Time out with … Doug Winter

The pace at which business is conducted seems to be accelerating every year. How do you manage your time in order to stay effective?

Decisions must be made on a basis of worth. One cannot spend a lot of time on little problems. Learn to delegate; and then concentrate on the items that help your business. In our case, it is quoting on the production of new parts, and ensuring good service to our customers. This company has been in business for 48 years now.

What do you do to relax?

No one in business for himself ever forgets his business. In 2001, my wife and I took a four-week cruise to the south Atlantic. Fortunately, with e-mail, we kept in touch with the plant. We also have a trustworthy part-time sales representative who baby-sits the company at such times.

To relax, I read fiction and daily newspapers, play 40 games of golf during the season (during the week only), and frequent Casino Niagara (my wife Doreen is addicted to video poker). Four interesting, happy grandchildren sure help.

Everyone says people are key to the success of their business. Is it getting tougher to hang on to good workers? What are you doing to keep them around?

We have not lost a key employee in my 16 years with the company. How de we keep them? Trust them. When their problems become our problems, we discuss things and reach acceptable conclusions. Listen, listen and listen, then implement promises.

Also, let them know what is going on, since they are part of the company. One doesn’t have to talk profits and losses. Just let them know about the good and unfortunate things. A pat on the back never hurts, either. We probably pay industry averages.

Other than Canadian Plastics, what sorts of magazines or newspapers do you regularly read?

The Globe and Mail thoroughly on weekends. The front section every day.

What has been the most important change in the industry: a) for the worse?, b) for the better?

For the worse — there are no knowledgeable resin salesmen anymore. Because Universal Gravo-Plast is a small buyer, we don’t even get visits from the sales people from the resin distributors now. Trends in prices and supplies are not readily available. Canadian Plastics’ annual seminar on this subject is a good one.

For the better — instant basic technical information about resins from the Internet.

What’s the most important thing you’ve learned in your career?

One should never cease to listen and learn. When I thought I knew it all, doing technical service at Dow Chemical in the mid-sixties, a customer brought me down to earth very politely. Not once, but twice.

Who’s had the biggest influence a) on your life?, b) on your career?

A neighbor of mine dining my high school days was Roger Neilson, the hockey coach. We went to different schools, but happened to live on the boundary line. Not only did he influence my life regarding sports, and how to play them, but his enthusiasm for everything was/is tremendous.

Influence on my career? Probably my wife, Doreen. She supported me in major decisions.

Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the prospects of the plastics industry in this country?

Optimistic. How could one not be an optimist when new resins and applications abound? It doesn’t hurt to think this way when the best five years for Universal Gravo-Plast Inc. have been the last five. Also, look at companies like ABC Group (a blow molder with over 20 plants now), CPI Plastics Group Ltd. (formerly Crila Plastics — big company now), Hunjan Moulded Products Ltd. (didn’t exist 15 years ago), Accura Molding Co. Ltd. (started in 1987 and recently sold for approximately $10 million), etc. Obviously the opportunities still exist.

What would you do if you were Prime Minister for a day?

How can one instill responsibility into the actions of individuals? Just being Prime Minister for a day wouldn’t cut it.