Hole had been with the Boissevain Co-op since 1975, starting in the lumber department before moving into hardware.
Hole became a hardware manager at 22 years old. However, the Co-op had two hardware stores at the time – one in what is the home centre and one in the basement of the grocery store – and they amalgamated them, so he needed to move on.
Thankfully, he had taken management courses at the Co-op, so knew a little marketing and managing.
Going into business for himself seemed a natural move.
“It’s in the bones to be self-employed I think. I took a night course on refrigeration and have been a Level One in refrigeration for 40 years now.”
Hole added there was a lot of on the job training for the repair of appliances, saying you can learn to fix almost anything.
When he took over Spic n’ Span, it initially stayed much the same with appliance sales and service, with the big difference of Hole bringing in televisions. This continued for two years before there was a big move.
In 1987, Turtle Mountain moved over to its present facility on South Railway Street. This had long been Bob’s Home Furnishings, which gave a fair bit more space.
He admitted there were not a lot of changes to the business over the years, with appliances staying much the same despite some technology differences. Televisions have not gone up much in price, but have increased in size, he said.
However, there has been one big change and that is travel. As Hole explained, the business is “sales and service” so fixing appliances is a major part of what he does. Now, he is the only service man from Pilot Mound to the Waskada area. He tries to be out in each direction one day a week.
One of the challenges of operating a business in Boissevain is the town is in what Hole describes as a “tricky trading area”. Other communities are close by, and as he joked, nearby Whitewater lake takes up quite a bit of space.
“East, west, north, south, there is somebody there,” he said. “The key is diversification.”
Part of that diversification was adding furniture to the mix after moving to the old furniture store, joining a buying group. Hole later purchased the old Pugh’s Paint Centre, then named Fluker’s Floor Store next door, about 15 years ago. It was an opportunity to take over a closed store, and it gave him a little more space for mattresses. As well he moved into the paint and flooring with the move.
It takes time, Hole said, but you develop a name for yourself and your business and the trust of the people.
“This business is all about the people. You have to work and understand people. It is a bit of a different world, but it’s interesting.”
Hole credits his staff over the years for helping him develop Turtle Mountain Appliances into a key business in Boissevain. There have been many over the years, but he said Mary Arde, Vicki Morrow and the present Terri Smith each were at the business for around 10 years. Hole said the people at the front of the business are a big part of it, as they are the ones that bring a face to the public.
As an appliance dealer and repair business, the on-again, off-again tariff situation is a looming challenge. Hole said they have tried to purchase a few things prior to the start of anything just in case, but right now, it is impossible to fully prepare.
Forty years in business is certainly a milestone. As for the future, Hole knows at some point he will sell and retire, although there are no plans at present. On Tuesday, April 15, Turtle Mountain Appliances held an open house, and they are presently in the middle of a 40th anniversary sale. In the end, Ken Hole knows the move he made several decades ago was the right one for him
“Being able to work for yourself is absolutely good, there are definitely benefits.”
by PAUL RAYNER
Recorder staff