When it comes to service, he’s no novice
Mr. Handyman franchisee honoured as chain’s top rookie
The one constant in the evolution of Lee Miskew — from Mr. Entertainment at age 20 to Mr. Handyman two decades later — has been customer service.
“I liked helping people out. It brought me a lot of joy,” said Miskew, who owns the only Mr. Handyman franchise in Edmonton and was recognized recently as the chain’s rookie of the year for 2012.
The U.S.-based company was founded in 2000 and has 200 outlets in North America.
It’s another promising start for Miskew, who honed the entrepreneurial spirit at an early age. When Miskew was 15, his father bought him a guitar at the Mr. Entertainment location in Northwood Mall. The guitar came with a job offer from the store owner, which Miskew accepted. Five years later, he bought the store.
“A lot of savings and a little help from mom and dad,” he said.
Three years after that, he sold out, went to work for a distributor of musical instruments and stayed in the business until last year. The industry has been revolutionized by digital products and he was always more of a traditionalist.
And it was his traditional view of service — the customer is always right — that guided his next step.
“When I decided to transition from the music industry, my mind was set that I wanted to do something about the problems most experience when doing even the smallest of renovations or just tackling their to-do lists,” he said in an email.
He had been inspired by the sad example of tradespeople hired by his parents to do a major renovation on their northside home. “Only one came every day he said he would, and was the only one to complete the work they had agreed upon. I thought, this can’t be right. There are too many problems with this industry.”
He started researching opportunities in the field and said the Mr. Handyman motto — On Time, Done Right — spoke to him. It was also a good fit for his skill set, which he learned from a grandfather who farmed near Mundare.
“There was always work to do around the farm and you don’t hire that stuff out. You learn to use the tools. I found myself doing more and more work for family and friends.”
Miskew doesn’t get his hands dirty as often as he likes anymore — he leaves most of that to a pair of technicians who will tackle everything from weedpulling to major home renovations. But he is still consumed with consistent, quality customer service. “When we say we’re going to be there, we’re on time and we don’t leave until your job is done.”
And that, mister, is music to a customer’s ears.