Who's your daddy?

If you live or cottage on the water, it just may be Steven Verrette, owner of Big Daddy's Docks in Orillia.

As an authorized dealer for Muskoka Leisure Docks & Marine Systems on Highway 11 North, just north of Severn Bridge, Verrette sells and installs docks and marine systems throughout Simcoe County and Muskoka.

The 150-pound-soaking-wet guy, with the big smile and easy-going attitude, admits the name can be a bit misleading - unless you know the entire story.

"When people hear the name they seem to have a preconceived image of a six-foot-six-inch balding man with a size 42-inch waist," laughs Verrette.

"My customers are always curious of how I came up with the name of Big Daddy's Docks. I explain to them that it comes with having a wife and five children (between the ages of four and 10)."

Verrette is a success story after the closing of Weston's Bakery productions in Orillia. For 15 years, he worked the night shift as a full-time dough mixer and for half of those years, installed and serviced docks in his spare time.

Once the bakery shut down its operation in Orillia, Verrette focused his attention on his business and soon connected with Tim Woods, manager of Muskoka Leisure Docks, who trained him to install their popular dock and marine systems.

The rest, as they say, is history. Verrette has expanded his staff from two to five installers and has a growing list of customers based largely on referrals.

Seasonal businesses like Verrette's can thrive in this area and provide good employment opportunities. The key is to manage cash flow during off-peak months, says Donna Hewitt, general manager of the Orillia Community Development Corporation.

"The challenge to those owners is they may have overhead expenses that they incur all year round, but they may not necessarily have cash coming in all year long," she points out.

"The big challenge for them is to make sure they do well in their prime season (and) put some cash away for those months that are lean."

As the number of cottagers and new waterfront housing grows in north Simcoe, so too, does Verrette's business. Like many other seasonal businesses in the

Orillia area, he is able to make enough money six months of the year to enjoy his family life during the other months.

"To some degree, it's not that much more different or extreme than a retailer that does the bulk of their business in the summertime," adds Hewitt.

"Winter is traditionally slower for some. So, they need to manage their money."

A cornerstone of the Orillia business community, the CDC recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. The non-profit organization assists start-up and existing small businesses with loans up to $125,000, as well as business support, and works with community groups to ensure jobs are created and maintained in the area.

The CDC is also actively involved in community partnerships and projects that help improve and enhance the economic development of the Orillia area.

While many successful businesses have gotten financial support through the CDC, Verrette is pleased that he has not had to seek financing for his growing business.

"I've been reinvesting my profits back into Big Daddy's Docks,"" he says.

"During my down time, I go to Muskoka Leisure to learn the trade of dock building and manufacturing."

He is most excited about the newest product of Muskoka Leisure Docks. The cedar Ultimate 5 x 10 Dock is making a huge splash throughout Simcoe County and Muskoka with its rust-proof aluminum frame and stainless-steel hardware.

Cheaper by the square foot than most other docks, it comes with a warranty that is twice as long (20 years).

"One of the special features is the regular flush-leg holders," notes Verrette.

"These allow the legs of the dock to be hidden by the decking. It's a premium Canadian-built dock that comes unassembled, is completely portable and can be configured to any shape or design to suit my customers' needs."

Complete, easy-to-follow instructions allows for do-it-yourselfers to install it themselves or hire Verrette and his crew to take care of it.

Because the Ultimate comes unassembled, any pieces that become damaged can be removed and taken to Muskoka Leisure Docks & Marine Systems for repair, unlike the old welded style of docks.

Big Daddy's Docks will have a booth at the Centre of Power Boat & Cottage Show at the Port of Orillia, Aug. 5-7. For more information, call 326-9167.