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A truly exciting journey
How Lee Valley Tools became an e-commerce giant
It ’ s been a truly exciting journey for me in my first three years here at Lee Valley Tools ,” begins the company ’ s Vice President , Supply Management and Logistics , Gord Campbell . “ I am proud to have been – and continue to be – part of a strong leadership team that has steered the company through an incredible growth period .
“ We ’ re now approaching the launch of a major technology investment with our Distribution Center ,” he goes on . “ If I went forward five years and looked back in time , I would like to be describing a sustained journey of growth for Lee Valley Tools that ’ s buttressed by new technologies and digital e-commerce opportunities .”
Having worked in retail for nearly four decades , it ’ s safe to assume that Gord knows a thing or two about the sector . “ I have had the good fortune in my career to work with many great leaders over time ,” he reflects .
“ They ’ ve helped me develop my business and leadership skills . I ’ ve also benefited from the opportunity to move into many diverse roles in retail , which has led to a more wellrounded industry knowledge .
“ Consequently , I ’ m able to draw from a variety of perspectives to address challenges and opportunities at Lee Valley Tools ,” he continues . “ Whether I ’ m maintaining my inventory management responsibility or addressing the warehouse operations , traffic , and customs , I have 39 diverse years of experience helping me .”
Gord ’ s ambitious five-year forecast for the popular , family-owned woodworking and garden tool retailer is , therefore , likely to come to fruition . But let ’ s look back before we go forward .
Founded in 1977 by Leonard and Lorraine Lee , Lee Valley Tools was established to address a gap in the Canadian tooling market . Indeed , by sourcing and supplying a range of specialized high-quality hand tools and accessories for woodworkers , the business has been able to scale its operations exponentially .
It now has sales in more than 100 countries . Yet , despite that growth , Lee Valley Tools remains a family-owned and -operated company .
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