Proudly Local Business: Jo Dot Com in Manning
A family-run tech store built on local trust
"We're not just a place where you can buy cords."
What started two decades ago as a modest town stationery shop has grown into Manning's go-to spot for technology, IT services and a good deal more. Jo Dot Com has a rich history, and every owner has left a piece of themselves behind. Today, that story continues in Andy’s hands.
It began in 2006, when a local named Joanne opened the shop and gave it its memorable name. Ownership later passed to Sherry, who expanded the store’s electronics side by bringing in The Source franchise.
Andy, meanwhile, was building a reputation of his own. He worked full-time across the street as a licensed insurance broker. On the side, Andy was doing unofficial field tech work from his garage under the name Bits & Bytes IT Services.
Sherry and Andy's paths crossed when the store needed to expand its in-store tech services. Andy came in part-time at first, and within six months he left the insurance job and joined Sherry as a full-time partner. This past January, he took over the store for good.
Back when Andy first came on as Sherry's partner, one of the things he was keen to try was games. Tabletop games, card games, the kind of thing you gather a few people around a table for. He floated the idea, and Sherry's response was simple: "Why don't we try it?"
It took off. So much so that Jo Dot Com started hosting game nights. Once a month, folks gather at the Legion to play, and for a few hours the usual rinks and sheets of ice share the spotlight with a table full of dice and cards.
For Andy, moments like these are yet another reminder he made the right decision. Running a local store is what brings him joy. "It's a very different feeling getting up in the morning," he says.
A big part of that comes down to the community. Andy has lived in other places over the years, but he always ended up back in Manning. "You can't compare that to the faceless crowd in bigger centres," he says. "Here, everybody knows your name."
Outside the shop, he serves as vice president of the local Chamber of Commerce and chairs the board of the local Adult Learning Centre, where he teaches weekly digital-skills courses to help residents safely navigate browsers, online security and basic computer tasks.
That same spirit runs through the store, which is a true family effort where everyone plays a part. "Small business, everybody does a bit of everything," Andy says.
Walk in on any day and you'll find his daughter Michaela managing the front counter and helping customers. His son Brandon and cousin Isaiah are gaining experience helping with the technical side, heading out to farms and local commercial sites for network setups and repairs. Behind the scenes, his sister-in-law Nicole keeps the books in order.
In time, Andy hopes to step back into more of a management role, with Brandon and Isaiah handling the tech side. As he puts it, "My vision for the store is that I get to see it continue in the family for many years to come."
For a guy who came in for his very first computer in this same building decades ago, keeping Jo Dot Com local and family-run means a door that's always open, where folks can drop in, get a hand and stay a while.
