Biz Edge :: Danielle Cameron The faces behind Kootenay businesses
A quality reputation
Genevieve Ridge takes an active role in several company aspects. —Photo by Kris Lindblad
David Ridge is no stranger to business operation. As owner of Ridge Construction Ltd. and its division Fairmont Ridge Renovation, he had already established himself in the region when he decided to start a new division—namely, the Home Renovation Centre in Invermere. “The Home Renovation Centre is a spectacular 3,000-square-foot showroom, to showcase the varied and unique products we have available,” said Ridge. “We are the only one-stop shop in our renovation market.” h3. Big or small, they do it all The business offers extensive services, including interior renovations and exterior work such as roofing, siding, windows and doors. They also handle additions and garages, flooring and millwork, to name just a few of the skills they bring to the industry. “Our greatest benefit is that all our trades are on our payroll,” said Ridge, “and we can control the flow and quality of work. We are what we coin, a ‘yes’ company (as in ‘yes we can’, or ‘yes we do’). Big or small, we do it all, and we do our best to service the entire community.” h3. Valued management Ridge’s wife, Genevieve Ridge, manages the Home Renovation Centre, and has a hand in several aspects of its operation. “The showroom gave my wife, Genevieve, a great opportunity to become more involved in our family business,” said Ridge. “She now runs a busy retail showroom environment and her immediate staff, as well as being involved first hand in our renovation division.” h3. Assembling a team As with any growing enterprise, there were challenges inherent in the development of the Home Renovation Centre. It took care and selection to build a team of staff members that would do justice to the reputation of Ridge Construction Ltd. “We have ultimately amassed a strong team of dedicated people,” said Ridge. “In the early years, staffing had many challenges. Today, it is one of our strongest assets. The greatest challenge we face with our latest venture, The Home Renovation Centre, is trying to keep up with the volume of new business our showroom has created. Our proudest moment was the revealing of our showroom to the public. We worked day and night for two months to renovate our location and turn it into what it is today. On our opening day, we had over 600 people come through our doors.” With 30 full-time, permanent staff members and a novel showroom-style presentation, the Ridges take pride in their strong presence within the community. There is no doubt that they will continue to grow and to supply the nearby communities with much-needed quality services.
Welcome to Biz Edge: a column dedicated to the celebration of small businesses and the people who make them prosper. If you are the proud owner of a small business, I would love to hear about your victories, challenges and plans for the future. Please email your information and photos to me at danielle@kpimedia.com. I look forward to profiling some of the region's leading-edge entrepreneurs.
