Carpenter finds future in hock shop business.

Sometimes something as simple as a passing comment can result in a completely new and different direction in business. Take Parry Sound Quick Cash owner Kevin Weimer, for instance.

About five years ago, Weimer, 39, was a carpenter in Midland working on a local businessman's house when he asked a simple question, but one that would ultimately take him in this new direction. The house belonged to Greg Smith, owner of the Midland Hock Shop.

"It was coming into the winter months when everything slows down and I knew Greg had quite a few contacts around town so I asked him if he knew of anyone who was looking to hire someone on," says Weimer. "After all, a steady paycheque in winter is nice."

Smith appeared impressed with Weimer's work ethic, Weimer says, and hired him on to work for the store where Smith taught Weimer the ropes of running a used goods business.

"A year and a half later, I'm opening up my own store here in Parry Sound," he says.

Weimer continued in the Hock Shop franchise and, last year, bought out Smith's interest in the Parry Sound operation and set out to run the Parry Sound franchise of Hock Shop.

"I like it. It's really an interesting business," he says. "It's certainly never boring. You're always dealing with different products and different people. We always have a very diverse line of stock.

Another side of the business is the company's buy-back program in which people bring in their items for cash, and, after a month, may opt to buy it back with a small administration fee. Weimer says this represents about 20 per cent of his revenues.

By ANDREW WAREING

Northern Ontario Business