1914 – The Beginning
Our story begins in Regina in 1914. H.A. Shaver, described as a self-taught man who did it all from building homes in the Regina area, opens the doors to Shaver's Sash and Door Ltd. to make windows and doors as well as turning pulleys for grain elevators in the prairies. Those doors opened on the 1200 block of Cornwall Street and were H.A Shaver’s home away from home until his death in 1953 at age 75. H.A Shaver’s grandson Roy then takes over the family business after working with his grandfather for 8 years. Roy and his wife Florence maintain the Cornwall location until 1964 when they move the business into a custom built facility elsewhere in Regina.
1970 – 1998 – New Eras
In 1977 Allen Shaver, Roy’s son, joins the company and like his father learns the family business while working after school and on weekends. Allen is the 3rd generation Shaver to join the family business. In 1985 Arlene Shaver, Allen’s sister, joins the family business in an administrative role running the office and customer service. This vital position was proof that the family business was growing into the modern professional world. In 1996 Gord Plessl joins the Shaver business in a management role. His role would be a living embodiment for the company’s beliefs in expertise, market presence, and quality. In 1998 the Shaver’s company moves locations yet again, this time to a 15,000 square foot facility on 4th avenue east. In the two decades that follow, the Shaver team would continue to grow, adding, new and cutting edge products, state-of-the-art equipment and, most important, skilled and professional people.
How is a century of service achieved?
Shaver’s is where it is today following three core values: Family, sacrifice, and change. Although it is a family run business that does not mean that family activities are exclusive or forgotten. Shaver’s clients are seen as being part of the family, meaning customer service going above and beyond that of “just a client”, a quality that creates loyalty and is unachievable by many larger manufacturers. Sacrifice is a value that goes on at many levels being a smaller manufacturer, not just in the workplace. Being a small family run business means making sacrifices financially, both related and unrelated to work, and also in free time. It’s important to know what to sacrifice and what can’t be sacrificed, family is one thing that is never sacrificed. Change is something every industry needs to deal with, and the millwork industry is no different. Shaver’s is where it is today because it has been able to adapt so well to an ever changing market, while adhering to the difficult challenges put forth by the industry. One family run manufacturer has proved that it is possible to overcome those industry challenges, achieving long-term success… one hundred years’ worth!
