Nick Gilmour continues to expand his reach – and his ‘Success’

Kingston’s Nick Gilmour has developed a hugely successful real estate company and a cult following on social media, but 10 years ago, he never would have thought he’d come this far.

“I learned from a young age the value of hard work,” says Nick Gilmour, owner of the successful grocery and meat market, Gilmour’s, which has expanded to include multiple locations and a booming eCommerce brand which ships Canada-wide. In addition, Nick has developed his own multi-million dollar real estate investment firm that encompasses properties across Ontario. Of course, none of it came easy, says Nick, but being obsessed with his work and passions helped make him the man he has become today.

“There are two paths in life,” says Gilmour, “one good and one bad. There’s an easy way out for everything and not all people in the world are good people. Even people in places you would expect them to be, such as police officers, aren’t always the ‘good guy.’”

With humble beginnings in Bellville, Ontario, it was his Dad, Jim Gilmour, that inspired Nick to follow in his entrepreneurial footsteps. “My dad taught me that you give up your life for the success of your business. You need to work harder than anything to succeed,” says Nick who says he watched him work seven days a week his entire life.

Jim had owned Gilmour’s Meat Shop in Bellville for over a decade before retiring in 2010, which soon led Nick to pick up in his place – and turn Gilmour’s into the mass success it has become. Prior to that moment, however, Nick Gilmour was left with a choice – one that could have gone done a very different path.

“I grew up around a community, including friends, that struggled with substance abuse,” says Nick, “I had my own run-ins with the law and saw a lot of people close to me fighting and dying from being shot or beat to death.”

It was a harsh reality for Nick. One memory he considers a giant stepping stone for leading him on the right path was when he was sitting in a jail cell, “wondering what was my life coming to.” Says Nick, “I had been roughed up by the police and tasered and covered in pepper spray. All I could think about was how sad my mom and my grandmother (who had passed away) would be.”

This was a turning point for Nick who was taught at a young age that regardless of the struggle coming up, that there is always opportunity. “You just need to find it, then work your hardest to make it happen.”

Now, the most important thing in Nick’s life is his business because it supports everyone he cares about. “It’s my duty to make sure it runs and nothing happens. Me caring so much about my business, in turn, is caring about my family.” At home with his wife, Danielle, whose father is also a successful entrepreneur. “She understands the hard work and dedication and allows me to work towards my goal.”

Nick Gilmour’s goal is to reach $1 billion in assets and he knows he will get there. “I will continue to be relentless and work hard as possible to achieve it. Nothing will stop me or get in my way.”