Five generations. One entrepreneurial streak. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
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ROB MCINTOSH UNIQUE SHOPS CAME INTO THE WORLD ON OCTOBER 3, 1979 47 YEARS OLD
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Time flies! We have seen the retail business ebb and flow with 911, Sars, Covid and tariffs. What a ride! A challenge and a delight that we are still here and still having fun. What we're seeing now is the customers are looking for unique, diversified, value-driven and practical. Do people still like to shop? Of course. But...same old, same old doesn't work. Change is the key. We're having a hoot looking for things to provide an experience that make customers leave our store happy (even if they didn't buy anything). Today our goal is to present an "About Us" that tells the McIntosh Entrepreneurial story in a totally modern way.
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FIVE GENERATIONS ONE ENTREPRENEURIAL STREAK
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A FAMILY THAT KEEPS TRYING THINGS
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It started in 1906. From coffee, tea and spices in Ottawa, to 33 china shops across Canada, to a historic collection of buildings in South Lancaster which is home — entrepreneurship has been part of the family for more than a century.
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FIVE GENERATIONS OF ENTREPRENEURS
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Each generation took what came before and added something different to it. There are fantastic pieces of the existing story that should not disappear.
This is the short version.
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1906 AND MORE - FIRST, TEA AND COFFEE FIRST GENERATION Rob’s grandfather and great-aunt open McIntosh & Watts in Ottawa, selling coffee, tea and spices. Cups and saucers join during the Great Depression. That small addition changes everything.
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THE 1940'S- THEN THERE WAS FINE CHINA SECOND GENERATION Rob’s father, Grant McIntosh, stationed in England during World War II, sees an opportunity to bring English dinnerware and figurines home to Canada. Another big move.
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1979- ROB MCINTOSH OPENS THIRD GENERATION Rob fulfills his dream and opens his first shop in Cornwall, Ont. Barb agrees to pitch in for a few weeks to help with the books and payroll. Barb stayed. More than four decades later, she’s become a McIntosh entrepreneur. It’s catching.
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THE 1980'S & 1990'S — 33 STORES FOURTH GENERATION From coast to coast in Canada. One store becomes many, from Halifax to Vancouver, including china departments in five Eaton’s locations. The fourth generation, Jamie and Peter, are the driving force behind this expansion.
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SOUTH LANCASTER-GO FOR EXTRAORDINARY BARB THOUGHT THIS UP An old school, relocated historic buildings, a bank safe, connecting tunnels and a 23,000-square-foot retail smorgasbord become the Rob McIntosh Unique Shopping Experience.
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TODAY — AND THE STORY KEEPS GROWING FIFTH GENERATION The fifth generation is on board and already following his own entrepreneurial path. Alex is studying and playing hockey in Slovakia, while Rob and Barb are still a big part of the story back home. The entrepreneurial streak is yet in play.
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WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT? Still family owned. Still in South Lancaster. We’re still changing, still curious and still finding things we think you’ll love. Do come visit us, have a Canadiano and a butter tart in the Polar Bear Cafe and wander the tunnels looking at all the fun stuff. We'd love to see you.
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This link doesn't work yet. Barb is in the middle of writing a novel containing anecdotes of the past 47 years. It's in progress and when done will connect to this link. Maybe soon. Maybe next year. Maybe I should get your help but at the moment, it's in the future. Lots of happiness to all.
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