Tenacity and constant effort will lead you to success

N.D.L.R. : Following words were written in 1990 by the entreprise's builder, Mr. André Caron. He died in august 2002 at 83 years old.

It was spring of 1953 and I discovered I had a knack for sales so I started looking for a job that would allow that type of development. I answered an add found in a Montreal newspaper and the person responsible for hiring at Continental Life, Mr. Don Nichol, asked that I meet him at his office for the usual tests.

I accepted and completed the famous tests, which only proved that I was the proper candidate to succeed as a life insurance agent. After my training period, Don Nichol handed over the rating binders along with a large amount of sales applications and I was on my way to a new career.

Unfortunately, I was not convinced that life insurance was what I wanted to sell, and at that time, I was offered a job as salesman of women’s undergarments. I accepted this job and was assigned the northeast end of Montreal. I was convinced that if I was able to raise the sales volume expected in my area, I would definitely find another job in sales with higher pay whether with a competitor or in a completely different market. Using the sales techniques I had learned in life insurance , regular visits and persistence, my sales results kept progressing.

By the summer of 1954, as my career was better and better, Mr. Don Nichol contacted me again. He was now working for Empire Life. He was responsible for a group of salesmen which catered to clients mostly in downtown Montreal and was convinced that he had an interesting offer for me. Again, I accepted to meet and after having thought long and hard about his offer, by October of 1954, I was back in the life insurance business. This time , it was for good.

At the end of my first year, I had over $800,000 in sales. More so, being Don Nichol’s protégé , I had surpassed a record holding salesman from Kingston and was establishing a well-earned reputation of top salesman.

Since I was selling life insurance, it was quite normal that my customers would inquire about insuring their home and automobiles and it would have been sad to miss such an opportunity. Don Nichol having his general insurance license, was operating from his home along with the help of his wife. We reached an agreement that I would obtain my permit in general insurance , I would retain all new customers as my own.

I became licensed in 1957, and Don kept his promise. At that time, he had quit his position as unit manager for Empire life and was still working from his residence in Lachine. I was proposed a job as trainer for new recruits at Empire Life and remained at that position until 1967. While doing this, I still continued my general insurance sales from home with the help of my wonderful spouse, Marcelle .

With My general insurance sales growing constantly, I was forced to do less and less “paperwork” and concentrate on Solely on sales…

At the same time, around 1970, the Nichol boys (three) had decided to follow the already paved road of insurance. I knew them while they were still studying, they would be able to take over the family business successfully. It was at that time that I struck a deal with two of them: I would strictly do sales and on the other hand , they would ensure the placing of the risks, the issuing of policies , dealing with the claims and insurance companies. Again, sales volumes were still rising , and in 1973, they suggested I incorporate and find an office space in the Dorion area.

The building located at 105 St-Charles, Dorion was being sold by a real estate agent that I knew well. Our offer to purchase was quickly accepted and Caron & Nichol Ltée set up shop on the main floor. July 1st, a secretary, my son Paul , who had acquired experience in this profession in the Lachine office 1971 and myself were ready to open this new office.

The fact of the matter is the building we had bought had been built in 1924 and was occupied by the National Bank on the main floor with an apartment on the second floor for the manager. My own father had been the manager for this branch and had also been the first tenant to reside upstairs. I therefore found myself sitting in the same office , facing the same direction as my father had before me.

From that moment on, along with the Nichol Group, sales flourished. As I was also growing in age, my son, Paul became head of the business on July 1st 1989 and continued was well established partnership between the Nichol and Caron families.

My sincere thanks
André Caron (1990)