Rodger MacMunn creates custom carved dimensional signs for clients all over North America. Throughout the years, he has built a reputation for high-quality workmanship at TR MacMunn & Sons. This is Rodger's story:
His business
He's not an artisan. He's not a craftsman. He's a sign carver. It's a straightforward title, for a straightforward guy. You get what you see with Rodger MacMunn. He tells it like it is and he always has a funny story to share. Not to mention, he's one heck of a talented sign carver.
After a successful career in the trucking industry, Rodger decided to leave the road behind when he was 40. He invested $10,000 in equipment and software and went to work growing a sign business in Mountain Grove.
Rodger knew early on that in order to compete with sign shops in urban centres, he had to make and sell something pretty unique. "Nobody's going to drive to Mountain Grove to get something they can get cheaper in Kingston," says Rodger.
A sign from TR MacMunn isn't cheap, and it certainly isn't ordinary. It's built to last using high quality materials, and with an attention to detail you won't get from high-production facilities. "My very favourite part," says Rodger, "is the look on someone's face when you hand them their sign, and it's nicer than they ever thought it could be."
The workmanship speaks for itself, and over the years Rodger's reputation has earned him the opportunity to create custom signs for clients all over North America. And, although he has seen most of Canada and a good chunk of the United States, Rodger has always kept his business located in the natural Frontenac countryside.
Running a successful business in Frontenac
When asked why he has stayed in Frontenac all these years, he sums it up nicely: "There are all kinds of reasons to be here... If you like the sound of loons more than you like the sound of traffic, if you want a good place to raise kids and don't have to worry about their safety... it's what you consider quality of life. Plus, it is fairly cheap to live in Frontenac. And around here, you can always make a buck doing something if you're handy."
Rodger thinks Frontenac is full of opportunities for many folks. As he sees it, "there are businesses in Toronto that aren't doing well because they're paying a fortune in rent. They've got to drive to work and fight traffic both ways. It's just an awful way to live. People seem to think you cannot survive outside of a big city... but UPS goes everywhere."
Rodger's years of success go to show that the easy rural lifestyle, low cost of living, and easy access to major markets make Frontenac an ideal place to do business. Your commute becomes a stroll across the lawn, and you get to know the delivery driver who handles your shipments of supplies and products. Or, as Rodger says, Frontenac is close enough to major markets that you could make a day out of getting supplies, delivering products, and keeping in touch with your "favorite traffic jam".
Living and raising a family in Frontenac
One of the reasons Rodger and his wife Sharon decided to raise their kids in Frontenac is because it is a safe place. People generally know their neighbours and the schools are small enough to avoid real trouble. Plus, being surrounded by wilderness meant their kids either spent endless hours exploring or were forced to get creative. Like Rodger's oldest boy, who "was pretty much always outside building some kind of a contraption. Like the snow plow he built for his bicycle, and the riding lawnmower he crossed with an office chair."
A happy family, a successful business that lets him do what he loves, and no traffic jams in sight.... for a straightforward guy like Rodger the best things in life are simple: life in Frontenac "means that the air doesn't hurt your lungs and you don't have to go to the zoo to see wildlife".
Swing by our Business Directory to get all of Rodger's contact information.
Are you thinking about starting a small business? Looking to grow your existing operation? Want to find a more meaningful place to pursue your entreprenurial dream? Visit our Contact Us page. Reach out to Richard or Alison directly by email or phone, or fill out the form and we'll be in touch.
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