come up with what my business is now. If you ask me to tell you what my business will look like 20 years from now, I will tell you, “I do not know, but it is going to be a fun ride.”