OLD FASHION MUSKOKA BUSINESS - WE LIKE IT THIS WAY
WE TOOK A CHANCE, AND INVESTED IN THE MAIN STREET OF GRAVENHURST…..WHAT A SAVVY BUSINESS MOVE
OUR FAMILY CUT THROUGH THE RHETORIC, THE DOOMSAYING, SKY-IS-FALL PREDICTIONS, KEPT THE BLINKERS ON, AND BACKED OUR SONS, ANDREW AND ROBERT, WHEN THEY DECIDED TO OPEN THEIR VINTAGE MUSIC AND GUITAR SHOP, IN GRAVENHURST. THAT WAS SEVEN YEARS AGO, BY THE WAY. WE WERE TOLD OUR BUSINESS PLAN, WAS THE TRUE "IMPOSSIBLE DREAM," AND THAT IT WOULD "NEVER WORK IN GRAVENHURST." FRIENDS AND FAMILY THOUGHT WE WERE NUTS, AND TRIED TO CONVINCE US IT WAS BETTER TO OPEN THE VINTAGE MUSIC SHOP ON THE MAIN STREET OF BRACEBRIDGE. BUT WHAT WE SAW IN THE FORMER MUSKOKA THEATRE, WAS A UNIQUE FORMER ENTERTAINMENT VENUE, THAT HAD A LOT GOING FOR IT……PARTICULARLY ITS PROXIMITY TO THE GRAVENHURST OPERA HOUSE…..AND CENTRAL BUSINESS LOCATION. WE DID OUR OWN SURVEYS AND IT ALL CHECKED OUT. WE DON'T HAVE MONEY TO RISK, SO WE ALWAYS PERFORM OUR DUE DILIGENCE, TO MAKE SURE WE CAN COUNT ON A RETURN FROM THE INVESTMENT. LONG TERM RETURNS ARE FINE. WE JUST NEED SOMETHING TO RISE FROM THE CULTIVATED GROUND.
AFTER THE FIRST YEAR, CUSTOMERS WOULD ASK ANDREW WHEN HE WAS GOING TO CLOSE THE SHOP. AFTER THE SECOND YEAR, MORE PEOPLE ASKED ANDREW AND ROBERT, WHEN THEY WERE GOING TO SELL OFF THE BALANCE OF THEIR INVENTORY, ON-THE-CHEAP, AND CLOSE THE SHOP. EVERY YEAR, WE HAVE HAD THE SAME A--HOLES ASKING THIS STUPID QUESTION; AND EACH TIME THEY ASK, THE BOYS JUST SMILE AND SHAKE THEIR HEADS. THERE'S NO POINT ANSWERING THESE DOOMSAYERS, WHO APPARENTLY PREFER FAILURE TO SUCCESS. TRUTH IS, MANY OF OUR CUSTOMERS, STILL CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW WE HAVE SURVIVED, WHILE OTHER BETTER EQUIPPED BUSINESSES HAVE FAILED MISERABLY. IF NICK THE GREEK HAD BEEN TAKING BETS, EVEN AMONGST THE OTHER MAIN STREET VENDORS, HOW LONG THE BOYS COULD KEEP THE SHOP GOING, CHANCES ARE WE WOULD HAVE ALWAYS BEEN CONSIDERED, A SURE THING TO DISAPPEAR OFF THE COMMERCIAL MAP. THE PROVERBIAL LONG-SHOT. EVEN NOW, WE HAVE THOSE WHO PREDICT WE WON'T MAKE IT UNTIL THE SPRING. NICE PEOPLE EH? BETTING ON OUR DEMISE. THEY NEED TO GET LIVES, WOULDN'T YOU AGREE?
THERE ARE A LOT OF BUSINESS SECRETS I CAN'T SHARE. THERE ARE A FEW I CAN. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO EXPLAIN HOW ANDREWS MUSIC AND COLLECTIBLES, HAS DEFIED THE ODDS, TO SURVIVE INTO THEIR SEVENTH YEAR. FIRST OF ALL, ON OUR ADVICE, THEY OPENED A LOCAL BUSINESS. I TOLD THEM CLEARLY, THAT IN ORDER TO SUCCEED IN MUSKOKA, THEY WOULD HAVE TO CREATE A LOCALLY SENSITIVE BUSINESS, BASED ON OLD FASHION VALUES OF FAIR PRICING AND EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE. NOW AS A FOOTNOTE, THESE TWO RECENT HIGH SCHOOL GRADS, DID KNOW A LOT ABOUT OLD FASHION ENTERPRISE, AS MOM AND POP HAVE BEEN IN THE ANTIQUE BUSINESS SINCE THE LATE 1980'S. WE SHOP IN OLD FASHION BUSINESSES, AS A RULE, AND THEY KNEW THE LOGIC BEHIND ESTABLISHING A BUSINESS THAT WOULD CATER TO THE PERMANENT POPULATION. IT WAS GOING TO BE A HOME-GROWN GRAVENHURST ENTERPRISE. NOT A MIRROR-IMAGE SHOP, OF ONE IN TORONTO, HAMILTON, OTTAWA OR KINGSTON. IT HAD TO BE WHAT THE LOCAL POPULATION OF MUSIC LOVERS AND MUSICIANS WANTED, IN A BUSINESS, IN THEIR COMMUNITY. THE BUSINESS WAS NOT CREATED AS A SEASONAL "TOURIST" SHOP, ALTHOUGH WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN GLAD TO INVITE TRAVELLERS TO OUR TOWN, TO COME AND VISIT. BUT THE PRIORITY FROM THE BEGINNING, WAS TO LOOK AFTER OUR TOWN FIRST. WE MEANT IT THEN AND NOW. IF YOU ASK OUR CUSTOMERS, THIS PARTICULAR QUESTION, WE'RE ALL COMFORTABLE THEY'LL TELL YOU, THE BOYS ARE LOYAL HOMETOWNERS; THEN COME IN, ON A TYPICAL SATURDAY MORNING, WHEN THE PARTY FAITHFUL SHOW-UP FOR SUZANNE'S HOME MADE COOKIES. LET'S JUST SAY, BY MID AFTERNOON, SEVERAL DOZEN HAVE BEEN REDUCED TO CRUMBS. THE FOLKS IN THAT MORNING SCRUM? OUR LOCAL MUSICIAN FRIENDS AND LONG-TIME CUSTOMERS. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND SUZANNE CAN'T QUIT NOW. SHE COULDN'T STAND THE THOUGHT OF DISAPPOINTED COFFEE-TIME VISITORS.
THE BOYS, AFTER GRADUATING GRAVENHURST HIGH SCHOOL, WENT RIGHT TO WORK ON SHOP PLANNING. ANDREW TOOK A BRIEF "YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR'S COURSE, WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND IS ONLY ONE A FEW STUDENTS WHO FINISHED THE COURSE, STILL WORKING IN HIS CHOSEN PROFESSION…..WITH A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS. THEY HAVE NEVER BORROWED A DIME FROM A LENDING INSTITUTE, AND TO KEEP PRICES AS LOW AS POSSIBLE, THEY DON'T ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS OR EVEN DEBIT. OVER THE PAST SEVEN YEARS, WELL SIR, ONLY TWO PEOPLE HAVE LEFT AN ITEM BEHIND, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T OFFER CREDIT PURCHASES. WE SOLD THOSE ITEMS SOON AFTER, MINIMIZING THE CASH-FLOW PROBLEM FOR US. THEY PAY FOR ALL THEIR INVENTORY AT THE TIME, AND OWE NOTHING……NOT ONE DIME TO ANY ONE, OTHER THAN THE COSTS OF RENTAL AND INSURANCE AT THE START OF EACH NEW MONTH.
SO WE INVESTED AS WELL
Once again, despite our friends asking if we were "nuts," we decided to take advantage of some newly vacated room, in the old theatre building, to offer a variety of antiques and collectibles, under the business acumen of second son Robert, a lover of art and nostalgic furnishings himself. As Suzanne and I prefer to enter retirement as antique hunters, called "pickers," we didn't want to get into the day to day selling of items. From the first of June, we couldn't get out of the shop because of the rush of business. We had folks come up to the counter, honest to God, with a line up of customers with purchases in hand, standing behind, and with crass boldness, ask us how long we thought we could last, doing business on the main street. We've had a half dozen, who left after saying things like, "I wish you good luck on your venture……cause you're going to need it in November." Or "Maybe you'll have some winter sales, to fend off the wolves." The four of us are pretty good with our responses, and hand gestures, which are either inaudible, or acted out with assorted fingers below the counter. It's a shame you know, how folks get their jollies at other peoples' expense. I suppose we'd make our critics happy if we put a "closed forever" sign on the front door. We'd break the hearts of those who visit here two or three times each week. We're not kidding about that. As for our capability to survive and profit, all I can say, is that the lease was extended on the antique expansion for an additional year, based on the success and joy of being in business on the main street of Gravenhurst.
As far as it being an acknowledged edition to the main street, we haven't received a fruit basket yet, or a tasteful "welcome to the neighborhood" card, and that's just fine; considering the boys were never welcomed to the business community when they opened shop seven years ago. It wasn't a requisite anyway, but it just kind of seemed the right thing to do……especially considering we kicked aside a lot of adversity and negativism to open in that first year. Having that faith in our hometown, and the citizens who do shop here, was a solid strategic investment. No regrets. Not one. They have never missed making rent, and related expenses, and having a profit at the end of each month. Not big profits, but ones that were large and promising enough, to look forward to increased sales for the next month, and the one after that. Folks, we're not bragging. If anything we are a humble crew, so very grateful to those customers who believed in us, and who gave us reason to carry-on and re-invest, on the promise they'd be back to see us soon. And they always have. As for the tourists and cottage community, by golly, what a pleasant mix it creates, in company of the regulars throughout the summer season, right up to late October. Many friendships have been made, in our studio, between out of town music lovers and musicians, and our local clientele and performers……by the simple act of sharing stories and general conversation about the good graces of music. It's what we're about.
The boys have been teaching guitar and drum lessons from the beginning, which actually started here at Birch Hollow. We made them studio space here, and the rent was very affordable. But there was no holding them back, and after a couple of years working in confined quarters out of a residential neighborhood, they finally had pooled together enough inventory and cash, to rent one small room, on the second floor of the old theatre building. The rest has been an amazing odyssey for two sons of Gravenhurst, who decided to stay home, and take their chances on a good idea. The customers have proven, it was indeed, a good idea.
During the days, since September, I have been the assistant clerk, to both my sons, in the antique wing, and it has been a real thrill to have a "Waltons' Mountain," kind of business, where the four of us at present, get along well in commerce……as we always have in home-life. We weren't sure it was going to work, and we initially worried that they would feel crowded, having us close by each day. Suzanne is on the brink of retiring, and hopefully we will be able to do a little more traveling in the coming years. She's such an amazing seller of old stuff. She used to work at her family's Windermere Marina snackbar, "The Skipper," and then for many summers, in the pro shop of the Windermere Golf and Country Club, before becoming a full time teacher. She has run our antique business, from a variety of locations, and at shows, since the late 1980's. I just purchased a Feather-weight Singer sewing machine, for her future operations, because she wants to repair old quilts once again, as she used to in our former Bracebridge antique shop. She also restores vintage wool blankets, from Hudson's Bay to locally produced "Birds' Woollen Mill" blankets. Suzanne knows a lot about Birds, as we used to run the museum, in Bracebridge, known as "Woodchester Villa," the octagonal estate, that was built by Henry Bird in the 1880's. Point is, she's pretty excited about moving on from the classroom, and pursuing some of her hobbies and possibly some minor league "clerking" in son Robert's little shop.
As for the antique component of the business? Well, we are doing fine, and while sales are slower this time of the year……and they were the same in Bracebridge in the mid-1990's, those sales we do have, make up for the fewer number of customers. Being on the main street of Gravenhurst has been fabulous. Not because we are getting wealthier each day, but because like Dickens character, "Old Fezziwig," we have a family business that is also very much a way of life. I often lounge in the boys' pleasantly appointed studio, where they have recorded many fine local musicians, including the guitarists and drummer who created the popular "Skokie Song," for the Gravenhurst Winter Carnival. I can't really tell you, in a heartfelt way, just how important it has been for Suzanne and I, to know today, that our gamble, and their's, worked out so well. They love going to work in the morning, and with lessons, happily stay late in the evening. They come home tired, but never disappointed by the business they created, dollar by dollar.
The best business strategy for Gravenhurst merchants, regardless where it, or they, might be clustered, is for proprietors to cheerfully greet each day, each customer, and each and every partner business in the locale, because networking with our allies, has been the most positive change in the uptown landscape, since we opened shop. We had our frustrations, and deadlock with some members of the business community, and for that reason, we opted-out of association reindeer games. We had no choice. Nothing has changed, except, we have found other businesses that feel exactly the same about representation, and are only too happy, to make friends with other neighborhood entrepreneurs…..no strings attached, other than general goodwill. We feel in good company, and I hope they feel the same. What was once an unfortunate blockade, is no longer. And we continue to represent our own old fashion values, and it's what our customers seem to appreciate most. I suppose you might say, we're a "little behind our times," but we always get the job done.
The point I really want to make here, is that we defied the critics, and have never looked back. If you were to ask Robert or Andrew if they consider their businesses "successful," they'll just smile, as they usually do, and wait for you to ask them "how long before they go out of business." I hate to say they're a little jaded by this line of questioning, but it's true. And it is what's wrong with Gravenhurst in a nutshell……that too many naysayers are salting the earth with their critiques; but we don't know why they insist on cultivating negativity, rather than attempting to reach-out to everyone with a vested interest, to work side by side……instead of being adversaries, which has been the case. It didn't make sense when we started the business and it makes no sense today. But yet it continues.
We have found a gentler, kinder, more comfortable allegiance of local businesses, and have found that there's a deep pool of willingness to co-operate, when it comes to sharing and networking to look after customers……which of course, is the pivot of any successful enterprise….here or anywhere.
As a critic of the business community myself, I felt it was necessary to put-up or, as they say, "shut-up!" We invested in Uptown Gravenhurst, and with a lot of hard work and resilience, and long, long hours, we can honestly say, we have financially benefitted and profited, by investing in our hometown. We feel pretty good about admitting that. And we're going to have a Christmas celebration, in recognition of a gamble that was also a winner!
Thanks once again, for taking the time out of your busy schedule, to spend a few moments here at the Birch Hollow hearthside…..at this festive time of the year. It's always nice to have company on these snowless winter nights. Green Christmas? Christmas-time isn't diminished by the weather, as it is a heartfelt celebration…..not just one celebrated on skis and snowshoes. And by the way, "Goodnight John Boy!"
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