Dayna Tukutau refers to her boss, as does everyone at Sandy's Furniture, as "Sandy." It's only on weekends, or family dinners, where the pretence is dropped and she's free to call him by the name she's always known him as: Dad.
Tukutau said it's a measure of respect for her father, Sandy Seney, owner and founder of one of Metro Vancouver's longest- running furniture stores, and a way to ensure she's not given any preferential treatment.
But together, the father-daughter team runs the business. Seney supervises the company's general direction while Tukutau, the general manager, oversees the daily operations. Together, they've seen the business's expand onto Vancouver Island and to include a Natuzzi Italia store-within-a-store, which opened last July.
"Everyone tells you that they sell better quality furniture, but in the scheme of things, we're a little higher end than your typical furniture store," Seney said. "We're not like a Paramount or a Jordan's or something like that, but we're way above the Brick, La-Z-Boy – we're a step above those guys."
Seney started the company in 1976 in an old barn on Arbutus Street He opened his second store in Richmond in 1977, before Ikea landed on the scene. In 1994, he purchased a building on United Boulevard and moved in to their current location – an event Seney distinguishes as the highlight of his business career so far.
His two children were raised in the business. His son Tyler delivered furniture during his high school years (and still does from time to time) but decided to pursue a career as a pilot. Seney admits that if his daughter had pursued a different career, he would have sold the company and moved on.
Tukutau said this was precisely why, in 2004, she decided to join the company.
"I saw how hard Sandy had worked to build the company and I couldn't see what would happen in the end. The thought of him selling all that hard work really didn't seem fair – having had to work all those years and then just have to sell it."
She worked her way through the ranks, starting out at customer service and eventually moving into a managerial role. Both Seney and Tukutau say there have been no disputes during that time, which Tukutau credits to Seney's seeming inability to get mad. Seney, for his part, said he's learned, over time, when to step back and let the majority rule if they're certain it's the correct way to go.
"But I still possess veto powers," he said, revealing just a touch of pride.
That's not to say that he abuses these powers, nor does he need to exercise them all that often. Merchandise manager Angela Emsley, who's been with the company for 19 years, said Seney has managed the company as if all employees were members of his extended family. Of their 50 employees, most of them are long-term; very few managers have left. Although there's plenty of work to do, Emsley said she's never stressed and never feels over-worked.
"It does keep it interesting," she said. "As far as the dynamic working in a family business, it's pretty great. Everybody's easy."
Tukutau said, "The thing about family businesses is there's a lot of heart, a lot of soul and a lot of time [put into the company]. You care that much more about the customers, you care that much more about the furniture you're putting on your floor."
Sandy agrees, noting that most of the successful furniture companies in the Lower Mainland seem to be family-owned.
"A lot of it has to do with us working a little harder, and we're able to change with the times – change our product, change our look," he said. "We can move quicker and adjust faster than the big stores."
With his daughter on board and proving her adeptness at managing the company, Seney's able to spend more time golfing, boating or pursuing charity work. But he's quick to correct the notion that the current arrangement is not setting the company up for his inevitable retirement.
"I don't think [there are] many businesses where the guy [who]started it actually really retires," he said. "I think I'll always maintain an office and dish out advice."
