Roy’s Furniture is celebrating 67 years of being a family-owned and operated business serving the Greater Sudbury Area. The popular furniture and appliance store was founded by Rheal (Ray) Roy in 1953.
Born and raised in Warren, Ontario, Ray would maintain his connection to the local community for his entire life, returning home after active duty overseas.
Ray’s early experiences in the Royal Canadian Airforce formed the basis for his decision to pursue a career as a television technician. Ray joined the Canadian Airforce at the age of 18 during the Second World War. He continued to study at Dalhousie University in Halifax where he completed a nine-month course in Electronics to prepare for a further course in airborne radar overseas. He completed his education in Electronics and was awarded an Officer's Commission in the Royal Canadian Airforce. He then served three and a half years of active service in the Middle East, Italian and Greek Campaigns. Once discharged from service, Ray returned to school to study advanced Electronics at Ryerson Institute to become the first Certified Television Technician in Sudbury.
In 1953 Ray opened Roy's Television and Radio, a small repair shop and retail outlet for television and radios on Louis Street in Sudbury. Things took an interesting turn just two years later when Ray was asked to take over ownership of a local furniture store. In short order, Ray was able to combine both businesses and expand his operations.
Ray, an avid private pilot, would schedule fly-in service calls at remote locations. He loved to fly to remote hunting and fishing spots, never arriving empty handed, bearing gifts of fresh bread and freshly caught fish.
In 1950 Ray married his lifetime partner Germaine. Together they had 6 children. Germaine went back to work shortly after their fourth child was born. She worked in the office and often helped with sales. Germaine is still living on her own at the young age of 93. She still drives, plays bridge twice a week, and is still involved with her six children and five grandchildren.
Ray and Germaine's children continued on in the family business. From a very young age, the kids worked, starting off licking stamps, sweeping floor, then learning all other aspects of the business. The family took over the responsibilities of the business when Ray officially retired in 1995, However, as most entrepreneurs do, he remained a vital part of the business operations for some time.
The next generation has expanded the brand while staying true to Roy's roots. Radios and Tube TV's have given way to flat screens, furniture and appliances. Customer service is still important, never pressuring customers into making purchases. No strong-arm sales tactics are allowed.
Our team members are well trained and ready to help with the decisions about which appliances will work best for your customer's needs, and how a sofa or dining room table will fit into a home space. Roy’s has one of the best selections in town, outstanding product, warranties and emphasis on Canadian made products.
Like their father, the children continue to be community-minded and focused on giving back. Ray and Germaine were early supporters for Laurentian University and other local charities.
From selling radios and televisions in a small store to becoming one of the largest retailers of its kind in the region, from one humble Veteran and businessman to a successful family business, Roy’s is a success story of which the Sudbury community is rightly proud.