Keeping your eye on the prize

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This article was published 26/02/2021 (2037 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

While starting a brand new side business in the middle of a pandemic is a financially risky prospect, Dylan Monk is perfectly willing to roll the dice.

Last fall, this 22-year-old Brandonite and his friend Seth Henderson set up Btown Powersports and Small Engine Repair inside a family member’s garage and have been working to gradually build up a customer base by offering to service ATVs, lawnmowers, dirt bikes, snowmobiles and weed trimmers.

“We started with probably about $120 in our pockets and worked our way up from there,” Monk said on Tuesday.

Even though Monk told the Sun that he and Henderson are starting to get the handle on how things work, he admits that they still have a lot to learn.

After all, Btown Powersports marks their first major business venture, with the pair only recently getting out of high school.

However, this change of pace suits Monk perfectly, since he told the Sun earlier this week that he never really thrived in a traditional classroom environment.

“I’ve always been a hands-on kind of guy. I was never into school that much. It didn’t interest me a whole lot,” he said. “I talked to one of my family members about renting out their garage, so that’s what we did and that’s kind of where we’re at now.”

Currently, Monk and Henderson still hold down full-time jobs, and are tackling most of their Btown Powersports business after work or over the weekends.

While this doesn’t leave the pair with a lot of free time, Monk said he really doesn’t mind, since tinkering with snowmobiles and other machines has been a passion of his since as far back as he can remember.

“My dad actually had me on a sled when I was probably three years old,” he recalls. “I still remember my first time. I had the biggest smile on my face. The feel of the motor and the rumble and whatnot … it’s something I get excited about every time.”

As the years went by, Monk also discovered that repairing and refining these machines came very naturally to him, and actually provided him with a way to focus his mind.

And with this new setup at his disposal, Monk said he’s able to really lose himself in this work, especially over the weekends.

“Now I can get up, shower, get ready, leave and come here, put my hands and my mind to work. And then, before I know it, it’s four, six o’clock,” he said. “When my mind’s in it, I lose track of time.”

Admittedly, 2021 isn’t the best year for any local entrepreneur to try to spread their wings, since COVID-19 is still limiting most small businesses and their ability to operate.

But while the pandemic is still a major concern, Monk revealed that performing maintenance on ATVs and snowmobiles is still in high demand, since many Westman residents are seeking the great outdoors more and more to escape the tedium of lockdown conditions.

“Everyone seems to be occupied with going out right now,” he said. “And prices on sleds actually went up a lot this year. I could have sold my (Arctic) Cat for a good five grand. Last year, it was only worth around $1,500.”

Looking into the future, Monk and Henderson are hoping to move out of their current shop and set up a larger storefront with much better access to the public.

Ideally, Monk said he would like to expand this business to the point where he and Henderson could operate the shop on a full-time basis.

And while nothing is certain right now, especially under COVID conditions, the 22-year-old remains committed to this new business venture and encourages other like-minded people to follow suit if they have the drive.

“It’s all about risks, right?” he said. “If you’re not willing to take those risks, then you’re not going to really be able to move forward.”

Anyone looking to book an appointment with Btown Powersports and Small Engine Repair can contact Monk directly at 204-720-6672.

» kdarbyson@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @KyleDarbyson