CREblurb | Commercial Real-Estate in Ontario

From one employee and a station wagon to a 23-location, multi-generation company, Gerrie Electric is a true Canadian success story over six decades in the making.

Today, the over 400-employee organization sells a wide array of electrical, automation, and lighting products, services, and solutions: everything from wire, conduit, and distribution equipment to automation equipment. At over $200 million in sales, they’re one of Canada’s largest independent electrical distributors. It has taken a lot of hard work to get there, however. Across three generations, the Gerrie family has built the company up from a storefront supply counter in Oakville to its current Burlington headquarters and distribution centre and satellite locations across Southern Ontario. “Our core purpose is to passionately help customers be more successful by delivering exceptional experiences,” said Taylor Gerrie, a Director of Strategic Transformation with Gerrie Electric and part of the third generation of Gerries involved in the business. “We’re always trying to help our customers succeed, knowing that their success will influence our Ontario economy and in turn positively impact us.”

As times have changed in the electrical industry, the Gerrie family has kept pace in offering customers automation for their factory floors in the early 80s, adding datacom and process industry divisions, embracing the shift to LED lighting, and developing the wire cutting business. They’ve also kept a keen focus on deploying the latest technology, like when the Gerries expanded into e-commerce in the early 2000s.

“We continue the culture of integrity and trust that my father, Ken, formed through our focus on our people,” said Elaine Gerrie, Co-President and CEO. “We aim to be the market leader in all cities and towns and be the first to use and deploy new technology. It is one of our success pillars and what keeps us ahead of competitors.” And it’s not just Gerrie Electric branches and customers who are on the cutting edge. Through the pandemic, behind the scenes, the company has been working on a modern Burlington-based distribution centre. Powered by an automated storage retrieval system created by Bastian Solutions this new 76,000 square foot centre is helping Gerrie Electric efficiently and quickly store, sort, and distribute most of their merchandise across their sales territory. The continued success of the Gerrie family and their business has been recognized beyond Southern Ontario, with Gerrie Electric recently being named one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies for seventh year running.

The company was also recently recognized by Mohawk College through their inclusion in Mohawk’s Future Ready Premium Employer Program. “Mohawk has been an important partner, whether through the co-op students and alumni we hire, through our presence on their steering and program advisory committees, our support of their courses and continuing education, or as our staff teach in their programs,” said Elaine Gerrie. “Mohawk is providing the next wave of talent we need to continue to run our business and keep flourishing against global competition.” That talent will be needed as the company continues to grow. Gerrie Electric is preparing for a launch of a new website, and continuing to fine tune the organization’s structure, and offerings. While COVID-19 put challengers on expanded footprints, their revamped e-commerce platform will help them reach customers beyond South Central Ontario and compete with larger, multinational competition. And waiting in the wings to take on that competition are Taylor Gerrie and his two cousins, Jonathan Kwant and Joanna Kwant, part of the “3G”, or third generation, of Gerries involved in the business their grandfather established.

“So much work has been done to propel Gerrie to this point of success and with the resilient and dedicated staff, solid family culture, and passion for innovation and growth, we will continue to carry on Ken’s legacy and keep Gerrie Electric successful for many years to come,” added Taylor Gerrie.