VACCUUM SPECIALISTS SEBO FIND NEW HOME AFTER 60-PLUS YEARS
The family behind Sebo Canada launched the business in Calgary in 1953, but recently relocated to a new commercial condo in Airdrie. The 6,600-square-foot office/ warehouse is perfect for their needs, just off the QE2, which works well for receiving and delivery, along with the benefit of not having to pay a business tax.
Gerry Smith, grandfather of Nathan who runs the day-to-day operations of Sebo today, started his company as a distributor of vacuum parts. In the 1960s it grew into Vacuum Rebuilders and Gerry toured rural Alberta to collect, repair and deliver back units. More repair and service centres were opened to franchisees across Western Canada,
Then, tempted by larger populations, Gerry and his three sons moved to Ontario. It was during the time when advertising campaigns in the U.S. were promoting central vac systems in homes.
Under the new company name of Floor Care Equipment, it brought the first central vacuums into Canada and son Peter and his family moved back to Calgary to set up a Western Canada branch.
Soon after, the eastern office was closed and the Smith family returned home and began manufacturing their own systems.
Sales were good but the company lacked a vacuum head with sufficient power to handle the extra suction of a central system. It was in the mid 1980s that the firm met Stein & Co., a company based in Velbert, Germany, that built high-quality upright Sebo vacuums with electric power heads to withstand heavy use on all types of residential and commercial carpets.
The Smiths were offered the household distribution rights for North America, and sold the manufacturing arm and concentrated on wholesale distribution of the Sebo power brush.
By this time, Peter had taken over the company and it didn’t take long for him to represent the complete line of Sebo vacuums and carpet cleaning products, with the rights to sell across Canada. All Sebo vacuums are either upright or canister models with easily changeable dust bags.
After president Peter’s death, his wife Janet leads the company along with Nathan and general manager/director Tyvan Schneider. Seven staff work in the Airdrie head office, three salespeople are on the road, and a 5,500-square-foot warehouse has been opened in Montreal to serve customers in Eastern Canada. Sebo vacuums are highend products that are only available from independent dealers familiar with the range of vacuums; Nathan says he has resisted all offers to sell them through department or big box stores.
More than three million Sebo vacuums are used around the world — including in Buckingham Palace and the White House — and the Smith family has built up a successful business selling them here and across the country.
NEWS AND NOTES
Our Chinese community is going all out to help celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday. On June 30 the World Chinese Business Association (Alberta) is holding a gala multicultural dinner at the Regency Palace that is already a sellout with around 650 guests attending. At noon on Canada Day, July 1, the Calgary portion of the Atlantic to the Pacific Drumming Celebration will take place in front of Bowside Manor, on 2nd Avenue S.W. More than 200 drummers from 10 organizations are expected to participate in a simultaneous extravaganza with drummers from seven other cities.
The Annual Section Meeting of the Hong Kong Canada Business Association — Calgary is being held at the Bow Valley Club on June 8. Guest speaker is Callan Henderson, executive director Hong Kong Trust, a key provider of both personal and corporate professional services in Asia. Non-members are invited but there is limited seating available.