Maintaining Great Customer Service Keeps Him Recession-Proof
By Home Business Magazine
The inspiration to start Tony’s Canvas and Leather really came when Tony O’geen’s son was a young hockey player. He realized there was a real demand for sports repair, and no one around the North Country was offering the services. Tony traveled to Montreal, Quebec to learn the art of Re-Palming Hockey Gloves. From there, he began not only repairing sports equipment but producing quality Custom Sports Bags.
While maintaining his growing home-based business, Tony continues to work full-time as a NYS Corrections Officer. He strives to provide his customers with top quality products and services in his home-based business. “Maintaining great customer service is very important to my business,” says Tony. “We answer questions and concerns in a timely manner via e-mail or over the telephone.”
Tony thinks advertising is extremely important for any home-based business. He tries to promote his business through his logos on products, business cards, radio ads, and by putting flyers in with every bag and glove repair to put up in Hockey Arenas. He’s also developed his own web site, tonyscanvas.com, to reach customers worldwide. Word of mouth is still and always will be great for marketing his business.
Tony believes local businesses and residents are still his primary buyers. Through his web site, he’s been able to reach more customers locally and nationwide. Tony feels that working with local college hockey teams including St. Lawrence University, Clarkson University, and Potsdam State has propelled his business to the next level. He also continually takes small business courses through the Small Business Administration and Clarkson University.
As a full-time corrections officer and father of three, working at home allows Tony to spend time with his family while maintaining his growing business. His kids enjoy spending time in the shop while learning the trade. Tony really enjoys his home-based business; he is his own boss and sets his own hours.
As Tony’s business grows, he’ll have to look into the idea of expanding his shop. He looks forward to continuing his business with his customers from around this great country while opening his business to Federal and State Government contracts. HBM
