Special advertising feature by Brunswick News Inc September 5, 2020 2 CELEBRATING 100 YEARS - ROBERT K. BUZZELL LTD. Robert K. Buzzell celebrates 100th Anniversary as family-run business This year marks a milestone in the impres- sive history of Moncton-based business Rob- ert K. Buzzell Limited, as the company cele- brates its centennial anniversary. “I think it’s quite an accomplishment for any business to hit the 100-year-old mark, let alone still be run by the family,” current owner Bob Buzzell said. “I sometimes won- der what my father and grandfather would think about the business reaching this mile- stone.” Founded by the company’s namesake in 1920 as an electrical and carburetor repair shop, the company’s ties to Moncton run deep. “My grandfather came from Montreal to Moncton in 1915,” Buzzell said. “At the time, he was working for the railroad, but in 1920, he borrowed $500 and bought an electrical business that was actually located where the Assumption building is in Downtown Monc- ton.” From there, Buzzell moved his business to Foundry St. before relocating to Bonaccord St. With each of these moves, according to Bob, also came an expanded slate of business offerings. “My grandfather had the foresight to see where the business was going, and in 1935, he expanded into working with air-cooled engines, which include lawnmowers, chain- saws and more. And then with the advent of cars, my grandfather got into bigger ware- house spaces and actually began working as a wholesaler, travelling throughout New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.” Eventually, Robert Buzzell saw his busi- ness grow to include 11 auto parts branches Foundry Street. PHOTO: SUBMITTED with locations spread throughout the Mari- times. While growth of any kind is generally viewed as a positive thing, Bob admits that, certainly proud to be one. Moncton has al- like virtually any business, it wasn’t always ways been very good to us, including having smooth sailing. a great, bilingual workforce to draw from,” “I don’t recall much in the way of specifics, Bob said. but I know my father and my uncle worked Asked what he feels has afforded the com- a lot of long hours. There were many times pany to be in business for 100 years, Bob where they were unsure about whether chalks up its ongoing success to a number of they’d even have enough for payroll at the different factors: end of the week,” Bob recalled. “I’ve felt that the success of our com- “They never shied away from the hard pany is attributed to a few things, the first work though, and I think that’s exactly what of which being our staff. They are the ones has made the business what it is today.” that make the company tick. We’ve had the Approximately seven years ago, Bob said opportunity to work with an outstanding the company made another organizational cast of people that have worked hard to de- shift, when it sold off its auto parts division velop crucial relationships with our suppli- and consolidated its operations under the ers. We like to think of both them and our Atlantic Air-Cooled Engines banner. Since customers as an extension of our family. We 2013, the company has operated out of its wouldn’t be anywhere without our custom- location on Horsman Road, in the city’s west ers, and that’s why we work to build and sus- industrial park. tain these relationships along the way. With Bonnacord Street. PHOTO: SUBMITTED “I don’t know if there are a lot of fourth any luck, my grandchildren will be the fifth generation businesses in the city, but we are generation helping run the business.” CELEBRATING 100 YEARS - ROBERT K. BUZZELL LTD. 3 Robert K. Buzzell célèbre son 100e anniversaire en tant qu’entreprise familiale Cette année marque un jalon important les Maritimes. Bien que la croissance de organisationnel, en cédant sa division de certain nombre de facteurs différents: dans l’histoire impressionnante de l’entre- toute nature soit généralement considérée pièces automobiles et en consolidant ses «J’ai le sentiment que le succès de notre prise de Moncton, Robert K. Buzzell Lim- comme une chose positive, Bob admet que, opérations sous la bannière Atlantic Air- entreprise est attribué à plusieurs facteurs, ited, alors que l’entreprise célèbre son cen- comme pratiquement toute entreprise, la Cooled Engines. Depuis 2013, la société dont le premier est notre personnel. Ce sont tenaire. navigation n’a pas toujours été fluide. opère depuis son emplacement sur Hors- eux qui font vibrer l’entreprise. Nous avons «Je pense que c’est tout un accomplisse- «Je ne me souviens pas beaucoup des dé- man Road, dans le parc industriel ouest de eu l’opportunité de travailler avec une équi- ment pour toute entreprise d’atteindre le tails, mais je sais que mon père et mon oncle la ville. pe exceptionnelle de personnes qui ont tra- cap des 100 ans, et encore plus d’être gérée ont travaillé de longues heures. À plusieurs «Je ne sais pas s’il y a beaucoup d’entre- vaillé dur pour développer des relations cru- par la famille», a déclaré le propriétaire reprises, ils ne savaient pas s’ils en auraient prises de quatrième génération dans la ciales avec nos fournisseurs. Nous aimons actuel Bob Buzzell. «Je me demandais par- même assez pour le salaire des employés à ville, mais nous sommes certainement fi- penser à eux et à nos clients comme une ex- fois ce que mon père et mon grand-père la fin de la semaine », se souvient Bob. ers d’en être une. Moncton a toujours été tension de notre famille. Nous ne serions penseraient de savoir que l’entreprise at- “Cependant, ils n’ont jamais hésité à tra- très bonne pour nous, y compris avoir une nulle part sans nos clients, et c’est pourquoi teigna ce cap.» vailler dur et je pense que c’est exactement main-d’œuvre formidable et bilingue dans nous nous efforçons de bâtir et de main- Fondée par l’homonyme de la société en ce qui a fait de l’entreprise ce qu’elle est au- laquelle puiser », a déclaré Bob. tenir ces relations en cours de route. Avec 1920 en tant qu’atelier de réparation d’élec- jourd’hui.” Interrogé sur ce qui, selon lui, a permis un peu de chance, mes petits-enfants ser- tricité et de carburateurs, les liens de la Il y a environ sept ans, Bob a déclaré que à l’entreprise d’être en affaires depuis 100 ont la cinquième génération à aider à gérer société avec Moncton sont profonds. la société avait fait un autre changement ans, Bob attribue son succès continu à un l’entreprise. «Mon grand-père est venu de Montréal à Moncton en 1915», a déclaré Buzzell. «À l’époque, il travaillait pour le chemin de fer, mais en 1920, il a emprunté 500 $ et acheté une entreprise d’électricité qui était en fait située là où se trouve l’immeuble de l’As- somption au centre-ville de Moncton. De là, Buzzell a déménagé son entreprise à Foundry St. avant de déménager à Bon- accord St. Avec chacun de ces déménage- ments, selon Bob, est également venu une liste élargie d’offres commerciales. «Mon grand-père avait la clairvoyance de voir où allait l’entreprise et, en 1935, il s’est développé en travaillant avec des moteurs refroidis par air, notamment des tondeuses à gazon, des tronçonneuses et plus encore. Et puis avec l’avènement des voitures, mon grand-père s’est installé dans de plus grands entrepôts et a commencé à travailler com- me grossiste, voyageant à travers le Nou- veau-Brunswick et la Nouvelle-Écosse. Finalement, Robert Buzzell a vu son entre- prise se développer pour inclure 11 succur- sales de pièces automobiles réparties dans Happy Anniversary Bon anniversaire From your friends at | de vos amis à 4 CELEBRATING 100 YEARS - ROBERT K. BUZZELL LTD. Lindsay Hart helps family business move forward Despite having the title of Vice President, full-time basis in 2012, Hart had previous- Atlantic Air Cooled Engines’ Lindsay Hart ly cut her teeth on the family business as a insists there’s nothing outwardly glamour- university student. She said that she spent ous about her role. And that suits her just her summers working in the warehouse of fine. the company’s automotive division picking “Officially, my current role with Atlantic parts. Air Cooled Engines is Vice President, but Following the sale of Atlantic Air Cooled we are such a small and close-knit company Engines’ automotive division in 2014, Hart that everyone pitches in on everything,” eventually moved into the company’s back Hart said. “I pick parts in the warehouse, as- office to assist with paperwork. The ability sist with shipping, help cover the online as- to understand the various roles that people pect of the business, key in orders, update and divisions play within company was para- pricing…The list goes on. There isn’t any- mount to Hart, both in terms of experience, thing I would ask an employee to do that I but also learning the ropes. wouldn’t do myself.” “I’ve traditionally gone where the help is While she joined the company on a needed within the company. As a business Lindsay Hart. PHOTO: SUBMITTED “I didn’t truly owner, I think it’s important to have a grasp appreciate the significance on what each department does and their of what the company was role in the bigger picture. I’m first to admit I won’t be great at everything, but I do want or how much of an FORBES ROTH BASQUE and need to understand how these various accomplishment it was roles play a part in the company’s success.” for my family until CONGRATULATES And though company secession plans are often laid out without input from those that I was much older.” will one day be running the business, Hart LINDSAY HART insisted there was never any pressure placed VICE PRESIDENT upon her to join the company’s ranks.