A Stratford company is celebrating its diamond anniversary.
Not only is the company still going strong after 75 years, but the family is looking for new tactics to continue its legacy.
Stan Blowes opened the doors of his on March 31, 1949.
“My grandfather started the business, then my father took over, and I was lucky enough to be the third generation,” Blowes said.
“They went all out and my dad had this little travel desk. . . they were promoting airline tickets and steamboat tickets,” Sam Bowes added.
Brian Blowes has an ad in the newspaper announcing his family’s acquisition of the Stratford business. (Ashley Bacon/CTV Kitchener)
The bookstore transformed into its current version – Blowes Cards
“We’ve been on the network, but in the long run the network has been bigger with us,” Sam said.
Although, as in any other business, there have been ups and downs throughout the more than 75 years, not even the Covid-19 pandemic has killed the family’s morale.
“I even had some smart clients who would call me every few weeks and just say, ‘Hey, how’s it going?How are you?’ Rob Blowes, owner of travel agency Blowes, explained: “They cared that you went through Covid and, you know, we literally had to fight to survive. “
Newspaper announcement of Stan Blowes’ acquisition of the Stratford store.
The family business is now going to grow.
Brian Blowes is renovating the top of the building, which has been empty for decades.
“It’s a real time capsule up there,” he said. “It had been empty since about 1951. They were apartments, originally a hotel, then apartments. “
They hope to list all 11 apartments for rent by the end of this year.
It’s simply an adventure for this next generation.
“I hope we last 75 years,” Blowes added.
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