Keeping busy, helping others

Transcona

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This article was published 17/01/2024 (601 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

For one Transcona couple, making things for others just comes naturally.

Michelle King and Steve Dupras met while they were in high school. Dupras began installing flooring during that time, and started his own flooring business in 2004, a couple of years after graduating. After working retail for a number of years, King joined him in the business before the couple had a son in 2015. Around that time, King built a cat post for a customer — and the rest, as they say, is history.

Today, while King and Dupras still install flooring as their full-time jobs, King builds high-quality cat and dog furniture on the side, while Dupra has made a name for himself as a metal worker.

“We got into it because we love animals,” King said of her business. “We started by word of mouth. When we were doing jobs, if people had cats, we’d let them know. People started liking it more and more so we started a Facebook page.”

Using construction-grade lumber and with access to a wide range of carpet options, Winnipeg Custom Pet Furniture offers cat trees, climbers, and anything else a pet-owner might dream up.

“I have a couple models I make, but if people have a design, we can create our own thing. People choose their own carpet. Anything to help, we’ll make. We also do dog stairs, dog ramps. Anything for animals, really,” King said. “We’ve never had a post break, we’ve never had a complaint. You can get stuff cheaper on Amazon, but you get what you pay for. My price, I feel is comparable to what you’d see in a pet store.”

Meanwhile, Dupras has turned a passion for metalwork into a thriving side business of his own.

“Back in 2014, I got hooked on the Forged in Fire show,” Dupras said. “I figured I’d try it. I built a forge, found myself an anvil, grabbed my first hammer and started learning.”

Since then, Dupras Metal Works has been turning out knives, hammers and barbecue tools, among plenty of other high-quality metal items and pieces of metal art.

“It’s enjoyable, getting the steel hot and watching it move under the hammer,” Dupras said. “What gets me is that I’m making something that will serve a purpose and outlast me. To me, that’s a wonderful feeling, that this thing will provide a service and last forever.”

The side gigs provide the young family, which also volunteers with Winnipeg Lost Cat Alert, with both added income and a sense of pride and giving back to the community.

“It keeps us busy and gives us a feeling of satisfaction,” Dupras said.

“I’m happy to help the poor animals be able to get where it needs to go and to spoil these animals,” King added. “It’s nice knowing I can help.”

Winnipeg Custom Pet Furniture can be found on Facebook, while Dupras Metal Works’ webstore, duprasmetalworks.com will be live in the coming weeks.