Photo Karen Graham.
Bernie and Peter Grubert have built their business by delivering quality products and services to local motorcycle and ATV enthusiasts from their shop on Davis Road.
It’s an investment that has paid dividends for more than 45 years.
In 1969, two brothers were given $4000 from their mother who had received it from an accident claim and told to use it to build their future. They did.
Peter and Bernie Grubert were motorcycle enthusiasts, as were many of their friends. Bernie had ridden competitively, but after an accident left him hospitalized for many months, he decided to direct his passion for the sport in another direction. In 1969 the brothers began to sell motorcycles out of a shed behind the family convenience store outside Lindsay. Other dealers referred to them as the “Candy Kids”, but not for long.
They moved their shop to Cameron in 1972 and then in 1976 they moved into a second location on David Road and ultimately amalgamated the two locations here where they remain today. Out of this unassuming building which formerly housed a bowling alley, the brothers built their business, taking on more brands including Suzuki, Kawasaki, Kipor and Honda.
Their success stems from a combination of a love of their products and a respect for their customers. They also operate with a healthy dose of common sense. As Bernie explains, the pair understood very early that to survive they had to sell their products for a price that covered their costs, included something for their efforts, with a margin for error. They keep their costs low in many ways, and their location demonstrates this cost-consciousness; the only shiny things in their showroom are their products. This formula has paid off as they now serve second and third generations of loyal customers.
Over the years they have seen many competitors come and go, some larger with better locations and much fancier showrooms. Cameron Cycle has often been the beneficiary of those departures, as Peter explains that over the years they have purchased inventory from more than 50 dealers as they closed, representing a double win for their business.
From its beginning as a partnership between two brothers, Cameron Cycle now operates with nine staff and offers ATV’s, motorcycles, and a complete line of power equipment from Honda with a service department providing repairs and maintenance as well as parts for the do-it-yourself customer. Having been in the business for so long, they still have microfiche records of parts which often come in handy when faced with repairs for older products.
Peter and Bernie Grubert are old school in a good way. They know their products, avoid quick fixes and deliver value to their customers. It is a winning formula that has kept them around for decades and will continue to keep those customers coming. KG
