BoQ Business Spotlight: A1 Plumbing
Owned and operated by brothers Jeff and Nathan McKerracher, A1 Plumbing, Pumps & Water Treatment Inc. has been serving the Bay of Quinte region since 2011, when their father, Randy, and brother, Cory, started the business.
Jeff McKerracher, a Bay of Quinte 40 UNDER 40 winner, described the former business model as an “owner operator style, with one or two employees.” But Jeff and Nathan saw the demand for their services and potential for growth if they scaled the local, family-run, fast and friendly service approach started by their father and brother. Jeff and Nathan acquired the business in 2018 when Cory accepted a full-time position with Quinte West Fire Department, and Randy contemplated retiring. Since then, A1 Plumbing now has over 40 employees and continues to grow every year.
Doing Business in the Bay of Quinte
A1 Plumbing, a member of the Quinte Home Builders’ Association, has always called the Bay of Quinte home. Previously headquartered in Frankford, they are now located in the North Murray Industrial Park in Trenton. In Jeff’s opinion, being headquartered in Quinte West is perfect for their business.
“Quinte West is amazing. As much as we service the entire Bay of Quinte region, Quinte West feels most like home. We have found a very supportive business community, and this has led to my work on the Quinte West Chamber of Commerce,” Jeff told us. “This is home for Nathan and me. We are born and raised here. We’ve always felt blessed to operate a business in this area. The Bay of Quinte is nearly halfway between Ontario’s two largest cities, Prince Edward County is just south of us, and plenty of beautiful towns, villages and cottage country to our north. This region has its perks both personally and for business,” he continued.
Taking Over
Taking over a business isn’t the easiest thing to do, and Jeff and Nathan weren’t without their challenges. One of their biggest hurdles was scaling up while modernizing their business.
“Modernizing a traditional trades business while scaling rapidly posed challenges in systems, culture, training, and brand development. Balancing growth with consistent quality was a major focus for us,” Jeff explained.
“We quickly began networking on an international level through online community groups, hearing stories and strategizing with other home service business operators across Canada and the US. We eventually joined a best practice organization known as Nexstar Network, which provided us with business coaching, systems and training for ourselves and our team,” said the local entrepreneur.
A1 In the Community
As a way to give back to the community they call home, A1 Plumbing started the A1 in the Community program. Jeff described the program as “a testament to our dedication to making a positive impact on the lives of those around us. Created to support local charities and organizations, this monthly charitable giveaway has become a heartwarming initiative that brings people together.”
Every month, they feature three local charities, giving them a chance to receive a $500 cash donation and a promotional video produced by local production company, Lavender Lane Media. Once the contenders are selected, they have the entire month to gather votes from around the region. They rely on the power of community engagement to determine the winner, in the hope of promoting a sense of unity and shared purpose.
Some former winners include Hastings & Prince Edward Learning Foundation, Food for Learning, Children’s Safety Village, and Hospice Quinte.
A1 Plumbing also offers a Trades School Scholarship at five local high schools. Each year, one student from Bayside Secondary School, Trenton High School, Eastside Secondary School, Centennial Secondary School, and East Northumberland Secondary School is selected to receive $500 in cash and a $500 tool shopping experience. This experience includes a tour of A1’s shop with one of the owners, and a guided trip to purchase tools for the student’s trade of choice.
Students don’t need to be entering plumbing specifically to win, but they must demonstrate an alignment with A1 Plumbing’s guiding principles: collaboration, community, growth, professionalism, and energy.
Looking Ahead
The future is bright for A1 Plumbing, and they aren’t slowing down. We asked Jeff what the year ahead will look like for A1, and he told us, “We are continuing to refine systems and processes to streamline our team’s efficiency and increase their earnings. The new year is about investing in our team, training and compensation. If we want to be the best for our customers, we have to be the best for our team.”
It’s clear that growth is a major value for A1 Plumbing, which shows in their vision statement:
“By 2035, A1 Plumbing will be a multi-trade, multi-location home service company with branches along Ontario’s 401 corridor. Quinte West will be our flagship — the headquarters and model branch that sets the standard for every new location.
Our Quinte West team will lead the way, building the systems, culture, and service that power company-wide success. We will train and support new branches — creating real opportunities for today’s team to grow, lead, and advance their careers.
In every community we serve, A1 will be the household name, the first choice for customers, and the career destination for top-tier talent.”
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