Icon Technologies Limited is a classic Winkler success story. Since starting in a garage in 1998, Owner John Loewen says they've seen accelerated growth.
On Thursday, the business celebrated their 20th anniversary and the official opening of their new 105,000 sq. ft. plant.
"It's pretty intense," Loewen says of the rapid pace of expansion. "But I have a good team, they understand the vision, the big picture."
By the time designers had finished work on expanding Icon's former 45,000 sq. ft. location, they had already outgrown it. "In the two years it took to design and build we doubled our business," Loewen says.
Loewen notes since 2012 Icon has doubled sales every 22 months, up 800 percent in just six years.
However, Loewen's proudest accomplishment is the community Icon has built in the North American RV market, "we're better known in southern California than in Manitoba," he says.
For Loewen, making parts for RVs is in his blood; his father was mould-maker for businesses like Triple E. "I've been around RVs since I was a kid," he says. "So I learned early on what was required, how to do it."
With his experience, Loewen says success also comes with dedication and developing a detailed plan, "then you execute... if it doesn't work the first time around you don't quit. You keep going until you get it right."
Morden/Winkler MLA Cameron Friesen congratulated owner Loewen on the growth, adding Icon is an example of "what you can do with a dream, good financing and support from family and a good team."
While other centres have tried wooing the booming business to open up shop elsewhere, Icon's Business Developer Harv Giesbrecht says the community that surrounds a company is just as important as the facility, "and we have the best community," he says.
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