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Business Beas David Malcolm guides his business through 25 years David & Joanna Malcolm couldn't be more proud of the business they started on the home farm 25 years ago as “Nestle- ton Airtight Stove”, but sharing that flour- ishing enterprise with their three oldest sons the last five years has allowed David to indulge himself in some flying lessons at the Greenbank Airport - an endeavour that he has always dreamed about. According to David, although the Over Ridge Fireplace and Grills store at 170 Casimir in Port Perry does a thriving business, the overall operation is “more of a paper shuffle.” David owns four stores himself with awesome managers, and has franchised out several locations with six running by the next generation. With 15 stores operating in small towns within an 80-mile radius of Port Perry under the umbrella corporation, David admits that he runs one of the largest Napoleon dis- tributorships in Canada. Several pivotal moves have brought him to where he is today. From small beginnings during the 70s off-oil grants, he relocated several times around the Port Perry area before landing on Casimir Street. “I only got turfed out of a lease once,” he boasts. Although many years ago, he vowed from then on to buy the property for his locations. Hence, the business has become more of a holding or property management company. “It’s a very hands on business, and I've learned to enjoy the office side of the business.” Three new locations (Newmarket, Campbellford and Gananoque) are slated to open in the fall of 2006. Since his sons got involved about five years ago, David has had more time to cultivate three locations in the Dominican Republic. “They're really only interested in barbeques and electric fireplaces down there,” explains Davi He spends ¢ one week a month on the island in order to supervise the Napoleon distributorship and a slowly emerging construction development business. With a total employment roster of 24 to man the day-to-day business, David can easily turn his attention to distant shores. He is in the process of building his second large home in the Dominican with wife, Joanna. “She was never too interested in the business,” he says. She loved art, nursing and raising their daughter Marley and the five boys. A 12 and 17-year old still live at home. e same approach with co- workers as I did with the kids,” David teases. “Just hand them the ball and trust they'll find something to hit it with.” He tried to provide his children with the freedom to be unafraid to be creative “otherwise opportunities wouldn’t even. present themselves.” Money management was something they could learn later. “In a restaurant, the kids knew grow- ing up that they could be adventurous and order anything as long as they ate it. This taught them how to ask the questions of what they would expect to get. Then 15 years ago on vacation i in Hawaii, David tripped across his model for business and living. In a small bookstore, he found a copy of a book by Richard Carlson that he still keeps on his desk. “Tt said you should not become attached to things which you have no control over the final word, but try as hard as you can to that he believed the phi- losophy, but wondered why he wasn’t living it. It was aC-change. “It turned my life around,” he admits. If you let those things go, you don’t ever set yourself up for failure.” Where friends and family — those most cherished in his life - are concerned, his philosophy has helped him escape his business mindset and balance a successful personal life equal to his business accomplishments. By Barbara Hunt NICHOLAS: KINGSLEY WINDOW STORE 905-985-6665 For. All our Cnidon Needs 182 North Port Plaza, Unit #7 - Reach St. at North Port Rd. focus@observerpub.ca + Windows + Doors + Siding Saving Port Por Thetteerd emma ae FOCUS - OCTOBER 2006 11