When Chris Sauer began working for Beaver Lumber as a teenager, he could not have foreseen what was to come. Today he and wife Shannon are the proud owners of Memorial Home Hardware Building Centre and they’re just getting started all over again.

Chris began his career in 1990 in Beaver Lumber’s customer service department. From there he moved to custom kitchen sales and contractor sales. His efforts were rewarded when he was appointed assistant manager.

Soon after, Home Hardware took over Beaver Lumber. Chris has worked the past 14 years as manager of the Memorial Avenue store. Next month he and Shannon will mark one year as owners.

“We are a full-service, locally-owned Canadian Home Hardware Building Centre,” says Chris.

With a staff of 35 it’s not difficult to find a knowledgeable staffer in the familiar red shirt to assist with products and services.

“We anticipate huge growth and have already completed upgrades,” says Chris. That includes new tills, aisle layouts, interior and exterior paint, new signage, customer service counter, displays and staff training.

“We also have plans for future expansion to better serve our customers.”

Shannon is proud of the fact the store is a family operation. Son Justin serves in contractor sales and is a dock specialist, while younger son Jordan is in customer service.

With 20 years’ experience in retail and management, Shannon is keen to offer new products and services.

“Since I came on board we have a lot more Kuraidori kitchen products,” she says.

She works in the kitchen department and hosts cooking demos. There are also plans to set up a bridal registry.

For customers intent on supporting local business, Shannon stresses that Memorial Home Hardware is individually and locally owned.

“We are not a franchise controlled by a corporate office,” she emphasizes.

Home Hardware’s head office supplies the products, but the Sauers make decisions about the store and its operations.

Chris credits “hard work, family support and my wife,” for the ongoing success of the business.

“After working for the same company for 25 years, it is exciting to be able to make the changes that I feel will make Home Hardware the most successful company it can be,” he says. “Working with my family by my side, and the team that we have, makes every day rewarding.”