At last week’s Burlington Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Entrepreneur dinner, local businessman Al Taylor, founder of Taylor Moving and Storage, was inducted into Burlington’s Entrepreneur Hall of Fame. The big event took place at the Burlington Convention Centre on Oct. 19, emceed by CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie, with a keynote address by Michael “Pinball” Clemons of Toronto Argonauts’ fame.
The evening started off with mingling and networking, hors d’oeuvres and drinks, followed by the opening remarks, keynote talk, and a three-course German-inspired dinner. It was a full house. Taylor has clearly made many community connections; Derek Stone, representing presenting sponsor RBC, noted in his commendation, “Congratulations to Al Taylor, who, I believe, moved me here 11 years ago!”
Pinball had the room paying close attention to his well-rehearsed, fast-talking poems, one of which was by internet poet, spoken word artist, and civil rights activist Prince EA, both of which were on the broad theme of how to live well. “Life is not about stuff, it’s about people,” in the first; “Call me crazy, but I imagine a world where we smile when we have low batteries/’Cause that’ll mean we’ll be one bar closer to humanity,” closing out the second, from Prince EA’s Can We Auto-Correct Humanity?
Drawing from a fable about farmer brothers who were taught a lesson by a farmhand about coming together rather than letting petty squabbles destroy relationships, Clemons spoke about the importance of working together as a community to “find that sweet spot.” A call-and-response of “Sweet!” and “Spot!” worked to hit that message home.
Taylor’s induction into the Entrepreneur Hall of Fame began with personal stories and jokes from friend and 2011 Distinguished Entrepreneur Ron Foxcroft. Foxcroft relayed the story of the 50-yard chip shot that Taylor sank 50 years ago (though Foxcroft’s wife apparently occasionally reminds him that the shot was only 10 yards, to which Foxcroft responds, “After 50 years, the story gets better.”) that resulted in Foxcroft’s nickname for Taylor of — of course — “Chip Shot.”
Foxcroft spoke of his friend’s golf skills and generosity more than his business prowess, noting that Chip Shot had “singlehandedly saved” the Art Gallery of Burlington when it was going through a tough time financially some years ago, back when it was still called the “Burlington Art Centre.” Generosity, though, clearly played into Taylor’s business success — in the video featuring Taylor and his sons Russ and Rick, Taylor’s generosity of spirit was on display when he commented about his business, “It’s all about the people.” Taylor always ensured his employees were treated well, building relationships with drivers, packers, movers, and office staff alike.
Taylor’s business success story is also a Burlington success story. When Al Taylor moved to Burlington in 1959, Burlington was a small town of about 14,000 people. Burlington had annexed most of the Township of Nelson and Aldershot in 1958, quadrupling the population (for more on Burlington’s history, see Dorothy Turcotte’s 1992 book, Burlington: The Growing Years), and Taylor saw opportunity with the continuing growth of Burlington.
And so, at only 19 years old, Taylor took advantage of a lack of other movers and began Taylor Moving and Storage. Much work was needed before he could even start actually helping people move: there were licenses to be procured, and a truck to purchase. And Taylor did it all himself, from sales to driving that truck, loading up the precious possessions of his new clients, and delivering them safely to their new homes.
Earlier in the evening, Russ had expressed his family’s excitement at seeing Taylor being honoured for his business success, noting that Taylor Senior was a classic work-hard entrepreneur, driving the truck during the day and doing paperwork at night in the early days of his business.
The business grew alongside Burlington. The early 70s saw operations expand into Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, with all of the necessary certifications that entailed. And Taylor’s ethos of relationship-building has made sure his business has withstood the test of time.
Russ and Rick Taylor, who had always seen their father’s hard work, observing his methods, were working alongside their father by the 90s. They took over the company in 2003 (you’ll have to ask Ron Foxcroft whether Taylor began beating him at golf even more frequently after retirement).
A fireside chat between emcee Ambrosie and Taylor himself provided more nuggets of wisdom. Taylor remembered borrowing funds from “the old Imperial Bank, they didn’t even ask for a cosigner,” which he used to finance his first truck from Lincoln Motors. And then his first move in May 1959. Taylor said of those early days in business, “When you’re young, you’re indestructible…you don’t really think about what can go wrong, only what can go right.”
When asked about his advice for young entrepreneurs today, Taylor quickly noted the importance of knowing your product or service, as well as of following your dreams: “If you have a dream, go for it, follow your dream…go for it as young as possible.”
Though Taylor said that he didn’t have a business mentor, he did have “a wonderful business and life partner” — his wife, Monica. Taylor credits his wife for giving up her career to care for their family, for throwing herself into working hard for their kids and for the wider community, from being a den mother for the Boy Scouts, volunteering for the Red Cross and Heart and Stroke Foundation, getting involved in their kids’ school, and for co-organizing a golf tournament that raised over $1 million for breast cancer research. No mean feat there.
Closing out the evening, Taylor downplayed his own success to focus on his family. “Yes, I had some success, but when I think of who really had success in the Taylor family,” Taylor said, gesturing out into the crowd. “…my wife, Monica.”
Sources:
Taylor, J. 2023. From a dream to reality: Al Taylor’s journey with Taylor Moving and Storage. A Canadian saga of triumph and endless opportunity! (Parts 1, 2, and 3). Taylor Moving and Storage. Url: https://ataylormoving.com/blog (accessed Oct. 21, 2023).
Turcotte, D. 1992. Burlington: The growing years. Burlington Historical Society: Burlington. Accessed online via University of Calgary. Url: https://digitalcollections.ucalgary.ca/archive/Burlington—The-Growing-Years-2R3BF1F3PDGYR.html (accessed Oct. 24, 2023).
