As far as small, home-based businesses go, Trim King in Chatham is a prime example; one that earned feature industry of the month honours on Friday.
The honour, handed out by the Chatham-Kent Chamber of Commerce, is due to its longevity and continued success. For example, Trim King, which has been around since 2003 repairing and replacing upholstery in vehicles of all types, won the RetroFest Best Interior Award in 2013.
Owner Dan Stewart said he first got into the upholstery business while working at Standard Auto Glass in the late 1970s.
“It was at that time I realized this was a job that could turn into my own business,” he said.
That didn’t take place overnight, as he continued to work with Standard Auto for years, even after he started Trim King as a hobby business out of his basement in 2003.
But five years ago, he turned the hobby into his full-time job and hasn’t looked back.
Stewart said most of his work is for commercial and fleet vehicles, but he does work for the general public all the time as well.
It’s not isolated to cars and trucks, but vehicles of all sizes and types, from the family car to a farm tractor, to a boat, personal watercraft, golf cart, you name it.
Stewart said his work generally speaks for itself. But when he wants assistance in spreading the word, he turns to one source.
“I don’t have to do a whole lot of advertising, but I still do it in The Chatham Voice.”
Stewart said he sees the vehicle upholstery repair business as one that is in danger.
“It’s a trade that’s dying off,” he said.
Geoff Wright, of Chatham-Kent Economic Development, said it’s not an isolated reality, but the shortage of skilled trades people can be changed.
“The trades will start to come back again if parents will encourage their kids to look at them as career paths,” he said.
