Take 5 with Mark Phillips of Mystical Distributing, Trenton
At Alarm Systems, we love to take opportunities to highlight our clients and their contribution to this community. This week we interviewed community-driven entrepreneur Mark Phillips, owner of Mystical Distributing in Trenton.
Over 35 years Mystical Distributing has grown into one of Canada’s top fireworks suppliers and that growth has helped Mark invest in many more businesses in Quite West and give back to the community at every opportunity. We are so proud to be able to work with him and to help him keep an eye on those fireworks.
An Interview with Mark Phillips
Why did you choose to grow your business in Quinte West?
Mark immigrated to Canada over 40 years ago from Jamaica. Originally settling in Abbotsford, BC, when it came time to expand his distributing business he started looking for property in Ontario. There were many options around the GTA but he found a great opportunity in Trenton and took a chance. When he arrived in Trenton he fell in love with the region.
“I came out here and then I realized that I wasn’t going to send anybody else out here to run it. I was going to come out here myself. I never had any regrets we just by fluke ended up out here and it was the best thing that ever happened to me.”
Mystical Distributing has been operating out of Trenton for 18 years now and has grown into an international supplier of fireworks and novelty items. As his business has grown Mark has reinvested in many more businesses in Quinte West including construction, property management, storage units, and even a Dispensary.
You’ve been honoured multiple times by local organizations for your work in our community. Tell us about some of that work.
Mark supports programs and charities across the region and never misses an opportunity to give back to the community. He organizes and sponsors programs such as the YMCA, Hospice Quinte, and Military charity events. He also frequently supplies fireworks for large community events.
“It’s a pretty good community and I try to get involved and give where I can and do what I can and I’m pretty blessed to be part of this community.”
It’s little wonder Mark has been honoured by so many organizations in the region. He has been selected as the 2019 Business Person Of The Year and the 2020 Guardian Angel by the Children’s Foundation. What’s next for Mark?
“I haven’t gotten Dancing with the Stars yet,” he laughed.
What led you to the launch of your fireworks business?
One of Marks’s early businesses was selling fireworks from a van.
“My first office was the back of a van that didn’t run anymore, it was just stuck in my driveway. I’d warehouse them in there and then, take them and sell them to my customers. We just grew and grew, and I was smart enough to know that I was on to something good, but I needed to reinvest whatever profits that I made. So, I just kept reinvesting and we got a little bit bigger and bought a little bigger warehouse, a little more inventory and reached a few more customers. It’s been 35 years now and it’s still growing! Every year we get a little bit bigger and a little bit more diverse and from there we’ve managed to invest in other things.”
Today Mystical Distributing has two distribution centers in Canada, and has one of the biggest selections of fireworks in the country. While many large fireworks shows have been canceled in the past year due to the Pandemic, the high demand from individuals has supported Mystical Distributing. Who doesn’t like fireworks, right?
What would we most likely find you doing on the weekend?
At the end of a long week, Mark’s biggest joy is having a BBQ and a few beers with friends on the weekend. Although hanging out with friends is challenging right now, he can still enjoy a good BBQ. Mark loves to cook on the grill whether it is ribs, chicken wings or a good burger.
“What I’m most looking forward to when COVID starts to kind of die down, is being able to get together and just relax with friends even if it’s in the backyard.”
We discovered you started your first business selling comic books at school at the age of 13, what was your bestseller, and which comic was your personal favourite?
The entrepreneurial spirit struck early for Mark. He was renting comic books to his friends as early as 13. “I used to buy comic books. I remember back in the day, they cost me 15 cents each. And I used to rent them for five cents each so after three reads, they were paid for,” Mark explained.
His inventory included classics like Batman, Archie Comics, and his favourite, Superman. This business helped him collect hundreds of comic books and make a few dollars on the side. More importantly, it helped Mark understand some of the fundamentals of running a business like managing inventory, and extending & collecting credit which he did with the help of his friend Sammy, “there were a lot of lessons to be taken from that business.”
Thanks to Mark for taking the time to chat with us and for being part of the Alarm Systems family. Mystical Distributing is open for business online, I for one would love to get a hold of the “Times Square” package.
