From Olympians to Entrepreneurs – Here’s Their Gold Medal Strategy | A businessman

Jennifer Jones and Brent Laing have competed in curling for Team Canada in a combined three Olympics — with Jennifer winning Gold in 2014 — so they both know something about determination. Now, after leaving the competition, they bring that same competitive spirit and dedication to their own lawn care business, Weed Man, in Ontario, Canada.

“The transition has been really fun,” Jones says, about the transition from ice to grass.” After leaving the competition. [in April 2024] and looking for what to do next, it seemed like a very good thing. It’s a well established business and dealing with customers and trying to learn the business has been great fun. “

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The Weed Man

Ontario-based lawn care company Weed Man, ranked #281 in the 2024 Franchise 500, was already familiar with Laing – his parents originally opened the franchise in 1982, then bought the location next door in 1992. Laing, a three-time Canadian and world champion who missed out on a medal at the 2018 Olympic Games , he worked in a franchise when he was young. his early 20s. He explained that the name has become part of his family’s fabric, and when his parents started talking about selling, it got him and Jones thinking.

“My mum and dad put their blood, sweat and tears into this for 40 years,” he says, “regardless of who was going to buy it, it would be amazing not to have it.” in the family.”

So when his parents finally decided to retire earlier this year, it seemed like the perfect business opportunity for Jones and Laing.

“We were looking at trying to start a business or create a business environment for our family, and so it seemed like a good fit,” says Jones.

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Olympic Studies

So does being a world-class Olympic athlete translate into franchising? Jones – who is a lawyer by profession, so is not completely new to the business environment – thinks so.

He says: “It’s competitive and you always try to be better. “As an athlete, you’re never satisfied with the status quo. You’re always trying to find ways to be better.”

He adds that good work habits, self-belief and the willingness to take constructive criticism are also skills and methods that he continues to develop from the competition in his business life.

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Community First

Laing and Jones are committed to raising public awareness of their franchise. They emphasize the importance of local involvement and customer relationships, a method introduced by Laing’s father when he opened a franchise in the 1980s.

“It was just my dad in the beginning, him and the truck, knocking on doors, and we never forgot that, it’s a family business. It’s a big company, but we’ve always focused. That’s why it’s a Laing family business.”

Jones points out that they are essentially a community business – their office is in the heart of the city – and adds that visibility is essential to the type of business they are.

“We get to know our customers this way,” he says, “they walk through the office and I love hearing their stories.”

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Balancing family and business

As parents and business owners, Jones and Laing are understandably busy. They have two daughters together under the age of 13 and Laing has an older son from a previous marriage. According to Jones, running a successful franchise is not that different from bending the competition, as far as the family is concerned.

He says: “It has been our life since the children were small,” he says of the busy schedule. “Our two daughters have been on the road with us all their lives and understand that flexibility is part of our lives. So it’s become part of our family, just like bending is it was so.”

The family feels, including their children helping around the office, is something they want to keep. Both Jones and Laing say they feel an important responsibility to the legacy of Laing’s parents – both to keep the business going and to keep the small business feeling successful.

“It’s a balancing act, we have to make sure we keep it local and family focused and make sure we’re always answering the phone and not too involved,” Laing says. . We want to make money, we want to grow, but it’s because of the reputation that mom and dad have worked so hard to build.”

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