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CANADIAN INDUSTRY ONLINE - MAY 2013
The key for Sinclar Group, and
ultimately the companies under the
Sinclar umbrella including Winton
Homes and Cottages, is how we’ve
been able to grow local communities.
On that note, can you give us
a sense of how your customer base
has shifted, and how the market has
changed for Winton Homes and Cot-
tages?
GS
:
Our customer base has really
shifted as we’ve been exposed to, and
have learned about, the needs of cus-
tomers in the north. As we saw growth
in northern British Columbia we saw
opportunities to grow in those areas.
Additionally, our markets have
evolved internationally as well.
In the early 2000s we set up a
venture to build homes in China, and
although that venture has since ended,
it shows we’re quite a dynamic organi-
zation that can shift to suit the market
that we’re serving. We adapt based on
where we see opportunity.
Another thing we have been able
to do locally and internationally is
leverage the lumber side of the busi-
ness—we have a very strong presence
in the international community as well
as in BC. We’re one of the largest
distributors of stud lumber into the
Japanese market and have been for
many years. We have drawn on pre-
vious international experience and
have recently been moving wood
into Taiwan, and China. This is all
because we’ve been able to lever-
age the strong relationships we have
in other countries, and propel those
relationships into future business.
When it comes to the market-
place, the reality of our Winton busi-
ness is that it is ideal for one sector:
rural build. People who would like
to go and build a cottage on a lake;
Outside Supplier
Energy Efficient Options:
Heat Recovery Ventilators - An energy effi-
cient air exchange system.
Air Source Heat Pumps - Provides cooling in
the summer and provides added heat in the
winter using condensers.
Ground Source Heat Pumps - A geothermal
system that draws heat and cooling from
below ground and converts it to usable heat
and cooling instead of using a natural gas or
wood furnace.
On-Demand Water Systems - A hot water sys-
tem that heats the water on demand, rather
than storing hot water in a tank.
Solar Power and Water Heating Systems - A
heat and power system that uses panels to
convert solar energy to useable electricity
and heat.
Water Collection and Recycle Systems - Sys-
tems that collects rain water and other pre-
cipitation for outdoor and indoor household
use.
WINTON HOMES & COTTAGES
