Help Wanted!
Published: Wednesday, December 19, 2018
Help Wanted
Seems like there was a canvas shop every few miles along the shore, back in the ’70s through the ’90s. But, something happened in the boat canvas industry beginning in the mid ’90s and the changes — some good, some bad — have taken 20 years to settle out. What’s left is a BIG demand for custom canvas services and the job opportunities for you are plentiful!
Boat canvas is an art. Like sewing wedding dresses or building Swiss watches, the old-world methods are still the preferred choice among the affluent yacht owner, the traditional sailor, or by a boat enthusiast who simply wants the best. Those who know the art of canvas making can replicate the art. With technology, the art is often augmented with computers and machinery. Yet, the artificial replication of a perfect canvas begins with the human touch, the art of fitting. Like a tailor who makes men’s suits, the canvas artist can make the perfect “suit” for your boat.
Successful canvas shops are busy! As I talk to my associates around the world, especially in the United States and Canada, it is not surprising to hear that shops are booked up a year in advance. Why? In the mid 1990s, large companies in the textile business went after the boat canvas market at the manufacturing level, offering mass-produced canvas products at a lower price to the builders. Up to that time, canvases had been made in the boat builder’s factory by in-house canvas shops. Even though mass-producers typically cannot make boat canvas with the same high quality and perfect fit as the old-world tailors, the manufacturers saw bigger profits. The individual canvas shops, in response to the mass-producers’ low-price threat, chose the wrong path. Instead of putting more quality into their work, canvas shops tried to cut corners in order to compete with mass producers. They failed miserably and, as the old timers hit retirement age, the younger generation could not see the boat canvas industry as a good business opportunity.
Those remaining canvas shops who weathered through the new millennium quite well and are successful today all have one thing in common: unmatched quality. Each year, these dedicated canvas shop owners looked to improve their products, improve their skills, adapt to the new boat styles, and stay the course. It paid off! While mass-production canvases are still sold with the new boat, boat owners desire a “custom” canvas when it’s time to replace, and they are willing to pay a premium for perfection.
When the time comes for a replacement decision, the boat owner has three choices: 1) Get on the canvas shop’s list — and potentially wait for a long time; 2) Buy a factory replacement canvas — which may not fit perfectly or last as long; 3) or go the DIY route and try to make it themselves — with no guarantees.
Boaters of all types have come to appreciate the canvas which fits perfectly, lasts longer, and is easier to use — so many choose to wait. Job opportunities abound! Successful canvas shops are booked up and running behind schedule. Successful canvas shops are hiring because their demand is high. However, canvas shop owners cannot afford the 
time to train people over the next five years. Instead, they are seeking skilled people and there are few of those. Even the self-taught and DIY folks are simply not skilled enough. So, shop owners are turning to Canvas Training Schools for employees. In fact, some shops will offer to pay for their employees to be trained at a canvas school. Others will reimburse professionally-trained new-hires their training expenses!
If you are interested in learning the art of custom boat canvas or marine upholstery, contact a professional canvas shop or training facility near you. There is likely a job waiting for you!
Sincerely,
The Boat Canvas Industry
This article first appeared in the Year End Issue (Nov/Dec) 2018 of Great Lakes Scuttlebutt magazine.
tags: Canvas & Upholstery, Education, Job Opportunites
