HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1991-04-24, Page 27Crediton upholsterer finds
business more than Just a -hobby
By Ray Lewis
CREDITON -
More times than
not when under-
taking a new pro-
ject, it becomes a
lot more work
th*n we first an-
ticipated. For most that would
bring a few kicks and screams and
possibly the odd obscenity, but for
Marlene Jeromkin at Mamik Up-
holstery, it spells challenge.
You see, every time she starts
something, it gets a little bigger.
Take her business for example. In
1978 she began doing some uphol-
stery repair as a hobby; for fun.
Shortly thereafter, through word
of mouth, a steady line of custom=
ers continued to grow until she
was forced to set up shop at home.
Two years later husband Nik was
told he better build a workshop be-
cause things were getting out of
hand.
"Originally I thought it would
make a nice hobby," said Jerom-
kin. "But the hobby kind of mush-
roomed and this is what hap-
pened."
Originally from Dnsseldorf,
West Germany, the Jeromkins
moved to Canada in 1957, taking
up residence in Toronto where Nik
worked for an airplane company.
When the company made the
move to Grand Bend, the couple
followed settling west of Crediton
in the former Khiva schoolhouse.
Prior to taking in her own uphol-
stery, Jeromkin worked in Exeter
for an upholsterer until the busi-
ness was sold and the owner moved
to the east coast. She had already
taken a course at Fanshawe College
in upholstery and furniture refinish-
ing, and the departure of the Exeter
owner prompted Jeromkin to set up
Woodham man
elected head
of Farm Mutual
"It's a challenge and I really en-
joy it because it's never boring,"
said Jeromkin. "I need that chal
lenge."
The business is quite unpredicta-
ble in that you almost never know
what your're getting into or how
long it will take. The average chair
takes in the vicinity of 10-15 hours
whereas a chesterfield is 20-25.
The first step in re -upholstery is
to strip the object right down.
Everything is taken off to gain ac-
cess to the springs and make sure
everything is solid. Once that is
done, Jeromkin uses the old materi-
al as a pattern for the new and then
reassembles the project.
"Hopefully," laughs Jeromkin, "it
then looks a lot better."
The owner says that often there is
much more involved than originally
anticipated, because you just can't
see everything. Broken springs or
cracked wood are always possibili-
ties, but there isn't much beyond Je-
romkin's capabilities. Bonnie Sims
of Crediton assists in the shop's
day-to-day operations, and ocas-
sionally husband Nik is called in to
help, but most often it is Jeromkin
herself who tends to all facets of
the trade.
"It's good that there's such variety
in the work," said Jeromkin. "I
need to think and be creative."
And that she is. One need look
no further than some of the subjects
she has had to deal with. She's al-
ways working on furniture but pres-
ently she has been operating on
seats for tractors, cars, boats and
campers, and has done work on
everything from airplanes to Santa's
sleigh. That's right, thejolly old
man himself brought his sleigh in
over the winter to be re -upholstered
in red velvet.
But by far one of her best pro-
jects was an Indian teepee. A few
years ago the Mount Carmel
School brought in some drawings
and Jeromkin was able to construct
the shelter from scratch for the
kids.
"That one was quite a project,"
said Jeromkin. "But when it turns
out so good in the end you feel it
was worthwhile."
Most of Marnik's business is lo-
cal but the business has handled
projects from Windsor to Toronto.
Much of it comes from summer
cottagers in the Grand Bend region,
who many times leave Jeromkin
projects to do over the winter when
they return home.
"That works out really well be-
cause we can take a lot of time with
it," explained the owner.
Mamik Upholstery also offers
pick-up and delivery, and is open
five days a week, but knowing Je-
romkin, she probably works closer
to seven.
"It's alright," she says. "It's
something I love."
Challenging trade - Marlene Jeromkin and Bonnie Sims set to work on one of their latest projects.
ISTRCT
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AMMONIA
PrePlant or Side Dress
WOODHAM - Gordon Johnson,
a Director and past President of the
Blanshard Mutual Insurance Co. of
St. Marys, has been elected as the
President of the Farm Mutual Rein-
surance Plan Inc. (F.M.R.P.).
Following the Annual General
Meeting of the F.M.R.P. held in the
Sheraton Centre, Toronto, April 3,
Johnson was elected President of
the Corporation, for a one year
term.
The Farm Mutual Reinsurance
Plan Inc., the first all Canadian Re-
insurance Co., is located in Cam-
bridge, Ontario and is owned by 57
faun Mutual insurance companies
from across Canada.
The farm mutual insurance com-
panies that own and control the
F.M.R.P, are primarily farm and ru-
ral insurance companies who have
served their members in rural Cana-
da for more than 100 years in the
mutual tradition.
The R.M.R.P. was formed in
1959 to increase the capacity (abili-
ty to write large insurance risks) of
its owning members, and to protect
their financial resources. The com-
pany spreads the risk of catastroph-
ic fosses through their access to
North American and International
Reinsurance markets.
As part of his many duties? John-
son will represent R.M.R.P. and
participate in numerous meetings
across Canada. He will travel to the
United Kingdom and France to
meet with leading international un-
derwriters such as Lloyd's of Lon-
don.
Johnson was elected as a Director
of the corporation in 1978. He was
elected to the Executive Committee
in 1986, and served as second and
1st Vice President.
Johnson is the Territorial Direc-
tor for 11 farrn mutual insurance
companies operating in the Huron,
Perth and Middlesex area who elect
a representative to the F.M.R.P.
Board of Directors.
Gordon Johnson and his wife
Florence reside in Woodham, Onta-
rio.
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