Clinton News-Record, 1946-06-27, Page 9Ciiitt�n PP�
SPEECIAL
SECTION ,
News -Record
WITH MUCH IS INCORPORATED TIE CLINTON NEW BRA
■
' EI LWOOI)
EPPS
SPECIAL 1
SECTION
No. 26 -68th Year; Whole No. 6207
CLINTON, ONTARIO, THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 1946
12 Pages
Second Section—Pages 9 to 12
Oficial
Opening
of Allwood Epps' New Building June 2
Present Business. Grew
From Small Beginnings
The story of Ellwood Epps' present natbi+oUwide sporting
goods business is a story of arJhievement. From very small
beginnings, it has grown to be one of the largest of its kind in
Canada, with "Sporting Goods of Quality" a household slogan.
Anxious to ascertain the secret bank of Itis success in
nine short year, CLINTON NEWS -RECORD interviewed the
head of the firm who, incidentally, i5 one of the best known
spomtsnnen in the Dominion. Let Ellwood tel it:
"In 1937 I was leaking after my father's transport business.
This left me a little spare time, and as I was always interested
in guns, having about 15 of my own at that bine and a few
spare dollars to invest, I brought tihe guns down and slightly
remodelled the outline we used for the transport and bought a
little sporting equipment. Th'iis was displayed on card tables
and the gums were hung on the wall.
"I.purehased a few bicycles and can well remember the first
bicycle that was 'sold. This was sold to Jun Lockwood and I can
well remember how tickled he was and how pleased we were at
the time.
"The first year, business was nothing outstanding, being
very 'slow, about the middle of the season I thought that possibly
if we advertised in some of the sporting magazines that we
might be able to pick up a few additional 'orders that way and
started running advertisements in 'Hunting and Fishing' and
"Rod and Gun,' as well as using the radio station at Wingham.
Since starting to advertise in these various divisions we have
run advertisements regularly, either every week or every month
ever since. At the present tune, we use four sportsmen's mag,
Gaines, two trade publications, CLINTON NEWS -RECORD and
CKNX.
Supplies Difficult
"In 1939, business had increased quite a little and we found
itt-difficult to obtain any type of rifle that was not widely used;
the same applied to shotguns. If you wanted anything besides
the 30 inch barrel full choke we invariably had to wait for some
jobber to import this from the States, which usually took three
or four weeks' time. So we thought at that time 2t would be a
good thing if we could get on the direct list of some of the firans
that we could bring the items In that we required and possibly
supply a few of the dealers with items that they could not obtain
elsewhere and would also let us give our customers better service.
"It was very difficult at first to persuade ere companies that
we were interested in the items for re -sale to the other dealers,
not just to try and 'obtain more profit for ourselves. But event-
ually a few of the companies accepted us and we have gradually
added to these, until at the present time we have as complete as
possible connections with the various firms manufacturing sport-
ing equipment.
"At that time we started a traveller on the road who
handled various other lines along with our own but it did help
to give us' a volume of business that we had to have to mallatain
our jobbing connections.
Grew Little by Little
"All this time the business grew little by little. We found
that our show roots was too (small so we would add a little bit
to it. Then in about another six or eight months we would find
it too small again and wonder how we could make further en-
largements. As a result we made five different stabs at making
the building along the lines of what we wished. After doing this
the fifth time ,and finding it was stili too small we decided then
that we would not do 'any building until such time as we were
able to do the complete job and do it right. During the war it
was innpossible to do any enlarging or make any alterations and
• as a result we had to wait for our present building until the
fall of 1945.
"Right from the start we had many customers with various
Ltems that tihey did not wish and wanted to trade; almost in-
variably we took every trade that was offered. We did turn
down a few, one parity. had an Old sow and ten little pigs that
they wished to trade on a 'bicycler.. and another party had a set
of harness and almost invariably they had something we were
able to use farad place in some other spat. Sometimes we would
come out •ahead of the deal, but at the start more often than not,
we found the people that we were dealing with a better trader
then than we were and wondered afterwards how we were talked
into the trade. However, it was a case of live and learn. Every
spare moment I had was 'spent in studying guns and sporting
(Continued on Page Ten)
Ellwood Epps at His Desk
100
1
In his new office, panelled in beautiful knotty
pine in natural finish, Ellwood Eppe is right at I
home. His extra -large oak desk was made to order +
and some of his favorite sporting pictures adorn .
the walls. He answers voluminous correspondence
by using the dictaphone, ever ready at his elbow.
It is his man "Friday."
The "Piece de Resistance"—The Gun Room
For the sheer beauty of its design, construction
and appointments, the gun room is the show spot
of the building, and represents the realization of
many of Ellwood Epps' dreams. With knotty pine
panelled walls and ceiling in natural finish, terrazzo
floor, and many choice firearms on display, the
gun room is certainly the "piece de resistance" of
the establishment. Sliding doors (in left rear wall)
look on a smart revolver and rifle range, all con-
cealed with proper safety precautions in effect.
"Open House" Planned
For Saturday Afternoon
Under construction for several months, Ellwood Epps' new
sports shop and warehouse building on Kung St.,Clinton, is
now completed and will be officially opened Satuday.
"Open House" -oto which the public is invited—will take
place, starting at 2 p.m., when Mr. Epps and ,the members of
Its staff will act as hosts. Many dealers and other friends
from out-of-town are expected to attend, as well as 'customers
from Clinton and district. There wall be bright, attractive
program features, including a guessing contest on sporting,
oddities.
Always a 'Sportsman
In an interview with Ellwood Epps, The NEWS -RECORD
gleaned some intereetifng details of his life.
"I was born in Varna, Ontario in 1909; this is a small village
ten miles (roan Clinton. I took my early ,sehooling there and
came to Clinton to Collegiate. After I left Collegiate I started
to work on my father's trucks ani worked on these for approxi-
mately five years and then took a position in the West Indies.
All the time I was working on the transport, I used to carry a
rifle with ane and kept +a record of the shooting I did. I used
to mark them up on the ceiling of the cab. One year I remember
I shot 129 groundhogs, 17 crows, 65 ,lack rabbits, eight skunks,
28 wild ducks and 15 wild geese.
"After coming fbaok from the West Indies, my farther put
ane in charge of the Owen Sound end of our transport business,
and while looking after that department, I married Kennena
McKay, Kincardine, and we rived in Owen Sound for about one
year and then moved to Clinton. I have resided in Clinton
ever since.
"After operating the store for about a year, I talked to
some of the local boys and we formed a rifle elub, called the
Clinton Rifle Club, and for two years in succession we were able
to take the Ontario 'Championship of the Dominion Marksmen
division. One year tin the competition fortunately I was fable to
make a high scare for Ontario and the Mossberg Company for-
warded ane a fine Spotting Scope, and the Cooeyy Co., a .22 rifle.
'Mat was really about the first prize I had won 'shooting and
certainly added fuel to the already keen enjoyment I derived
from this sport.
Won Several Championships
"After shooting for two or three years in the Sporting Rifle
competitions I purchased my first target rifle, a Model 15 BSA,
and was successful in winning the Canadian Outdoor 50 and 100
yard match. After shooting with it one year I sold it and
purchased •a .52 Winchester and with that rifle I was able to wiar.
two other Canadian Obainpionships, along with other various
cups and spoons, etc. One season I shot in the Connecticut State
Small Bore Shoot, which is the largest indoor shoot in the world,
and was successful in winning the senior individual, although it
was more by luck than good shooting, for competition in that
particular group was not very keen and I also was shooting a
borrowed rifle at the time.
"In 1942, after reading an article in a magazine that was
contrary to some of the opinions I had, I started to try and write
a little article and forwarded this to Mr. Landis, the gun editor
of 'Rod and Gun in Canada.' I still prize the letter received
from hirer in reply to the article stating that he approved of it
greatly and he has going to run it in a publication as soon as
possible. This article appeared about two or three months later
and from that time on I occasionally Iwrotte odd articles. About
three years ago I took up the gun editing of 'Hunttrntig and Fish.
ing in Canada', and later on the `Game Trails ill Canada,' but
lately have been so busy that a lot of the writing has had to be
dropped for the time at least.
"Of late I have done no competitive rifle shooting as time
has been limited and I also have a great deal of sighting in of
rifles to do on our own range that it takes up pretty well all.
the -spare time I have.
Girl First Employee
"For .the first two or three years of business, I had one
employee only, Miss Jessie Campbell, who is still with us, and
in the third year in business we hired her brother, Mr. Bob.
Campbell, who stayed with me until shortly before the start of
the war. After Bob left, I had various employees, these doing
mostly bicycle work until 1945 we had to have an extra girl in
the office. During 'all this time I was putltiing in myself, 14,
15, and 16 hours a day and also had a Working arrangement
with a gunsmith in Stratford nn. ll about four years 'ago. At
(Continued on Page Ten)
The Bright, Cheery General Office
ka—
Ellwood Epps believes that bright surround- and good lighting. ABOVE are shown (left), Miss
(centre), Miss
tr
Aileen McCartney, stenographer;
ings mean efficient work. For that reason, the Y,)
general office and other parts of the building are Jessie C mp�bell, secretary to M. Epps; (right),
well lighted and airy. Nquipulent in ,the spacious' Earl H. Lepburne,,bookkeeper.
offices includes large oak desks, terrazzo floor
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Ellwood Epps'
Capable Staff
EARL H. LEYBURNE, bookkeep-
er, has been with the firm since his
discharge from the Royal C'an,adiait'.
Air Force, February 14, 1946, after
two -and -a -half years' service as a
wireless mechanic. Originally a Sea -
forth boy, he had resided An Tema-
gami for five years prior to his en-
listment. The North seemed pretty
attractive to Ehrl because he brought
his bride back from there. She was
formerly Thelma Jackson, Teniagami.
They have one daughter, Sandra, five.
* w *
GEORGE' "SHORT" CAMPBELL,
in charge of the stock room, is a
Clinton native, brother of Miss Jessie
Campbell, also a member of the staff.
He started with the firm in January
1946 after receiving his discharge
from the Royal Canadian Artillery,
after four years' service as a Signal
Sergeant. Prior to his enlistment,
he had been in I{irkland Lake for five
years,workingfor the Teck -Hughes
Gold Mine. ile in Kirkland Lake
he married Lily Faragher, and has a
daughter three -and -a -half years old.
* * *
•MISS J168S1i1 0AMPBEfLL, was
Ellwood Epps' first employ'ee, joining
the firm in 1937 as stenographer,
after graduating from Clinton School
of Commerce. As private secretary,
she is now his "right hand man." Miss
Campbell is an accomplished rifle
shot and has won a number ofmedals
in Dominion Marksmen competitions.
She also is an ardent motorcycle fan
and has owned several of, her own
(Continiihd "on Page' Teri)
Portion of Retail Store Showing Record Bar
The retail store is very attractive with ideal is George ",Short" Campbell, waiting on a fair
display space for all . types of sports merchandise. customer, while at right, at the smart record bar,
in natural finish is Miss Jessie Campbell.
It also is finished in knotty pine,. ..�
e
with terrazzo finer, AfB01V•I!}, in centre;b'ackgro'nuc�