Guest column: Now, more then ever, is the time to support your local chandlery

Mar 24, 2022

by Marc Robic

With the pandemic restrictions easing off, this year more than ever, is the time to support your local retailers.

Last year I wrote a piece on the importance and benefits of supporting our local merchants and retailers. As the pandemic was then starting its second year, online shopping increased by an astonishing amount, leaving our local retailers out in the cold with significant decreases in sales.

As I noted in that article, the advent of the internet has undeniably changed how sailors/consumers discover new products, improve their overall knowledge of boating, sailing, navigation and introduces us to new boater friendly destinations. Canadian Yachting Magazine and the new online by-weekly magazine Sailing in Canada are great sources of information for all us Canadian boaters. Both of these as well as the many boating related groups on Facebook, provide a lot of great information as well as sharing of experiences. Learning from the successes and failures of others is truly invaluable.

Like many boaters, I also keep busy during the winter by doing a lot of research on products and keeping up on basic and technical knowledge. Boating magazines and the internet are reliable sources of information.

No doubt, searching for products online is a good source of product information and reviews. BUT the proliferation of boaters buying almost everything online is having a terrible ripple effect on our local retailers.

Full disclosure: Yes, I do purchase items online, like most people. But as much as possible, I try and source what I need and get my local chandlery to get it for me.

But what increasingly concerns me and should be a concern to all of us, is the survival of our local boat retailers and chandleries. Owned and managed by experienced and knowledgeable people, most are boat enthusiasts themselves and mostly hire local people who freely share the passion for boating. Best of all and not to be neglected, their experience is based on your real local conditions and environment.

As John Duk and Laurieanne McCormick, owners of Montreal-based The Boathouse will confirm, I purposely plan all my purchases at their store. John and Larrieanne are both experienced boaters and sailors themselves and never hold back on sharing their knowledge.

I will often call or email them regarding a product I am considering. Most times they’ve been able to not only get it, but often at a better price. Quite a few times, thanks to their experience, they’ve suggested a better alternative or suggestion.

Sadly, however, I know some people spend time with store staff, explaining what they need, soaking up the information and advice only to leave and go buy the products online. Sometimes, at the same price, but most times at higher prices as shipping is either extra or built into the price.

But what about the value of the experience freely shared by our local chandleries? How can they survive? Do we not appreciate their experience and knowledge? How about their presence when something breaks onboard, just before a planned weekend of boating, only to be saved by the local boat supply store that had just what you needed or provided a temporary work around solution to save the weekend?

I think we should all make a very conscious effort to protect and support our local chandleries.

Building a relationship with your local retailer is another way of making our love of boating even better.

When we do, we quickly realize how much the customer & chandlery relationship can be beneficial. But, like all relationships in our lives, it must go both ways!

So, to all my fellow boaters & water sport enthusiasts, wherever you are, get to know your local boat supply store and start building what I promise will be a beautiful and very rewarding relationship!

As I also wrote last year, I would be remiss if I did not take time to say a word to manufacturers and distributors. They too must play a role is supporting “their” customers: the local chandleries! They should consider their own relationships and refer all purchase inquiries back the local stores. I know many manufacturers I’ve contacted over the years for technical information who did just that, and by that action alone, have earned my brand respect.

 

Marc Robic & First Mate, Claude

Marc Robic
Marc is a member of the Canadian Power & Sail Squadron. He and his wife, Claude Couture sail their Catalina 270, Aquaholic 3, out of the Ile-Perrot Yacht Club in Montreal, where Marc spent 16 years as Harbour Master. They are regular Caribbean bareboat yacht charterers. With over 40 years’ experience, Marc is also an avid onboard do-it-yourselfer.
mrobic@aol.com