On most mornings in Victoria Cove, Deborah Brinson does exactly what she’s done for nearly two decades; she enters the doors of Gander Bay Building Supplies, greets familiar faces, and gets to work. Some customers are there for building materials; some need quotes; others come in simply to talk. And for Deborah, they are all equally important.
“People don’t always come in just because they need something,” she says. “Sometimes they just need a place to stop, to chat, to feel connected. That’s the kind of store we’ve always wanted this to be.”
Raised in Gander Bay, Deborah left Newfoundland in her early twenties to work in Ontario’s automotive industry. In 2007, she and her husband Todd made what she describes as a surprisingly quick decision, to return home and purchase the local building supply store overlooking the bay.
“I came from HR and automotive. I knew nothing about building materials,” she laughed. “But I knew people. And I knew community.”
With a newborn at home and a business to learn from the ground up, Deborah stepped into an industry that was entirely new to her. What she found was challenging, demanding, and deeply rewarding.
A Store That Knows Your Name
Gander Bay Building Supplies has stood on the same site since 1912, just steps from the ocean. Over the years it has evolved from a general store into a modern building supply centre, but its role in the community has remained unchanged.
“It’s always been a landmark,” Deborah says. “Everyone knows the store. Even people who moved away decades ago still talk about it.”
Serving a town of roughly 1,300 people, with other customers traveling from as far as an hour away, the store is woven into daily life in the region. Some customers have been coming in for generations, some stop by weekly, for many it’s a place that they have relied on for years. Many are greeted by name.
“We take service very seriously,” Deborah explains. “But more than that, we take relationships seriously. Products and pricing can be matched. Relationships can’t.”
That philosophy shows up in countless ways, from matching community donations raised through pallet sales, to supporting the local school, fire department, recreation committee, and youth programs. One of the moments Deborah is most proud of came several years ago, when she joined a group of local mothers to raise more than $100,000 to build the town’s first playground.
“There was no playground here before,” she says. “We wanted a place where kids could just be kids, right in their own community.”
Gander Bay Building Supplies was a major sponsor of the project, contributing both financially and materially. Today, the playground stands as a visible reminder of what can happen when a community comes together, and of Deborah’s belief that businesses have a responsibility to help create spaces where families can thrive.”
“Being a community presence is about much more than sales,” she says. “It’s about showing up when people need you.”
Learning as You Go
When Deborah and Todd purchased the business, much of it was still run manually. Orders were handwritten, records kept in ledgers, and systems were based on long-standing routines. Instead of forcing rapid change, Deborah chose to move slowly.
“When you buy a business that comes with staff, you meet them where they are,” she says. “You learn together.”
Over time, the store was computerized, a point-of-sale system was introduced, and processes were modernized, while preserving the culture that made the store special in the first place.
Deborah handles all back-office operations and financials, manages all window quotations, and works directly with new home customers, guiding them through each stage of their building process. Many of these new home customers live out of the province. Todd focuses on purchasing and supplier relationships. Their approach is hands-on and collaborative.
“We don’t stand back and manage from a distance,” Deborah says. “We work alongside our staff. That’s important in a small store.”
Leadership, Connection, and Castle
Deborah’s commitment to collaboration naturally extended beyond her own store. She currently serves as Vice Chair of the Board for Castle Building Centres Group, a role she credits with expanding her understanding of the industry.
“When I first got involved, I realized very quickly that no matter where you are or how big your store is, we’re all dealing with many of the same challenges,” she says. “Some of the best learning happens just talking with other members.”
Joining Castle in 2015 was a turning point.
“It was honestly one of the best decisions we made for the business,” Deborah says. “The support, the innovation, the sense of community, it aligned with how we already operated.”
She also values Castle’s emphasis on giving back, including community recognition grants that help local projects thrive.
“Castle understands that strong communities build strong businesses,” she says. “That matters to us.”
Recognized for Retail Spirit
In 2022, Deborah received the Hardlines Retail Spirit Award at the Outstanding Retailer Awards, national recognition that felt especially meaningful in a small-town setting.
“We don’t advertise. We don’t do radio or TV,” she says. “So, for something like that to happen, it was huge. The whole town felt proud.”
For Deborah, the recognition wasn’t about personal achievement.
“It reflected our staff, our customers, and the history of the store,” she says. “This place has been here for over 100 years. We’re just one chapter in that story.”
A Woman Leading by Doing
As a woman in a traditionally male-dominated industry, Deborah encountered her share of assumptions early on.
“There were lots of moments where people would ask to speak to ‘the boss,’ or assume the technical answers would come from someone else,” she says. “You learn quickly not to take that personally.”
Instead, she focused on learning, leaning heavily on suppliers, asking questions, and building confidence through experience.
“I always tell people: learn as much as you can, and don’t be afraid to ask,” she says. “Good suppliers were key to my success.”
Her leadership style today is grounded, practical, and inclusive.
“We’re not a big corporate environment,” she explains. “We’re a team. We work together.”
Family, Balance, and Perspective
Family has shaped Deborah’s approach to leadership from the start. She grew up in a family business; her son Jacob grew up around the business and is now pursuing a Commerce degree at a university in Halifax. Todd remains her partner in every sense.
Balance, she says, comes down to flexibility.
“This business gave me the ability to be present,” Deborah explains. “That’s something I don’t take for granted.”
Looking Ahead, and Defining Success
When Deborah thinks about the future of Gander Bay Building Supplies, one word comes up again and again: legacy.
“When the time comes, we would love for this store to stay locally rooted,” she says. “We want someone who values and appreciates this community the way we do.”
After nearly twenty years, her definition of success has evolved.
“Success isn’t about titles or awards,” Deborah says. “It’s about what you’ve built, who you’ve helped, and the people you’ve been able to support along the way.” It’s also about the people who have supported you”!
In Gander Bay, that people-first mindset continues to shape not just a business, but a community. —
