MOOSE JAW — Keon Garden Centre has been in Moose Jaw for the past 45 years, and the company invited the community to come celebrate its new milestone this past weekend.
To celebrate, Keon’s held a one-day promotional sale on Sept. 21 where everything was listed at 45 per cent off. The “45th Anniversary Sale-Abration” included barbecued hot dogs and several draws to conclude a summer-long weekly draw leading up to the occasion. Proceeds were donated to the Moose Jaw and District Food Bank with the company contributing $1 for each hot dog sold.
Keon Garden Centre was founded by brothers Keith and Ron Johnson and is a portmanteau of their first names.
“Keith and Ron… grew it from a landscape company with a nursery into what it is today,” said Marcy Duffey, its current owner who worked for the brothers before setting out to work for herself.
When the brothers retired in 2008, Duffey and her family purchased the business and have run it ever since.
“We’ve grown it from what it was and tried to make it our own,” she said. Since taking over, Duffey saw the expansion of the landscaping department and built the company further by focusing on customer service and quality.
“Customer service and quality is the answer to a successful business,” is some of the wisdom she offered.
Duffey said one of the more memorable milestones has been this year’s Moose Jaw Business Excellence Awards (MJBEX), where the company was presented with the customer service award and the business of the year award by the Chamber of Commerce.
“This was an absolute highlight,” she said. “It summed up all the hard work we put into (the business) and the care and attention; it was wonderful to be recognized that way.”
She said the team’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic was another memorable time at Keon’s.
“It was difficult, but we made it through COVID,” she recalled. “We had to do a lot of telephone orders and run things out to people’s cars, but I think the fact we really have a personal relationship with our customers… really helped us get through.”
All the success had a lot to do with the bond shared by the staff at Keon’s. “I have some employees that have been here since 2008. It’s a good group of people that know how to work hard together,” Duffey said.
Over the past decade, Duffey adapted to a changing market which has seen the growth of customers in the 18 to 40 age group who seek a return to traditional vegetable gardening “the way grandma did.” Her team happily provides its extensive expertise and natural garden products to help them out.
“This is absolutely huge,” Duffey said appreciatively. “Thank you to this community and the surrounding area, and to the customers who have consistently supported us year after year after year. We would not be here without your support.”
The garden centre’s doors will remain open until Christmas offering a range of giftware, landscape products, houseplants, and sprays. Following its shutdown on Dec. 23, the centre will reopen for the next season on or around Mar. 1, 2025.
The team will now spend October preparing for the sale of Christmas trees which opens one day after Remembrance Day, which Duffey said is done out of respect for Canada’s veterans.
Keon Garden Centre is located at 1645 Stadacona Street West and can be reached at 306-693-6771. For more information visit KeonGardenCentre.ca or follow ‘Keon Garden Centre’ on Facebook.
