This location was opened on December 8, 2004, by Paul and Annette Lalonde, who transitioned it from Marshalls Furniture, which had been open since 1987, to become part of The Brick family.
“This was a decision that was made so we could provide North Bay with the best savings and the biggest selection of furniture and mattresses,” says Annette.
A success from the start, The Brick North Bay received the top honour of being The Brick’s #1 franchise in Canada in 2019.
For the team, however, it is more than providing an outstanding shopping destination. It is about being a vital and giving part of the community.
Annette explains, “Since day one, The Brick North Bay has always found ways to give back to the community. We support our community by committing to numerous monetary donations along with many sponsorships. We continue to increase our level of support every year as we are able to and we take pride in the ability to contribute in many ways.”
This year marks their 4th annual Teddy Bear Toss with the North Bay Battalion OHL hockey team. Proceeds from this event support the Children’s Miracle Network, the North Bay Santa Fund, and other local charities.
As the team looks back over two decades of serving the community, they reflect on some of the things that have changed – and what remains the same.
“The biggest change in our industry has definitely been the introduction of online shopping. Not only has the Brick created an amazing online shopping experience, so has just about every single retailer and warehouse out there. This has made the competition even more challenging as it quite literally at everyone’s fingertips.
“We pride ourselves on providing the ultimate customer experience with our knowledgeable sales associates, professional customer service team, friendly and courteous delivery teams, and a large selection. Our show room is one of the largest in the North.”
Keeping up with changing industry demands has always been a hallmark of The Brick.
“We provide a first-in-class experience from start to finish,” says Annette. Our team has tablets that can be used throughout the showroom, making the ordering process easier, and we provide up-to-the-minute updates on delivery day so you know when you can expect our team to show up.”
On June 8, 2024, The Brick North Bay family suffered a devastating loss when Paul Lalonde passed away. As Annette notes, this loss was felt deeply throughout the entire team.
They press on. The team is a family, with many of its members celebrating over 10 years of service. They continue to make an impact on customers and the community, continuing the legacy started by the Lalonde’s 20 years ago.
To celebrate the milestone anniversary, on a beautiful Saturday in October, The Brick North Bay had an in-store celebration with Burger World there serving up free poutine in the parking lot. They also had live music entertainment provided by Chico Wheeler, and had three awesome draws you could enter to win a queen sized mattress, a 55” TV, and a $1000.00 in store shopping spree.
Annette concludes, “Our customer service is the most important to us and something that we take great pride in. Our future sees continued growth and success, expanding our customer base and continuing to provide the best service.”
Connect with The Brick North Bay online here.