Loewen Fine Woodworking Ltd.

Box 151
Brosseau, AB  T0B 0P0
Ph: 657-2113  Fax:  57-2914
Owners:  Brian and Rosella Loewen

 

Pride in workmanship and excellent customer service, equals success!

What constitutes a successful business operation? Brain and Rosella Loewen whose focus, determination to succeed, great management skills and excellent workmanship equals Loewen Fine Woodworking Ltd.

Brian, a native of Vermilion, recalls learning and loving the art of woodworking in his high school days during Industrial Arts classes. Immediately after completing school he spent four years in trade school and apprenticing to certify as a Journeyman Cabinet Maker.

Brian says, “I am a strictly qualified cabinet maker” and not to be confused with a carpenter!

This aggressive husband and wife business team didn’t particularly enjoy city life, therefore decided to rent and renovate a farm site in Rosella’s native Two Hills County, and slowly began building a reputable woodworking image. For the first two years the couple existed on Rosella’s small wage. “Every cent of the small woodworking jobs went directly back into the business dream, and slowly you begin to make a name for yourself”, Brian said.

Brian recalls Rosella and himself, turning on the baby monitor in their small shop and working long into the night together. Brian painstakingly constructing cabinets, and his wife assembling and lacquer coating the products.

Today the parents of two, operate their business in 3200 square feet of commercial space housed on 200 acres in Brosseau, Alberta, just outside of Two Hills. They employ seven people from the area which permits Rosella to manage the administrative side of the business which includes ordering product, tending to the pick ups, and assisting their customers with interior designs. “Without her there would be no business,” Brian confirms.

By November 30, their dream home on the same site as their commercial building will not only be the family home, but will be constructed and finished as a show home of beautifully finished cherry, maple ask, fir and mahogany woods. An attached office will provide their clients with professional and convenient service.

What type of cabinetry do customers want there days? “ Most prefer oak wood, but cherry and maple are coming back. Some clients prefer the luxurious satin walnut which we order from Texas. Most of our wood comes from Edmonton distributors and a bit comes from Vancouver and Winnipeg”, advised Brian.

He says, “there a greater demand for hardwood flooring these days because good carpeting can be as costly or more expensive than hardwood. Many clients have allergy concerns too”. Why does Loewen Fine Woodworking buy their hardwood flooring materials exclusively from Quebec. “The mineral components of the soil in this province seems to grow hardwood with minimal faults in the wood. The wood is often flawless compared with hardwoods from other areas” the cabinetmaker explains.

Loewen Fine Woodworking is a client of the Lamont-Two Hills Business Development Corporation (BDC). The company owners credit General Manager Bernice Sambor with the sound advice and direction the Corporation gave them in 1992 when they decided to become rural entrepreneurs. They took accounting courses, and depended on the business management counseling the BDC makes available to all their clients. “Although my business partner handles most all the administration, I know she’s comfortable to call the BDC whenever she needs some advice”.

“It was a real pleasure helping someone as enthusiastic as Brian. Brian not only had the skills that this business required; but also excellent people and management skills that make this business such a success”, commented Bernice Sambor.

These days, the Loewen company’s average day is six to eight different projects going on at the same time. Brian relates a funny story about an incident that enhanced their experience as an up and coming business. Apparently one cabinet project was incorrectly delivered to four different construction sites. Apparently this cabinet project covered 1200 miles throughout the County of Two Hills, making it the most traveled cabinet this Journeyman ever made!

This hardworking couple maintain, “the customer is always right” and “there’s nothing in wood or non-wood materials that we haven’t done”.

“We strive to give the customer truly what they want at a fair price. We make it our priority to have the work completed on time so customers are not inconvenienced” the Loewen entrepreneur concluded.