Keeping the beat in the heart of the energy sector
Al Jogia quite literally keeps time with the energy industry.
The watchmaker and jeweler runs Alberta Time Services in downtown Calgary’s Energy Plaza, one of the dozens of gleaming office towers that headquarter Alberta’s energy industry.
“We are surrounded, we’re right in the middle of the corporate offices,” Jogia says of the shop he runs with cousin and fellow watchmaker, Manu Jogia. “Aside from banks and insurance companies, it’s nothing but the energy industry. And that is all we are depending on.”
Al and Manu Jogia started their business in 1978 and over the three decades since, most of their customers have been people who work in the oil and gas industry. When the energy sector is hurting, so do the Jogias.
Take 2009. It wasn’t a great year for watch sales. For example, Jogia says, there was the regular customer who popped in on his way into work and put a watch on hold.
“He came back in at 4:30 and said ‘Al, I’ve changed by mind,’” Jogia says. “He said two of my colleagues working in my department got laid off and I could be the next one,” Jogia recalls. “He may have lots of money in the bank but he’s not sure whether his job will be there or not, so he didn’t buy the watch.”
Furthermore, when times are tough, oil and gas companies cut back on buying clocks or watches to give as gifts for clients or employees.
“Let’s say there are 200 people working in your company and you did very well and you want to tell your staff thank you very much. You will come to me and say ‘Al can you give me a deal and can you make a logo for my company?’ But if you are not doing well, you are not going to want to buy 200 watches to give to your staff.”
Al and Manu Jogia and have weathered downturns and enjoyed upswings over the decades by sticking with the policy they started the day they opened their doors 32 years ago.
“Service number one, sales number two; which means if I can fix a watch I don’t want to sell a watch. If I can fix the jewelry I don’t want to sell the jewelry,” Jogia says.
Their customers come to the Jogias because they know when they do buy a watch, they can get it repaired, and they’ll always get great service, he says. “We go one step further to give not good service but excellent service. If the service is good, the sales are automatically there.”
It’s that service that gives the Jogias a step up on other jewelry stores downtown.
“After all, we have to be competitive with our neighbours all the time,” he says.
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