In the beginning, Bob Taylor searched for some sort of recreation to pass the time, and when he found it, it did nothing but spark a massive interest.
“When I was a boy I deer hunted all the time. I’ve been there, done that. I didn’t like to play softball, don’t play golf, so I bought a canoe from Holiday Lake when they replaced their fleet up there, and started drifting down the Appomattox, and became involved with people who were doing the same thing,” said Taylor.
After discovering the sport of paddling and canoeing, through gained friendships and likewise interests, the Appomattox River Company was born in 1977.
Bob Taylor is the owner and founder of Appomattox River Company. The business started out as a sole proprietorship and is now an incorporated business with three locations in Farmville, Hampton and Ashland. The Farmville location is at 614 North Main Street.
“There were two clubs in Virginia: The Float Fisherman of Virginia and Coastal Canoeists, and I joined both of those. Then, a group of us around this area started canoeing and kayaking, one of them has a certain amount or notoriety, and his name is Watkins Abbitt. He and I both put up some money and bought eight canoes from a manufacturer that was just starting down in South Carolina (Perception Kayaks),” said Taylor.
“Appomattox River Company has basically grown as the paddle sports industry has grown, and we’ve been a big player in the game the whole time,” said operations manager and Farmville Town Councilman Brian Vincent.
The location of Appomattox River Company in Farmville was actually a family owned property that originated as a lumber business.
“These warehouses were built in in 1926 and it used to be a lumberyard/construction business that operated out here. It was a business that my father in law’s (Taylor) father started, and as the kayak business grew he began to take over the warehouses with canoes and kayaks, and that’s how it all came to pass,” said Vincent.
Appomattox River Company takes pride in their craft in a multitude of ways and tries to achieve the best selection of products.
“What sets us apart, is the fact that we over the last 41 years have grown into a business that can stock a million-dollar inventory. So, not many canoe and kayak companies can keep a million dollars’ worth in inventory. People can come here and they can get everything they want instead of having to go to three different stores,” said Taylor.
Appomattox River Company strives to have proper staffing to give customers the best advice possible.
“There is a unique opportunity we have to speak to our authenticity as actual paddlers, people who recreate who use these boats, who know them via our passion for the industry that can’t be conveyed by some of those bigger box stores. If you can go get toilet paper, and a kayak in the same place you’re probably not going to get expert advice on paddling,” said Vincent.
While there are no discounts for college students, Appomattox River Company works to be fair with pricing.
“We generally try to give the best price we can to everybody. You know, if you’re a college student were definitely going to try to help you out because we know that your income situation is a little less than ideal when it comes to disposable income for recreational activities, so we're always trying to help people get on the water. That’s our main objective,” said Vincent.
At the core, Appomattox River Company wants to build relationships with its customers.
“We want your experience here to be in line with how fun the activity is. We want you to come here and have a good experience, have fun and enjoy your time. We are big on our customer service, and our interaction with customers because those customers become family. We are also trying to look out for you as far as safety concerns and things like that, so for us it’s about selling fun. It’s what we do,” said Vincent.
For Taylor, after 41 years of work he simplifies it all in just a few words.
“It’s just a hobby that evolved into an avocation, which evolved into an occupation and that’s sort of the history of the business,” said Taylor.
Starting the business 41 years ago, owner Bob Taylor became involved in canoeing and kayaking and found others with similar interests before starting the business.
The Appomattox River Company is located at 614 North Main Street in Farmville.
