Mentor moment

This is a great business

INTERVIEW BY ROD McDONALD

KELVIN VANDERVEEN, owner of that my customers always want something new Vanderveen’s Greenhouses in Carman, Man., is and something different. If you don’t change with known for his humility, integrity and his devout your customer’s needs, your future is not bright. beliefs. Vanderveen’s got its start as a market garden in 1970, selling leftover vegetable seedlings Q. You have moved away from natuto the local people. From that humble beginning ral gas as your heating source to flax 50 years ago, it has grown to more than 20 acres of shives. Why? greenhouses. It now sells plants by the semi-load in A. It costs me roughly half the price to heat with Manitoba, Saskatchewan and northern Ontario. flax shives and they are readily available in the I have walked through Kelvin’s greenhouses when Carman area. Add in the carbon tax and I am dohe put on the brakes to remove a broken branch from a poinsettia three benches over. That was KELVIN VANDERVEEN ing much better not using natural gas. one branch from hundreds of thousands of poinQ. What is your philosophy regarding settias. He pays attention to details. Kelvin and I have had a business customer service? relationship for 30 years, and I learned I could always count on him. A. My customers are my boss. Without my customers I would not have Here are his answers to my questions. a business. I try to accommodate my customers, to get them what When did you start working in the family business? There was never a time when I was not a part of this business. I Q. What is your philosophy regarding employees? enjoyed it so much that I quit school in grade eleven to work full-time A. I have a good crew. I look first for a strong work ethic. Someone with my father. School was just not the right fit for me. The greenwith the proper attitude can be trained. They can be taught skills. I also house was not a great success at first, and when I was 18, I was paid look for staff who understand the nature of the business, including only 35 cents an hour. I took over from my dad in my mid-20s, and long hours during shipping season. They need to give their all during he was okay with me stepping into the leadership role along with my the busy times. brother Les. Q. Was this best spring ever? Did you ever imagine one day you would reach the A. I have never had a year where demand was so strong. I did sell out. size and success you are at now? Having said that, when Covid-19 became a pandemic in March, I was Never! I had no dream. I just kept adding a bit more square footage not sure if we would even have a season. I did not fill up my greenuntil I reached the point I am at today. houses. I cut back.

To what do you attribute your success? God’s blessing to work hard with my brother, Les. I bought Les out seven years ago. He still works in the greenhouse during the busy times.

Q. Over the last 40 years, many greenhouses and flower shops have gone under. Why? A. There was the intense pressure from the box stores, no doubt about that being a factor. Also, many of the older operators refused to adapt. Times change and you have to change with them. I learned they want, delivered on time. Q. Final thoughts? A. This is a great busines to be in. I can call any greenhouse and we can share our experiences. Also, when I meet with my independent customers, I am always struck with how incredibly nice most greenhouse people really are. It a blessing to be a part of this trade. LT

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