There are moments in business when an opportunity comes along that can completely change the direction of your life. For Aaron Mullarkey, that opportunity came when he discovered the possibility of becoming an XPS store.
Today, Aaron is the owner of XPS Canada, with three distribution centers across Canada and training facilities in Calgary and Vancouver. But his story did not begin with distribution centers, classrooms, or dozens of students traveling across the country to learn epoxy flooring.
It started on the jobsite.
Aaron, originally from Ireland and now based in Calgary, Alberta, began his career as an epoxy installer. He understood what it meant to work with the materials, prepare floors, solve problems, and deliver finished projects for customers. That hands-on experience would eventually become one of his greatest strengths as a business owner and trainer.
Seeing an Opportunity With XPS
While working as an epoxy contractor, Aaron came across an opportunity to become an XPS store. Instead of simply scrolling past the opportunity, he decided to investigate it further.
That meant making the trip to South Florida to see the XPS operation firsthand.
Seeing the business in person gave Aaron the opportunity to understand what XPS was really about, from the products and equipment to the training and support provided to contractors. More importantly, it allowed him to see what could be possible in the Canadian market.
That trip ultimately led to the creation of XPS Canada.
What started with Aaron as an installer eventually developed into a growing business serving contractors and aspiring epoxy professionals across Canada.
From Installer to Instructor
One of the biggest challenges Aaron faced was transitioning from being an installer to teaching others.
Having technical knowledge and being able to communicate that knowledge to someone else are two different skills. Aaron had to overcome the initial nerves that come with standing in front of a classroom and teaching people how to perform a trade he had spent years learning himself.
His experience as an installer helped tremendously.
Because Aaron had already worked in the field, he understood the questions students would have and the challenges they would face once they left the classroom. He also took an XPS training class in South Florida, which gave him a blueprint for how the hands-on training could be structured.
Over time, the nerves became confidence.
Today, training is a major part of what XPS Canada offers.
Three-Day Hands-On Epoxy Training in Calgary
XPS Canada hosts a three-day intensive, hands-on epoxy training class in Calgary. Classes run from Friday through Sunday, making it easier for people with jobs and other commitments to attend.
Students travel from across Canada to participate.
Some come from Nova Scotia.
Others travel from Vancouver and Northern Canada. They make the trip because they want more than just information. They want hands-on experience that can help them understand how to actually install epoxy flooring.
That practical approach is important because epoxy is a trade where experience matters.
Students need to understand preparation, mixing, application, techniques, timing, and how different conditions can affect the final result. Being able to physically work with the materials gives students an opportunity to develop confidence before they begin taking on their own customers.
Student Success Is the Goal
For Aaron and his team, training is not simply about getting students through a three-day class.
The goal is to help students become successful.
As Aaron explains, the more successful the students are, the more successful XPS Canada becomes. That means providing students with knowledge and practical skills that they can actually use after they leave the classroom.
But technical knowledge is only one part of building a successful epoxy business.
Marketing matters too.
A contractor can be excellent at installing floors, but customers still need to find them. Building a recognizable brand, developing a professional image, creating content, and investing in marketing can all play an important role in turning technical skills into a sustainable business.
Learning the trade is the foundation. Learning how to market and sell that trade is what can help turn it into a business.
Working With Epoxy in the Canadian Climate
Operating an epoxy business in Canada comes with another challenge that contractors in warmer climates may not have to think about as much: extreme temperatures.
Winter plays a major role in how epoxy is installed in Canada.
When temperatures drop dramatically, contractors have to pay close attention to their working environment. Garages may need to be wrapped and heated to create conditions suitable for installation. Heaters can become an important part of the process, and using fast-cure products can make a significant difference during the colder months.
Temperature can affect how materials behave, so contractors need to understand their environment and plan accordingly.
For Aaron, working in Canada's climate has provided another layer of real-world experience that he can bring into the classroom.
Students are not just learning epoxy in an ideal environment. They are learning how to approach the challenges they are likely to encounter in their own Canadian projects.
Practice Makes Perfect
One of the best examples of student success Aaron shared involves a 22-year-old student in Calgary.
The student took the training class but did not have a large amount of money available to immediately invest in a complete business setup.
Instead of letting that stop him, he took a different approach.
He practiced.
He purchased kits every few weeks and used them to create small sample boards and practice his techniques at home. He spent time working on metallic designs and practicing on a slab until he began to understand how the materials moved and how he wanted to approach each project.
He was not rushing into customer jobs before he felt ready.
He was building his skills first.
That practice helped him find his flow and develop confidence in his technique.
Eventually, he went from practicing at home to creating beautiful floors for paying customers.
Now, at just 22 years old, he has built a successful epoxy installation business in Calgary.
His story is a great example of something Aaron emphasizes with his students: taking the class is only the beginning.
What you do with the knowledge afterward is what matters.
Building More Than a Business
Aaron's journey has brought him much more than business success.
Through XPS Canada, he has had the opportunity to meet contractors, students, business owners, and aspiring entrepreneurs from across the country.
Some of those professional relationships have turned into friendships that may last a lifetime.
Those relationships may never have happened if Aaron had not taken the chance to pursue the opportunity that eventually became XPS Canada.
That is one of the less obvious benefits of building a business. You are not only creating income or pursuing a career. You are putting yourself in situations where you meet people you otherwise may never have crossed paths with.
Growing XPS Canada
Aaron has continued to grow XPS Canada since opening the business.
Today, there are three distribution centers serving Canadian customers, including locations in Calgary, British Columbia, and Vancouver. Calgary and Vancouver also serve as training facilities.
Between the two training locations, approximately 40 students are trained each month.
That represents hundreds of people each year learning about epoxy flooring and exploring the possibility of turning those skills into a business.
The growth is a reflection of both the demand for epoxy flooring and the opportunity available to people who are willing to learn the trade and put in the work afterward.
Is Epoxy the Opportunity You've Been Looking For?
Aaron's story is a reminder that you do not always have to start with everything figured out.
He started as an installer.
He saw an opportunity.
He traveled to South Florida to learn more.
He took the chance.
And that decision eventually led to XPS Canada.
For people interested in learning epoxy flooring in Canada, hands-on training can be a starting point for developing the skills needed to enter the industry. But just like Aaron's 22-year-old student demonstrated, the classroom is only the beginning.
Practice. Build your skills. Learn how to market yourself. Build your brand. Take care of your customers. Keep learning.
The people who succeed are often the ones who continue putting in the work after the class ends.
And sometimes, one decision to pursue an opportunity can lead somewhere you never expected.
For Aaron, that journey took him from Ireland to Canada, from installer to instructor, and ultimately to building XPS Canada into a growing epoxy business and training network.
Ready to Learn Epoxy in Canada?
XPS Canada offers three-day intensive, hands-on epoxy training in Calgary, with additional training available through the Vancouver location. The Friday through Sunday format is designed to make training more accessible for working professionals and aspiring entrepreneurs.
If you're ready to learn the fundamentals, get hands-on experience, and explore what an epoxy flooring business could look like for you, XPS Canada can help you take the first step.
📞 Call XPS Canada: +1 (403) 702-6700
🌐 Learn more about Calgary epoxy training: Epoxy Training Calgary
Your business doesn't have to start with a perfect plan. Sometimes, it starts with learning a skill and deciding to see where it can take you.
