There were plenty of deserving candidates, but in terms of customer service, Fishers Hardware stood above the rest in earning the Kalamalka Rotary Club’s annual Vocational Service Award.
The longtime hardware store, run by siblings Larry, Kelly and Leslie Fisher, is renowned for its knowledgeable customer service and small-town friendliness.
“Customer service is something that was driven into us by the family,” said Kelly, whose great grandfather Cecil and grandfather Wally Sr. started the company in 1935.
“It was a real honour that the Rotary Club would pick us for that. We’ve been in business for a lot of years and to get recognized is real nice.”
Fishers, which will celebrate its 80th anniversary next year, began as a second-hand store. When Herb Fisher took over the store in 1956, he enlisted the help of his children Larry, Kelly and Leslie to run their booming little hardware store. Kelly, now 60, would make his way over from West Vernon School to help out in the afternoons.
Herb, 85, is still a regular fixture at the shop.
“He shows up every day,” said Kelly. Larry is 63 and Leslie, 53.
Beth Marks, a former Kal Rotary president and 10-year member, nominated Fishers Hardware.
“We’re just so lucky in our growing town to have that standard of service and first-name awareness and hard work,” she said.
“I’ve never gone in there when somebody hasn’t almost immediately helped me. They go over and above.”
Each year, Kal Rotary’s 88 members submit nominations for the vocational award. Past winners include Paul Nixon of Nixon Wenger and the Sharma family, owners of Vernon’s City Furniture.
“It’s quite an honour,” said Marks, a realtor.
“There’s always several recommendations. It’s really a tribute to their profession and to the community.”
