William (Bill) Comrie
William (Bill) ComrieConvocation Address
University of Alberta, June 9, 2004
Thank you, Dr Tyrrell.
Honourable Minister Murray Smith
Chancellor John Ferguson
Honourable Jim Edwards
President Rod Fraser
Distinguished Guests
Members of the Senate and Board of Governors
Members of the Faculties of Business, Pharmacy, and Faculté St Jean
Members of the Graduation class
Friends and family
It is my privilege to be here at the University of Alberta to be awarded this honorary degree and to be invited to participate in the awarding of degrees to our graduating class today.
Congratulations to the graduates: you've worked hard for this day, and I applaud your efforts. Every successful career or enterprise starts with an idea fuelled by passion and dedication that becomes a reality when foundations for success are built.
Lorne suggested I might want to share a few thoughts on how we've gotten to where we are with 160 stores, over 6,000 employees, and over a billion in retail sales this year.
We've built our long-term success on firm foundations such as an effective team that has leadership with solid organizational skills, a commitment to our customers, leadership participation in the community, effective use of technology, great products, and supportive employee relationships. Great lessons for any career path or undertaking.
Coming from by background in hockey, I learned early the value of effective leadership, real teamwork, personal discipline, and the strategic importance of goals.
I've been fortunate to successfully transfer my experiences as a hockey player — and later as a coach — into the arena of business.
Amazingly, they work just a well in the business sense, although the goals we set or score are decidedly different.
I learned too the importance of what I call social capital — in our case meaning networking with other businesses and other departments within our own organization.
I continually encourage our leaders and staff to build constructive relationships with other business leaders around the world. This allows us to sharpen our marketing skills, improve our product offerings, and make sure our operation is top of the class. For the leader, school is never out; the learning never ends!
We've done pretty well. Some would say "a dream come true." One I would have never imagined when I reluctantly entered this business back in 1969.
Back then, I was a young, competitive kid with dreams of being the next Bobby Hull. I'd been signed by the Chicago Blackhawks and was playing with the Moose Jaw Canucks (their junior farm team).
When they folded, I was transferred to the Edmonton Oil Kings under Wild Bill Hunter who became my friend and mentor.
I was ready to attend the Blackhawks' training camp in the fall when my dad passed away from a heart attack in 1968.
Following my dad's sudden death, I stepped off the ice and took over running the company to help my mother.
My dad had a small furniture store called Alberta Factory Sales with one employee doing about $10,000 per month.
Following my dad's death, sales dipped to about $5,000 per month. Our accountants told my mom: "If this trend continues, we'd soon be out of business."
Here I was, barely 19, with a new role, my name on the door, "Bill Comrie's Alberta Factory Sales," two silent partners, and the challenge of learning the business in a hurry. I remember my dad telling me, "If you can sell, you'll never be hungry." This was common sense, and sell I did!
At the Brick, we have a saying: "Selling isn't part of the game — selling is the game!"
Ever wonder where the inspiration for great ideas comes from?
Sometimes ideas strike when you least expect them. Taking a calculated risk when an opportunity presents itself can prove valuable. Again, just common sense.
For example: one long weekend, I was on a date at a drive-in for their midnight show. I looked around at the packed lot, and got this wild idea. "What if we had a midnight madness sale?"
I told my date about the idea, and we had a good laugh. I later shared it with my silent partners. They had a good laugh, too! "How are we gonna get people at midnight," they asked, "when we don't get more than two or three people here during the day?"
I decided to go ahead with it anyway. They thought I was crazy and bet me a dinner and all I could drink at one of Edmonton's finest eateries "that no more than two or three people would show up at midnight."
Boy, did I fool them — and myself.
About 6 p.m., a couple of people showed up to wait in line for the sale. By 9 p.m., over a thousand people were lined up outside the door and down the street.
There was a traffic jam for blocks. The local radio stations were warning people to stay away from the area.
Now picture this: 1,000 people lined up outside and only me, nineteen years old, alone, inside …
I needed help, so I called my two younger brothers John and Fred, who were in high school at the time, and a long-time friend, Alan Mabee, to rush down to help me.
I let them in the rear door and gave them a crash course on how to sell furniture and appliances. My first professional sales team.
When we opened the door at midnight, the people came in like a herd of elephants. The crowd bought everything in sight. It was amazing! To this day, I still shake my head. And you know, it still works! Very well!
In less than three hours, we wrote over $144,400 in business.
To help put that in perspective, that was more business in three hours than my father's business had done in the previous year.
About 3 a.m. when the crowd thinned down, we got our first major business lesson.
In those days, I carried only one of everything in stock. Unfortunately, my midnight sales team didn't know that. One living room was sold 14 times, a television set 22 times, and so on. And to top that lesson, everything was scheduled for delivery the next day.
I had won myself a free dinner, and learned a major business lesson.
A while later, I sold out to my two partners. After paying off the bank, I had $8,000 left and the dream of establishing my own furniture outlet.
Six months later, on September 1, 1971, I was back in business again — this time with my younger brother John.
That was the beginning of Bill Comrie's Furniture Warehouse, or The Brick, as it is known today. And as they say, "the rest is history!"
A few closing remarks as you launch into the business arena to put your training and your investment in your career to work.
Your investment of time and study here at the University of Alberta has provided you with a firm foundation for your long-term success.
I challenge you to build on that foundation and prove that your time and the investment of those who taught you and the families who supported you was worth it.
Build bridges of effective communication and productive co-operation to enhance your careers, your companies, and your communities. Build a legacy of service and leadership in whatever path you pursue. Pursue your passion — not a paycheque! Build a value-added career that brings creativity and innovation to the forefront. Build on your knowledge and keep growing. Use your common sense, but be aware: common sense is not very common.
Hearty congratulations again for your accomplishments. I wish you great success as you bring your skills, your passion, and your experience into the workplace.
I'd like to thank the University and its officers again for the opportunity to share a few thoughts and for granting me this great honour. I will cherish it and share it with my family, friends, and our fantastic team who helped make it possible. Good luck!!