Canadian Experiences: Lee Valley
Jan. 7th, 2011 01:18 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
carlfoxmartenI thought it might be interesting to run a series on Canadian experiences, featuring things that are either unique to Canada or at least very popular here.
To start, I'll begin by talking about that chain of stores that focuses on gardening and woodworking tools, Lee Valley Tools.
They also take note of various toys, typically inspired by those games you used to play with as a child, especially tops and gyroscopes, tin toys, model ships, and various games with balls.
They also have two subsidiary companies, Veritas Tools and Algrove Publishing, which focus on the manufacture of tools and the publishing of out-of-print books.
While other stores have some of their inventory out on shelves for the customer to carry around until they check out, Lee Valley has only display cabinets and some small items out for picking up and toting, with the vast majority of stock behind the counter.
(which is a good thing, as most of the items can get pretty long and/or heavy)
After you browse around the store or the in-store catalogues and decide on some things you're interested in, you can use either a clipboard with an order sheet on it or one of the computers to print out an order sheet.
You'll usually need to take a number and wait until it's your turn, then present your order sheet and the clerk will fill your order from the back room (which is more like a warehouse on a slightly smaller scale), bringing your items back to the counter for you to look over before taking it to a checkout for you to finally pay for.
While that may sound like it'll take a pretty long time, it really allows you to fully browse their very wide selection of tools and toys, and helps you to avoid waiting in line with a bunch of really long garden shovels and rakes.
However, even if there is no store near you, the majority of their stock can be ordered online for shipping to most places in the world, though the cost of shipping may be expensive, depending on where you live.
I'll be running this feature every once in a while, when I remember a store, tradition, or other experience that is uniquely Canadian.
The next one should be on Tim Hortons, though I'm not sure when it'll be.
To start, I'll begin by talking about that chain of stores that focuses on gardening and woodworking tools, Lee Valley Tools.
They also take note of various toys, typically inspired by those games you used to play with as a child, especially tops and gyroscopes, tin toys, model ships, and various games with balls.
About the company:
While I don't know much about their history (their website may have some of that), I do know that they are a great source for quality woodworking or gardening tools, with a special focus on unique tools for that odd job that nobody else thought much about.They also have two subsidiary companies, Veritas Tools and Algrove Publishing, which focus on the manufacture of tools and the publishing of out-of-print books.
The stores:
Shopping at a Lee Valley location is very different from the vast majority of stores you know already.While other stores have some of their inventory out on shelves for the customer to carry around until they check out, Lee Valley has only display cabinets and some small items out for picking up and toting, with the vast majority of stock behind the counter.
(which is a good thing, as most of the items can get pretty long and/or heavy)
After you browse around the store or the in-store catalogues and decide on some things you're interested in, you can use either a clipboard with an order sheet on it or one of the computers to print out an order sheet.
You'll usually need to take a number and wait until it's your turn, then present your order sheet and the clerk will fill your order from the back room (which is more like a warehouse on a slightly smaller scale), bringing your items back to the counter for you to look over before taking it to a checkout for you to finally pay for.
While that may sound like it'll take a pretty long time, it really allows you to fully browse their very wide selection of tools and toys, and helps you to avoid waiting in line with a bunch of really long garden shovels and rakes.
Locations:
Lee Valley has over a dozen stores across Canada, and while I'm sure there's supposed to be some in the States, the website isn't saying there is.However, even if there is no store near you, the majority of their stock can be ordered online for shipping to most places in the world, though the cost of shipping may be expensive, depending on where you live.
I'll be running this feature every once in a while, when I remember a store, tradition, or other experience that is uniquely Canadian.
The next one should be on Tim Hortons, though I'm not sure when it'll be.
