Westlock Butcher shop is a local Downtown business that has been in operation for 7 years, currently located at 2, 9919 106 Street. In recognition of their increasingly growing business and innovative concepts, this facility and their continued contribution to the local business community was chosen for the Westlock Business Spotlight Series.
Westlock Butcher Shop is far beyond your typical butcher shop facility. What sets this organization apart from many others is the wide variety of products and services offered. Business owner, Paul Lanouette, went into detail of their three-fold operational system that has greatly attributed to the success of their business. First and foremost, the retail portion of the business is vast and expansive, allowing for fully stocked shelves filled with freshly made product. The second tier of this business model is their consistent online presence and the ability for customers to place orders online through the Westlock Butcher Shop website. The strong online presence, accessibility and refrigerated delivery van has allowed the Westlock Butcher Shop to expand their service area from the greater Edmonton area up to Northern Alberta, potentially servicing a region of up to 2 million people. The third tier of their business model is the mobile butchering service, which is a rare and highly sought after service in the western prairies. The Westlock farming community is quite lucky to have this high demand service offered locally. Paul attributed the accomplishments in his company to this three-fold model, “I think if we were relying solely on either one of them, the business wouldn’t have been successful. Having all three services together along with three business partners has created a recipe for success.”
In discussing the goals Paul and his partners, Ben and Coleby, have for their business, they emphasized the focus on public education in the meat production industry. Paul is aware of the misconceptions surrounding ethical process and quality standards of the trade; therefore he is working to combat the negative assumptions through informed conversations and publication content.
Ultimately, the goal of the team at the Westlock Butcher Shop is to feed the community with quality products and much needed services. However, feeding their community doesn’t end at customer interaction. In an endearing partnership with the local food bank next door, the Westlock Butcher Shop graciously donates product to families in need, as well as offers space for storage should the food bank receive a donation that requires refrigeration. As Paul, Ben and Coleby are all born and raised in the area, they hold a high standard in giving back to their community wherever they can, even including the promotion of local artists throughout their shop.
The decision to become a business owner was a natural fit for each one of them as the entrepreneurial spirit has always been in their bones. When Paul turned 21, he successfully started his own construction business which him and his brother Ben operated for 12 years prior to opening the butcher shop. Coleby was a mechanic by trade but no stranger to entrepreneurship, as his mother owned and operated a successful business for many years. Once the opportunity arose for a joint partnership in the Westlock Butcher Shop, Coleby knew it was the right fit for him.
In February 2017, Paul, Ben and Coleby took over the business and coincidentally enough, as you go back further in time, the original Westlock Butcher Shop of 1954, was situated in this exact location. A historical fact stumbled upon by Paul years after opening his doors.
While coming up with the name of the business was an easier task for them, rebranding the logo took a bit more time and well thought out effort. After much deliberation and critiquing the perfect logo, they came up with a very well designed longhorn skull, with a “W” also shaped as a longhorn engraved in the skull, accented with two scimitar knives, which are specific to butchering.
Through the years Paul and his partners have built a solid, successful business not only from a financial stand point, but also as a reputable place of employment. Together Paul, Ben and Coleby have made it a priority to ensure a workplace culture that is hardworking but also a place employees can feel is home. When you walk through the doors, the inviting atmosphere is instantly felt. The employees have fun, the workday is laid back, and there is a lot of comradery to be had; but most of all they get the job done to a standard of excellence. Not only are the staff here treated as family, they are also taken care of as family, including free daily paid lunches on the company! A perk you rarely ever hear of in the service industry.
When asked about success within the business Paul instantly answered with “word of mouth”. “If a customer walks in and says that they heard about us from another customer, then we are doing our jobs right”. They have a very loyal customer base, with many of their customers coming from the Edmonton area and further. Being able to provide fully stocked shelves, with fresh product is a good indication of how quickly product is moving within the store. An incredible mark of success is to see that they are the first business to top the google pages when ‘butcher shop’ is searched in Alberta! Another major marker for Paul was reaching their goal of owning the building by 5 years, which they successfully accomplished, right down to the 5th year anniversary month.
The Westlock Butcher Shop is unique to the industry for many reasons. With the online presence, mobile delivery, mobile butchering services, monthly newsletter and quality of products, there is a reason they have made such a large reach in their customer base. Most importantly, their customers can tell the difference between store bought and the true, traditional processing of meats. Most butcher shops and grocery stores do a wet aging method to process their beef, however, due to the space, capacity, and knowledge, Westlock Butcher Shop is able to process their beef through the traditional dry aging method, which is evident in the quality and taste of the products being provided.
Please join us in celebrating the continued success of the Westlock Butcher Shop in their 7 years of business within our community by visiting their store in person or online. Made in house, you will find a fully stocked array of meats from juicy steaks to bacon, sausage, lunch meat, dog food, dog treats, beef bones and so much more. Be sure to sign up for their monthly newsletter filled with VIP specials and updated selections. And as a special service just to Westlock, there is free delivery for any order, of any amount! Be sure to stop in and show your support today!
