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Tuesday, March 26, 2013 The Chilliwack Progress
Pillars OF BUSINESS CHILLIWACK
Auld Phillips • 1965
list from page 17
Story • Greg Knill
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t was a time of dramatic change in fashion – a time when the conservative 1950s gave way to the explosive modernism of the 1960s. The year was 1965, and in Chilliwack, a new chapter in retail fashion was about to begin. The year marked the opening of the first Auld Phillips store at the Yale Road location it still occupies. It was a modest operation, combining women’s fashions with fabric sales. Women could buy off the racks, or use their Butterick and McCall’s patterns to sew their own creations. But it was the start of a retail business that nearly 50 years later would span four provinces with some 54 stores, under additional names like Suzanne’s, Jenny’s and Top Shop. And it’s still growing. Sherry Johnston, director of store operations for Auld Phillips, has been with the company for the past 15 years. She calls the company’s growth modest and measured, with always an eye on customer service and quality control. Johnston agrees the retail land-
scape has changed dramatically since that first Auld Phillips store opened. But despite the challenging economic times and the emergence of the Big Box culture, Auld Phillips remains successful. Indeed, it followed up a record year in 2011 with an even better year in 2012, Johnston says. She attributes this success to a deep and intimate understanding of the company’s client base. “The backbone of our company is the relationship we have with our customers,” Johnston says. That customer has changed over the years. She’s moved from the psychedelic ‘60s, through the disco 80s, past the power 90s and into the new millennium. “But as she’s transformed through the years, we’ve transformed with her,” Johnston says. The company has developed a clear profile of who their customer is, what she likes to wear, and the budget she has to work with. When Auld Phillips sources new product lines, buyers have this customer in mind. “When we go shopping, we go shopping for her,” says Johnston. “We know who she is.”
That relationship extends to the retail floor. “We hire people who are passionate about what we do,” Johnston says. It’s not about selling, she insists. It’s about helping costumers build a wardrobe that is stylish, adaptable and affordable. “It’s about adding value,” she says. Customers appreciate that partnership and respond with a loyalty that has aided Auld Phillips’ continued growth. This success has helped Auld Phillips carve out a niche between the big box retail giants and the small independents. The company has found synergies in populating markets with its store brand identities, and thereby deepening its market share. All the while, never losing sight of its roots. With stores from British Columbia to Manitoba, and more than 250 employees, Auld Phillips remains close to home. Its original location is still home to employees who have been with the company for decades, and its corporate head office and distribution centre is in Chilliwack.
1940s: Steve Dargatz Glass and Door Inc. - circa 1940s Fortin’s Automotive - 1946 Crystal Glass - 1946 Greendale Motors Ltd. (formerly Union Motors) - 1946 Roblin Travel & Cruise - 1946 Sears - 1946 Agro Pacific (East Chilliwack Coop) - 1947 Bank of Nova Scotia - 1947 Chilliwack Taxi - 1947 Scotia Bank - 1947 Valley Cycle Locksmiths Ltd. - 1947 Bank of Commerce (CIBC) - 1948 Broadway Motors - 1948 Mainland Agencies Ltd. - 1948 Norman’s Photographic - 1948 Lock’s Pharmacy - 1949 1950s: Palm Drapery and Blinds - circa 1950s Mary Clark Flowers - circa 1950s Barton Insurance - 1950 Pioneer Building Supplies - 1950 Bowes Pickford Moving & Storage - 1952 Cascade Supply & Marine - 1952 West End Autobody - 1952 Chilliwack Dry Cleaners (formerly KelTone Cleaners and Laundry) - 1953 Roblin Travel - 1953 Wally’s Autobody & Towing - 1953 Envision Financial (formerly East Chilliwack Credit Union) - 1954 Cascade Industrial Supply - 1955 Finning Tractor and Equip (Finning Canada) - 1956 Minter Country Garden store - 1957 Sardis Bakery - 1957 Century Plumbing and Heating - 1958 Hamel’s Drapery - 1958 Stillwood Camp and Conference Centre (formerly Columbia Bible Camp) - 1958
1960s: Cheam View Veterinary Hospital - 1961 Auld Phillips - 1965 Greenacres Wheel Alignment & Automotive - 1967 Odlum Brown - 1968 Fraser Valley Meats - 1969 The Book Man (formerly Erna’s Book Nook) - 1969 Wagner Appliances - 1969 1970s: Man’s World Hairstyling - 1971 Graham’s Gifts - 1972 Longfellow’s Furniture and Mattress - 1973 John Montie Lawn & Garden (Montie Small Engines) - 1974 University of the Fraser Valley - 1975 Langbroek, Louwerse & Thiessen LLP - 1976 Morrow’s Moving and Storage - 1976 The O’Connor Group - 1976 Grand Pappy’s Home Furniture - 1977 Classic Cards - 1978 Easy-Flo Central Vacuum Ltd. - 1978 Fraser Valley Custom Printers - 1978 Minter Gardens - 1978 Omega & Associates Engineering - 1978 1980s: Fraser Carpets - circa 1980s Arbor Landscaping - 1981 Ballam Furniture - 1981 Fraser Valley Tireland - 1981 Super-Fun Sports Ltd. - 1981 Kel-Mor Enterprises - 1983 Chilliwack Pharmasave - 1985 Rainbow Greenhouses - 1985 Best Western Rainbow Country Inn - 1986 OK Tire & Auto Services Chilliwack - 1987 Mertin GM - 1988 West Yale Automotive - 1988 Mary’s on Wellington - 1989 1990s: Cazander Ronda & Associates Ltd. - 1990 Valley Water - 1990 Doall Contracting Ltd - 1992 Ken’s Tires - 1993
We’ve come a long way! Many things have changed since we first started serving Chilliwack 25 years ago, but one thing has remained constant. It is still our goal to make you more satisfied with the value of your purchase, and the sales and service treatment by our staff, than if you bought any other car or truck from any other automobile dealer anywhere.
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