September 12, 2012
Cottage Country is not only a beautiful place to while away the summer hours, but a haven for businesses of all types. On The Water Design is taking advantage of this market with their dock manufacturing business. Dave MacDonald, originally from Northern Ontario moved to Orillia to start a business. Dave and his business partner decided on docks. Twelve years ago, Dave approached the Orillia Area CDC for a start-up loan.
On The Water Designs started seeing significant growth in 2009 when a competing business closed and Dave acquired rights to products as well as purchased the property that the competing business had operated from.
However, potential for disaster struck in the fall of 2011. One of the products he acquired was being manufactured in China and new tariff code restrictions forced Dave to make a hard decision: close the business, or make the product himself. He chose to make it himself after close consultation and with further financial assistance from the Orillia CDC and the Muskoka Community Futures.
With the help of these offices, Dave now has 8 dealers in Ontario and 1 on the east coast, with more on the way. He continues to do research into his product development and marketing.
Orillia Area Community Development Corporation
(705) 325-4903
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