Schilling Home Hardware Building Centre is a place that people can turn to for a variety of home improvement needs.
Gary Schilling, who is the dealer-owner for the business, said Home Hardware Building Centre is a leader in home needs, with its hardware, home improvement products, building materials, furniture, appliances, paint, home décor and other products.
“We have a very, very broad and expansive range of products that we offer to the country, and to Estevan, of course,” said Schilling, who has more than 40 years of experience in retail with Beaver Lumber, Home Building Centre and Home Hardware Building Centre.
That variety in services was reflected in the Estevan Mercury Publications Readers’ Choice Best of Estevan Awards, as Schilling Home Hardware Building Centre was recognized for having the best paint, for being the best for home improvement and being the best building centre.
“It means a lot to me,” said Schilling. “It means that the community appreciates … what we do here as a store. We provide a service that we are very proud of, and to be recognized by the community that we are No. 1 when it comes to our industry makes me very happy.”
The quality of the customer service is a big reason he believes the company was selected for three awards.
“We changed to what the community requires. We changed to what the market demands,” said Schilling. “For example, we have recently expanded into the appliance industry.”
Twenty-six people currently work for the building centre. Some of them have been working there for more than 20 years.
The company moved into its current home just off of Kensington Avenue in 2009.
Schilling said lumber, plywood and building materials rate among their most popular products.
“We’re very aggressive when it comes to pricing and range of product,” said Schilling. “We offer many services that help the consumers get their products to them, with delivery service, forklift service and that sort of thing.”
Interacting with employees and customers is the best part of the job.
“That’s the biggest part of the job that I like is meeting all the people, dealing with the people, solving problems with the people and seeing people happy when I get the products that I can provide them,” said Schilling.
It’s also interesting to see the changes and the adjustments in the industry, and Schilling tries to keep pace with those changes.
The home improvement retailing sector has become more competitive, he said, both locally and across the province, as retailers have tried to expand the breadth of their products.
“I think we have a lot of competition that has increased over the last 20 to 25 years, but as far as I’m concerned about that, that’s more of a challenge than anything. I don’t look at that as a detriment,” Schilling said.
In recent years, the community has gone through some changes. During the boom years for the oil and gas sector, the building industry was also active.
“We have had to diversify because the building activity has decreased dramatically in the last five years,” said Schilling.
The company supports numerous charities in the city, and provides support for fundraisers for organizations such as the Estevan Wildlife Federation and the Salvation Army.
Schilling believes the local economy is going to pick up, and looks forward to seeing more activity in the area.
“I think in the next two to three years, you’re going to see some changes,” said Schilling. “I think you’re going to see some new businesses come to this community.”
