It’s clear! The Sunshine Coast is great for small business.

It is with military precision that Craig Stowers installs his beautiful glass fences, balustrades and stairwells, so it comes as little surprise to learn that he served nearly two decades in the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

Following a decision to leave the ADF and in order to spend more time with his young family, Craig relocated to Dubai where he trained the UAE Army in counter-terrorism for nine years.

When it was time to return to Australia in 2014, Craig and his wife Jenny decided the Sunshine Coast was where they would begin their new life and eventually establish a glass fencing business.

 “The Sunshine Coast has everything a big city has without the hustle and bustle,” Craig said.

“It also provides a secure, safe haven for our family, and it is a great place to start and grow a business because it’s affordable and there are plenty of opportunities."

Craig completed his Certificate III in Landscape Construction and gained a Pool Safety Inspectors Licence. He and Jenny then started See-Thu Clear Fencing in 2015.

With Jenny taking care of the marketing and administration, Craig does the quoting, measuring and installation.

The business is thriving and was included in Queensland Government's recent “100 Faces of Small Business” list.

Craig and Jenny chose to produce only frame-less glass fences and focus on being the best at it. Installations are made using marine grade spigots and each site is finished and left in a pristine state for the new owners to enjoy immediately.

Craig has applied his incredibly disciplined background and learnings to the business, reviewing every job by asking, “how did that go today? Could we have done it better?”

The constant reassessing and high standards have won Craig loyal clients who recommend him time and again. 

And he is not just forging great relationships with clients. Craig says the Sunshine Coast Council are incredibly helpful when he is asked to assess challenging jobs regarding pool compliance.

“I have a great relationship with the certifying team at the council. They are incredibly helpful in providing feedback and guidance on tricky jobs, which saves everyone time and money, and means we can get it right the first time.”

Craig doesn’t like mistakes and expects nothing short of perfection in every job he installs. His personal mantra is “it’s not doing something until you get it right – it’s doing it until you can’t get it wrong.”

There is no doubt that his work ethic and exacting standards have contributed to the growth and success of See-Thru Clear Fencing, but they are only just warming up.

Always searching for continued personal and business growth Craig and Jenny plan to apply for an additional QBCC licence that would allow high rise installations and are working to align themselves with other companies, and trades, who share their values and take pride in the delivery of quality workmanship.

Looking back at the past three years Craig says they made the right decision when choosing to call the Sunshine Coast home.

“The Sunshine Coast has given us a wonderful lifestyle together with a comfortable income. There is so much opportunity here as a result of the growth we are experiencing and the Sunshine Coast really embraces new people, and start-ups, so it just works.

“Add to that a supportive council, and business community who go out of their way to help you succeed, it’s the obvious choice if you are thinking of relocating.

“We are so glad we chose the Sunshine Coast and we are here to stay".