Friday, June 22, 2012

Painting lets students earn money, learn business skills

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A university student from Wetaskiwin is running a painting business to earn next year’s tuition – and she’s hiring other students.
StudentWorks Painting is a company that hires post-secondary students to paint interiors and exteriors for residential and commercial buildings. It also hires students to manage those painters.
Taylor Denham, who’s taking a bachelor of commerce at Grant MacEwan University in Edmonton, is responsible for running the company in Wetaskiwin.
“I am the franchisee, basically the owner and the operator of the Leduc, Wetaskiwin and Camrose divisions,” she said.
“There’s about 130 franchisees in Western Canada and we’re all university students.”
While Denham and her employees have done around 50 painting jobs so far, they are looking for more until the end of the summer.
Those interested in having painting done can get a free estimate that takes one-to-two hours.
During that estimate, Denham will examine what needs to be done, show the potential client a portfolio of previous jobs, and then present a price.
Any painting done comes with a three-year guarantee and the company has $4 million liability insurance.
Those interested in having some painting done can contact Denham at 780-387-8972.
StudentWorks also raises money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
“We’re the national sponsor for them, so we’ve raised more than $600,000 towards their cause,” Denham said. “Ten dollars from each job is donated to them.”
The company also matches any donations to the society made by clients.
Denham said she is looking for more employees.
“I am hiring painters,” she said, adding that those interested should email a resume to tay.denham@gmail.com.
One of those painters, Megan Akerstrom, is working to raise money for her next year as an interior design technology student at Lakeland College.
“One of my friends suggested it,” she said. “Then me and another friend applied and we both got it.”
Akerstrom said that she doesn’t mind the work and likes working outside.
“I like it. It’s a different thing everyday,” she said. “You get to work with people you’re friends with too, so (work) goes a lot easier.”

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