In Oxford County, U-Fill Water Center received support through Community Futures Oxford, that allowed them to grow and over time add more locations. This support helped Mike Christiaens of U-Fill Water Center expand his Tillsonburg business by opening additional locations in Ingersoll, Paris, and Simcoe. “Community Futures helped me achieve my vision. They helped where banks wouldn’t,” he said. “They get it!”
Mike had been busy cleaning the exterior of his Ingersoll location when I arrived. He originally contacted Community Futures Oxford when he saw their mobile sign advertisement and decided to investigate what they could offer. “I talked with Luigi Basacco and then things seemed to fall into place,” he said.
Customers have told Mike that his locations that are open 24/7 are convenient and easy to use at any time of the day. His Tillsonburg location, opened in 2007, is more of a traditional water centre that provides refills for businesses, ice and water treatment equipment. As his business has evolved, over the past four to five years he’s shifted toward the self-serve model beginning with Paris, ON because of its growth. “I pick locations where people can park right in front,” he said, describing his business as quick, convenient and available all the time!
Being a business owner means facing challenges along the way, mostly small ones like equipment issues or contractor delays with new locations, but he said he plans for what he can and just works through the rest. Mike said he has achieved a level of financial stability that should allow him to retire comfortably when the time is right. “I’m happy I’ve made living, raised my family and paid my bills,” he said. “I enjoy being my own boss, making my own decisions and knowing my success or failure rests on my own choices.”
He advises other entrepreneurs to:
“You’ll need to be determined and focused and realize it takes time to achieve success. It isn’t going to happen all at once.”