To people in the Terrace area, the building with the cheerful orange roof proclaiming "Terrace Builders Do-it center" in big yellow letters at 3207 Munroe Street is a familiar sight.  For over twenty years now, Terrace Builders has been the place where the builders buy, where do-it-your-selfers shop and where renovators dream.

     Terrace Builders has stood the test of time and keeps on growing, making it hard to believe that in 1981, when George McCullough and Vic Froese got the idea to form a building supply store, people surrounding them tried to discourage the idea

     Some said that Terrace didn't need another building supply store... There were three large dealers in town already.  Others said that with the economy on a downhill slide and interest rates sky rocketing, it just wasn't the right time to start an expensive venture.

     However, George and Vic believed that with good staff and George's knowledge of the industry, the business would do well.  George had been living in Terrace since 1963.  He started out as an assistant manager of the Marshall Wells Store then spent a year with Omineca Building Supplies.  In 1966, he joined Albert & McCaffery Building Supplies and soon became their manager, a position he held until he and Vic decided to start their own company.

    In the spring of 1981, Terrace Builders Centre Ltd. was born.  The newly formed company leased what was known as the Caravan Moving and Storage building on Munroe Street.   Within a month, it was renovated and painted to suit the newly formed company.   Business expanded rapidly in spite of the area's hard economic times and in six months they bought out a neighboring shop's lease began further renovations.  A year into business, McCullough and Froese asked their landlords to add a 50 ft by 80 ft addition to the north of the building for warehouse space.

     1985 and 1986 saw them purchase their leased store and buying land across the street to accommodate a larger volume of building materials.  Still they grew.  In 1989 they expanded again, buying the property and building at 3202 Munroe which today is Your Décor and houses their flooring and interior decorating division.

     In 1989, Ernie Froese, who started with the company in 1981, became partner and is at this time the company manager.

     In 1991, they added over 3000sq. ft to their building so that they could increase their selection of products and boost inventory levels.

     The success of Terrace Builders makes a person wonder if they have a special business secret.

    "A commitment to great customer service and a highly knowledgeable staff is our secret."   George McCullough says.  "Customer Service is the key and it has been one of our strengths right from the beginning."

     "Our staff is important to us," say George and Ernie.  "Good employees are as important to a healthy business as the customers are." The Terrace Builders' owners are quick to praise their staff, calling them "some of the best."

     Most of their employees stay with the company and turnover is almost non-existent.  Kelly Francis joined their sales force when the store opened and Irene Starkie started with them in September of the same year.  Neil Ross came on board in 1983 and Gary Smith became part of the team in 1987.  These are just a few of the long time staffers who offer a wealth of experience-based knowledge.

     Terrace Builders Centre's constant attempt to fulfill its mission statement: "We are focused on being the pre-eminent full-line building supply dealer in the region.  We strive to attain and maintain this position through exceptional customer service, honest, open communication with staff, customers, and suppliers, supplying quality products at fair prices and maintaining stable employment" is one of the reasons that they won the Chamber of Commerce award for having the best customer service of all stores in Terrace for the year 2000.

     Their commitment to their staff and patrons is unwavering, as is their desire to support the community.  Their slogan, "Building the North together," is not just empty words.  Terrace Builders is annually involved in the sponsorship of various sports teams and donates to a wide variety of community groups and charitable organizations.   They also hold occasional workshops for kids; the making of birdfeeders and birdhouses in the past years have been a big hit with the customers' families.

     With over twenty years behind them, George McCullough and Ernie Froese are looking enthusiastically towards the future.  There is no doubt that their business strategy will stay the same, "We love our staff and our customers and we hope it shows!"

By Ev Bishop