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Hardware Merchandising Magazine
(January Issue 2002) You can’t go much further back in the hardware business than does the family of Marc Robichaud. Their hardware history began in 1867, when Marc’s great-great-grand-father opened a sawmill near his farm in the rural community of Meteghan Center. More than a century later, Marc Robichaud oversees the daily operation of the current day incarnation of that business. U.J. Robichaud, a TIM-BR Mart dealer that’s part of the AWARD buying group, is an interesting blend of the old and the new. Many of the original buildings are still standing, including a 1904 sawmill that’s used for custom millwork and a flour mill that was in operation until the 1920’s. "When someone comes in fir a house estimate, we start with a tour," says Marc. "After ten minutes, they feel like they know us because they know some of our family history." Family history matters to the Robichauds. They have an extensive website full of historical facts and colorful anecdotes about each generation. Marc talks about the importance of maintaining the family business for the area’s economic health and about preserving the Acadian culture that makes it unique. "In 1997, we had our 130th anniversary celebration, and we invited anybody who had ever worked here to come to a banquet. It was in the middle of a big snowstorm, but we had over 300 people. It shows me that our physical presence is our main street, but that the effects of our business travels throughout the entire French Acadian region." Marc has one brother and one sister, neither of whom wants to go into the business. But following the family business was the only thing that Marc ever wanted to do. After four years in business administration at Acadia University, and graduating as the highest ranking student in the Faculty of Professional Studies, Marc had job offers from all over. But he chose the family business because he taught he could add something to the family history. The secret of the Robichaud success, he says, is being able to adapt. Over the years, the company has sold lumber, flour, coffins, custom made mouldings and windows, as well as general hardware. "We sell so many things now that we didn’t eight years ago – plumbing and electrical, and we only opened the rental (department) three years ago:, says Marc. "That’s because the definition of our business keeps changing. It used to be that we just framed the house; now it’s building the whole house. If we can keep responding to those changes, while keeping our traditional values, we’ll be in business forever." Marc shrugs at the notion that working with family is difficult. "It’s not a hindrance to work with family," he says, "It’s actually a help to be able to talk something over in the evening if you didn’t have time during the day." And when it comes to differences of opinion? Bring
it on, says Marc. "I had a very tough fight to make some of the changes I wanted
– with computers and technology. But it’s good to fight for your ideas. It means
all the bad ideas get weeded out and the only ones left are the ones that are
really worth going to the bitter end for. That’s a generational thing; it was
the same for my father. " |
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