Have Allen Key,

Will Build

Furniture Assembler, Business Advisor

The most influential person in shaping David Bayda’s ‘just-do-it’ attitude was his late father: He owned a land surveying company, and liked to involve his family in a number of other ventures. David remembers, as a young lad, pulling the red wagon as they delivered papers around the neighbourhood, and helping at the ice cream stand. It was his father who instilled in him the passion of entrepreneurship and, through his example, taught him how important it is to love what you do.

As a Bachelor of Design student at the University of Alberta, David drew up a business plan for a course assignment. It was hardly a year after his graduation with distinction in 2005 that he decided to implement the plan.

“Basically, I go into peoples’ homes and put together furniture that they don’t want to build themselves. A lot of people don’t have the time, energy, tools, skills or even just the patience to put the furniture together.”

After a slow start, Ezemble Inc. caught the attention of retailers that sell ready-to-assemble furniture and equipment—everything from desks to bikes and barbecues—and they promote his services to customers.

The demand is high and even David didn’t anticipate the level of success that his company has reached. He recently landed a contract with IKEA to assemble all of its floor-sample furniture during its remodel. He went from being a one-person operation to hiring 10 full-time employees for the project.

But, David’s full-time job is as a business officer at The Business Link, where he counsels others in their efforts to start and grow small, independent businesses. David, 27, is passionate about his job.

“I love helping people and I love ideas and I love business.”

Besides his responsibilities at The Business Link during the day and Ezemble evenings and weekends, he and fellow graduates from the U of A are developing some environmentally conscious products. An innovative reusable grocery bag is ready for market.

With a notebook in his pocket to record the ideas that come to him daily, David is sure to be involved in many a new venture in the years to come.

- Written by Lauren Henrie, Edmontonians Sept 2009