It is widely known that it takes three years to get a business going.
But each time we started a new business or changed our focus, or moved, I somehow hope it would be different THIS TIME.
Giggle Ridge is three years old last month and we feel that the pressure is finally off. We have survived our third winter in fine style. Even though business was brisk from the start, it took three years for us to get our feet back under us financially and also for us to get real comfortable with the new operation.
Same goes for Sawatzky's Imagination Corporation. Although the business is 12 years old we changed our focus a little, concentrating more on design and smaller projects and we moved at the same time. Our business isn't a local business in many respects, with our clients coming to us from far afield on most occasions. But even so, after being virtually a one-client company for many years it was a big transition.
Even though we had paid our dues over the years and established a bullet-proof reputation... it still took the better part of three years to really GO again.
It was tough to hang in there and continue to do only the work that would re-establish our reputation in our new location as an imaginative, out-of-this-world designer/fabricator.
And now, after three years of hard work & sweating it out, both companies are going again beyond our wildest dreams.
All through the three years I had faith it would work out, that it would all come back. It's just real nice when a dream comes together. And great to see light at the end of the tunnel!
It was wonderful to have encouragement & support from family & friends through these times!
-dan
[ April 02, 2003, 12:53 AM: Message edited by: Dan Sawatzky ]
Posted by Mark Fair Signs (Member # 289) on :
congrats on giggle ridge, i knew when i saw your first post here on the bullboard about "giggle ridge" it would be a success.
you are one of those people that say, "Yes, I Can Do That!"
thank you for sharing your experience and imagination with us.
by the way, the Key's Family Mural is a work of art.
a dan fan.
mark
[ April 02, 2003, 01:46 AM: Message edited by: Mark Fair Signs ]
Posted by bill riedel (Member # 607) on :
Congratulations Dan, we never doubted for a minute that your project would be anything but a huge success. Hope to see it before too long.
Posted by KARYN BUSH (Member # 1948) on :
giggle ridge is such a great name! then combining your talents..well...of course it would be a success!
Posted by Suelynn Sedor (Member # 442) on :
Hi Dan,
Congratulations on your successes! You inspire many people to reach a little higher!
I'm curious though, do you still own Giggle Ridge? I was thinking that you sold it to start a new project. My family is planning a BC trip this summer, and we'd love to see it.
Suelynn
Posted by Bill&Jane Diaz (Member # 2549) on :
Congrats! Your web site is awesome by the way. It must be a fun place to work!
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
Suelynn
We do still own Giggle Ridge. It's a very cool and fun family business to operate. We were hoping to add a second phase which would have included a home, studio and shop as well as an exciting train ride. That wasn't to be for reasons beyond our control.
Now we are in the planning stages of buying a small acreage nearby which will have the house, studio and at long last a spacious shop. This will all be private to the general public, save for appointments in my studio with clients. It will also have my train for our personal enjoyment.
Any Letterheads who are in the area on vacation are welcome to drop in at Giggle Ridge. It would probably be best to phone or email ahead and let me know when you are passing through... I'm not always up at the golf course but would make a point of being there if I knew when you were coming.
It is a fun place to spend some time!
-dan
[ April 02, 2003, 02:51 PM: Message edited by: Dan Sawatzky ]
Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
Have you ever wondered, "Does Dan ever have a bad day?"?
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
Raymond
I do have the occasional bad day... but we have a rule at our house... only one of us is allowed to have a bad day at a time. And my bad days always seem to be on the same day Janis wants to have her's.
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Your web site is awesome by the way. It must be a fun place to work!
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