B’nai Jacob Golden Book

The Parker family’s Flexo Products Limited, a well-established company based in Niagara Falls, Ontario is known for manufacturing and distributing cleaning products and janitorial supplies. The company’s roots trace back to 1918, when it was founded, and it has remained a family-owned business across multiple generations of the Parker family.

The story begins with the company’s establishment, initially focused on processing cotton rags into reusable cleaning towels. Over the decades, Flexo Products evolved significantly, expanding its product line and services. A notable milestone came in 1940 when the company secured a military contract to supply 25,000 mops for the Canadian armed forces, reflecting its early growth and adaptability.

Stephen Parker, a key figure in the family and the company’s modern history, represents the fourth generation of Parkers involved in Flexo. He took over the business from his father in 1988, marking the beginning of a transformative era. Stephen, an engineer by training and a graduate of the University of Toronto, shifted the company toward manufacturing its own products, a departure from its earlier distribution-focused model. Under his leadership as President and CEO, Flexo expanded from a modest staff of 10 to 77 employees across three locations by 2011. This growth included the establishment of a sizable chemical manufacturing plant and multiple warehouses across Canada, such as in Toronto, Cambridge, Beamsville, and Vancouver.

Stephen’s tenure has been marked by innovation and recognition. In 2010, he received a Family Enterprise Award at the Niagara Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, acknowledging his success in growing the business while maintaining its family-owned character. His vision emphasized not only physical expansion but also the integration of technology, such as a comprehensive ERP system to enhance operational efficiency and an e-commerce platform to improve customer access.

The Parker family’s commitment to Flexo is also reflected in the involvement of Stephen’s son, Caleb Parker, who serves as the Chief Technology Officer. With over a decade of experience in business development and technology, Caleb has contributed to modernizing the company, which now boasts a product portfolio exceeding 10,000 SKUs and serves a wide range of clients, including schools, healthcare facilities, hotels, and industrial sectors across Canada.

Throughout its history, the Parker family has maintained Flexo’s core mission of providing innovative cleaning solutions while adapting to changing market demands. From its humble beginnings with cotton rags to its current status as a leading Canadian supplier of janitorial products, the company’s evolution under the Parker family’s stewardship highlights their enduring legacy in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

When Flexo Products started in 1918, cotton was king when it came to cleaning. The Niagara Falls firm would process cotton rags, turning them into reusable cleaning towels. As time went on, the company expanded their services and product line. In 1940, they were awarded a military contract to provide 25,000 mops for the Canadian armed forces. These days, Flexo offers hundreds of cleaning products, many of which are made locally in Niagara Falls. One thing that has not changed in 93 years of business is the family-owned nature of the firm. Current CEO Stephen Parker is the great-grandson of Flexo’s founder. Parker took over Flexo from his father in 1988, and has overseen a significant expansion in the firm’s fortunes and product lines.

“When I started here, we weren’t making anything. Because I was an engineer I got us started into making products. We starting making cleaning chemicals, floor waxes, hand soaps, de-greasers. Now we’re both a manufacturer and distributor. We make about a third of what we sell,” Parker said. Since 1988, the company has also expanded from a staff of 10 to 77 employees working at three sites. In honour of this success, Stephen was recently presented with a Family Enterprise Award at the 2010 Niagara Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.

“I’m surprised I’m won. There’s were some excellent people in the room. You don’t really expect them call your name, and when they do it’s a really nice thing,” said Parker of the win. He outlined some of this plans for the company, including expanding the service area and continuing to provide cutting edge online service to their clients.

“Ten years ago I never thought we’d be in some of the things we are now. Things like computers and ordering logistics are becoming more and more important. People are sometimes less concerned about the product than whether we can get it to them in time,” said Parker. He said he was not sure if any of his children, now grown, would follow in his footsteps and get involved with the family business, but said he was not worried. He gives his children same advice as his father gave him.

“My used to say to me, ‘Don’t come until you’re ready.’ And that’s what I did.”