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MsDebbieP's Company Tours #3: Lee Valley, Part II

Blog entry by MsDebbieP posted 355 days ago 551 reads 0 times favorited 23 comments Add to Favorites
« Part 2: Lee Valley Part 3 of MsDebbieP's Company Tours series Part 4: Steel City Tool Works, Part I »

(continued from Lee Valley Interview, part I)

Following my interview with Robin Lee, President of Lee Valley, I took my Canadian Film Crew with me as I headed to my “local” Lee Valley Store, which is just an hour away, for my very first public appearance as MsDebbieP, the Canadian LumberJock.

The weather was the hottest that we’ve had all summer and, boy oh boy, was the hat and coat ever hot!
Lee Valley london ontario

Inside, Don Riley, the store manager, gave me a tour, starting with the warehouse area in the back. Oh my – a woodworker’s heaven – row after row of resources! It was like being a kid in a candy store.

lee valley warehouse London Ontario

Next, Mr. Riley showed me the plane that Lee Valley donated to our Summer Woodworking Awards event – the Low Angle Jack Plane. What a beauty. The honoured recipient will be smiling when their prize arrives. (Thanks again for this generous donation.)
Lee Valley Veritas jack plane

We also looked at the wood-turning tools…..

lathe tools, Lee Valley

… and their display of hinges (notice the number 5 on the display—there are LOTS of hinges!)

hinges Lee Valley

Next, we checked out the selection of specialty woods just waiting to be turned into pieces of wood art. I couldn’t help but envision the future pens waiting to be created.

wood Lee Valley

The London store (that’s London Ontario, Canada) has the fame of being Lee Valley's smallest of stores, although they seemed to manage to squeeze a lot of products into their space. Mr. Riley and the other staff were very excited to hear that Mr. Lee had told me during our interview that they would be moving. They weren’t quite as happy to hear that it wouldn’t be right away. Mr. Riley said with a smile, “the sooner the better. Maybe a Christmas present?”

I’d like to again thank Mr. Lee as well as Mr. Riley and the rest of the Lee Valley staff for their hospitality. It was indeed an honour to meet them (on the phone and in person) as well as have the privilege of touring their warehouse.

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

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MsDebbieP

11040 posts in 566 days


A documentation of my woodworking journey as I try my hand a working with the wood.

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23 comments so far

View PanamaJack's profile

PanamaJack

4453 posts in 483 days


posted 355 days ago

You are one HOT lady Debbie!

Cool Interview/visit Debbie.

-- Carpe Lignum - Seize The Wood,

View Bill's profile

Bill

2508 posts in 567 days


posted 355 days ago

Well done Debbie. Thanks for making that sacrifice in the name of journalism (the hat and coat in summer). A great story both parts!

-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com

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MsDebbieP

11040 posts in 566 days


posted 355 days ago

thanks P.J. and Bill.

I’m thinking about submitting a “danger pay” bill to Martin! haha it was HOT.

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View Bill's profile

Bill

2508 posts in 567 days


posted 355 days ago

Well maybe Martin has been brewing some LJ Tea in the back to help you cool off. Or LJ lemonaide?

-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com

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MsDebbieP

11040 posts in 566 days


posted 355 days ago

oooh lemonade would be good! I did see some wonderful kitchen gadgets at the store when I was there…. hmmm I wonder if they have a lemon squeezer??

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View Don's profile

Don

2586 posts in 582 days


posted 355 days ago

MsDebbieP, you’ve come a long way, Baby!

-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.canterburybaptist.org/

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MsDebbieP

11040 posts in 566 days


posted 355 days ago

it sure has been a fascinating journey, Don.

this interview was very informative, in a variety of ways. I’m so glad that I had the opportunity to do it.

I’m definitely going to be looking at lathes in a new way, that’s for sure.

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

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Karson

12000 posts in 806 days


posted 355 days ago

Great tour Debbie. nad thanks for sharing it.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

View Splinters's profile

Splinters

131 posts in 589 days


posted 355 days ago

Tks for sharing Debbie…looks like there is a store in Calgary…I might just have to take a road trip..lol

-- Splinters - Living and Loving life in the Rockies - http://www.splinterswoodworks.com/

View mot's profile

mot

4830 posts in 442 days


posted 355 days ago

I saw a set of legs and some tools that looked familiar…I didn’t really pay attention.

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

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MsDebbieP

11040 posts in 566 days


posted 354 days ago

you didn’t pay attention, Tom??? you still living on the dark side?

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View Sawhorse's profile

Sawhorse

270 posts in 846 days


posted 354 days ago

You the WOman!!!! MsDebbie….

-- Sawhorse - Sulphur Springs, TX - www.sawhorseworkshop.com

View Zuki's profile

Zuki

676 posts in 483 days


posted 354 days ago

I love LV. We do not have one here in NL but there is one in Nova Scotia . . . and I believe work will be bringing me there this fall. I cant wait.

Oh . . . great job Ms D.

-- The significant problems we face cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them

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MsDebbieP

11040 posts in 566 days


posted 353 days ago

Thanks Sawhorse, Zuki.

Zuki, lucky you! It is nice to be able to see products in person. Of course, touching the plane did have a magical effect on me—it was kind of like this force took over me and a voice said, “buy me.. buy me.. buy me.” I’ve never used a plane before but it felt so nice!!

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View Jeff's profile (online now)

Jeff

945 posts in 499 days


posted 353 days ago

Thanks for this series Debbie. I’m sure Mr. Lee appreciated the time spent with you equally. You are as good an ambassador for LumberJocks as he is a customer service-minded company leader.

-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN

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MsDebbieP

11040 posts in 566 days


posted 353 days ago

Thanks, Jeff.

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

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Drew1House

420 posts in 493 days


posted 353 days ago

fun post Debbie…

Drew

-- Drew, Pleasant Grove, Utah

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Jiri Parkman

534 posts in 218 days


posted 173 days ago

Nice blog.

-- Jiri

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MsDebbieP

11040 posts in 566 days


posted 173 days ago

thanks :)
It was fascinating.

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View EdC's profile

EdC

415 posts in 246 days


posted 54 days ago

Did Mr. Lee happen to say anything about opening any stores in the US?????

-- Ed Collinge- Edmonds, WA.

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MsDebbieP

11040 posts in 566 days


posted 54 days ago

no he didn’t… he just mentioned one for British Columbia

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View GaryK's profile

GaryK

8274 posts in 394 days


posted 54 days ago

Great write-up Debbie!

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

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MsDebbieP

11040 posts in 566 days


posted 53 days ago

Thanks Gary

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

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