Family run business going strong

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This article was published 20/06/2023 (841 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Ted Bradford worked for the Canadian National Railway as both an operator and train dispatcher, and was later hired by the Watkins Company as a salesman and trainer. He had a family and was actively involved with his church and his community. Bradford was a busy man who valued his family over chores and tasks and wanted to have time to spend with his wife and children.

So in 1974, he created Variclean Maid Service. The cleaning company would free up time for people by allowing others to come in and look after cleaning their home. The idea quickly took hold and today Variclean is Winnipeg’s oldest cleaning company, looking ahead at celebrating 50 years in business next year.

In 2004 when Ted died, his wife Rheta took over the company, and Ralph Hoehne, married to the couple’s youngest daughter, Joanne, stepped in to assist with the business side of things. Rheta died a few years ago, and all four of their children, while no longer living in Winnipeg, remain the owners of the company.

“All of the kids are still excited about having the company. It’s still all in the family,” said Hoehne.

The local staff of 24 that look after every aspect of the day-to-day operations have continued the family traditions of dedication and hard work.

“They run it like it’s theirs,” said Hoehne about the staff. “It’s really an employee-driven company, the leadership there has done an amazing job, almost like a family, they run it that way. The whole thing is run by women, it’s a great success story. It’s the gals that have run this and have kept the company and the workers well-trained. They’re doing a phenomenal job.”

When general manager Louise Cadieux first applied at Variclean she was looking for a Monday-to-Friday daytime job, and found one.

“As time passed I felt a sense of great pride and satisfaction doing a job of integrity and perfection for our customers,” said Cadieux, who’s been with Variclean for 40 years. “Giving our customers the enjoyment of a clean home so that they can spend more time with their families.

“I have enjoyed getting to know our customers as well as our valued employees, which are the backbone of this company. Our employees are very important to me. They put their pride and effort into their work every day, ensuring a consistent and quality service is provided. As our website states, ‘Anything worth doing is worth doing well.’”

Cadieux’s niece Carmen Gerardy started working at Variclean over 20 years ago.

“At the time I was looking for a job that would fit my growing family’s life, as I wanted to be there in the evenings and on weekends with my kids,” said Gerardy, whose daughter also worked with the company to help pay for her education. “As time went on this job has allowed me to witness all the important things in my family’s life that a job that has shift work would not have allowed.

“The women who work here are one of the key reasons I have remained with Variclean all these years. I have formed bonds and friendships with many that will last me a lifetime. Our employees care about our customers and each other. Team work is at the core of what we do. This company would not be what it is today if it were not for our valuable employees. They work so hard at a job that many would not want to do because they value their work and see purpose in it.”

With next to no advertising, the female-run business continues to be a success story. In an age where social media plays a major role in getting the word out, Hoehne says their company relies on word of mouth.

“We don’t spend a lot of money of advertising, minimal presence in advertising,” said Hoehne. “We are right now having to turn business away because we can’t handle the volume.”

Hoehne attributes the success and longevity of the family owned business to a mix of things with integrity at the top of the list.

“Management is well-trained. We have a lot of people who’ve been with us 25, 30 years, long-term staff. People are respected and honoured. If you don’t have good staff you don’t have a company. Staff are prepared and trained, and sent in groups of people into homes. One in the bathroom, one in the kitchen: they have specialty areas. They literally come in — within an hour or two — they’re in quick and gone. It works really well for people.

“We don’t try to cut a corner. We don’t make excuses. If people feel we’ve messed up we go back and fix the problems. We try to resolve and go the extra step. We’ve had some customers for 40 years. We try to keep the staff happy too, and honour them. We want to make sure they get properly and adequately treated. We strive to be the best and hope that in the future we will continue to grow.”

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca