Jill from Happy Day Houseboats shares with us her story, and some advice during this difficult time.
Q: Happy Day Houseboats has been in business since 1978, tell us about the history of the company.
Happy Days Houseboats is family owned and has been operating on the Trent Severn Waterway since 1978. Siegfried and Hannelore Quast immigrated from Germany to Canada in 1967 with their 2 young children. Siegfried (Ziggy) was a talented builder and creator and Hannelore (Lorre) was an executive in the auto industry who had a love of fishing. Ziggy built Lorre a pontoon boat so she could go fishing but Lorre liked to fish in all kinds of weather so he added a cabin atop the pontoons. People would approach them on the water when they were fishing and ask where they had rented their houseboat from. That is how the first houseboat came to be and how the business began.
Seeing a market for this exciting on water experience, Ziggy went on to build over 40 houseboats in his lifetime. While they were working to build the boats and the company, their children grew up and went on to their respective careers and their son, Frank became a firefighter with the City of Toronto. When Ziggy passed away unexpectedly, Frank stepped in to help support the business in whatever way he could when his full time work schedule permitted. As time passed, Frank and his wife, Jill decided to start a family. They agreed that life in the small town of Bobcaygeon and houseboating on the Trent Severn Waterway was a great way to raise a family. Jill pivoted from her Toronto based career in health care and shifted to becoming CEO of Happy Days Houseboats.
Q: Share with us some information about your houseboats, and what makes it an experience for guests?
When the houseboats were designed, each one was custom built to allow for maximum enjoyment while on the water. There are 7 models to choose from and the houseboats will accommodate up to 12 people. Each houseboat features private bedrooms and sleeping areas and the comforts of a cosy cabin with executive style and luxurious comfort. The houseboats feature well maintained engines, all required safety equipment and more on board features than other rental houseboats on the water. While a Pleasure Craft Operators Card is helpful, it is not required as full training is provided. All Captains are issued Proof of Competency based on proven ability.
Q: What advice would you give to those new to owning a small business, especially during this challenging time?
During these bewildering and discombobulating times all businesses are experiencing incredibly unique challenges that may seem overwhelming and insurmountable. Many nautical terms are being bandied about including being in unchartered waters, weathering the storm, holding steady on your course and everyone being in the same boat. There is a lot of truth in these statements.
My advice during these troubled times:
1. Love the ones your with because you are all in the same boat.
2. Examine and understand your group dynamics within your work place and at home, since that is where most of us are right now. The 4 stages of group dynamics are forming, norming, storming and performing. This cycle will repeat itself many many times in the days, weeks, and months ahead. In my family dynamic there are 5 of us, so there will never be a stalemate because we have quorum. As an example, we "form" to play a friendly game of Monopoly. In our family, there will always be at least one person will never join the game (refuses to form). The "norming" is when we review the rules and establish what is acceptable in how we are going to play. Storming is likely to occur because predictably, one of us will challenge the rules. Sometimes the storming process gets out of hand, and our friendly game of Monopoly becomes full contact. This is also how mini golf works in our family. I'm not saying it's the right thing, but I acknowledge that it happens. Once the storm is over is when the true performing happens. This parallels in the workplace, as well. Control the process is not necessary, but definitely try to guide it to mitigate potential negative outcomes.
3. Reach out for the financial support that is being offered by the government programs and/or your financial institution. Whether it is deferral of mortgage or car payments, employee wage benefits, etc it is your lifeline. If you are a high risk business or fall through the cracks of the programs being offered, the federal Community Futures program may be able to provide financial support. Financial stress leads to anxiety, depression, and other health issues and puts increased strain on your personal relationships. Weather the storm and plan for the worst. This storm will pass and you will come out on the other side of things. Be ready for when that happens. Develop 2 business plans; one for the worst case scenario and one for the best case scenario. Set your sails and hold steady on your course because there will be sunnier days ahead.
4. As a business owner you have a lot of people depending on you. Your family, your employees, your customers, your suppliers, etc. There will be days when the only rainbow you'll see is the scope of your emotions that range from the good, the bad and the ugly. Give yourself the space and time to feel them all.
5. Recognize that everything is a moving target now and there will be significant changes that we all must adapt to as restrictions are lifted.
6. Enlist the support of a mentor or industry champion who you respect. If you are someone else's mentor or already are an industry champion, lead the charge. If there is an association or larger organization that can offer support, engage because there is strength in numbers. Everyone's voice needs to be heard.
Don't just flatten this curve - get ahead of the curve.