Andre’s Locksmith Services: Unlocking the Mystery of Entrepreneurship

Feeling safe and secure in one’s home or place of business is a necessity in today’s world. It is this aspect of providing peace of mind that prompted Andre Landry to open his business, Andre’s Locksmith Services in February 2013. 

If you have ever locked yourself out of your car or home, chances are you’ve had to call on an experienced locksmith to get yourself out of a mini-crisis. This is another example of the on-the-spot service that Andre provides as his business is mobile. Just one phone call to Andre and he’ll soon be able to get you out of panic mode and into your vehicle or house by applying the tools of his trade. 

Being a locksmith takes special training of which Andre has completed through courses given by Foley Belsaw. For 8 years he worked with a local locksmith company until a downturn in the economy forced layoffs and Andre was let go. While he went on to work at various other jobs, the locksmith trade fascinated him and in 2012 he made the decision to venture into the world of entrepreneurialism.

Through a conversation with a close friend, Andre learned about the CBDC Westmorland Albert and a course they offered for first-time business owners, namely the Business Development Seminar (BDS). Andre made a call to Sharon Geldart, the Business Seminar Co-Ordinator, and registered for the next upcoming class which was held in November 2012. “Taking the BDS course was a true eye-opening experience for me”, says Andre. “Completing a business plan, including all the financial aspects, was a steep learning curve for me. I also gained a tremendous amount of knowledge from the different presenters throughout the course. This gave me a solid foundation to begin to build my business. I am so glad I made that call to Sharon as I learned a lot through the BDS.” 

After completing the course, Andre was introduced to Nathalie Gallant, a Project Analyst with the CBDC, who assisted him in completing his Self-Employed Benefits application. Andre received the final approval on January 23, 2013, and Andre’s Locksmith Services was launched a month later. “If it wasn’t for the tremendous amount of help I received from the CBDC, I probably wouldn’t be in the position I am today” states Andre. “They provided me with the knowledge I needed to get me started and they’ve been an invaluable resource through every step of this new journey. Being a new entrepreneur is tough at times, but knowing that I can call any of their staff and get answers to questions I may have about various aspects of running a business provides me with the same level of comfort that I try to give to my own customers.”

Since beginning his business back in February, Andre has been actively networking to promote his services. He’s literally been on the road throughout Westmorland county and surrounding areas helping people with their ‘locked out’ problems as well as the installation of new security devices to provide better security. 

The next time you find yourself standing outside your home without your house key or are stranded next to your car that unfortunately has the keys locked inside it, call Andre’s Locksmith Services to come and rescue you. You’ll be very happy and relieved when you see his car drive into your yard.

©Marlene Oulton