Fred Northrup — Founder

 

by Heather Ferguson

 

Fred Northrup founded Toys for Big Boys with a passion for mechanics, a desire to be free of the constraints of working for a huge corporation, and an aim to provide quality service to his customers. These goals combined with the core values of honesty and integrity in business have laid the foundation to what has become one of the most successful business enterprises in the Greater Moncton Area.

 

Fred Northrup was born in Moncton on August 18, 1943. A resident of Cornhill Street in the City Centre, he grew up in a close-knit neighbourhood filled with the spirit of community. Married at an early age to his first wife, Eileen, he welcomed the births of daughters Wendy and Cindy, and son Larry. A family man and a keen sportsman, Fred loved the outdoors, revelling in fishing, hunting, and camping, and as the advent of the snowmobile ushered in the power sport era, he embraced that sport as well. An early career as a mechanic at C.N. gave way to Fred’s ambition to enter into business for himself. So, with humble beginnings and the support of his family, and mother Edna, he embarked on a small enterprise of repairing small engines in the basement of his home in 1968. An expert in repairing snowmobile and motorcycle engines in particular, Fred’s business grew steadily, leading to a foray into sales of new power sport vehicles. This new enterprise was aptly named Toys for Big Boys.

 

A smart businessman, Fred’s eye for quality and his knowledge of the best performers among products in the marketplace led to the company’s acquisition of the most prestigious names in the power sport and power equipment industry. Successfully weathering the ups and downs in the business climate over the years, the rise of leisure sport to the levels that now exist and the phenomenal growth and expansion of the Greater Moncton Area have all combined to establish the company’s prominent place as a leader in business with a stellar reputation for excellence in goods and services. In this endeavour, Fred was supported by his second wife, Lana Northrup, who also played a defining role in the successful growth of the company.

 

In later life, Fred Northrup turned much of the day-to-day running of the business over to his son, Larry, remaining a valuable mentor, friend, and steward to the company he began well over a third of a century ago. Fred Northrup took an active role in the community and was a member of the Albert County Hunters Association, Ducks Unlimited, Havelock Sportsman Club, Lake Petitcodiac Preservation Association, and the Elks Club. He was also responsible for founding the Moncton Chapter of the Harley Owners Group. Fred Northrup passed away on November 30th, 2006. A giant in the business community of South-Eastern New Brunswick, he is remembered fondly for his warmth, approachability, sincerity, and friendship. A quiet, gentle man, he subscribed to the old-fashioned approach to business in that his word was his bond and a handshake sealed many a deal. Fred Northrup treated his employees like family and his customers were friends and his indelible mark upon the company he founded continues to be felt today.

Larry Northrup — President

 

by Heather Ferguson

 

Larry Northrup, President of Toys for Big Boys, has had the advantages of growing up in tandem with a company whose growth as a successful business enterprise has mirrored his own maturity within that company. Experience is the greatest teacher as Larry learned when still a boy, working on weekends and school holidays, gradually moving on to full-time employment after he completed his studies. His many years as General Manager of Toys for Big Boys has served him well in being able to take over the reins as President which he did upon the death of his father, Fred Northrup, in 2006.

 

Larry Northrup has defined the evolution of Toys for Big Boys as much as the business has shaped his career path. Working literally from the ground up, beginning in the days when he took out the garbage, Larry gained valuable experience and a finely honed work ethic by working in every department in the business. In a career that is now a life passion, Larry has had an invaluable hand in shaping the future of the company.  He is independently purchasing surrounding lands for the development of new premises which opened in 2006, for the future installation of bike trails, and for ongoing projects. An avid biker himself, Larry has championed motocross in Southeastern New Brunswick, racing professionally in CMA and Vet Master motocross races, and as an instructor at motocross schools he has contributed greatly to the community by investing in a whole generation of today’s youth interested in the sport. As Partner of River Glade Motorsport Park, Larry believes that biking in all its forms is a sport that teaches kids discipline, a healthy competitive spirit, and offers hours of good, clean fun.

 

In many ways, the story of Toys for Big Boys is one of a father and a son. Larry credits his father for his guidance. “It has been a privilege to work closely with my father in the company he founded. He has been a mentor, colleague, and a friend to me,” says Larry, and the feeling was mutual as Fred Northrup saw in his son a vision of the future. Well poised to propel this exceptional company into the future, Larry’s own warmth and genuine sincerity inherited from his father, is combined with a forward-looking enthusiasm and clear-cut goals for the ongoing success of Toys for Big Boys.

 

In this endeavour, Larry is supported by his wife, Lesley, and daughters Keira, Georgia, and Isabella, as well as an exceptional team of employees, many of whom have been in the company for as long as 40 years. As Larry says, “The true strength of any successful company lies with its employees and our success has been our people who offer dedicated service, superb customer care, excellent product knowledge, and real teamwork. It is these values that are reflected in the success the company has enjoyed.

A Brief History

 

by Heather Ferguson

 

Toys for Big Boys is a leader in the leisure sport and power equipment industry. Founded in 1968 by Fred Northrup of Moncton, four decades later the company has enjoyed a steady growth by catering to an increased interest in the population for a quality product, whether it be for work or for play.

 

In what began as a one-man operation housed in the basement of a private home, the company moved to 633 Salisbury Road in 1970 at the site of the former Weldon Turner’s Esso and now enjoys a brand new, state-of-the-art 24,000 sq. ft. facility opened in 2006 on the same site. This modern complex provides full line services and sales with an efficient service department, comprehensive new and used sales department, a complete line of parts and accessories including clothing and giftware, business offices, and a finance department that offers easy purchasing terms on big ticket items. Also involved in instruction, Toys for Big Boys offers safety courses, tips on Basic Maintenance and Women’s Garage Parties to help the female demographic interested in the sport of biking.

 

 

Toys for Big Boys’ commitment to quality has resulted in the acquisition of the most prestigious names in both the leisure sport and power equipment industry. Continuing a commitment to carry only the best in the business, Toys For Big Boys carries a complete line of motorcycles and ATV’s by such legendary brand names as Harley-Davidson and Honda. The sole agent in Moncton for Harley-Davidson, they also carry a large selection of Harley-Davidson accessories such as clothing and jewellery. A huge Honda dealer for motorcycles, ATV’s, snowblowers, lawnmowers, generators, and water pumps, Toys For Big Boys has everything for the customer looking for top-of-the-line power equipment well known for its dependability and durability.  “We are fortunate to have a product lines that are well known for dependability and we back up that dependability with complete customer care and follow-up service,” says Larry Northrup of Toys For Big Boys.

 

Toys for Big Boys has always invested in support of local philanthropic groups such as the Boy Scouts, Lions’ Club, and Kiwanis and has traditionally organized youth sport racing events at the River Glade Motorsport Park in a mission to become an integral part of the community which has in turn supported it through its huge network of valued customers. “Our company’s goal has always been to take care of our customer,” says Larry Northrup, “by offering good quality products and services that are second to none. We are proud to be able to say that we’ve always maintained a good rapport with our customers, many of whom have become long-term friends.”

 

Over the past 40 years, Toys for Big Boys’ staying power has succeeded in large part due to its ability to change with the times. In an industry that has seen many changes over the decades such as the onset of computerized technology as a tool in the day-to-day running of business affairs, increased communication due to the Internet, online ordering, and constant upgrading of product knowledge and skills, Toys for Big Boys has continued to provide a consistency of product and a genuine communication with its valuable customer base. The 2006 Grand Opening of the new Toys for Big Boys facility not only signals continued growth and expansion of the business but it also marks Larry Northrup’s vision for the future of the company as a valuable partner in the community and in the role it has taken on in providing the best of the leisure sport and power equipment industry of New Brunswick. In that regard, Larry Northrup expresses the underlying mission of Toys for Big Boys: “The values of integrity in business that my father began the company with remain unchanged throughout the years, that the customer is our major asset, and that no matter how big we get, our core values will remain the same.” These sentiments have underscored Toys for Big Boys’ rise to the forefront of its industry and will mark its progress well into the future.