What started out as a little idea has taken on a life of its own for Tracey and Derek Manchester. "We were interested in doing decals," Tracey says. "We started by making stickers for some local hockey teams on a cricket machine that cuts vinyl which you can purchase from Michaels." But the demand quickly outgrew the hobby machine. "About four weeks later we graduated to a 36-inch cutter so we were able to do bigger projects. And began Dynamic Graffix Signs and More.
Their business has continued to grow at a rapid pace. The Manchesters started out working in the basement of their home in Petrolia and have since moved the operation to a building they purchased in Corunna in 2019. They have continued to upgrade their equipment in an effort to grow the business. "At the start, we really didn’t have a lot of experience in doing this," Tracey says. "But when we saw how it was growing, that was when we got serious and decided this could be an interesting field to be in. We started with decals and moved on to doing t-shirts as well." 
Tracey credits Derek for having the vision to grow Dynamic Graffix from a basement cottage industry to a multifaceted operation. "He saw where this business could go," Tracey says. "In our area, if you were a business looking for a vehicle decal, you had to go to one place. If you wanted clothing, you had to go to another place. Whereas with us, we can do it all at our location. Our slogan is Logos on Almost Everything."
After nailing decals, embroidery and signage, Dynamic Graffix now specializes in metal art fabrication. They create custom-designed artwork, signs, and firepit rings. "One of the biggest things we did was for a lady who lost her pet dog," Tracey says. "She wanted something for her garden to remember him by so we did a piece of art with an image of the type of dog she had, and we customized it to have the dog’s name on it and when she saw it, she started to cry because it was something she would always have to remember her pet. She asked if she could hug me because she loved it so much."
The Manchesters, who now ship their products across Canada, are also especially proud of a hockey-related piece of art they did for a local woman. She boarded New York Islander NHL player, Matt Martin in her home when he played junior hockey in Sarnia. Guess you can say Dynamic Graffix has made it to the big leagues.
Nicole Lewis needed a change. Having worked in the health care sector for nearly 20 years, Nicole wanted to experience more independence. So nearly two years ago she and her husband, Mike, opened Rustic Scoops Ice Cream Bar Inc. in Corunna and not long afterwards expanded the business with a second
From bacon to beer. That pretty much sums up the career path Joe Donkers has taken. A pig farmer for nearly three decades, Joe did a 180 about five years ago when he made the decision to start brewing his own beer at home. That ultimately led to him and his wife Mary starting Stonepicker Brewing Co.
In 1989, David and Olga Williams purchased interest in a small company named Advanced Building Materials and in 1991, they purchased the remaining shares. We were originally located on Tecumseh Street in Sarnia. Three moves later, we are at our current location at 591 Gladwish Drive. We needed mo
Lambton College opened its doors on November 15, 1966. At the time, it was the second college in the Ontario College system. Lambton College was originally housed in a former elementary school before relocating to its current location on London Road. In its first semester, the College welcomed 54 students.
When Conner Oakes was 18 years old, he had his entire future mapped out. First, he was going to attend either the University of Western Ontario or the University of Waterloo, both of which had granted him acceptance. Then he was off to law school to fulfill his dream of becoming a lawyer. While it w
Kevin Forbes was destined to take over his family-run dairy farm, Forbesvue Farms, even if he didn't always know it. When you are growing up with it there are times you love it and times when you hate living in the country and being on a farm when your friends are out partying, Kevin says.
Hull Bus Lines was started in 1985 by Ted Hull. My Dad bought a couple of small buses from John Bray, who owned the school buses in Oil Springs, where we were from. He was driving for them for as long as I remember before that, explains Steve Hull. Things changed in 1992. They had grown to a f
Mackenzie Oil was founded in 1945 by Doug Mackenzie and his father, Charlie Mackenzie. Doug was working in Hamilton at the time and saw the opportunity to start a company in Bridgen that would service the farming community. My uncle Doug partnered with my grandfather, Charlie, to start the business.
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