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A SOLID CASE


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any immigrants to North America dream of creating a better life by starting a business, working hard and


achieving success. Emil Shamash has done just that by creating and building D&E Wood Industries, one of Canada’s premiere case goods manufacturers. The Shamash family left Israel and


headed for Toronto in 1962. Emil had studied electrical engineering and au- tomation in Israel, and he parlayed his skills into a job with the federal Ministry of Transport in design and construction where he worked for six years. As the 1970s dawned, Emil was


26 Fitness Business Canada March/April 2016


Mayfair Club, Toronto


D&E Wood Celebrates 40+ Years of Innovation and Success BY KATHRYN KORCHOK


asked to build some custom furniture for a client. It is the proverbial garage- to-gold story, as he and his brother created their wood and laminate (a new material at the time) products at home, using their design, engineering and woodworking skills to create an entrepreneurial venture. “We grew like lightning because


there was a demand for everything,” says Emil, who at 73 still reports to work every day. He refers to himself as “old in years but young in spirit.” “One customer wanted me to make


some custom furniture for him, and af- ter I made it I realized that this office furniture field was growing like wild mushrooms,” he laughs. “At first we made one kind of furniture, then two


Emil Shamash, owner and president D&E Wood Industries


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