2024-03-01 20:07:51
BUSINESS. For 27 years, the GJ Service Station has been part of the landscape of the municipality of Saint-Cyprien. The owners, Ghislain Lapierre and Julie Morissette, hope that their local business, the last in the locality, will continue in the future, as it is for sale.
“We are proud of what we have built over the past 27 years. We hope to find a mechanic who will be interested in buying the business and taking over from us,” says the couple who opened it on August 27, 1997.
Entrepreneurs at heart, Ms. Morissette and Mr. Lapierre acquired the land, where they built their garage, in April 1997. A snack bar, which was bankrupt at the time, was located there. Ms. Morissette operated on it until the garage opened.
“We had four children aged 3 to 7 at the time and it took an income in the meantime. Once the garage opened, the snack bar was demolished, because we might not have two businesses on the same land. We started from zero,” says Ms. Morissette, adding that 27 years later, their great adventure continued, they who have always worked together in the family business.
Business has always been good, recalls the couple, even if the town of Saint-Cyprien is not the most populous. “Many people encourage us, even though we are in a small municipality. Even today, we are full for rustproofing, alignment and automobile certification, because there are not many of us who do that,” continues Ms. Morissette.
Julie Morissette and Ghislain Lapierre specify that the sales process is initiated with a real estate agent, the objective being to keep the garage in excellent condition and with an active clientele, which will allow the buyer to easily make their payments. “If he works, he will make money and live well. We have a clientele that is established and loyal and I will stay with the person as long as it takes for the transition and introduce them to the new buyer,” says Mr. Lapierre.
They have reduced opening hours somewhat in recent years, in order to think regarding their health. “We decided to close at 6 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays a few years ago so that Ghislain might continue, because he has back problems resulting from his years as a forestry worker,” says his wife.
Start from nothing
When he started his garage in 1997, Ghislain Lapierre had no training in automobile mechanics. However, he had acquired some basic knowledge from the fact that he regularly maintained the forest machinery where he previously worked.
“I also worked for several years at Réal Racine in Sainte-Justine where I maintained its plows and compressors. The first years, I worked in the garage 7 days a week and I went to take auto mechanics courses in Lévis or Montmagny, then at CIMIC in addition to taking online training. This allowed me time to seek out the knowledge that I lacked,” he explains.
The couple says they worked hard throughout the years. “We lived a good life, we were able to pay for our four children’s education, we paid for cars for them to go to school, we did everything we might for them, now it’s time to think ours. », he continues.
“We would like the buyer who comes forward to be as proud as we are, because we have invested a lot in this business. We would be disappointed if the business closed following the sale, because we started from scratch. The first years, we worked 7 days a week. We would enter here at 7:30 in the morning and stay until 8 or 9 p.m. depending on the day. We didn’t count the hours,” says Ms. Morissette, adding that they even had a kitchen above the main entrance, fitted out by her father.
“We raised our children here. They would come here for dinner and come back here following school. We did homework upstairs and even had dinner here some evenings. They saw us working through the window, even on weekends. They learned everything here, they all served gasoline and worked evenings. They still thank us today for everything we showed them, because they all have good jobs and they like to work. They gave us nine grandchildren, it’s our pride,” mentions the couple.
People’s support needed
If gasoline sales are good, Julie Morissette recognizes that they might be better, because many Saint-Cyprien residents fill up where they work. “Gasoline is good, but it might be better if everyone participated. It’s a question of volume. If the people of Saint-Cyprien come less for the gasoline, they are there for the mechanics, however. For aesthetics, we have a lot from the outside and we serve them with gasoline too,” she takes care to add.
“It is a source of pride to see that our business is still in operation and is the only true local business in the municipality. People’s priority is to conserve gasoline. It’s social and we help people who need it. Everyone uses the service they need. If we closed, it would be sad, since we no longer have a school and no grocery store. »
The couple mentions that the arrival of newcomers who take French courses in Saint-Cyprien has also been very beneficial for them, because they represent a significant part of their clientele. “We have developed a good bond with them, but you have to take the time to listen to them. They ask a lot of questions and you have to take the time necessary for them to understand what is being explained to them, because you have to remember that they are learning French. They learned to trust us. We use the cell phone if necessary,” specifies Mr. Lapierre.
Development potential
Julie Morissette and Ghislain Lapierre believe that their business offers development potential that would allow two people to work together and make a good living from it. “People prefer to repair their cars instead of buying a new one. This helps businesses like ours, because people want to keep their cars,” says Ms. Morissette.
The couple adds that their land is large enough to even allow the addition of a convenience store to the current building. “Before that happens, it will take more people in Saint-Cyprien,” specifies Mr. Lapierre in closing.
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Julie Morissette and Ghislain Lapierre say they are happy to have been able to keep their business open for 27 years in Saint-Cyprien. (Photo La Voix du Sud – Serge Lamontagne)
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