A local young entrepreneur is taking this summer to run a business for the first time. Sarah Brown has set up shop with Deco Windshield Repair, and is repairing windshields of all models of cars in the parking lot by Canadian Tire.
The 24-year old Brown admits she is not what people expect when they think windshield repair. She says that she has had to prove to more than a few skeptics that she is able to do the job.
"An older guy will come up and say, 'Really, you're repairing windshields?' So I'll walk them through it," Brown says. She adds if they let her do the repair, they're satisfied, but getting them to that step is one of the biggest challenges of the job.
"I try to be as professional as I can. There's not much you can do about it until you get a reputation," Brown notes.
Still, being taken seriously is a challenge, though one that Brown says she's able to take on.
"A lot of it when you're working with people is your level of confidence and ability to sell what you're doing," she suggests.
Opening the franchise involved a lot of training, something Brown says gives her an advantage when doing the work. She notes that the company flew her to Calgary for a training weekend, and then she worked for a week in another location to learn more about doing the job.
"Deco has the best training in all of Canada, so I do feel confident that I can do the job," Brown says.
While initially concerned that people might not make use of the business she says that she has had a positive reception so far, with many customers having previously used other Deco locations.
Working outside also presents its own challenges. Brown says she has to contend with wind and rain when setting up shop, and sometimes will have to close early because her tent can't stay up in the weather.
This is a summer business, and in the fall Brown will be going overseas to teach English. She says that while she doesn't plan on doing the same thing all her life, running a business is something she's always wanted to do, and she believes it will give her important skills for her future career.
"It's a great way to build communication skills and it entails a lot. I'm doing the business side, dealing with customers, learning about marketing. It's a small business, and there's a lot you can gain from that," she concludes.
