Desrochers acquire Ottawa's Colonial
By Michael J. Knell -- Furniture Today, April 30, 2007
Ottawa — Brother and sister Andre and Diane Desrochers have acquired Colonial Furniture, one of this region's oldest and best-known full-line furniture retailers.
The Desrochers and their 35-member staff operate Bedzzz, a two-unit sleep specialist, and Sofa World, a two-unit upholstery specialist. They will add the three Colonial stores when the deal closes April 30. Terms were not disclosed.
Andre Desrochers said he has been in discussions with Jim Demers, Colonial's majority shareholder, for a year or so.
The Desrochers opened a Furniture Plus store in nearby Kingston, Ontario, in early 2005, but will close that store to concentrate on the Colonial acquisition. They also will close their Ottawa warehouse and headquarters and move into Colonial's facilities.
"We're going to marry the back ends of both operations," Desrochers said. "The synergies will be tremendous."
A new holding company will be created, he said, with himself as president and Diane as secretary/treasurer. The stores will operate under their current banners, with no significant changes to the product mix of either Bedzzz or Sofa World, since they do not compete directly with Colonial.
Demers will retire after 38 years in retailing, the last decade as leader of Colonial. The minority owners — Vicki Demers, director of administration; Cindy Demers, director of merchandising; and Terry Cole, general manager — will remain in their current roles and as partners in the venture, Andre Desrochers said.
Colonial has been part of the Allied Home Furnishings Network, but under the new ownership will become part of the Dufresne Retail Solutions Group. Both Allied and Dufresne are part of the strategic business unit administered by Mega Group.
