Kelowna-based Copier Business Added IT & Three Alberta Branches During Pandemic
Andre Brosseau, President of Innov8Digital Solutions
KELOWNA – Another branch. Another branch. Another branch.
What better way to announce expansion in the copier business?
That’s been the mode of late for Innov8 Digital Solutions, which added three new locations during the Covid Pandemic, in Edmonton, Red Deer and Calgary.
“Right smack in the middle of the storm, with businesses shutting down and closing doors, what do we do? We go full throttle,” recalls President Andre Brosseau, adding the Alberta outlets gave the Kelowna-based operation a total of nine, including Kamloops, Nelson, Nanaimo, Victoria and Courtenay. “Why don’t we go through the eye of the hurricane? I thought we could hire highly talented staff, and hoped I still had some goodwill left in Alberta. It’s worked out really well for us.”
Indeed.
Andre and Katia Brosseau of Innov8 Digital Solutions
Today, the company has over 80 employees and is 15 times the size when he first moved to Kelowna a decade ago for health reasons to purchase a small, local copier business that had 375 machines in the marketplace. Revenues have been increasing, on average, 20 percent per year.
“Fast forward, and today, we have over 7,000 pieces of office equipment under contract, and we are the largest Canon dealer in Canada, even though we’re based out of B.C.,” he marvels. “We were recognized for the honour in February in San Diego, and we are the biggest by quite a margin in Canada, and I don’t see anybody catching up. Our plan is continued growth in current and new markets”.
Innov8 also carries Sharp and Lexmark multi-function copiers and printers, scanners and products.
“Because we’re not the manufacturer, we carry different product lines and we can recommend suit-for-purpose solutions,” he states. “Rather than just working for the manufacturer and having to say we have this product to sell you only. We have a diverse product range that can be tailored for each client’s needs.”
It’s been quite a journey for Brosseau, who started in Alberta as a Minolta salesman in Edmonton in 1991, became a founding partner in Digitex in 1999 then sold in 2013 to move to the Okanagan to “retire.”
Right.
Brosseau is excited about the future of the company and has no plans on slowing down now, especially after seeing the success in the Alberta operations, which were started from scratch.
“I’m in more of a CEO role now,” he states. “My focus now is on growth, expansion and new product offerings.”
That includes the natural expansion into the IT business, which they did in 2020 by purchasing an existing operation.
“We’ve really done well in the IT business. We’re managing network infrastructure, desktops, and providing document management solutions,” he explains. “It is processed automation, really. There are a lot of redundant tasks we all do, so how do we automate those processes so we don’t have to do things over and over again?”
Brosseau believes that type of technology will become increasingly important, especially considering many businesses are experiencing difficulties finding new employees.
“If we can automate systems and alleviate the need for extra staff, it can allow businesses to grow,” he adds.
Brosseau credits his wife, Katia, for inspiring him.
“If it wasn’t for her and her support and help in the business getting it off, we wouldn’t be where we are at all,” he states. “She’s been absolutely great.”
“The key to our success is never being satisfied with the status quo and always reaching to provide better services and experiences for our clients, and making sure we have positive, engaged staff,” he says. “And we share our successes with our staff.”
Brosseau’s own story is inspiring. In his pioneering days in Alberta, years prior to moving to Kelowna, it was not easy at all. “We looked like a successful business, but it was a struggle. We always paid our suppliers and never missed payroll for 20 staff members. I was driving a rust bucket, shopping at Value Village, and took a farm job bailing hay to help make ends meet.”
“If you think the price of winning is high, wait until you get the bill from regret,” he says.
He shared his final bedside father and son conversation he had with his father John before he passed away earlier this year.
John told Andre how proud he was to be able to move the business forward without “having a silver spoon in his mouth.
“You’ve done all those things that I was too scared to do,” he added. “I want people to make sure they know that I didn’t give you anything. You’ve done all this all yourself.”
Starting as a salesperson, Brosseau became good at his craft, and when he started his companies, he created a vision that people bought into.
“Being kind is so important,” he notes. “It’s not the ruthless leader that wins, it’s the kind leader that people want to follow. Some guys can move their way up the ladder through fear and intimidation, but you’re fighting all the time that way. Why not give people a hand on their way up? Listen to them; be committed.”
He also objects to the old adage: ‘showing up is half the battle’.
“That’s absolute crap,” he says. “Showing up is expected. You’re supposed to be here, and you have to give 100 percent. You always have to push yourself and get out of your comfort zone.”
On his office wall hangs a plaque that says it all: “Your actions determine who you are – not your words.”
Although he pitches in wherever needed, Brosseau says much of his time involves strategic thinking for the company.
“Even if I’m not physically be in the office, I’m thinking about what’s the next thing we can do. I’m trying to make the right decisions, the tough decisions, and not delay, to move the business forward,” he explains. “I’m not heartless, but I’m trying to use my heart less, and be more analytical in my decision making.
“I used to put off tough decisions. But delaying them only prolongs the agony and makes things worse,” he adds. “So now I try to make those tough decisions quicker. It’s better for everyone involved.”
Making a difference in the lives of people through philanthropy is a prime motivator for Brosseau.
“Multi-nationals take money out of our communities and drain Canadian resources, so I ask, ‘Why not us? Why don’t we take that wallet share and support the communities that support us?”
Innov8 contributes to organizations that focus on mental health, which Brosseau believes is one of the main reasons for many of our social issue including homelessness.
“Homelessness starts with mental health typically, or abuse,” he observes. “Why is there abuse? It’s probably related to mental health. We should focus on mental health with youth, around the ages of 14-21, as those are the critical years. If we can do something for that age group, that would be huge, as our mental health system for youth is broken. That’s really where I like to focus attention on and bring it to light.
“If we can really grow this business and build it out and use those revenues to help with that, that’s really a mission for us. We’d like to leave a bit of a legacy in that area.”
By Mark MacDonald, Business Examiner
