Modernizing A Legacy Business
Penny and Dale Rudderham are the owners of Brunet Monuments, a legacy business in Cornwall, Ontario. Brunet Monuments aims for quality practices in the art of preserving each unique story, providing customers with custom-designed and manufactured granite monuments, columbrians, and urns. In addition, they also offer specialized services such as community commemorative pieces, maintenance, repairs, cleaning, sandblasting lettering, customizations, and monument accessories.
Brunet Monuments was started in 1985 by the Brunet family. In October 2021, Mr. Pierre Brunet planned to retire and entrusted his business to the Rudderhams to move it forward in the right direction for future growth. 
Pierre Jr. Brunet is still employed at the company as a Service Manager and is essential to the functionality of creating monuments. Penny and Dale have been working diligently to modernize their processes to meet the demands of the growing customer. One aspect of modernizing the business was to create a website for their business.
“We did not have a website or online presence whatsoever until the ShopHERE program assisted us.”
Penny and Dale signed up for the ShopHERE powered by Google program to get assistance with building a website for Brunet Monuments. They were paired with an eCommerce Coordinator, who made the process manageable and ensured Penny and Dale had the skills and information to manage their online store after graduating from the program.
“Our locally owned store must have an online presence and be searchable.”
Since the pandemic changed the way people shop, Penny and Dale have been adapting to the changing market. They now have a Google My Business Profile to help with local searches and are focusing on Facebook advertising and social media marketing to raise their brand awareness among potential customers.
“Implementing a digital footprint ensures that we are visible to the consumer and provide information about our sales and service offering.”
Penny and Dale are grateful for the ShopHERE program helping businesses in having an online presence and website.
“We are fortunate enough to have access to the program, which saved us time and resources while getting our physical store organized and running efficiently.”
Penny and Dale have referred other small businesses to the ShopHERE program because they believe small businesses should be educating themselves on how and why to have a website or online store.
“People shopping more now from home need to pivot their business models, so they don’t become extinct.”
If you are looking for a monument or are interested in learning more about Brunet Monuments, you can check out their website at brunet-monuments.ca.
If you’re a small business looking to implement an online store into your business strategy, you can sign up for the ShopHERE program sur ce site.
Digital Main Street a été créé par la Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA) avec le soutien direct de la Ville de Toronto. DMS est également soutenu par un groupe de partenaires commerciaux stratégiques, dont Google, Mastercard, Shopify, Meta, Intuit QuickBooks, Square, Lightspeed, Ebay et Postes Canada.
L'investissement continu de la province de l'Ontario, par l'intermédiaire du Ministère du Développement économique, de la Création d’emplois et du Commerce (MEDJCT), a permis l'expansion continue de la plateforme numérique de la rue principale afin de soutenir davantage d'entreprises qui passent au numérique dans tout l'Ontario.
