Small Business | 2013

SMALL BUSINESS MONTH - Supplement to The WInnipeg Free Press - Wednesday, October 23, 2013

(From left) Shaan Sabir, Najma Sabir, Michael Hoffer and Hélène Hoffer from Water Mart. Photo by Darcy Finley/For the Winnipeg Free Press

‘Triple threat’ key to success for Winnipeg small-biz owners Complementary ventures thrive with human touch, solid team

return, the shuttle will pick them up at arrivals and drop them off at their vehicle. AirPark also offers a number of different services, including indoor and outdoor long-term parking, a car wash and interior detailing, free emergency battery boost and compressed air for deflated tires. Located just two minutes from the Winnipeg Airport, the parking and shuttle service is busy during the winter, but not so much in the summer. So the Hoffers created WaterMart as a complement for AirPark. WaterMart is a purified water company located nearby at 866 King Edward St. The Hoffers say all their businesses were created out of necessity. They came up with the idea for AirPark after another venture failed. “We had to do something immediately. We had to keep going. It was always about not having enough money or overcoming a difficult situation,” said Hélène. “Since our first day when only four cars used our facility, AirPark has come a long way.” LED Outdoor Advertising began with one LED sign on King Edward Street that promotes AirPark and WaterMart, along with third party advertisers. The Hoffers are in the process of obtaining a second sign on Pembina Highway. “LED Outdoor Signs complements the other businesses because we advertise them on our signs,” Michael said. “It’s a very rewarding

time for us right now. Airpark is doing better than it’s ever done.” The Hoffers are firm believers in reciprocal business. WaterMart supports many of its customers’ businesses, such as small auto shops, restaurants, catering companies and office suppliers. These same customers continue to give them business and refer them to their other clients. Hélène says that word of mouth and referrals is their least expensive marketing strategy but one of the most effective. “In business, the more you give, the more you get back. People often forget that. Life works that way — you pay it forward,” she said. “That’s always been the way we live our lives and it’s the way we do business, too.” Another secret of their success is surrounding themselves with great people. “We have a very strong manager who allows us to grow. We work well as a team. We all have different strengths and weaknesses,” said Hélène. “We have a great accountant and a wonderful banker. It might be more expensive to invest in those resources, but it’s worth it at the end of the day.” The Hoffers won the 2013 Assiniboia Chamber of Commerce Small Business Excellence category award. “You have to love what you’re doing and surround yourself with strong people,” Hélène said. “We have a lot of fun, too.”

By Holli Moncrieff For the Free Press T hey may own three businesses, but Hélène and Michael Hoffer still greet all their customers by name. “A lot of businesses forget the human aspect. We always try to be better, to make our services more effective and customer-friendly,” said Hélène. “You have to run your business the same way you run your life.” Hélène and Michael are the brains behind Executive AirPark, WaterMart, and LED Outdoor Signs. Hélène takes care of the number crunching and deals with bankers, while Michael handles the marketing and advertising. A chilly winter walk was the inspiration behind Executive AirPark. After returning home from a flight, Michael had to walk a long way with his luggage in a snowstorm, and couldn’t find his car. “As we all know, Winnipeg in winter can be pretty fierce. We decided Winnipeg needed an airpark, so we started one,” Michael said. AirPark is a fully-enclosed heated parking facility that is monitored 24/7. Shuttle service picks customers up at their vehicles and drops them off in front of the terminal doors. Upon their

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