Windsor Business August 2025 Issue

13 WORLD OF WORK A career advice column by a workplace consultant and career coach.

16 CORPORATISM: Jim Blasingame says there are similarities between spiders and small business owners.

AUGUST 2025

W I N D S O R ’ S F O R E M O S T B U S I N E S S N E W S P U B L I C AT I O N

PHOTO BY JOE SYMCHYSHYN PHOTOGRAPHIC

INSIDE TRACK

Aylmer ON-based Martin’s Lift Truck Service has opened a branch in Leamington. From left: founder Martin Baelde, son and GM Tim Baelde, Leamington manager Mike Balkwill, and Leamington technician Jon Waters. By Ron Stang

<<

2

AT A GLANCE A look at Canadian confidence in the country’s ability to handle U.S. tariffs.

10 PRIME HOME A look at residential property sales in Essex County and Chatham-Kent.

2

CROSSWORD Take a coffee break from work and challenge yourself with our crossword.

12 BUILDING PERMITS A compilation of construction activity in the Windsor and area market.

3

ESSEX ECONOMICS A series of guest columns by business executives on various trends in the region.

14 START UPS Newly incorporated firms launched in Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent.

8

PRIME PROPERTY A look at recent commercial property transfers in Essex and Chatham-Kent area.

14 INFORMATION A useful roundup of business websites and resources for area executives.

A

barometer of the economic vibrancy of Windsor-Essex County may be the fact a long-time family business in Aylmer ON has opened its first area branch in Leamington.

Martin’s Lift Truck Service opened the showroom on Mersea Road 8, within the Blytheswood Auto shop. Martin’s has long served the Leamington greenhouse industry and, as its market kept growing, staff increasingly travelled back and forth for sales and service.

In particular, demand for China-made Heli forklift trucks has been strong. “It’s a very good product, with a more reasonable cost. And people started realizing that,” said general manager Tim Baelde.

The dealership sells to “all kinds of businesses,” but especially the farm sector.

Greenhouses “all need forklifts and they all need a lot of them,” Baelde said. But Martin’s is also selling to Windsor factories and warehouses.

Continued on page 4

JIM WILLIAMS

TAMMY WILLIAMS

519.257.9675

519.984.2960

BROKER, CCIM, SIOR

BROKER

R S OU IE E RT !

SE OPE IDE S PR IN

FULL SERVICE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE

AT A GLANCE AT LOOK AT CANADIAN CONFIDENCE IN THE COUNTRY’S ABILITY TO HANDLE U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND HIS TARIFFS.

JUST THE FACTS:

1.

Canadians less positive on America than early 2025 because of Trump’s threats % SOMEWHAT/STRONGLY AGREE

• After months of Canada-U.S. tension under President Trump, most Canadians say they view America less favorably than before Trump took office.

• At the same time, confidence in Canadian political leaders’ ability to manage Trump has risen to 59 percent since before the federal election.

• At least 60 percent of Canadians feel their personal financial situation will suffer because of Trump and his threats.

• More than 76 percent of Canadians intend to avoid travel to the U.S., and 72 percent say they now avoid purchasing American goods.

• While 60 percent of Canadians favor a subsidy program to protect workers and businesses from the adverse impacts of U.S. tariffs, 24 percent disagree.

• Sixteen percent of Canadians are not sure about this option.

Somewhat Agree

77%

% SOMEWHAT/STRONGLY DISAGREE

Strongly Agree

30%

47%

I think less of America as a country because of Donald Trump’s threats against Canada.

FEB 2025: 68%

58%

38%

20%

39%

21%

Somewhat Disagree

8%

17%

9%

FEB 2025: 22%

I am confident that the political leaders of my country can manage President Trump.

FEB 2025: 47%

60%

Strongly Disagree

12%

17%

29%

FEB 2025: 38%

My own personal financial situation will suffer because of President Trump.

FEB 2025: 58%

8%

18%

26%

FEB 2025: 24% Source: Ipsos, July 2025.

LET US FOCUS ON YOUR FINANCIALS, SO YOU CAN FOCUS ON YOUR BUSINESS YOUR BOOKKEEPING SPECIALISTS SINCE 1993 • Year-End Preparation for your Accountant • Monthly Income Statements • Short-Term Accounting Fill-Ins • All Government Remittances • New Business Setup • Payroll Services and T4s • Bank Reconciliations

RACHELLE'S BETTER BOOKKEEPING • FROM SMALL PROPRIETORSHIPS TO LARGE CORPORATIONS • ON-SITE OR OFF-SITE SERVICE

552 Pitt Street West, Suite 104, Windsor

T: 519-915-1210 F: 519-915-9119 • C: 519-980-0316 rachelledz@hotmail.com

EVERYTHING ONTARIO

www.rachellesbetterbookkeeping.com

FORKLIFT

IN

SOUTHERN

• SALES & RENTALS • REPAIRS & MAINTENANCE • PARTS SALES • OPERATOR TRAINING

636 Mersea Rd. 8, Leamington 624 Talbot St. W., Aylmer 226-219-9287 | 877-773-5913

5 HE SAID/SHE SAID: The news and views of area executives on pertinent business issues of the day.

12 CORPORATISM: Jim Blasingame says to build a community around you in which you are a unifying force.

whoisoscarbravo.com

OCTOBER 2024

Business to Business Advertising

W I N D S O R ’ S F O R E M O S T B U S I N E S S N E W S P U B L I C AT I O N

INSIDE TRACK 2

2

3

6

2

AT A GLANCE

8

PRIME HOME

A look at what Canadians most want in a future home purchase.

A look at recent residential property sales in Windsor and Essex County.

CROSSWORD Take a coffee break from work and challenge yourself with our crossword.

10 BUILDING PERMITS A compilation of construction activity in the Windsor and area market.

ESSEX ECONOMICS A series of guest columns by business executives on various trends in the region.

11 START UPS Newly incorporated firms launched in Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent.

PRIME PROPERTY A look at recent

11 WORLD OF WORK: A career advice column

WINDSOR BUSINESS

519-255-9775 | windsorbusiness.net

ACROSS 1 Promotional goodies 5 Solidifies 9 Hay, bundled 13 – Canaveral 14 Booklet 16 Composer – Stravinsky 17 River in Egypt 18 Protective metal plating 19 Book by French writer Colette 20 Army doctor 22 Collection of football strategies 24 Hgt. 26 Parting word 27 Recovers, as the stock market 31 Was without 35 Sheep 36 Skeletal part 39 Metric measure 40 Chapeaus 42 – and abet 43 Skidded 44 Diva’s song 45 Pome fruits 48 Schoolyard game 49 Spree 51 As one (2 wds.)

53 Is bold enough 56 “Cogito ergo –” 57 Loan charge 60 Big swallows

64 Gas that glows 65 Blemish 68 Certain 69 Airborne toy 70 Frosted cake 71 “– go bragh!”

72 Toboggan 73 Source of annoyance 74 Something done DOWN: 1 Rip-ff 2 Surfer’s ride 3 Footless 4 Friendly 5 Stopping place (Abbr.)

6 “To – is human …”

7 Florida city 8 Censure 9 Lots of dough (2 wds.)

10 Exchange premium 11 Emblem 12 French composer – Satie” 15 Paths 21 Cut 23 Certain vote

25 Done to a – 27 Make over completely 28 Conscious 29 Give access (2 wds.)

30 Insult 32 Scottish garments 33 Inventor – Howe 34 Sidestep 37 A-list member 38 Doing nothing at all 41 Depressed 45 Check 46 Nav. Rank 47 Self-satisfied 50 Corn spike 52 Diverted 54 Thwart by legal means 55 Fixed gaze 57 Signs 58 Actor – Patrick Harris 59 Big bang 61 Enforcement 62 – -dieu 63 Cause to go 66 “– only a paper moon” 67 After expenses

July solution

Email info@ windsorbusiness.net for this issue’s crossword answers

CARTOON

THE EDITOR’S DESK NADIA H. SHOUSHER

CARTOON BY PAUL MARCH

Business doesn’t die in the summer

S

I DO HOPE THE NEXT MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE GOES SMOOTHER THAN THE LAST ONE. WE NEED TO CONFRONT THE ISSUE OF DECLINING MEMBERSHIP HEAD ON.

BUSINESS BOOST “Guerrillas understand the importance of tracking, measuring and analyzing all of their marketing efforts to ensure they get a positive return on their investments, and so they can double up on things that are working and discard ones that are not.

“You can use automation software to track offline campaigns, but it requires that you conduct some form of direct response advertising, which invites people to visit various landing pages that you’ve set up in advance. This process can get complicated so, if you’re a beginner, take it slow and start with one or two at a time. ”You should know how many people visit your site once and/or return two or more times, and the numbers who opt into your Email list.

Then you’ll want to compare with the numbers who instantly, or eventually, become customers and which communications messages and vehicles worked best.

“When armed with the type of information your odds of succeeding are significantly improved, because your decisions are based on actual behaviors – the best predictors of future behavior – not random guesswork and intuition.”

Jay Conrad Levinson, Mitchell Meyerson and Mary Eule Scarborough in Guerrilla Marketing on the Internet, Entrepreneur Press.

W I N D S O R ’ S F O R E M O S T B U S I N E S S N E W S P U B L I C AT I O N

VOLUME 29, ISSUE 4 • AUGUST 2025 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Nadia H. Shousher

ART DIRECTOR

David Cowx

CONTRIBUTORS

Jim Blasingame, Dan Chase, Mike Chase, Dale Dauten, Paul March, Devan Mighton, J.T. O’Donnell, Ron Stang, Joe Symchyshyn

Windsor Business is published monthly by The Page Publishing Corp. and is distributed through Canada Post to every business address in Windsor and Essex County and Chatham-Kent. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written permission from the publisher. Copyright The Page Publishing Corp., 2025.

THE PAGE PUBLISHING CORP. 552 PITT STREET WEST, SUITE 101 WINDSOR, ONTARIO N9A 5M2 TEL: (519) 255-9775 info@windsorbusiness.net • www.windsorbusiness.net

ometimes I watch amazed at how what I consider hearsay can take on gargantuan proportions. A little tidbit gets passed around and then enlarged upon so much that, the next thing you know, the buzz has become fact in the minds of everyone who hears it.

The latest bit of ridicule to get under my craw is this idea – totally an Essex County-bred urban legend – that “no one does business in the summer.” I guffaw at that. What, we all just close our doors for two months because some in the auto sector take a much-need shut down?

I would loudly argue this “summertime blues of business” is not an economic fact, merely a reaction to the expectation of a downturn. Business is cyclical, and only a fool thinks what is up will stay up regardless of any external factor or fluctuation in the global marketplace. It is not the natural order of things.

On the other hand, believing something to be true is one step before finding evidence of it. In psychology circles, it’s called a self-fulfilling prophecy: people think it will be a slow summer and their business will suffer, so it becomes a slow summer and their business suffers. Realistically, if everyone thought like that, the entire world economy world crash. Talk about a negative perspective.

So many manufacturers and their suppliers operate at such high-output levels throughout the year, a few weeks off to revamp is required – and deserved. But does the world stop turning between July 1st and September 1st, because of it? I think not.

I only have to cough on the exhaust of the thousands of trucks on our city streets to realize things are still moving. Gasp! Even in July! What are those trucks carrying, if not goods for sale? Where are these trucks going, if not to market? And whoever ordered those goods and the transport of them will use funds generated from their own operations to pay for them.

Does retail stop in the summer? What about the stock market? What about hospitality, the insurance industry, property transfers, construction, telecommunications, transportation or non-automotive manufacturing? Doesn’t anybody look for a job in the summer? Don’t people have babies, get married or divorced, move or decorate, study or graduate or travel in the heat of summer? Has everyone left the building?

Most executives use this “slow” time to get organized, plan for the year end, try out new marketing ideas, follow up on leads, hook up with new clients and nurture current ones. Sure, some even take a vacation over the summer.

But there’s no business to be had out there? Please. Get off your backside and go after it.

Nadia H. Shousher is Editor-in-Chief of Windsor Business, a division of The Page Publishing Corp.

ESSEX ECONOMICS REV. DR. ROBERT TURNER

How to find your way back to joy

I

n the midst of a busy workday, with attention divided among so many responsibilities, it’s easy to lose sight of what in our jobs truly brings us joy. Bridging the separation from joy can yield a high Return on Investment, not just in levels of satisfaction and fulfillment, but in creativity, productivity and performance.

It’s important to recognize the interpretation of joy as a state of well-being is an internal process. Therefore, the real barrier to joy lies within yourself.

Behind that wall lies the negative emotions you experience in the form of anxiety, overthinking, anger, trauma and unforgiveness. Some will say: “But stuff happens!” Yes, that’s true, but ultimately, you have control over how outside circumstances impact your joy. You determine the extent to which joy is surrendered to adversity.

Here are steps to find your way back to the joy in a job you love: Contrast Theory. Often, joy and happiness are used interchangeably since they both carry a similar positive emotional connotation, but joy is a much more profound experience than simple happiness. Remember why you got into your profession, and rediscover your true purpose.

Joy-Centric Organizational Cultures Joy is an essential human experience; it fosters the resilience needed for goal achievement and shaping meaningful stakeholder connections that drive financial growth.

Prioritizing joy, positivity and well-being in leadership, and reflecting this in an organization's mission and values, yields positive results. Joy-centric cultures gain a competitive edge by recognizing that people and relationships are their core business, regardless of products or services. Therefore, joy must be intentionally integrated into every area – from customer and employee experience to marketing and product development – to build brand loyalty and ensure sustainable success.

Conscious Recognition Joy cannot exist without a hunger to embrace life, which means we must have the capacity to be curious, interested, enthused and excited … about nearly everything. Ask yourself: What do you look forward to? Is it that next team meeting? A company retreat in the mountains? Whatever it is, dive in with sheer abandonment! And beyond business hours, explore new hobbies or interests, even those that you doubted in some way, because we never know when depthless joy is ready to spring upon us.

Like a slender shaft of sunlight, joy is there, waiting for our conscious recognition. The disconnection with self is the greatest enemy to cultivating joy. It is within self that we find a connection and purpose.

Those who have not found their purpose are subject to chance experiences of joy.

We can cultivate a deeper appreciation for the everyday blessings that make life special and, in doing so, tap into the divine presence within ourselves, lowering the barriers to the joyful life that awaits us.

Rev. Dr. Robert Turner, PCC, BCC is a speaker and executive coach. Visit ExecutiveCoachTurner.com.

AUGUST 2025

3

HOUSING

COVER

BY RON STANG

BY RON STANG

Massive project to link Aylmer-based forklift company Walkerville and Ford City expands into Essex County region

I

t’s been a 20-year dream for local developer and business owner Ashok Sood, but now he has possession of the final piece of land for his 1,000-unit, multibuilding low-rise residential complex.

The last piece – 5.3 acres – was sold by Imperial Oil Ltd. last spring for $1.3 million, completing the 20-acre parcel bordered roughly by Walker Road, Richmond Street, St. Luke Road and Edna Street. The entire property is sandwiched between trendy Walkerville and the fast-growing Ford City boutique restaurant area, and would help link the increasingly popular urban area for entertainment, housing and work.

“Our first priority is making sure the land gets a proper cleanup and contributes towards a vibrant, healthy community for generations to come,” Sood said.

The City of Windsor said the site had been used for bulk fuel storage; the tanks have been removed.

Sood, also owner of Champion Products and who is just completing the 24-unit Walkerville Brownstones across Walker Road, said there would be condos and retail, with an emphasis being neighborhood accessibility via walking and access to transit.

“It’s going to be a whole new community. We’re just waiting for building permits; we might be digging by the end of the year,” he said, adding the new land was “the missing piece.”

There would be entrances off Walker and Richmond. Whelpton Street to the east would be extended across the property to Walker, creating an attractive central promenade. It’s also partly behind the City Market, which Sood also developed.

“OUR FIRST PRIORITY IS MAKING SURE THE LAND GETS A PROPER CLEANUP AND CONTRIBUTES TOWARDS A VIBRANT, HEALTHY COMMUNITY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.” The housing will be 10 to 12, four- to six-storey buildings with “pretty reasonably priced” units catering to all segments of the population. He has had this project, Walkerville Village, in mind for a long time and now “the timing seems to be right. Walkerville is so popular; there’s nothing else out there like this.”

The new complex units will be “smaller in size” at 500 to 800 square feet.

Ward 5 councillor Ed Sleiman, who represents the area, called it a “good concept” and liked the fact it will help link Walkerville to Ford City. “It’s something for the community to look forward to.” He hopes it draws larger retail, such as supermarkets.

WB

CUSTOM DESIGN • FABRICATION • INSTALLATION

CUSTOM DECORATIVE COPPER

Continued from page 1 The Heli brand was “the first on board with a lithium-powered product,” he said. Other manufacturers may have the same, but at “double the cost,” he added. So “all of a sudden now we’ve got a product that’s good, in demand and cheaper.”

Forklifts come in all shapes and sizes, from the forklift commonly seen in warehouses to smaller models such as pallet jacks and scissor lifts.

Besides electric, Martin’s sells propane and diesel machines. But “Heli is by far the leader at this point,” Baelde said.

The business was started in the 1980s by Tim’s father, Martin Baelde. He was a mechanic work-

ing on autos and farm equipment, and found there was a need for forklifts. He decided it was a profitable business to enter. “I thought, you know, I can do this. I can do this every bit as good or better,” he told Windsor Business.

Tim Baelde said a lot of local greenhouses prefer electric forklifts “because they don’t want the emissions.”

There are less than half a dozen competitors in the market.

“I think we’ve carved out a niche within that market,” Baelde said. This is especially true for agriculture and for economically priced machines.

Martin’s also offers training where operators must be certified, renewable every three years. “The heavy machine is different than

MANUFACTURING

BY RON STANG

Area properties change hands

K

B Components Canada, a Swedish-based firm, has purchased the former Ultimate Manufacturing Systems Inc. building on Deziel Drive. KB already has its “Plant 1” around the corner on St. Etienne Boulevard.

The phone for Ultimate was out of order, and a rep for KB did not respond to requests for comment.

Ultimate made racking and conveyor equipment. KB, which also acquired Maidstone’s Lakeside Plastics in 2021, is an injection molder for light and heavy vehicles, medical, furniture and the lighting industries.

The property seller was Jin Ju Holdings, based at the same

address as Standard Tool & Mold.

Jin-Pei Hu was unavailable for comment. The sale closed on June 30th for $8.8 million.

Meanwhile, two side-by-side strip plazas at 5960 and 5980 Tecumseh Road East have been purchased by a local dentist. A numbered company associated with Dr. Matthew Duronio, owner of Little River Dental, paid $2.5 million. The seller, also a numbered company, was based in Palgrave ON. Duronio did not respond to requests for comment.

In Leamington, an Ontario numbered company operating as Neumar Corp. sold the small L-shaped plaza at 129 Erie Street South to

LOOKING or LISTING? I can help you navigate your way through the buying and selling process.

Call me anytime!

David Mady Sales Representative CALL TODAY FOR A FREE ESTIMATE! 2910 Walker Rd. Windsor, Unit B rjsteel99@gmail.com | rjsteel.com

4

WINDSOR BUSINESS

519-791-4066

your car. If you’re not trained, it’s very easy to tip a forklift and very easy to get killed if you’re lifting heavy loads.”

Competitor Essex-based forklift dealer Liftow, carrying the Toyota brand, has long had strong sales in the area market. Branch manager Doug Van Dube said both agriculture and manufacturing are “still strong. What’s hurting is we’re finding a little bit of slowdown in the automotive, because of the uncertainty” around tariffs.

Van Dube said Toyota has been number one seller in North America “year after year.” Though not the most expensive or cheapest, “it’s a good truck and that’s what (the market) chooses to buy.”

Meanwhile, he said, “we welcome competition. It is good.” WB

davidmady@royallepage.ca | davidmady.com | (226) 350-1110

London ON-based Ashia Sharmin for $3.1 million. Neither party could be reached.

Finally, the downtown An-Noor Private School building on Janette Avenue has been sold for $2.5 million to the Islamic Academy Windsor. And the Greater Essex County District School Board in turn sold the former Western Secondary School building in Amherstburg to the Windsor Islamic Association Foundation for $6.7 million.

The board put the property up for sale last fall without an asking price. The building has been vacant since 2022; students now attend North Star High School in Amherstburg.

WB

DOWNTOWN

TRANSPORTATION

BY RON STANG

BY RON STANG

Language school buys downtown property

X

yna International, an Ontario governmentapproved high school teaching students grade 9 through 12, has purchased the Shoppers Drug Mart building at 600 Ouellette at the corner of Wyandotte Street.

The drug store is on the bottom level, and there are offices on top.

No one from Vaughn-based Xyna responded to requests for comment. The school offers courses to full- and part-time students, including online learning.

The sale of the strategic corner property and neighboring parking lot took place last spring for $5.5 million. The seller was a Mississauga-based numbered company.

The purchaser is identified in records as Amandeep Sethi of Windsor Developments Inc., at the same address as Xyna.

Trucking firm buys another property

M

orrice Transportation has acquired nearby 3110 Marentette Avenue, long the home of Colonial Coffee, though there is no change in Colonial’s business and it will keep operating from the address.

“They’re not leaving. They’re just a tenant of ours now,” said president Rob Morrice. “It was just the perfect acquisition for us” given its proximity to the trucking headquarters.

This follows Morrice’s purchase last winter of the former IGB

last winter. Prospiant boasts it has three “legacy” greenhouse companies in its fold: Thermo, Rough Brothers, and Nexus Greenhouse Systems.

“We have unmatched greenhouse and indoor grow manufacturing, design, engineering, construction and maintenance capabilities,” its website says.

Attempts to reach management were unsuccessful.

WB

Automotive plant immediately next door, for possible future expansion. But, “Colonial is there as long as they want to be. When they’re done we’ll figure it out at that point,” he said.

The purchase was $3.1 million.

Colonial has been at the location behind Devonshire Mall since it was forced to leave the downtown in the 1990s, to make way for the permanent casino, at the corner of Glengarry near what used to be the Windsor Market.

“It’s business as usual,” said

Colonial owner, Leah Ohler. “It was strictly a real estate deal.” The business has been on Marentette for almost three decades. “We were expropriated for the casino before that,” she said.

The venerable family firm was founded in 1965 by Jack Ohler and has roasted Arabica coffee ever since, its customers in the food service and vending industries.

It offers a wide variety of single-country-sourced coffees as well as a variety of blends, decafs and espressos.

WB

A MAJOR GREENHOUSE MANUFACTURER HAS CONTINUED ON A CONSOLIDATION SPREE

BY TAKING ANOTHER FIRM UNDER ITS UMBRELLA.

The school trains newcomers in English through its Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP). It’s a language course “accepted by a number of governments, professional organizations, universities, colleges and employers as proof of English language proficiency.”

The school also administers the CELPIP test “accepted by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada” for Canadian citizenship.

Meanwhile in LaSalle, a small single-storey office building at 1400 Front Road was sold by Windsor-based Douron Holdings Inc. to a Windsor numbered company for $1.1 million.

The building houses Edward Jones, the LaSalle Hangout for Youth, and an orthodontist.

Neither seller nor buyer could be reached.

The building, set back from the road, is immediately next to a larger commercial plaza with tenants OPG Pizza and Primerica.

Finally, in Leamington, a major greenhouse manufacturer has continued on a consolidation spree by taking another firm under its umbrella.

Prospiant acquired ThermoEnergy Solutions for $9.5 million

We do money differently.

Experience the Edward Jones difference.

Julie Charrette CEA® Financial Advisor 519-966-5046

Alok Tomar CFP®, CLU® Financial Advisor 519-969-3825

Julie.Charrette@edwardjones.com

Alok.Tomar@edwardjones.com

LaSalle

LaSalle

Lauren Harris Financial Advisor 519-969-3825

Colin Duggan Financial Advisor 519-727-1041

Joel King Financial Advisor 519-727-1041

Lauren.Harris3@edwardjones.com

Colin.Duggan@edwardjones.com

Joel.F.King@edwardjones.com

LaSalle

Belle River

Belle River

Jayson Bastien CIM®, CEPA®, DFSA™ Financial Advisor 519-979-7334

Antonella Chisesi Financial Advisor 519-979-5555

Jennifer Johnson Financial Advisor 519-969-1419

Jayson.Bastienr@edwardjones.com

Cameron Sinclair Financial Advisor 519-969-3825 Cameron.Sinclair@edwardjones.com

LaSalle

Antonella.Chisesi@edwardjones.com

Jennifer.Johnson@edwardjones.com

Lakeshore

South Windsor

Tecumseh

We get you. We guide you. We make it easy.

Let’s meet for a complimentary financial review.

Making sense of investing.

www.EdwardJones.ca AUGUST 2025

5

MOVE

HOUSING

BY RON STANG

BY RON STANG

Local real estate team moving into state-of-the-art multi-use building

R

Partly-serviced land in south Windsor sold

A

eal estate broker Goran Todorovic has moved into a new real estate practice, unique in this area and a rarity anywhere. His “Re/Max Care Realty – Team Goran” moved into the former Marcotte Funeral Home building on Tecumseh Road East in Tecumseh, which was converted to a “vertically integrated” realty center. It combines real estate services with related businesses – a onestop shop.

The building is five times the size of Todorovic’s former office on Sylvestre Drive in Tecumseh, which was recently sold to Richard Spencer of consulting engineering firm RC Spencer & Associates for $2 million. RC Spencer has been at 800 University Avenue West in Windsor.

Todorovic invested over $8 million in the new 20,000-square-foot property. The “state-of-the-art” building has not only offices but,

for employees, a gym, café, kitchen, training center and even a sauna. For customers, there are services such as a lawyer, mortgage broker, staging and moving companies.

Conversion of the building took just over a year, with Team Goran moving in this month. “It’s not only unique in Windsor it’s very unique across North America,” he said.

Besides state-of-the-art technology, there are services “that agents need, and services that complement our business so we can help each other,” he said. “When you

sell somebody a home, getting financing is important, getting car and home insurance. Property management is also important as some buy for investment. As well as a financial advisor, to help with their financial needs.”

The building was renovated inside and out.

Todorovic said workplace culture is “very important,” so agents will have the technology “to learn, be better agents and also provide a sense of belonging. That’s why we’re putting a gym on the lower level, and that’s why we’re hiring a chef.”

WB

large swath of land in south Windsor has changed hands in a Power of Sale, after the former owner was unable to complete servicing the seven-acre site.

Anis Khan of Southland Development purchased the land on North Talbot Road, between Highway 401 and 6th Concession, for $5.5 million. The land was previously owned by Tosin Bello, owner of Turn Key Real Estate.

As published in the March 2025 edition of Windsor Business, Bello had big plans for the mostly serviced property, but ran into financial problems when a contractor called payment and stopped work “ahead of schedule,” Bello said.

He said his dream was to build a new type of affordable housing, where buyers could live in the house and rent out another part to earn income with a “traditional”

home profile.

Bello said he’s also owed $1.4 million from the City of Windsor; it was a deposit which was to be returned upon “substantial completion.”

Meanwhile the buyer, Anis Khan, plans to build mostly semidetached homes on the site.

“The intent is to convert these lots into semis,” he said. There are 33 lots now approved by the City, and he’s applying for rezoning to double the number “and then sell those lots to builders.” Two thirds of the servicing has been completed, but more work will be needed with the lots doubling. This will be his first residential development.

His realtor, Sahil Khan with Re/Max Capital Diamond, said the land “is one of the prime areas” adjacent to Southwood Lakes.

When the property came up for sale, “we jumped on it.”

WB

WHAT DO YOU READ?

GET THE BEST, WITH BETTER BLINDS AND DRAPERY 519-972-8388

betterblinds.ca

14 HE SAID/SHE SAID: The news and views of area executives on pertinent business issues of the day.

16 CORPORATISM: Jim Blasingame says the small business owner can easily turn customers into friends.

APRIL 2025

WINDSOR’S

FOREMOST B

USINESS NE

W S P U B L I C AT

ION

INSIDE TRACK 2

AT A GLANCE A look at how international retailers can use AI-enabled data for planning.

2

3

CROSSWORD Take a coffee break from work and challenge yourself with our crossword.

ESSEX ECONOMICS A series of guest columns by business executives on various trends in the region.

PHOTO BY JOE

SYMCHYSHYN

PHOTOGRAPHI

C

8

Carl Bernat, president of CCS Engineering, at the company’s new headquarters on St. Etienne Blvd. By Ron Stang

PRIME PROPERTY A look at recent commercial property transfers in the city of Windsor.

9

PRIME PROPERTY

A look at recent commercial property transfers in Essex and Chatham-Kent area.

10 PRIME HOME A look at residential property sales in Windsor, Essex County and Chatham-Kent.

12 BUILDING PERMITS A compilation of construction activity in the Windsor and area market.

13 START UPS Newly incorporated firms launched in Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent.

<< C

CS Engineering & Construction, a Canadian leader interiors, has expanded in by acquiring Windsor’s medical office International Seating Ground Effects’ and Decor (IS&D), The move enables the fast-growing, three-year a leader in restaurant interiors. cally moving into the old CCS to expand former Ground Effects’ by physiCCS purchased the giant building on St. three-acre, 30,000-square Etienne million.

-foot building in February Blvd. for $2.7 The new firm is called CCS International Seating CCS International & Decor. has several locations locally, and will consolidate them on St. Etienne. most of “Our millwork (design and build) shop was growing, everybody in our and we wanted to company in the same get building,” said CCS Bernat. president, Carl

2785 Howard Ave., Windsor

X 2785 Howard

Edinborough

4 Blinds, Drapery, Shutters & Service 4 FREE Shop at Home Service 4 Award-Winning Service

E.C. Row

Continued on page

519-255-9775 windsorbusiness.net

Serving Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent for over 31 years

whoisoscarbravo.com

6

WINDSOR BUSINESS

4

INDUSTRY

FABRICATION

BY RON STANG

BY RON STANG

Unique art deco building Landmark church gets custom cross on Walker Road sold

IN 2020, BRAVE SOUGHT CITY INCENTIVES TO EFFECT THE BUILDING’S RENOVATIONS; THE STATUS OF THOSE IS UNKNOWN. RealTrack reports the building, on the city’s heritage register, was sold last spring for $3.75 million to a numbered company associated with Randall Koop, located at the same address as the CIBC Banking Centre in downtown Toronto.

But a CIBC official said the purchase had nothing to do with the bank: “I don’t have any info to share on this one, but thanks for

checking with us,” said CIBC spokesman, Tom Wallis.

The firm, an auto tech company, was started by Brent McPhail in 2008; McPhail couldn’t be reached. “The company’s DNA was forged from a love of new technology and the courage to take risks,” says its website. Its niche was custom robotic solutions.

In 2020, McPhail announced the company was moving into the “incredibly cool” art deco building at 1785 Walker Road. The plan was to expand from 30 to 60 employees. At the time, the building was owned by a numbered company owned by Scott Woodall, also vicepresident of Lester Group construction. A Lester rep said, “Lester Construction Group Inc. does not own this property or business.”

Michael DiMeo at Royal LePage Binder, who handled the sale, said the building was two stories and 18,000 square feet, and partly furnished. Currently, the first floor is leased by Sterling Ridge construction. It was originally a Teron billboards company building.

In 2020, Brave sought city incentives to effect the building’s renovations; the status of those is unknown.

WB

O

“THE PARISHIONERS ARE “OVERJOYED” WITH THE NEW CROSS “BECAUSE OUR CHURCH IS A VERY OLD HISTORIC PLACE.” The earlier cross was damaged in a bad storm two years ago, and so was bent at a 45-degree angle.

“It was rotten and didn’t hold up,” said RJ Steel owner Ryan Jordan.

RJ “coppersmithed” the new cross and hoisted it into place upon the steeple, which is also getting refurbished. “It looks small from the ground, but it’s eight feet by four feet,” he said.

RJ, in business for 25 years, has

THE ANGRY CANADIAN

TM

PHOTO BY WINDSOR AERIAL DRONE PHOTOGRAPHHY

B

rave Control Solutions, which in recent years generated much fanfare with business growth and a remake of a heritage art deco building, appears to have ceased operations in Windsor.

There was no answer at the company’s offices, but its website remains up. Messages to the company’s Warren MI offices were also unreturned.

ne of the city’s landmark churches, St. John’s Anglican in Old Sandwich Town, is now sporting a new custom fabricated copper cross expected to last 200 years.

The church at Sandwich and Brock streets, founded in 1802, already goes back more than 200 years. Windsor’s RJ Steel & Copper Co. replaced what had been a broken wooden cross with the new 150-pound cross over two days.

done several crosses for churches across the province.

The “scariest” and most “laborious” part of the St. John’s project was hoisting the cross into place.

He used a system “that went outboard almost on to the sidewalk, and then with rope and pulley, was

pulled up. It was an old-fashioned way to install, but it was successful,” Jordan said.

Carol Bishop, the church’s Rector’s Warden, said parishioners are “overjoyed” with the new cross “because our church is a very old historic place.”

WB

NO TAX! (13% off) NO TARIFFS! Hot Peppers LAKESIDE - Harrow, ON

Double Bacon OLYMEL - Brampton, ON

Fresh Mushrooms HIGHLINE - Kingsville, ON

Shredded Pepperoni SALAMINA - Laval, QC

Baked with Love ANTONINO’S - Essex Co., ON

ROUDLY

-P

NAD I AN

CA

CA

-P

ROUDLY

Mozzarella Cheese GALATI - Windsor, ON

NAD I AN

LaSalle • S. Windsor • Riverside • Tecumseh • Leamington

originalpizza.ca AUGUST 2025

7

PRIME PROPERTY THE FOLLOWING, PROVIDED BY REALTRACK.COM, REPRESENT SOME OF THE TOP COMMERCIAL PROPERTY TRANSFERS IN THE WINDSOR AREA:

SOLD Address: 3026 Sandwich St. Selling Price: $1.1 million Vendor: Named Individuals Purchaser: Corporation of the City of Windsor

SOLD Address: 201 West Grand Blvd.

Selling Price: $1.95 million Vendor: 2405993 Ontario Ltd. Purchaser: 1001163862 Ontario Inc.

SOLD Address: 1480 Janette Ave. Selling Price: $2.5 million Vendor: Windsor Islamic Association Purchaser: Islamic Academy Windsor

SOLD Address: 1350 Provincial Rd. Selling Price: $5.5 million Vendor: Red Scorpion Investments Inc. Purchaser: 1001232389 Ontario Inc.

SOLD

SOLD

Address: 2940-2950 Elsmere Ave. Selling Price: $7.25 million Vendor: 1441997 Ontario Inc. Purchaser: 1001254957 Ontario Inc.

Address: Catherine St., Conc. 1, Part Lots 119-121 Selling Price: $34,438,301 Vendor: Rock Developments East Windsor Inc. Purchaser: Costco Wholesale Canada Ltd.

SOLD

SOLD

Address: 2855 Deziel Dr. Selling Price: $8.8 million Vendor: Jin Hu Holdings Inc. Purchaser: KB Components Canada Inc.

Address: 7100 Cantelon Dr. Selling Price: $2.6 million Vendor: 5021062 Ontario Inc. Purchaser: 1001116198 Ontario Inc.

CONNECT AND EMPOWER

YOUR TEAM Advanced 2-Way Radios Built to Last a Lifetime

Instant, clear and reliable communication across any distance, from wide-area networks spanning North America to on-site solutions. Designed for the toughest environments, our radios keep you connected so your focus remains uninterrupted – because every word matters.

232 Drouillard Road, Windsor ON (519) 253-4444 • info@skymobilecorp.com

www.SkyMobileCorp.com 8

WINDSOR BUSINESS

PRIME PROPERTY THE FOLLOWING, PROVIDED BY REALTRACK.COM, REPRESENT SOME OF THE TOP COMMERCIAL PROPERTY TRANSFERS IN THE ESSEX & CHATHAM-KENT AREAS:

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

Address: 7091 Smith Industrial Dr., Amherstburg Selling Price: $4.4 million Vendor: Ontario Superior Court of Justice Purchaser: DML Enterprises (LaSalle) Inc.

Address: 280 Talbot Rd., Essex Selling Price: $1.73 million Vendor: 280 Talbot Essex Inc. Purchaser: CGL Developments Ltd.

Address: 2400 Graham Sideroad, Kingsville Selling Price: $4.7 million Vendor: J-D Marketing (Leamington) Inc. Purchaser: 1001248376 Ontario Corp.

Address: 10423 Pioneer Line, Chatham Selling Price: $2.193 million Vendor: 2315086 Ontario Inc. Purchaser: 1001235755 Ontario Inc.

CHATHAM-KENT

• WHEATLEY

SOLD Address: 5791 North Town Line, Amherstburg Selling Price: $6.75 million Vendor: Greater Essex County District School Board Purchaser: Windsor Islamic Association Foundation

SOLD

SOLD

Address: County Rd. 20 E., Essex Selling Price: $1,752,400 Vendor: 537523 Ontario Inc. Purchaser: Named Individuals

Address: 1300 Mersea Rd. B, Leamington Selling Price: $520,000 Vendor: Named Individuals Purchaser: Named Individuals

215 EUGENIE ST. W.

551 PELISSIER ST.

435 SILVER CREEK INDUSTRIAL DR.

FOR LEASE. PROFESSIONAL OFFICE SPACE AT 3,266 SF. EXCELLENT MID-TOWN LOCATION CLOSE TO E.C ROW. ON EUGENIE W. BETWEEN OUELLETTE AND DOUGALL AVES. HIGH TRAFFIC, HIGH VISIBILITY. AMPLE ON-SITE PARKING. PYLON SIGNAGE AVAILABLE. CALL TAMMY WILLIAMS.

FOR SALE. ZONED FOR COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL, IT INCLUDES 3 BEDROOMS & 2 BATHS. IDEAL LIVE-WORK SPACE, FOR A BOUTIQUE, ART GALLERY OR PROFESSIONAL OFFICE. PRIVATE UPPER-LEVEL LIVING QUARTERS W/A BEAUTIFULLY LANDSCAPED BACKYARD. CALL TAMMY WILLIAMS TO VIEW.

FOR SALE. 14,555 SF MANUFACTURING FACILITY W/12,155 SF PLANT + 2,400 SF OF OFFICES ON 2 FLRS, ON 1.166 ACRES. OPEN PLANT DESIGN W/65' BAY, 23' CEILINGS & 10-TON CRANE. ENTIRE SITE AIR CONDITIONED. ONLY MIN. FROM HWY 401 & E.C. ROW. CALL TAMMY WILLIAMS.

4640 – 90 TECUMSEH RD. E.

4525 RHODES DR., UNIT 400

980 MCDOUGALL ST.

FOR SALE. APPROXIMATELY 9,950 SF PLAZA WITH 5 UNITS LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTION OF PILLETTE AND TECUMSEH ROAD EAST. FULLY TENANTED. ON-SITE PARKING. CONTACT JIM WILLIAMS FOR MORE INFORMATION AT 519-257-9675.

FOR LEASE. 13,347 SF OF INDUSTRIAL / WAREHOUSE SPACE. OPEN-SPAN AND CLIMATE-CONTROLLED, WITH DOCK AND GRADE LEVEL LOADING. CENTRALLY LOCATED, WITH IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO EC ROW EXPRESSWAY. CONTACT TAMMY WILLIAMS AT 519-984-2960.

FOR LEASE. APPROX 4,800 SF AVAIL BETWEEN TWO FLOORS. COMBO OF OFFICE AND WAREHOUSE SPACE. SECOND FLOOR HAS ELEVATOR ACCESS. GRADE LEVEL LOADING DOOR. PLENTY OF ONSITE PARKING AVAILABLE. FOR MORE INFO CALL TAMMY WILLIAMS.

SOLD Address: 129 Erie St. S., Leamington Selling Price: $3.155 million Vendor: 1118524 Ontario Inc. Purchaser: 1001178937 Ontario Inc.

4525 RHODES DR., UNIT 700

FOR LEASE. 5,212 SF WAREHOUSE / OFFICE SPACE. DOCK LEVEL LOADING AND GRADE LEVEL LOADING AVAILABLE. CENTRALLY LOCATED, WITH IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO EC ROW EXPRESSWAY. CONTACT TAMMY WILLIAMS AT 519-984-2960.

3414 WYANDOTTE ST. E.

AUTO CENTRE ON HIGH TRAFFIC STRIP OF WYANDOTTE E. FOR SALE. APPROX 2,200 SF, WITH 3 SERVICE BAYS AND MAIN OFFICE. ALL EQUIPMENT & TOOLS INCLUDED. PLENTY OF ON-SITE PAVED PARKING. GREAT OPPORTUNITY! OWNER IS RETIRING. CONTACT TAMMY WILLIAMS FOR MORE INFO.

2045 ASTOR CR.

FOR LEASE. A 13,060 SF BUILDING LOCATED IN OLDCASTLE, WHICH INCLUDES 2,680 SF OF FIRST-CLASS OFFICE SPACE BETWEEN TWO FLOORS. ALSO OFFERS SHOP SPACE WITH TWO GRADE-LEVEL OVERHEAD DOORS, CRANES AND 18' CLEAR HEIGHT CEILINGS. CALL TAMMY WILLIAMS FOR MORE INFO.

LET US FIND WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR!

JIM WILLIAMS

TAMMY WILLIAMS

519.257.9675

519.984.2960

BROKER, CCIM, SIOR

BROKER

AUGUST 2025

9

PRIME HOME SALES THE FOLLOWING REPRESENT SOME RECENT RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY SALES IN THE ESSEX COUNTY/CHATHAM-KENT AREA:

SOLD

SOLD

Where: 3026 Sandwich St. Property Size: 50’ x irr. # Bedrooms: 5 # Bathrooms: 2 Taxes: $4,034 Listed For: $1.6 million Sold For: $1.1 million

Where: 1155 Hall Ave. Property Size: 30’ x 117’ # Bedrooms: 2 + 1 # Bathrooms: 2 Taxes: $2,195 Listed For: $298,000 Sold For: $340,000

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

Where: 1624 Prince Rd. Property Size: 40’ x irr. # Bedrooms: 2 # Bathrooms: 1 Taxes: $1,666 Listed For: $319,900 Sold For: $306,000

Where: 1250 Armanda St. Property Size: 55’ x 117’ # Bedrooms: 3 + 1 # Bathrooms: 2 Taxes: $4,451 Listed For: $549,900 Sold For: $513,500

Where: 4720 Whitefish Cr. Property Size: 43’ x 104’ # Bedrooms: 3 + 2 # Bathrooms: 3 Taxes: $4,594 Listed For: $674,900 Sold For: $620,000

Where: 1624 Aubin Rd. Property Size: 45’ x 135’ # Bedrooms: 2 + 1 # Bathrooms: 1 Taxes: $2,263 Listed For: $329,900 Sold For: $385,000

Small Business Program

Energy efficiency upgrades

SOLD Where: 945 Thompson Property Size: 39’ x irr. # Bedrooms: 3 # Bathrooms: 1 Taxes: $2,500 Listed For: $299,999 Sold For: $325,000

Optimize your energy efficiency† with incentives for small businesses. A Program Delivery Agent handles everything—from assessment to installation—so you can focus on running your business.

SOLD Where: 488 Riverdale Property Size: 39’ x 230’ # Bedrooms: 3 # Bathrooms: 1 Taxes: $3,500 Listed For: $495,000 Sold For: $475,000

Demand control kitchen ventilation (DCKV) Joint incentives from Enbridge Gas and Save on Energy cover up to 90 percent of costs.

Shipping door equipment Keep rain, insects and pollen outside your loading dock.

0 – 5,000 CFM exhaust

16,000 per unit

$

Dock door seals

Air curtains

5,001 – 10,000 CFM exhaust

you can’t afford to ignore

Up to

100%

Up to

$

of total installed costs

of total installed costs

Incentives cover

Visit enbridgegas.com/shippingdoors for program details.

up to

100%

of total installed costs*

90%

19,500 per unit

10,001 – 15,000 CFM exhaust

24,500 per unit

$

Visit enbridgegas.com/installdckv for program details.

Email energyservices@enbridge.com today to confirm you qualify. * Terms and conditions apply. Visit enbridgegas.com/installdckv for details. Offers available to small/mid-size independently owned businesses that operate a commercial building and consume less than 100,000 m3 of natural gas annually. Incentive offer are subject to change based on budget availability. † Any references to energy savings are based on the assumption that the participant is reducing their natural gas consumption through participation in the Small Business Program. The savings claim is solely intended for informational purposes and is in reference to the Ontario Energy Board Technical Resource Manual. Actual savings may vary substantially for each project depending on variables including, but not limited to building type, operational output, building energy consumption and equipment operations and usage. ™ Save on Energy is a trademark of the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO). Used under license. © 2025 Enbridge Gas Inc. All rights reserved. ENB 2521 03/2025

10

WINDSOR BUSINESS

PRIME HOME SALES THE FOLLOWING REPRESENT SOME RECENT RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY SALES IN THE ESSEX COUNTY/CHATHAM-KENT AREA:

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

Where: 277 St. Arnaud, Amherstburg Property Size: 69’ x 330’ # Bedrooms: 3 # Bathrooms: 1 Taxes: $2,941 Listed For: $399,900 Sold For: $450,000

Where: 296 Wawa Cr., Colchester Property Size: 80’ x 111’ # Bedrooms: 2 # Bathrooms: 1 Taxes: $2,307 Listed For: $419,900 Sold For: $425,000

Where: 50 Ellis St. S, Tilbury Property Size: 49’ x 145’ # Bedrooms: 2 # Bathrooms: 1 Taxes: $1,877 Listed For: $379,900 Sold For: $367,000

Where: 14372 Talbot Trail, Chatham-Kent Property Size: 150’ x irr. # Bedrooms: 2 # Bathrooms: 2 Taxes: $3,474 Listed For: $474,900 Sold For: $437,500

CHATHAM-KENT

• WHEATLEY

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

Where: 137 Roseann Dr., Harrow Property Size: 52’ x 142’ # Bedrooms: 3 + 1 # Bathrooms: 2 Taxes: $2,900 Listed For: $549,999 Sold For: $549,999

Where: 127 Queen St., Kingsville Property Size: 98’ x 116’ # Bedrooms: 3 # Bathrooms: 2 Taxes: $2,096 Listed For: $549,000 Sold For: $522,000

Where: 600 Heritage Rd., Kingsville Property Size: 50’ x 273’ # Bedrooms: 3 # Bathrooms: 2 Taxes: $4,086 Listed For: $584,900 Sold For: $550,000

Where: 4 Selkirk Ave., Leamington Property Size: 33’ x irr. # Bedrooms: 3 # Bathrooms: 1 Taxes: $2,500 Listed For: $389,000 Sold For: $380,000

Quality. Experience. Style.

Scott Martindale - 3rd Generation

2895 Kew Drive, Windsor | 519-944-8111 | 1-800-298-0832 | martindalewindow.com

AUGUST 2025

11

BUILDING PERMITS THE FOLLOWING REPRESENTS RECENT CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY IN ESSEX COUNTY AND CHATHAM-KENT:

MUNICIPALITY OF CHATHAM-KENT COMMERCIAL: • Individuals are building an addition to a retail space on St. Clair St. Value of construction: $392,000.

• The Municipality of ChathamKent is building a new indoor sports facility on Bear Line Rd. Value of construction: $800,000.

• Union Gas Ltd. is doing office renovations on Riverview Dr. Value of construction: $300,000.

•

•

•

• MUNICIPALITY OF CHATHAM-KENT RESIDENTIAL: • Multi Construction is building a single-family home on Cabot Trail. Value of construction: $300,000.

• Mi Cazza Construction Inc. is building four units of two semidetached homes on Cornerstone Pl. Values of construction: $375,000 each.

• Rumble Homes Ltd. is building a single-family home on Rose Beach Line. Value of construction: $700,000.

• Fargo Construction is building a single-family home on Campbell St. Value of construction: $120,000.

• Emacon Construction Manage-

•

•

•

ment is doing renovations to a single-family home on Queen St. N. Value of construction: $50,000.

Affinity Elite Homes is building a single-family home on Fenceline Dr. Value of construction: $285,000.

Park Hill Custom Homes Ltd. is building a single-family home on Bloomington Way. Value of construction: $600,000.

Individuals are building a single-family home on Klondyke Rd. Value of construction: $700,000.

Individuals are renovating a single-family residence on Klondyke Rd. Value of construction: $200,000.

MHP Enterprises is building an addition to a single-family residence on Fifth Line E. Value of construction: $105,000.

Individuals are building a single-family residence on West St. Value of construction: $400,000.

Individuals are building a single-family home on Euphemia Line. Value of construction: $500,000.

TOWN OF ESSEX COMMERCIAL: • G.L. Smith Planning is doing interior renovations to a com-

mercial space on Maidstone Ave. W. Value of construction: $460,000.

• Hearn Industrial is building an accessory structure on 6th Concession Rd. Value of construction: $208,000.

Ducharme Lane. Values of construction: $510,000 and $132,000.

• Serenity Luxury Homes is building a single-family residence on Ducharme Lane. Value of construction: $720,000.

•

• TOWN OF ESSEX RESIDENTIAL: • Individuals are building a singlefamily residence on N. Malden Rd. Value of construction: $980,000.

• Individuals are building a singlefamily home on Ducharme Lane. Value of construction: $845,000.

• Individuals are building a singlefamily dwelling on Dolores St. Value of construction: $655,000.

• Individuals are building a singlefamily home on Ducharme Lane. Value of construction: $536,000.

• Abraham Construction is building a single-family home on Ducharme Lane. Value of construction: $648,000.

• Individuals are building a singlefamily residence on Dana Dr. Value of construction: $150,000.

• Individuals are building a singlefamily residence with an Accessory Dwelling Unit on

TOWN OF LASALLE COMMERCIAL: • • Individuals are doing interior fit ups to a retail store on Sandwich W. Pky. Value of construction: $175,000.

• A contractor is building a total of nine retail units in three buildings at a shopping complex on Sandwich W. Pkwy. Value of construction: $3,311,350 total.

• A contractor is building a Food Basics grocery story on Sandwich W. Pkwy. Value of construction: $4 million.

• A contractor is building Shell gas station on Sandwich W. Pkwy. Value of construction: $855,225.

• A contractor is building a Tim Hortons restaurant on Sandwich W. Pkwy. Value of construction: $700,000.

TOWN OF LASALLE RESIDENTIAL: • Individuals are building a sin-

•

•

•

•

•

gle-detached dwelling on Tabib St. Value of construction: $823,030.

Individuals are building a single-detached dwelling on Mayfair Ave. Value of construction: $1,069,263.20.

Individuals are building a single-detached dwelling on Laier Lane. Value of construction: $855,700.

Individuals are building a single-detached dwelling on Mayfair Ave. Value of construction: $1 million.

Individuals are building an addition to a residence on Golfview Dr. Value of construction: $336,020.

Individuals are renovating a single-family home on Malden Rd. Value of construction: $50,000.

Individuals are building two Accessory Dwelling Units at a home on Oakridge St. Values of construction: $25,000 each.

A contractor is building 69 residential units and four commercial units in a condominium on Wyoming Ave. Value of construction: $18 million.

A builder is erecting a singlefamily dwelling on Mayfair Ave. Value of construction: $719,430.

Continued on page 13

THE POWER OF PAINT

LET US BRING THE STORE TO YOUR DOOR.

We’ve Got Your Walls Covered

We measure. We install. We do it all.

Professional Painters Serving Windsor-Essex-Chatham-Kent

Steven Caruso Sales Manager Michael Campoli Owner

Buy local. 100% Canadian made.

We are the factory!

www.madetoshade.ca

519-999-9898

• • • • •

Residential & Commercial Interior Painting Exterior Painting Wood Staining Kitchen Cabinet Refinishing & Painting

(519) 800-1910 JMWPAINTING.COM

jmwpainting@hotmail.com

Great service. Guaranteed! Call today for a FREE estimate!

If this is a problem, perhaps you should call another magazine.

Windsor Advertising in cause an l likely Business wil revenue. increase in

12

WINDSOR BUSINESS

W I N D S O R ’ S F O R E M O S T B U S I N E S S N E W S P U B L I C AT I O N

Advertising solutions that really work! Call 519-255-9775 today.

THE WORLD OF WORK

BUILDING PERMITS

BY JEANINE “J.T.” O’DONNELL

Toxic job and workplace can damage more than just a career Giselle: I’m in a toxic work environment, but afraid to leave without another job lined up. It’s starting to affect my mental health.

What should I do?”

J.T. O’Donnell: Toxic workplaces are real, and they can wear down even the most resilient people.

When your job starts to feel like emotional quicksand, it’s time to ask a serious question: What’s the cost of staying?

When a workplace is toxic – due to bullying, micromanagement, gaslighting, favoritism or just chronic dysfunction – it creates emotional and psychological stress that doesn’t stay at work. It affects your sleep, relationships, energy and confidence. You can’t make strategic career decisions when you’re in survival mode. The first step is protecting your mental and emotional well-being.

Define the toxicity. Be specific about what’s happening. Is it one person making your life miserable?

Is it the workload? The leadership?

When everything feels awful, it helps to isolate the core issues.

Track patterns. Document incidents. This not only helps you process; it gives you a way to explain your situation during a job search.

Set a personal boundary plan.

You might not be able to change the environment, but you can change how you respond to it. That starts with boundaries. Ask yourself: Where can I limit overexposure to toxic people or dynamics?

Can I stop answering Emails after 6 p.m.? Can I disengage from gossip or team drama?

Start a quiet job search. Update your LinkedIn profile with a future-facing summary of your skills, interests and career goals.

Begin identifying companies whose cultures align with your values. Connect with people who work there. This is about information, not applications.

Rebuild your confidence. Many dysfunctional workplaces use fear or guilt to control employees. To fight that, start documenting your wins. They help you reconnect with the version of you that’s capable, smart and worthy.

Create an exit strategy. If things are truly affecting your mental health, it may be worth creating an emergency exit plan, even if you haven’t landed your next job yet.

Start by calculating how long you can afford to be without income.

Can you tighten your budget for a few months? Would you be eligible for unemployment if you left?

Leaving without another job

should be a last resort, but it’s still a valid option. Sometimes, peace of mind is worth the temporary uncertainty.

Toxic jobs don’t just damage careers. They damage people. And the longer you stay, the harder it becomes to imagine anything else.

But I promise, there is something else. You deserve to work in a place where you feel safe, respect-

ed and valued. That’s not a luxury, it’s a baseline. The first step toward that kind of future is deciding that you’re no longer willing to tolerate less.

WB *** J.T. O’Donnell is the founder and CEO of Work It Daily. Visit workitdaily.com to submit your questions.

Continued from page 12 • Individuals are building an addition to a single-family residence on Monty St. Value of construction: $117,000.

• Individuals are building an Accessory Dwelling Unit at a residence on River Ave. Value of construction: $162,000.

• Individuals are building a semidetached dwelling on Vel Lane.

Value of construction: $800,000.

• Individuals are building a single-family residence on Mayrand St. Value of construction:

$750,000.

• Individuals are building a semidetached dwelling on Meo Blvd. Value of construction: $583,620.

• Individuals are building a single-family residence on Terra Bella Dr. Value of construction: $1,163,650.

• Individuals are building a single-family home on Caterina Cr. Value of construction: $1,218,950.

• Individuals are building a single-family residence on Huron Continued on page 15

AUGUST 2025

13

INFORMATION

START UPS THE FOLLOWING WINDSOR, ESSEX COUNTY AND CHATHAM-KENT COMPANIES WERE RECENTLY ISSUED CERTIFICATES OF INCORPORATION UNDER ONTARIO’S BUSINESS CORPORATIONS ACT:

• 5 Rivers Mechanics Ltd. • AAA Windsor Quality Meat Plus Inc. • Advanced Automation Inc. • Ai-Thentic Solutions Inc. • AJ Construction Co Inc. • Albawareid Trucking Inc. • Allen Contractors Inc. • Ambassador ATM Services Inc. • Armstrong Electrical Solutions Inc. • Aum LaSalle Inc. • Autototal Inc. • Bavetta Capital Corp.

• BK Coastal Contracting Inc. • Bluespec Technologies Inc. • Botheyesnow Media Ltd. • BRC Theatre Company • DH Global Tech Services Inc. • Divan Construction Ltd. • Eagle Point Solutions Inc. • El Rancho Kingsville Inc. • Everyday Designs Wall Art Inc. • Extresh Solutions Logistics & Transportation Services Inc. • Forall Inc. • Freezeline Logistics Inc. • G Business Hub Inc. • Gateside Construction Inc. • Glos Associates Inc. • Gnestarc Business Inc. • GRJ Truck Trailer Repair & Towing Services Inc. • Guardian Health Medical Supplies Inc. • GW Marine Technologies Inc. • H2o Clean Up Windsor Inc. • Haulix Logistics Inc.

• Heartland Capital Solutions Inc. • Helin Kocer Construction Inc. • HJ Hydronic Heating Inc. • Hungry Windows Inc. • Kube Technologies Inc. • Lake Erie Minor Hockey Assoc.

• Lakeshore Power Washing Ltd. • Layer Bitcoin Foundations Inc. • LCS Local Comic Shop Corp.

• Limitless Homes & Construction Inc. • Live Simple Joy Inc. • LSSH Construction Inc. • Lumina Renewable Energy Inc. • Luz North Properties Inc. • MB Land & Building Corp.

• Mesmer Express Inc. • Micanto Investments Inc. • Modern Control Heating & Cooling Solutions Inc. • MVK Trucking Inc. • Nasser Abdalla Pharmacist Professional Corp.

• Nassovia Investment Consulting Corp.

• Navbiguous Inc. • New Malden Contracting Inc. • Nextarks Inc. • Nextgen Delivery Services Inc. • Nobordersrestaurant Inc. • North Flow Ltd. • Northern Inspections Inc. • Omni One Platforms Inc. • Ontario Elite Landscaping & Design Inc. • Palestinian Canadian Community Assoc.

• Pan American Automotive Parts Trading Canada Inc. • Pappydeez Investment Group Inc. • Patel Capital Windsor Inc. • Peddle Workshop Contracting Corp.

• Pelee Drywall Inc. • Profix Cellphone Repair Inc. • Puzzuoli Wealth Management Group Inc. • Raison Windows Ltd. • Raptor Motors Auto Service Inc. • Reo Data Inc. • Rose City Barbershop Inc. • Ryzocraft Marketing Inc. • Sana'a Al-Yemen Restaurant Inc. • Shree Data Solutions Inc. • Southwest Indigenous Transmission GP Inc. • Sphere Health Care Ltd. • Stone Studio By Granite Fabricators Inc. • Sub King Plus Inc. • Sun County United Soccer Club • Super Heating & Cooling Inc. • Thames Electric Ltd. • The Real Truck & Car Spa Inc. • Timeless Transformations Inc. • Tradeivy Inc. • Trustline Logistics Ltd. • Vantage Point Centre • Vince Pelle Contracting Inc. • Weil's Food Processing Ltd. • Windsor Truck Centre Inc. • Wonderfield Community School • Yakada-Health Inc. WB

USEFUL WEBSITES FOR EXECUTIVES • The website www.cedmaga— zine.com, of Communications Engineering & Design, CED Magazine, features news and developments in the broadband technology industry, with sections on broadband business, cable telephony, fiber optics, HFC architecture, Internet services and digital progress. New products, analysis, a buyer’s guide, tools, a web directory, personnel and company news, research studies and articles are also available.

• The Logistics Management website, www.logisticsmgmt .com, is provided by Reed Business Information, with industry news and analysis for logistics and supply chain professionals. The site features articles and resources in the major fields of transportation, truck, ocean, air and rail/intermodal, as well as management issues such as third party logistics, pricing trends, global logistics, technology developments, warehousing and regulations. Products and services, a buyer’s guide, case studies, a free newsletter and other resources are also available.

• The website www.gpsworld .com is provided by GPS World Magazine with new developments in the field of products and applications using global positioning systems, sensors, wireless communications, mobile computing, the internet, and related technologies. The site contains articles, best practices, marketing trends, policy issues, the Galileo system, a

GPS stock tracker, government and industry views, corporate profiles, buyers’ guides, forums, and product showcases in the areas of receivers, navigation and guidance, military, survey and mapping, timing, software, hardware, tracking and wireless.

• The website www.specialevents.com of Special Events Magazine offers resources and ideas for event planners, featuring articles on such subjects as corporate events, catering, fairs, festivals, fundraisers, galas, themed events, weddings, décor, entertainment, event equipment, hotels and venues, rentals, special effects, lighting, production and tents.

There is also news, trends, forecasts, sourcebooks, buyers’ guides, product information and links to related sites.

• The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada provides the website www.raic.org, with information on the practice of architecture, tips for choosing the right architect, a search engine for finding qualified architects by city, province, name or firm, the services the architect provides, client-architect agreements, and the services of sub-consultants. Also available are research reports, newsletters, bulletins, sample documents, professional development information, practice builders, international trade information and affiliated links.

Continued on page 15

“We continue to hear that advertising in Windsor Business, as our team does, adds credibility to our Wealth Management Process in the minds of our clients and prospective clients. The feedback we receive from the community, clients, friends and even competitors in the business has been nothing but positive.”

MARK ABRAHAM

Vice-President, Investment Advisor & Certified Retirement Specialist TD Wealth Private Investment Advice “ t 5 HE SAID/SHE SAID: The news and views of area executives on pertinent business issues of the day.

• Aerial Photography/Videography • Insured • Serving Southwestern Ontario

12 CORPORATISM: Jim Blasingame says small business owners should be aware of the common maxim.

JULY 2025

W I N D S O R ’ S F O R E M O S T B U S I N E S S N E W S P U B L I C AT I O N

INSIDE TRACK 2

AT A GLANCE A look at global perceptions of the use of AI and its economic impact.

2

CROSSWORD Take a coffee break from work and challenge yourself with our crossword.

3

ESSEX ECONOMICS

6

PRIME PROPERTY

A series of guest columns by business executives on various trends in the region.

A look at recent commercial property

14

WINDSOR BUSINESS

8

PRIME HOME A look at residential property sales in Essex County and Chatham-Kent.

10 BUILDING PERMITS A compilation of construction activity in the Windsor and area market.

10 START UPS Newly incorporated firms launched in Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent.

11 WORLD OF WORK A career advice column by a workplace

t

BUILDING PERMITS Continued from page 13 Church Line. Value of construction: $1,049,010.

MUNICIPALITY OF LEAMINGTON COMMERCIAL: • A company is erecting a barn on a farm on County Rd. 37. Value of construction: $200,000.

• The Queen of Peach Catholic Elementary School is erecting a building on Ellison Ave. Value of construction: $249,000.

• Individuals are building an addition to a farm on Highway 77.

Value of construction: $600,000.

• Individuals are renovating an office on Talbot St. W. Value of construction: $500,000.

• Individuals are starting construction on Part III of a commercial building on Erie St. S. Value of construction: $200,000.

• A farm is building several units in a bunkhouse on Mersea Rd. 7. Value of construction: $700,000.

• A company is building a new greenhouse on Mersea Conc. 8.

Value of construction: $24,999,999.

• A contractor is building an agricultural warehouse on Mersea Rd. 8. Value of construction: $6.8 million.

• A contractor is building a service facility at a greenhouse on Mersea Rd. 8. Value of construction: $600,000.

• An agricultural business is building a bunkhouse on Mersea Rd. 8. Value of construction: $3 million.

INFORMATION

TOWN OF KINGSVILLE COMMERCIAL: • K. Paul Architect Inc. is building Part 3 of an industrial building on Seacliff Dr. Value of construction: $800,000.

• SHAFE Inc. is doing alterations to an industrial building on Main St. E. Value of construction: $50,000.

• A contractor is building machine storage facilities at an industrial property on County Rd. 14. Value of construction: $50,000.

• A contractor is building

machine storage facilities at an industrial property on Talbot Rd. Value of construction: $78,000.

• Sawensberg Fab Inc. is renovating Part 3 of a commercial building on Setterington Dr. Value of construction: $75,000.

TOWN OF KINGSVILLE RESIDENTIAL: • Gosselin Homes Ltd. is building a single-family home on Belleview Dr. Value of construction: $530,000.

WB

Continued from page 14 • The website www.asahi.com/ english is provided by the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun, in its online version.

A business section has articles on international and Japanese issues, while other sections offer national, political and world news as well as columns, viewpoints and reports on Asian matters.

• ABYZ News Links has the website www.abyznewslinks .com, an international media directory. Links are offered to

newspapers and news media outlets around the world, internet news sites, magazines, press agencies and broadcast stations. News resources include internet foreign language fonts, online translations, and translation services, links and resources. Africa, the Middle East, Europe, North America, South America, the Caribbean, Central America, Australia, New Zealand, Micronesia, Polynesia, China, Japan, and East, Central and Southeast Asia are all covered on the site.

WB

(X³! à0« ÞUw%° ¨ٔ°‫ژ‬u °¾‫ژ‬-ã¾-w°UÝnXz0Ȩ I ¨« I0³³X z n kXÁ!R0z 0ªÈX¨x0zÁ ‫ ٮ‬Uw‫ژ‬°¾ h‫ ژ‬w%‫¨ژ‬- %ä‫ژ ¾ژ‬G ِ

_ A . 'c [A )_OqI . c __1| ư

°ȂƌǹǹɬƌȵƷȽ‫ژۯژ‬

ɓǠǹɋ‫ژ‬Ǒȏȵ‫ ژ‬ǚƷǑȽِ‫ ژ‬ȲƷȄ‫ژ‬ɋȏ‫ژ‬-ɫƷȵɲȏȄƷِ

w Þ‫ ژ‬¥-w

MUNICIPALITY OF LEAMINGTON RESIDENTIAL: • A builder is erecting two units of a semi-detached dwelling on Eagle St. Values of construction: $800,000 each.

• Individuals are building a singlefamily residence on Oak St. W. Value of construction: $120,000.

• Individuals are building a singlefamily dwelling on Heathview Trail. Value of construction: $400,000.

• Individuals are building an Accessory Dwelling Unit to a residence on Erie St. S. Value of construction: $180,000.

• Individuals are building a singlefamily residence on Mersea Rd. 7. Value of construction: $275,000.

• Individuals are building a singlefamily residence on Augusta Dr. Value of construction: $1 million.

• Individuals are building a singlefamily residence on Setterington St. Value of construction: $250,000.

eɓȵƌ‫ژٮژ‬UȂȲȵƷȽȽƌ‫ژ‬ ɓɋȏȂƌɋǠƩ‫ ژ‬ȏǑǑƷƷ uƌƩǚǠȄƷ

ÞȏǹǑ‫ژ‬wƌɋɓȵƌǹ‫ژ‬GƌȽ ‫ ٮה‬ɓȵȄƷȵȽ‫ژ‬ƌȄư‫ژ‬ °ɋƌȄưƌȵư‫ ژ‬ɫƷȄ

¥ƷȵǑƷƩɋ‫ژ‬Ǒȏȵ‫ژ‬ưƷǹǠȽً‫ژ‬ȵƷȽɋƌɓȵƌȄɋȽً ƌȄư‫ژ‬ȽƌȄưɬǠƩǚ‫ژ‬ȽǚȏȲȽِ

ȏȂȂƷȵƩǠƌǹ‫ٮ‬ǒȵƌưƷ‫ژ‬ȲƷȵǑȏȵȂƌȄƩƷ Ǒȏȵ‫ژ‬ȽƷȵǠȏɓȽ‫ژ‬ǵǠɋƩǚƷȄȽِ

w Þ‫ ژ‬wkä

w Þ‫ ژ‬wkä

‫¨ חחِחחהגڡ‬Ʒǒِ‫ژ׏וِדב׏וڡ‬

‫¨ חחِחחהאڡ‬Ʒǒِ‫זוِו׎׏בڡ‬

ȂƌȄƌ‫ژٮژ‬°ɋƌǠȄǹƷȽȽ °ɋƷƷǹ‫ ژ‬ȏȂȂƷȵƩǠƌǹ uǠƩȵȏɬƌɫƷ

ÝǠɋƌȂǠɱ‫¾ژٮژ‬ǚƷ‫§ژ‬ɓǠƷɋ ȄƷ ǹƷȄưƷȵ

ɓǠǹɋ‫ژ‬Ǒȏȵ‫ژ‬ǚǠǒǚ‫ٮ‬ɫȏǹɓȂƷ‫ژ‬ǵǠɋƩǚƷȄȽً ưƷǹǠɫƷȵǠȄǒ‫ژ‬ǹƌȽɋǠȄǒ‫ژ‬ȲƷȵǑȏȵȂƌȄƩƷِ

w Þ‫ ژ‬wkä

‫¨ חחِחחוڡ‬Ʒǒِ‫׎חחڡ‬

UưƷƌǹ‫ژ‬Ǒȏȵ‫ژ‬ƩƌǑƸȽً‫ژ‬DZɓǠƩƷ‫ژ‬ƨƌȵȽً‫ژ‬ƌȄư ȏȲƷȄ‫ژ‬ǵǠɋƩǚƷȄȽ‫ژ‬

w Þ‫ ژ‬wkä

‫¨ חחِחחאאڡ‬Ʒǒِ‫חחבבڡ‬

¾ǚǠȽ‫ژ‬ƌư‫ژ‬ȂɓȽɋ‫ژ‬ƨƷ‫ژ‬ȲȵƷȽƷȄɋƷư‫ژ‬ƌɋ‫ژ‬ɋǚƷ‫ژ‬ɋǠȂƷ‫ژ‬ȏǑ‫ژ‬ȲɓȵƩǚƌȽƷ‫ژ‬ɋȏ‫ژ‬ȵƷưƷƷȂ‫ژ‬ɋǚǠȽ‫ژ‬ȏǑǑƷȵِ ¥ȵȏɓưǹɲ‫ژ‬ÞǠȄưȽȏȵ‫ ژ‬ɬȄƷư‫ژ‬ƌȄư‫ ژ‬ȲƷȵƌɋƷưً‫ژ‬°ƷȵɫǠȄǒ‫ ژ‬ƌȄƌưǠƌȄȽ‫ ژ‬ȏƌȽɋ‫ٮ‬ɋȏ‫ ٮ‬ȏƌȽɋِ ǚƷƩǵ‫ژ‬ÅȽ‫ ژ‬ɓɋ‫ ژ‬ȄǹǠȄƷ‫ژي‬ɬɬɬِƩǚƷǑȽɓȲȲǹǠƷȽِƩƌ‫ژ‬

°¾ ¨-‫ژ‬O Ũ°‫ ژזژي‬Ȃ‫ژוژ ¾ژ‬¥Ȃ‫ژ‬٢uȏȄ‫ژٮژ‬FȵǠ٣ً‫ ژזژ‬Ȃ‫ژדژ ¾ژ‬¥Ȃ‫ژ‬٢°ƌɋ٣ ‫ژ׎דז‬%ǠɫǠȽǠȏȄ‫¨ژ‬ȏƌưً‫ژ‬ÞǠȄưȽȏȵ AUGUST 2025

15

CORPORATISM

BY JIM BLASINGAME

The similarities between spiders and entrepreneurs

E

ven as spiders go, he was a little guy; not much bigger than a piece of lint you might pick off of a pair of trousers.

But there he was staking his webclaim to a corner of my desk, between a stack of newspapers and a bottle of nasal spray.

Spiders have been around for millions of years, and they didn’t make it this far by being stupid.

Somewhere along the way they figured the silky stuff that oozes out of their backside would be handy for

erecting a web in which to encourage unsuspecting neighbors wandering by to stay for dinner.

At first I admired the little squatter’s spunk. You gotta love a guy who just goes for it, like a lot of small business owners. From that perspective, unfortunately, he still reminded me of some small business owners I know. Apparently, like humans, some spiders are smarter than others.

One of the unfortunate facts about being a spider is they have a

very short life expectancy –typically no more than a few weeks. With such a brief existence, it’s understandable if a spider doesn’t obsess over finding the absolute best place in the world to set up shop.

Unfortunately, too many small business owners with presumably years to live, behave like my eightlegged desktop developer: heavy on haste and light on research.

It’s true that there comes a time when you have to stop analyzing your dream and start living it. But

when a small business owner – or a spider – sets up shop so hastily it is, literally or metaphorically, between a stack of newspapers and a bottle, success will be, like a spider’s life, very short.

Smart spiders can be found building webs in places that have at least two essential characteristics: where creatures larger than a spider can eat aren’t likely to wander by and destroy the web; and where creatures of the size that can be eaten by a spider wander by with

Uncovering what drives you can drive more in-depth wealth advice.

We’re redefining private wealth management

Lori Seguin (Client Service Associate), Mark Abraham (Senior Investment Advisor), Tori Forsey (Client Service Associate), James Labiak (Associate Investment Advisor)

At TD Wealth Private Investment Advice, we’ll uncover what really drives your financial decision-making.

With our new proprietary discovery process, we’ll get to know you on a much deeper, personal level so you can make better, more informed wealth decisions. It’s private wealth management redefined at TD Wealth.

Mark Abraham, B. Comm. (Hons), CIM® Senior Investment Advisor and Associate Porfolio Manager

Abraham & Associates Wealth Management Group 156 Ouellette Avenue, Suite 300, Windsor, ON N9A 1A4 Tel: 519-253-2193 | Toll free: 800-287-1898 mark.abraham@td.com Abraham and Associates Wealth Management Group is a part of TD Wealth Private Investment Advice, a division of TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. which is a subsidiary of The Toronto-Dominion Bank. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ® The TD logo and other TD trademarks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank or its subsidiaries.

16

WINDSOR BUSINESS

great regularity. Smart business owners behave similarly.

A would-be small business owner wrote me once to ask what steps he should take to open a combination cigar bar, coffee shop, Internet kiosk business. Oh, I almost forgot: he was going to launch this venture in a small town.

Small business owners, like spiders, must make sure they cast their business webs in places where there are sufficient prospects for whatever is being sold. My wannabe entrepreneur’s idea screamed esoteric. And esoteric only works in big markets.

With all of the delicacy I could muster, the steps I wrote my correspondent to take were very large and very fast ones away from his idea. He was going to build his business – like a spider building a web on top of a desk in an office sprayed regularly with insecticide – in a market where there were very few prospects. And even if some prospects should occasionally happen by, there would never be enough to sustain business life.

Sometimes taking a bold step is to be admired. But most of the time, especially in a small business, it’s dangerous.

Compared to well-capitalized larger businesses, many small businesses – even well run ones – can be one mistake, or one backhand by a customer, banker or big competitor away from having everything we’ve built torn down.

When starting your business, or any new direction or addition to your existing business, don’t make haste. Ask yourself if your willingness to go ahead is based on research and due diligence, and being comfortable with the findings. Or is it heavy on emotion, impulsiveness and impatience?

Have you given your new venture the maximum opportunity to succeed? Or is it like my spider’s web, constructed tenuously between a stack of newspapers and a bottle?

Write this on a rock: The spider’s great resources are his silk and construction instincts. The greatest resources humans have are our ability to think, reason, discern and WB make informed decisions.

Jim Blasingame is the author of The 3rd Ingredient, the Journey of Analog Ethics into the World of Digital Fear and Greed. Visit jimblasingame.com.