Fibrenew Edmonton: A Customer Service Company That Happens to Restore Leather, Plastic & Vinyl

 

 To operate a successful business takes a lot of elbow grease, products and services that solve people’s problems, and — perhaps most importantly — an understanding of customer service. Don Barnhouse gets it. Spending more than 35 years in a family-run grocery industry, working several different positions and managing a variety of groups means he has a lengthy, proven track record of treating people with respect.

“I’d say customer service is why we’ve done as well as we have,” he comments. “Be honest, upfront. If you say you’re going to do something, do it.”

Fibrenew Edmonton has been a thriving franchise for over 20 years, and with Barnhouse’s leadership since 2010, has secured a leading spot in the area’s leather, plastic and vinyl restoration and repair market. Serving a region of well over a million people leaves no room for slacking.  

“We’ve got high end stuff and low end — it’s a mix. Some days you see bonded leather and some days you see genuine leather. Sometimes people want to spend a lot of money to get the job done quick, and other days you meet people who are trying to save a dollar but still want quality.”

 With such a diverse demographic — from downtown apartment dwellers to acreage owners an hour past city limits — Barnhouse appreciates each atypical day and does the quoting and scheduling himself, allowing his two technicians the best opportunity to service the franchise’s territory most efficiently. To assist with Fibrenew Edmonton’s service calls, Barnhouse also has a reliable upholstery tech who pitches in when needed, and a skilled contractor who provides his expertise for siding service calls. Throwing another dynamic into the mix: Barnhouse’s wife Karin is a costume designer for a local theatre company, so really knows her way around a sewing machine... read more!

I Don’t Just Repair Your Leather – I’m Also a Car Guy

You may think of me as your friendly leather, vinyl, and plastic expert, but beside that and other hobbies, I’m also a big car enthusiast. Even my Fibrenew vehicle is a showcase of my hobby – it’s a custom built BMW station wagon that started life as a 2003 325i wagon residing in a tiny town in Vermont. I bought it for a song, after the owner told me the engine was shot (it wasn’t – I fixed and sold it).

I then bought the full drive train from a 2005 BMW M3 and with the help of a very kind and knowledgeable friend named Paul, installed all those parts into the wagon.  Everything under the metal shell is from the M3 – the subframes, full suspension (upgraded to coilovers), brakes, steering, engine, transmission, differential, etc.

I’m also attaching some photos here for those who are car enthusiasts. I will have it out at local car events regularly and you should even watch for it to be lapping VIR (Virginia International Raceway) this coming fall with the BMW CCA Tarheel Chapter. Yes, my Fibrenew car will make a fun track car as well! read more!