Robert Mowles - Founder & President of Aartech Canada
Robert Mowles is the founder and President of Aartech Canada, a 100% Canadian-owned and operated retailer and distributor specializing in smart home, security, automation, networking, electrical and related technologies.
Robert has over 35 years of experience in sales and distribution, but his interest in technology started long before it became his career. A lifelong fascination with computers and electronics led him to discover the amazing technology behind home automation long before most people were aware it existed.
Early on, Robert's love of computers led him to a summer job promoting and educating people about the Commodore Amiga computer. Later, he worked in retail for a big-box electronics company before moving into IT sales serving schools and the education market. He then joined a Canadian IT distributor as an inside sales representative, eventually becoming a senior account manager and leading a team of salespeople. Those roles provided valuable sales, business and customer service experience that would later help him build a business of his own.
In 2002, Robert started Aartech Canada part-time from his basement with nothing more than a computer and a phone. Back then, Canadian consumers had very few options for buying home automation products, so he designed and built the original website himself and began by selling X10 home automation products online. With a tiny budget and no real inventory, each time he made a sale he'd buy more inventory until eventually he was well stocked and started expanding into other brands and products.
What started with home automation soon expanded into security, surveillance, networking, electrical products and other connected technologies. Aartech eventually grew into a full line e-commerce retailer and wholesale distributor, serving homeowners, technology enthusiasts, small businesses and professional installers across the country.
Building Aartech from the ground up remains one of Robert's proudest accomplishments. He started the company when online shopping was still relatively new and home automation was largely a niche interest. Not everyone shared his belief in where connected technology was heading, but Robert continued to build the website, find new products, develop supplier relationships and grow the business one customer and one order at a time.
Robert believes customers should be able to ask questions, get practical advice and reach real people when they need help. He takes particular pride in Aartech's reputation for knowledgeable staff, local Canadian service and the thousands of positive reviews the company has received from customers over the years.
“Few things make my day more than helping people find solutions and seeing great reviews from customers who discover Aartech for the first time and take the time to share their experience. We're a relatively small business that punches well above its weight class when it comes to serving our customers.”
— Robert Mowles
Robert's love of technology continues to this day. His own home often serves as a test bed, with a mix of smart home, security, networking and automation technologies. He loves experimenting with new products and figuring out how they work. His interests range from smart home devices to networking, electrical work, programming, deploying and managing servers.
That hands-on curiosity continues to influence Aartech today — from the technologies and brands the company seeks out to the importance placed on helping customers choose products that make sense for what they are actually trying to accomplish.
“I started Aartech when my first son was born. I was packing boxes at midnight, trying not to wake up my baby or my wife. But in my heart I knew I was on to something special. More than two decades later, I’m proud to say that Aartech remains Canadian owned and operated with my family and an amazing team of employees helping our customers find solutions and discover great new technology.”
— Robert Mowles
More than 20 years after founding the business, in 2024, Robert was inducted into the SP&T News Hall of Fame, recognizing his contributions to Canada's security industry.
To this day, Robert continues to lead the company with the same curiosity about technology and the same goal that helped get it started: bringing useful and innovative products to Canadians with real support from real people.
