It’s quite an achievement to own and operate a business for 30 years and more so with your life partner and that’s exactly what David and Kim Smith have done.
The couple took over a 40 year old business from Howard and Val Timms in 1993 and the Pearl Denture Studio has been a successful Mullumbimby venture since then – celebrating their 30th year.
‘That time has truly flown by so fast but when you consider that we have also raised three children during that time it’s no wonder we didn’t notice,’ says Kim.
Significant achievements
David says these are milestones he hasn’t ever really thought about. ‘On reflection I feel these are significant achievements but at the same time nothing changes. Our commitment to our patients and community are the same every day. Our mission statement remains the same.
‘To provide the most advanced prosthetic treatments to our patients who have lost some or all of their natural teeth providing maximum restorative benefits whilst minimising negative impacts on the remaining delicate oral structures.’
The Timms family support highlights that Kim and David continued to follow in the steps of Howard’s legacy. ‘Just like the Timms family we have raised and schooled our family in Mullum and have all supported our local community and sporting codes. Our own children went to School with Howard and Val’s grandchildren, they also did nippers together and then became volunteers in the Brunswick SLSC. They are still supporting our community in their adult years being health professionals and tradesman locally.
A real privilege
It’s has also been important for the Smiths to be able to live and work in same place. ‘To provide a world class service not easily found even in our larger cities to a community in the Byron Shire is a real privilege,’ says David.
Kim says there is something special about living within the community you work in because you’re also supporting other family businesses. ‘These are the families our children grew up with and are still all local working adults. For me living local and working full time gave me the ability to do those things that parents nee to do like canteen duty, attend school events. We were able to support them during their whole school life and well into their adult life as well because we didn’t have to travel for work.
As a practitioner, David says that being able to offer a world best practice to a small community is a real achievement. ‘Kim and I are immensely proud of being able to contribute to health outcomes in a diverse community such a ours is a privilege. We feel truly blessed.’
