..hard work and dedication on a consistent basis, hence the reason we're still around and in the business with a reputable name.
Q & A With CEO and Renovation Technician of iLevel Contracting, Ian Bal
How did you come up with the idea to start iLevel Contracting and what purpose did you intend to serve with the concept?
Having undergone experience with a few different contractors in my early 20's, I found myself in a predicament in which I though it was better for the industry that I entered it on my own, providing excellent customer service, along with a great quality product. Having a father that owned his own business in the past also helped encourage me to venture out into entrepreneurship.
Which milestones have marked meeting benchmarks towards the fulfillment of your personal goals/ the company's vision and goals?
When we first began, we went out into the industry with the mentality of putting our customers first and everything else, after.
Since we've started, we've accumulated a variety of awards and accreditations from different companies (TrustedPros, Houzz, CBRB etc...). These were all earned by hard work and dedication on a consistent basis, hence the reason we're still around and in the business with a reputable name.
Which steps have you taken for the company to achieve the level of consumer trust that has been nationally recognized?
There's honestly been a variety of steps that we've taken to ensure we hit the level of customer satisfaction and trust throughout the years we've been in business. A couple of key highlights are our communication and simply put, being polite and engaging, on and off the site.
What part of your education or other experiences do you feel was the most helpful in preparing you for success?
In all honesty, I believe just having the "general" experience starting from a young age, as well as being in the moment when doing the work, on a consistent basis, has been most helpful in preparing for success.
Which strategies have you found the most effective in growing your audience/ bringing awareness of your service to a larger consumer group?
Our most effective way of growing our audience/ customer base has been majorly word-of-mouth. We've spent our yearly budget, to-date, with regards to any online or outside advertising. We try our best to keep on top of and post regularly on our social media accounts; we aim to keep our current and past clients engaged and up-to-date on our current projects (hopefully, keeping them interested).
• www.instagram.com/ilevelcontracing
• www.facebook.com/ilevelcontracting
Are there any challenges that made it difficult to continue operation and that you managed to overcome? What was your approach to get past these?
The pandemic was a HUGE kink in our operations, especially right at the beginning. In accordance with the law, we complied and were forced to shut down our operations for roughly three months, in which our sales decreased, dramatically. With that said, in the meantime, we did a fantastic job making use of our time by chasing leads and answering calls to get us set up for what we didn't realize was going to be the beginning of a healthy upward trend in our business and growth, going into 2020 and 2021'.
How do you balance work, passions/hobbies, and relationships?
In all honesty, right now I don't have the healthiest balance between work, relationships and hobbies... Tough times come with tough measures, however, I'm staying optimistic that the near future will give me the opportunity to expand my horizons again with some additional benefits - if I play my cards right.
What are your future plans to build on your achievements and fulfill your vision for success, and what developments can your audience or clientele look forward to expecting next?
At the moment, we're slowly looking to expand into different avenues of the industry. In the near future, I'm looking to partner up or start up another business that will help us grow our portfolio of projects, as well as expand our network of colleagues and beneficial connections.
What advice would you like to give readers that hope to achieve success in your field?
If there's one piece of advice I could honestly give someone in this industry of work reading this, it's to have patience, get into some sort of comfortable routine, and try to find yourself a healthy balance between your work and personal life.
We thank Ian for sharing these insights and experiences with Winner Magazine's readers. If you are looking for residential or commercial remodelling or renovations in the Greater Toronto Area, we would recommend reaching out to Ian at iLevel Contracting!