At LuMar Electric, we bring dependable electrical solutions to life, combining innovation and reliability for every residential and commercial project.
LuMar Electric has become a name synonymous with quality and growth in the electrical industry throughout New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. But their story is one of humble beginnings, relentless hustle, and unwavering ambition. In a recent interview at Leven Press Studios, co-founders Luc (Lu) Liasen and Mario (Mar) Leblanc sat down to share the real story behind their success — from their first job to becoming a team of over 100 employees.
Luc and Mario aren’t just business partners — they’re family. As cousins who grew up together, their bond goes back to their earliest years. They didn’t necessarily plan to start a business together, but life had other plans.
Luc entered the electrical trade first, inspired by his father who had a long-standing career in the field. Mario soon followed, looking up to Luc and his father’s work. Even during high school, Mario demonstrated a keen interest — often calling Luc after school to help out on job sites. After high school, both Luc and Mario took non-traditional routes into the industry by getting directly indentured into the trade without first attending a formal college program, something that was much harder to do at the time.
After gaining valuable hands-on experience — including a stint working out west in Calgary — both men returned home. They initially operated as independent contractors, collaborating on projects before deciding to fully join forces.
In April 2011, LuMar Electric officially began. The name, a clever combination of “Lu” and “Mar,” was all Mario’s idea. As Luc recalls, the moment Mario suggested “LuMar Electric” in his living room, it just clicked. “I could see that name plastered everywhere,” Luc said. And plaster it they did — on every truck, tool, and piece of equipment they had.
Their first “shop” was actually Luc’s garage — a humble 15-by-20-foot space they proudly referred to as “the shop.” Despite the modest beginnings, they were already laying the groundwork for a bigger future.
Starting a business isn’t easy, and the electrical field is no exception. Luc and Mario didn’t step into a welcoming market. Competition was fierce, and the industry wasn’t exactly rolling out the red carpet for a couple of newcomers.
They spent countless hours over coffee planning who they could reach out to and cold-calling potential clients. Their hustle was different from others — not only would they submit bids for projects, but they also relentlessly followed up, ensuring they stayed top of mind. Their enthusiasm became their competitive edge.
Winning that first big contract was both thrilling and nerve-wracking. Luc and Mario admit to some “faking it till they made it,” but their confidence in their abilities and their work ethic ensured they delivered results. As Luc said, “You’ll never materialize beyond a thought unless you’re awarded real-world projects.”
From those early days, LuMar quickly began growing. Hiring their first employees happened soon after they opened. Some of their earliest team members are still with them today — a testament to the strong culture they’ve built.
Their growth strategy has always been mindful. Instead of focusing on just one sector, they expanded into residential, commercial, service, and multi-unit developments. This diversification helped them weather market fluctuations. When one sector was down, another often picked up, allowing them to keep their staff working consistently.
In fact, they’ve never had to make major layoffs during slow periods — a feat Luc and Mario are very proud of. They’ve even embraced creative strategies like temporarily overstaffing projects or assigning leadership roles to key employees to maintain morale and continuity.
Looking back, Luc and Mario credit a lot of their success to a mix of enthusiasm, resilience, and just enough naivety to take on challenges bigger than they could have imagined. They also recognize the importance of knowing when to say no — turning down a bad project can open the door to better opportunities.
They emphasized that the journey wasn’t always smooth, but maintaining a flexible, determined attitude helped them push through. Whether it was knocking on doors in the early days or navigating today’s competitive development market, LuMar Electric built its success one job, one relationship, and one lesson at a time.
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