FURNITURE The incredible story of entrepreneur Isaac Stubbe F I F T Y Y E A R S I N
I t’s 9:00 a.m. and the ‘open’ sign at Stubbe’s BrandSource has just been turned on for the day. Inside, store patriarch Isaac Stubbe pours himself a fresh cup of coffee and sits down at a dining room table. Soon, sales and office staff pull up a chair and join him, including his sons Gerrard and Dave. For the next 15 minutes, the conversation meanders through a variety of topics before turning to the day ahead. “Morning coffee isn’t an official meeting,” explains Gerrard. “It’s just how we start the day. It gives everyone a chance to talk and connect at a personal level before the store gets busy. It’s a small thing, but it makes a difference.”
Fifty years ago, when Isaac started in the furniture business, coffee time was considerably less crowded. “Back then, I was the only employee,” he laughs. “I had a business partner, but he kept his day job so it was up to me to run the store.” And run it he did. “I learned as I went,” Isaac says modestly, describing how the business grew from a single storefront on Main Street in Norwich, to three stores, and finally a 28,000 square foot showroom in Tillsonburg. Although Isaac officially ‘retired’ in 2007, he still comes into work each day to see how
things are going and help out wherever he can. “Dad is chairman of the board and I’m general manager,” explains Gerrard. “My brother Dave is senior buyer and lead merchandiser, and my brother Martin manages the flooring division.” All seven of Isaac’s children have worked in the family business at some point, with many going on to have businesses of their own. “I was 14 when I started here,” says Gerrard with a smile. “Basically, as soon as I was old enough to lift furniture, Dad was sending me out on deliveries.” While Gerrard and his siblings
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