mower supplier

ing to show up on the scene. My brother
Albert created a software program for us
in high school and as part of his assignment,
we started keeping track of our
parts and creating invoices on the computer.
It’s crazy to think that the internet
wasn’t even around then. If we were trying
to find something, we had to look in
the yellow pages or something called the
Thomas Registry. Now looking back and
saying that, I sound like a fossil.
One thing for sure in my mind, nothing
ever changes more than change itself.
When I look back at some of the key
pivotal moments in our life here at Kooy
If you told me at that time that we’d one
day be the largest volume Kubota dealer
in Canada, I would’ve had a hard time
believing you. Most times when you’re in
something difficult, it’s tough to envision
your future ahead looking any different.
Sometimes mistakes can be your best
teacher. My best advice is to just stay
dedicated to the process, keep working
hard and never stop dreaming.
The next event was purchasing our own
building. From 1985 until 2001 we had
always rented our facilities but because
of the growth with Kubota, we had no
bright hopes for the spring season and
after a great winter things were looking
good for Kooy Brothers. Well, that March
turned out to be the worst month of my
life. I rarely give insight into my personal
life - but this is so much a part of my daily
life now... and the history of Kooy Brothers,
that it deserves mentioning.
My daughter Lisa worked alongside me.
She helped me with my daily schedule,
planned our Open Houses 2x a year,
made our showroom pricing tags, worked
on our brand new website and all the other
marketing materials for the business.
She was a friend to many customers and
family business owner you don’t doubt
yourself. You make tough decisions every
day and you soldier your family and staff
through tough times of change. When I
came back to work that empty desk next
to me tortured me. It was pure hell looking
through the window and knowing she’d
never sit in that seat again. Life was different
now and my views changed in several
ways. I realized all the more that things
are just things...the business’ success
was a blessing and I was very thankful...
but nothing can compare to the happiness
people bring you. I remember back
on Gordon MacKay, our first location, my
for your understanding during that difficult
time and the few years that followed.
Healing does not happen overnight rather
it’s a long difficult process. It’s about
change. I don’t believe things get easier
with time like people say. I think you must
adapt to change over time and strength
and growth come from accepting that
change, even when you don’t want to.
There were some dark days but I knew if
I made it through that worst day of my life
that there wasn’t much I couldn’t handle
going forward.
In 2007 Kooy Brothers lost another influential
team player and that was our mom
Maria. From grand opening day Mom
my family and I the strength we needed
to go on and a flourishing business certainly
gave us the distraction we needed
to keep going.
By 2008 Kooy Brothers was so busy and
we were short of space once again - I
knew this would mean another move. In
the spring of 2009 we were able to purchase
a 4 acre property right across the
road from my long-time friend Tony Speelman
who owns Speelmans Garden Centre.
This was right after the October 2008
credit crisis. Because the commercial real
Kooy Brothers first location
brothers I have to think about the first time
we installed a snow plow on a truck. Lots
of drama, many choice words and eight
hours of labour later we had our first plow
install complete. As a result of that first
install, plows and salters became a very
important part of our business.
Another key moment in time was when
we decided to take on the Kubota product
line. It had been ten years without a
Kubota dealer in Toronto. We knew nothing
about tractors of any brand. I was actually
praying that no one would call and
ask about one but eventually they did, and
we managed our way through it just fine.
Open House at the first location
choice but to find a larger
space. In 2001 we ended
up buying a 22,000 sq. ft. factory at
15 Torbarrie, and renovating it to suit our
business. We moved in on the May long
weekend that year and as a result of more
selection, our sales went up by 50%. It
was only two years later that we purchased
our neighbour next door at 9 Torbarrie.
We knocked half the building down
and made it parking.
Two years had sailed by and business was
again causing us to feel tight on space.
In the early spring of 2005 we were busy
planning our annual Spring Open House
party to once again thank all our customers
for their continued business. I had
15 Torbarrie when we first bought it
the sarcastic voice on the other end of the
phone when they’d call. In the blink of an
eye she was gone. The Lord took her to
be with Him on March 27, 2005. The tragedy
of losing my oldest daughter not only
halted our spring open house that year....
but the loss tore my heart into pieces. Not
only was it Easter morning but it was also
my oldest son Will’s birthday. In one single
day I lost my motivation. I lost my drive,
my spark...I lost my kid, forever. People
tell you that life is fragile but no one really
gets that until they lose someone they
love. Losing Lisa tore a huge hole into my
life plan. As a parent you never expect your
child to leave this earth before you. As a
15 Torbarrie after the renovation
little girl would come to work with me
from a young age and help on Saturdays
filing papers, stuffing envelope mailers and
sweeping the shop. She would be there
at every Open House to give away prizes,
hand out t-shirts and hats and pick names
from the draw box. So many memories all
crammed and blurred. I felt overwhelmed
on the day of Lisa’s funeral by all of you.
The funeral home said they’d never seen
so many flower arrangements in all their
years and the line-up at Lisa’s wake was
out the door the entire afternoon and into
the evening. The outpouring of gracious
well wishes from our customers both
long-time friends and new acquaintances
was truly heartwarming. I am so grateful
Construction on new building
came to clean the shop and showroom
and we always joked that people would
pull off hwy 400 to see our clean showroom
floors and comb their hair in our
equipment. Mom made the place sparkle.
She was in my opinion the closest thing
to an angel on earth. Mom never complained
and always had a gentle, fun loving
demeanor. Raising 9 kids and being a
part of all her grandchildren’s lives made
her the happiest. She left a huge empty
space when her life got cut short and we
miss her dearly.
So much had happened in our family
business in those 2 years but God gave
Current location 1919 Wilson Ave
estate market was at a complete
standstill, we had five different design
build firms clamouring to build us a
building. By December 2009 we signed a
deal with Maple Reindeers who came up
with the best design at the right price. So
right in the middle of the world coming to
an end we were able to design and build
one of the nicest buildings found in our
industry.
Fast forward five years and here we are
at our 30th official year in business! Our
30th year was very eventful although trying
at times. On October 9, 2015 I was
fortunate enough to complete a share
purchase from my two brothers. These
transactions are never easy, especially in
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