Any business must develop its own niche and perfect what it does well. Smith’s has built a loyal base with honesty, integrity and attention to detail. These are the linchpins and they can only be developed over time.

These traits flow in Steve Smith’s blood. Smith’s Window Service has served Prince Edward County residents with pride since the day Steve’s grandfather, Wayne, opened for business in 1945. 

After working for several years with Bell and developing his painting skills, he took on a contract with the company to clean, paint and maintain telephone booths from Picton to Whitney and east to Hawkesberry. In addition to this corporate contract, the business grew to serve commercial and residential needs in Prince Edward County and include interior and exterior painting. And, of course, window washing. 

From Grandpa Bob, to Father Wayne, and Son Steve, the shiny pick up trucks with Smith’s Window Service emblazoned on the side might have changed in make and colour over the years — but they remain a mainstay on Main Street.

“As a crew, we try to have a lot of fun and really try to focus on the small and medium jobs. We like to get right to work and see it all the way through in short order. We can take on the major projects and have done well with them, but it’s all about the customers and what their needs are,” said Steve Smith.

He notes his customer base has stayed loyal to the Smith family name through the generations.

“I’ll get a phone call from a long-standing customer, and it’s a pretty simple conversation,” he says with a laugh. “They say, ‘It’s been a few years, you know what needs to be done, the key is under the mat.’ We settle up when the job’s done. You know you’ve been in business a long time when there’s that level of trust.”

While window cleaning is the main line, Mr. Smith takes on exterior painting projects in July and August as well as pressure washing houses and deck projects. When the westerly winds start to blow cold in the fall, the crew gets busy with interior painting.

If there’s one element to the business that’s been passed along from Bob to Wayne to Steve, it’s the old farmer’s adage of making hay while the sun shines.

“We are always ready when the weather is good. You might get tempted to take a day off in the summer, but you can’t put off to tomorrow what you can get done today and I’ve always understood that part of business as it was passed down from my grandfather and my dad.”