The Small Businessman

Wishart’s Vulcanising Service serving proudly

(As part of observances for its 30th anniversary, Stabroek News will be reproducing snippets from its earlier years on page four of each day’s newspaper.) A ‘SPUR-OF-THEMOMENT’ decision by a young man in 1976 has, today proved to be a wise one.

Courtney Wishart of Guyhoc Park was frustrated with the way things were going with his shoemaking business then. Materials for the trade were scarce and expensive. Customers were few, as most persons then preferred to buy new shoes and boots because it was far more economical to do so than to repair worn and damaged ones. He thought about quitting the business. But to do what, he questioned himself.

Courtney had saved some money from his previous job as a diver at a gold-mining camp in the interior, so money to invest in a small business was not the problem.

Some time later, pondering his fate, a man came along by sheer coincidence and enquired of him whether he was interested in buying some vulcanising equipment. The man was migrating and had wanted to close his vulcanising business. Courtney, with no knowledge of the trade, decided to “try my hand at it” as the equipment was being sold at “very reasonable prices.”

Fifteen years later, ‘Wishart’s Vulcanising Service’ at the comer of Duncan and Sheriff Streets, Campbellville is a proud establishment

Operated by Courtney and his four full-time employees, the workshop provides a service that “motorists can count on.” All types of tyres and tubes are vulcanised for a clientele that comes from “everywhere.” The small entrepreneur said that some of his present customers have been with him from the start which, he explains, is an indication of the high quality of service offered by his modest establishment.

Like many other small and even large businesses locally, the frequent power outages was a source of concern for Courtney. On many occasions, operators of motor vehicles who patronise his business have had to wait for long periods before their job are finished. Courtney became worried because he felt that very soon he may start losing customers. Then there was another coincidence!

One morning, a vehicle belonging to the Institute of Small Enterprise Development (ISED) pulled up. The driver, one of ISED’s business counsellors, had a tyre to vulcanise. Courtney took on the job and before he was finished, the officer explained the Institute’s programme of financing small businesses such as Courtney’s.

A few days later he made an application for a generator to ISED and soon received a generator, which has helped a lot.

Courtney wants to improve the services he offers the public and so is awaiting two tyre vulcanising machines which are being shipped from overseas also with ISED help. These two machines, he says, will go a long way in ensuring that that the reintroduction of his “night service” will be “most efficient and reliable.”

Wishart’s Vulcanising Service also does any type of wheel repair and, said Courtney: We can also vulcanise the hot water bottles used in hospitals and vacuum cleaner belts.” The establishment can also ‘flare’ brake lines, he noted. Courtney Wishart attending to one of his many jobs. He plans introducing a night service soon.