This year marks Industrial Revolution’s 40th birthday. As a small, family run business that has never changed ownership or even location in the past four decades, we are aware that this is an incredibly special and rare milestone. Small business is essential to the local economy and to a community, as a whole. We are immensely proud to have served our Vancouver community of South Granville since 1981 and, after a particularly trying year, we hope to continue to do so for years to come. It certainly hasn’t always been easy. This past year has brought with it unprecedented road blocks that have tested small businesses in every community. We have all had to pivot, evolve and adapt in order to keep serving the communities that we call home. Some things remain the same, however, and these are what sets small business apart from the big box stores and massive online retailers. You could say, these are the secrets to our longevity.
1. Building relationships = Customer service excellence
The number one factor that has always set us apart from the big chains and online retailers is our relationships with our customers. From our first day in business in April 1981, we have maintained a pledge to get to know our customers, anticipate their needs and cultivate that relationship over the years. We remember you and the sofa you bought when you return years later to spruce up your dining room. We check in every so often to make sure you’re still enjoying those chairs. This is the number one advantage that a small business has over a large corporation. You are a human being and you deserve to be treated as such and by fellow humans. You will not experience this level of service and frankly, humanity when purchasing from a chain that views you as just a number.
2. We listen and we evolve
Our customers are our backbone and we understand the importance of listening to their feedback. Whether it be the suggestion that we carry a certain product, pivoting based on current trends and styles or constructive criticism regarding a certain business practice that may need improvement, our small stature makes us flexible and adaptable. We can’t count the number of times over the past four decades that we have changed and evolved based on our customer’s needs and the feedback of our community. This is something we are able to do and that we are able to do quickly, which is in stark contrast to the big box stores with miles of procedural red tape and antiquated standards.
3. We will never sacrifice quality
Our products have changed as our customer’s needs and desires have changed, but product quality is something we will not waver on. We firmly stand by our products and this consistency has propelled us over the years. We partner with suppliers who’s products we can stand behind. Quality and longevity is of the utmost importance, but we also value factors such as domestic production and environmentally sustainable practices. With this said, we want to make sure that our customers are confident in every aspect of their experience with us which is why we also have a longstanding best price guarantee. You can rest assured that not only are you getting superior quality, but you will never pay more for the same product anywhere else.
4. Our team is a family
Perhaps the most unique aspect of our business’ longevity is the fact that many members of our team have been witnesses and active participants in our evolution. Our team is and always has been a family, both in the traditional sense of the word – our president runs the business alongside his daughters – but also in the metaphorical sense. We have multiple team members who have been with us for decades and they are appreciated and respected as much as any customer who walks through our doors. Our team and their longevity both make and run our small, but mighty machine. It is because of them and their loyalty that you will be greeted by name five years after your last visit, that your home needs will be anticipated before you have really wrapped your mind around what it is you’re searching for and that you will receive a phone call or an e-mail checking in on how your bed is holding up from the same person who served you years prior. We consider ourselves immensely fortunate that our business has stood the test of time and we owe this success to our entire family of customers and staff.
CHEERS TO 40 YEARS!