Frank Flaman walks past the snow blowers, post pounders and golf carts outside his Nisku, Alta., head office. What he really wants to show off are the five kinds of solar ovens propped against the building.
Flaman believes the simple metal and Plexiglas ovens, about the size of a small suitcase, could revolutionize living conditions in developing countries. He wants to donate them to families so they no longer need to spend most of their day collecting wood for cooking.
The ovens are part of Flaman’s new focus. After years spent selling grain bins and renting farm equipment to producers, he has now dedicated himself to helping people in other parts of the world.
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“Once you reach a certain level of business success, you start to focus on the needs of others,” said Flaman, who donates almost $1 million a year to charity.
Through the Frank Flaman Foundation, villages in Nicaragua have water, girls have been sent to school, eyesight has been restored to more than 5,000 people in developing countries and families have overcome poverty.
“I don’t need a million dollar home; I live in a two-bedroom condo and drive a Smart car.”
During a recent trip to Honduras, Flaman’s employees and family members poured a concrete floor in a woman’s dirt-floored home.
“You should have seen her smile.”
On another trip to Guatemala, Flaman and three others hiked to a remote mountain village without electricity, where he saw how solar-powered generators or solar-powered stoves could help the lives of the villagers.
Flaman also noticed how fit the villagers were.
“There were no fatsos,” said the slim 74-year-old who exercises daily.
Seventeen years ago Flaman was diagnosed with depression and doctors prescribed Prozac. Then Flaman discovered fitness.
“A good half hour of vigorous exercise will do more than any drug on the market.”
That interest in exercise and healthy living grew into one of the largest fitness retailers in the country, selling treadmills, elliptical machines and other fitness equipment through Flaman’s rental stores.
His business began in 1959 when he bought 10 grain bins at dealer pricing. He only needed four and sold the other six for a profit. Little by little the prairie grain bin business grew.
“I was blessed by a little good luck, a little good health and hard work.”
From his time on the family farm near Southey, Sask., Flaman knew that there was some equipment, such as post pounders, manure spreaders and horse trailers that farmers might need only once a year.
Flaman Rentals was born.
“I’ve been lucky, I’ve always been able to look ahead a bit.”
Flaman has been diagnosed with attention deficit disorder, and while the downside is disorganization and an inability to focus for long periods, the upside is a creative brain.
“I’m a new idea man. It doesn’t interest me to play golf, but give me a new idea.”
Each year Flaman travels to China to the world’s largest trade show, seeking new products for his stores.
One of them is an electric bicycle. While they’re not common yet, Flaman believes there is a potential market for them among city commuters. They just don’t know it yet.
