COMPANY MERGER: JARDIN DE VILLE JOINS MAISON CORBEIL AND LA GALERIE DU MEUBLE
December 14, 2015
Significant merger in the furniture industry in Quebec: Jardin de Ville joins G2MC, which includes Maison Corbeil and La Galerie du Meuble.
Montreal, December 14, 2015 – G2MC, a corporate entity established in 2013 that includes Maison Corbeil and La Galerie du Meuble, is merging with Jardin de Ville, a retailer and manufacturer of high-end outdoor furniture.
This transaction, carried out in partnership with Corporation Financière Champlain, a private investment portfolio company, will enable the group to become one of the largest players in high-end furniture in Quebec, surpassing the $100 million mark in revenue by the end of 2016.
United Quebec Identities
Maison Corbeil and La Galerie du Meuble have more than 40 and 60 years of expertise respectively in the sale of furniture and home accessories, while Jardin de Ville has nearly 60 years of experience in outdoor furniture. The retailers specialize in a contemporary style, ranging from medium to high-end, evolving with today’s and tomorrow’s trends, and have always favored a personalized shopping experience since their inception.
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We are combining our strengths, expertise, and complementary products to offer a turnkey solution to our customers and to elevate the furniture industry in Quebec to a higher level.
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Éric Corbeil, Co-President at Home Société Group
It is evident that for several years now, both locally and internationally, the trend has been towards mergers and acquisitions. However, unlike so-called horizontal mergers whose objective is to ruthlessly eliminate competition, this partnership is rooted in a familial spirit among entrepreneurs who share the same values, where all members are shareholders. Gilles Vaillancourt, the Corbeil and Bourque families, proud of their journey and Quebecois identity, are coming together to support the local economy and continue their growth in Quebec, and then in Canada.
A Flourishing Garden
There is a growing enthusiasm for garden and terrace furniture here in Quebec, as well as across Canada and around the world. Customers, becoming increasingly savvy, demand more choices, styles, and quality. “Outdoor design is an inseparable extension of interior design. The backyard is regaining its nobility, and people are investing more time and money in renovating or decorating this living area where they aspire to the same comfort as indoors,” explains Johanne Bourque, president of Jardin de Ville.
Since 1956, Jardin de Ville has experienced phenomenal growth, building an international reputation over the years. The company has won several prestigious awards, reflecting the innovative spirit, boldness, and refinement that have always inspired the company. As Pierre Simard, president of Corporation Financière Champlain, states: “We remain true to our strategy: identifying profitable companies, leaders in their sectors, and investing to help accelerate their growth.”
New for Spring 2016
Maison Corbeil and Jardin de Ville will solidify their partnership in spring 2016 with their first shared space in the vibrant Griffintown district of Montreal. A new MUST boutique, Maison Corbeil’s lifestyle concept focused on affordable furniture lines and decorative items for the home, will open its doors, integrating a new Jardin de Ville space.
In Quebec City, an expansion of La Galerie du Meuble, also planned for spring 2016, will accommodate its two partners.
The three retailers will maintain their distinct banners. The distribution center and delivery service will now be centralized with a shared warehouse spanning 140,000 square feet.
This merger between Maison Corbeil, La Galerie du Meuble, and Jardin de Ville, in collaboration with Corporation Financière Champlain, will quickly generate significant growth synergies, making it a true leader in high-end indoor and outdoor furniture retailing and developing new expansion projects.
Maison Corbeil
The Corbeil family has operated Maison Corbeil since its establishment in 1973 and now has nearly 175 employees. The Quebec retailer specializes in contemporary furniture and decorative accessories for the home, representing the biggest names from Europe and locally. The family business has three branches, three MUST boutiques, a Ligne Roset boutique with exclusive distribution rights in Quebec, and a warehouse store.
Jardin de Ville
Jardin de Ville is a Quebecois family business among the leaders in the design and marketing of high-end garden furniture. Jardin de Ville offers several internationally renowned brands in its four showrooms in Quebec, as well as those in Toronto and Fort Myers (Florida). Not only a retailer, Jardin de Ville also has a custom pavilion and cushion factory. Jardin de Ville, the outdoor creator for 60 years, a beautiful story of a Quebec brand.
La Galerie du Meuble
Founded in 1956, La Galerie du Meuble has become a must-visit for designer furniture and decor in the greater Quebec City area. In a comprehensive concept, contemporary styles and current trends coexist. The two branches, employing 90 collaborators, have stood out over the years with personalized projects, an initiative that has been immensely successful with customers. The company is still operated and managed by three associates from the Quebec City region.
About Corporation Financière Champlain
Corporation Financière Champlain, a Canadian investment company based in Montreal, is well known in the Quebec retail sector. Champlain was notably a co-owner of Maison Ogilvy, sold to the Selfridges group in July 2011, as well as Pro Hockey Life, operating in Quebec under the banners Sports Gilbert Rousseau and Entrepôt du Hockey, which was recently acquired by a Canadian Tire subsidiary. Among its current investments, Champlain holds Kanuk, a manufacturer of high-end coats made in Montreal; as well as Centre Agricole JLD-Laguë, the largest network of John Deere agricultural and commercial equipment dealers in eastern Canada.