Business runs in the family
[attach]6283[/attach]Let’s face it, no matter how much you love them, sometimes your family just drives you crazy.
Now imagine that you not only lived with those people, but they were also your boss, co-workers or employees.
However, while working with family may have its ups and downs, for many it’s not just a way of life, but an enjoyable experience.
Having grown up in the family clothing store, Doug Ward finds his ownership of the business natural now.
“We used to run around [as children] and cause all manner of havoc,” he says, smiling, “It was a cool place to come to.”
Cecil Ward and Sons opened 80 years ago when Ward’s grandfather decided to sell men’s clothing. The shop moved its current location in Bloor West Village in 1993.
Ward took ownership of the store in 1999, following his father, Gary.
Even though the store is family owned and run, Ward says that it’s the business that still comes ahead of everything else,
“We are in customer service — it doesn’t run itself,” he jokes.
Ward’s father proved to be an excellent business mentor, ensuring that his son was never left with unanswered questions.
“My Dad’s a very sensible person, he’s always come up with an answer for everything. He never said ‘you figure it out’,” Ward says. “The family support is important.”
And it’s that sort of family support that Georgene MacDonald turned to when she decided to get into business, opening a bookstore with her husband Hugh called Hugh’s Books on St. Clair Avenue E. near Victoria Park Avenue.
“We opened the store because I thought it was time to sell all the books [Hugh had] collected over the last 50 years,” MacDonald says.
The majority of the books that line of the shelves are Hugh’s. About 90 percent, MacDonald says. Aside from being the principal investor, Hugh is also the “brute labour”.
“We have a second large studio downstairs, and depending on what people want to do, everything has to be moved around,” MacDonald says, “Which falls to Hugh.”
MacDonald describes her and her husband as having complementary skills.
“I couldn’t do this without him. [Hugh] does our social media, he takes care of our Twitter feed and takes photographs,” she says.
Their daughter also helps out by maintaining the store’s website. But while she is grown, MacDonald says she has another “child” she’s raising.
“The business is almost like a child,” she says, “Even when you’re closed there’s still something to do. You don’t have a life separate from it.”
Like raising a child, running a business can be stressful. Now picture not only running a business, but trying to maintain the storied legacy of Canada’s oldest continuously owned family company.
Robert McCausland Stained Glass Limited’s president, Andrew McCausland, 62, is the great-great-grandson of founder Joseph McCausland who started the company in 1856.
He has owned the company for 35 years so far, and expects his two sons to become the sixth generations of McCauslands at the helm.
“You have a certain legacy you have to maintain and it’s up to me to continue that high quality of workmanship we have done in the past,” says McCausland.
Because of the company’s age McCausland feels pressure to keep the family’s reputation alive.
“I work hard to find the best artisans I can that can help fulfill our name,” he says, “So when people get their windows they know they are getting a very good product.”