DIETER, KEVIN AND TANYA KUPFERSCHMID; WITH JOHN
ALLISON (2nd from left)
One can't necessarily fault Kevin and Tanya Kupferschmid for viewing the line between family and business as more than a little blurry.
At Lonsdale Flooring, the two are closely, almost interminably entwined.
The business was launched by Karl Urhle in 1960, and then handed off to Urhle's nephew Dieter Kupferschmid and his wife Linda. Down the road, Dieter's son Kevin and wife Tanya came on board and will one day take the reins of the venerable North Vancouver company when Dieter steps away. It's proof positive that at Lonsdale Flooring, keeping it in the family is more than a tradition - it's a point of pride.
"Since the start we've been a family run business and going forward we will continue to be," says Tanya, office manager and salesperson at the Main Street store. "Not only does it create a relaxed environment for our customers, but it creates a relaxed environment for us as well."
However, she admits that there are drawbacks to having her home and work life in such close proximity.
"One disadvantage is that at five o'clock you simply can't put work out of your mind and go home, but the main advantage is that I get to work with my husband and we make a great team."
It also offers both Tanya and Kevin opportunities to cover for each other when it comes to pursuing the real joy in both their lives - their two daughters.
"I hope neither of us ever has to miss something important in their lives because of work," says Tanya. "They are now a year and a half and almost three, and it's amazing how they've become the centre of both our worlds. We hope that taking over the family business and working as a team will allow us to continue having them as the centre."
Much like the sustained family connection, the store's varied selection of durable, high-quality, brand-name products at reasonable prices has also been a constant. Whether it's carpet, hardwood, laminate, cork, vinyl or tile, there's a readymade solution for every home-improvement quandary.
And with no-commission staff, customers need not fear sales vultures circling about. It's a no-pressure, hands-off approach that has stood the test of time.
"As a consumer I dislike commission and high-pressure environments, so we strive to create a relaxed environment here where people are free to wander around," says Tanya. "I love being on the sales floor but I don't think of myself as a salesperson. I like to think of myself as an educator or teacher or trainer, so when a person leaves my store it's important to me that they feel they have learned something about home improvement instead of just being sold something."
To that end, Tanya, Kevin and the rest of the staff will also make the occasional house call to help customers choose the flooring that will best suit their home.
And while hardwood remains a popular choice both for new homes and renos, there's always a place for the soft, underfoot feel of carpet as well - especially with featured brands like the Mohawk SmartStrand, which boasts superior stain resistance and durability.
"We strive to offer consumers only the products that we would put in our own homes in terms of quality, but at many different price points," says Tanya.
It's just another facet of a local company that has thrived on the North Shore - at first, at Lonsdale and 17th, and now, in its Main Street showroom - for more than fifty years. "It's amazing how many customers come back to us and tell me 'Karl put carpet in my home thirty years ago'," says Tanya.
GET TO KNOW US
WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE ROOM IN YOUR HOME?
Our favourite room is the girls' bedroom. We recently moved our children together so they can comfort each other at night and it reminds me so much of me and my sister.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE FAMILY ACTIVITY?
Playing in the yard. We have a swing, sandbox and playhouse and we find nothing more relaxing then sitting in the lawn chair and watching the girls play.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE GADGET?
Tanya: Kevin bought me an iPad 2 for Christmas. I never thought I would turn away from paperbacks but after reading my first book on it I will never turn back. And I can buy a new book at one in the morning!
WHAT DO YOU DO IN YOUR FREE TIME?
Tanya: I don't have a lot of free time right now between kids and work, but when I do I try to read and relax.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE FAMILY ACTIVITY?
Tanya: I'm not much of a movie fan but Dirty Dancing is right up there for me. It's probably the only movie I could watch more than once.
