Businesses: P. Gagnon & Son
When we discuss economic development in South Berwick we often focus on new businesses. However we owe much of our town’s vitality to the businesses that have been thriving and growing here for generations. P. Gagnon and Son is one such business. Since 1904 P. Gagnon & Son has been owned by the Gagnon family of South Berwick. I recently met with Mark Gagnon, great grandson of the founder of P. Gagnon & Son. Hanging above Mark’s desk is a photograph of his father, who passed away in 1991, when Mark stepped in as head of the company.
Uppermost on Mark’s mind these days is the high cost of fuel. Last winter was a tough one for P. Gagnon’s customers, but it was no less difficult for P. Gagnon & Son. Fuel deliveries to the company come in 10,000 gallon lots, so last winter meant a delivery cost of $30,000 and who knows what it will cost next winter. Mark explained that higher fuel prices don’t translate into higher profits for a local distributor. He also stresses that this is a very tough time for customers and says P. Gagnon is willing to work out solutions with those who are having a hard time paying for fuel.
Dominating Mark’s desk is a computer monitor open to live information on fuel trading which shows the price for oil fluctuating every few seconds. “It can make you crazy” says Mark, “I shouldn’t keep looking at it, but I can’t help it.” His advice to homeowners is that the biggest opportunity right now is in conservation. An investment in conserving fuel can bring meaningful returns in fuel savings. Small measures like sealing air leaks, extra insulation, and turning down thermostats can make a difference. Programmable thermostats that assure that heat is turned down when you don’t need it are well worth the modest investment for the equipment. In the past it often took many years to recover the cost of new equipment but now, even for a larger investment such as a new efficient boiler, the time it takes to recover the cost in savings is significantly reduced.
P. Gagnon & Son has begun offering biofuel, which is a blend of plant based oil and low sulfur heating oil that is cleaner burning and helps conserve the use of traditional heating oil. Mark feels the jury is still out on whether it is a truly more sustainable alternative to traditional fuel. Information is starting to come in about how the production of crops for biofuel may be resulting in deforestation of environmentally significant regions and driving the conversion of food crops to biofuel crops. Mark says he is talking with customers and following information and will continue to assess how to provide sustainable alternatives to the community.
Mark’s enthusiasm for South Berwick comes through as he discusses growing up here and now raising a family here. P. Gagnon & Son supports many local organizations through donations and by supporting volunteerism among employees, many of whom are volunteer firefighters. Mark’s thoughtful opinions about downtown, economic development, and the town’s future reflect his deep knowledge about and connection to the community.
In this age of global companies it is easy to be cynical about business, but as I get to talk with people like Mark Gagnon, I realize what an asset it is to have locally owned businesses in our midst. It is obvious talking to Mark that P. Gagnon & Sons has two bottom lines. It is in business to make a profit and remain successful but it is also deeply concerned with making this a good community in which to work and live. To a locally owned company like P. Gagnon & Son, South Berwick is not just a number on a spreadsheet or a pin on a map, but a community of friends and neighbors, a community that reflects the family legacy, and the community whose past and future is important to the owners. We are very fortunate to have so many locally owned businesses who contribute to the well being of this community in so many ways.
Check out P. Gagnon & Son’s newly launched website to learn more about the company’s services, energy saving tips, and community involvment.
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