Powell River’s business landscape has changed a lot since 1971, and throughout 45 years in business, Taws has continuously adapted and changed along with it.
To celebrate the milestone, Taws is holding a one-day-only 45th anniversary sale from 9:30 am-5:30 pm on Saturday, November 12.
“Everything from bikes, apparel, hockey equipment and accessories will be on sale,” says general manager Dean English. “Merchandise will be 25 to 50 per cent off, storewide.”
Along with changes in products and services, the name of the store has also evolved, from Taw’s Gun and Cycle when Dean’s father, Read, established the store in 1971, to Taw’s Cycle and Sports a few years after Dean and his brother Tod purchased the business in 1991.
“A few years ago we changed the name again,” says Dean. “It’s just Taws now.”
Sales manager Lisanne English, the third sibling involved in the business, focuses on Taws’ promotional division, Inspire Incentives, which helps customers with promotional products and embroidery.
“We create promotional products, from custom pens, mugs or calendars to shirts, hats, jackets,” says Lisanne. “We can do it on almost anything, even on USB sticks.”
Taws also acquired Impact Signs three years ago and incorporated that business under the same roof to further enhance its customer service options.
All embroidery, signage and digital prints made by Inspire Incentives and Impact Signs are produced on the premises. Screening services are also available at competitive prices.
“We do as much as we can in-house,” explains Lisanne, “whether it’s making canvas-framed prints or pictures, manufacturing signs or anything to do with embossing.”
Although each of the second-generation Englishs went on to gain work experience in other fields over the years, when called upon they were always part of the family business, in either full- or part-time capacities. All three began working in the store as teenagers.
“It was and is a family business, one of the oldest in town,” says Dean. “Sometimes our dad needed help.”
Dean was in grade nine when he first learned the art of sharpening skates and began tinkering with bicycles in the shop.
“There are bike mechanic programs now, but not at that time,” explains Dean. “I started wrenching on bikes in about 1979 and learned from experience.”
Along with those 37 years of maintenance and repair experience, Taws offers the largest inventory of new bicycles in town, and all the accessories that go with them.
Several changes in merchandise took place as the business developed, starting with becoming a full-on hockey shop soon after the brothers became owners.
“We had some hockey prior to that, and the skate sharpening, but then we became a true hockey shop with a full inventory of equipment, skates and sticks,” says Dean. “We also have access to all major brands; anything to do with hockey, we either have it in stock or can bring it in.”
Offering the embroidery services was the next major addition, starting with one machine in 1998.
A few years later, after the store expanded into part of the old Monk’s Super Service building, additional space allowed for a further expansion of the hockey, bicycle and apparel areas and more room to expand the embroidery department.
“We went from one machine to three,” says Dean, “and added a full-time stitcher to the staff.”
The busy store is located at 4597 Marine Avenue. Hours are 9:30 am-5:30 pm Monday through Saturday. For more information, call 604.485.2555, go to tawsonline.com, or search on for the business on Facebook.
