A well-established reference in the region for retailing furniture, appliances, mattresses, and accessories, Accent Meubles Victoriaville is part of a banner that includes 17 stores. However, it remains an independent entity, managed by four local co-owners. Not all of them had initially planned to follow this path, but a series of events led them to join forces and take over the business a few years ago.
Roseline Deshaies was the first to get involved in 1998, when she obtained her first job at the store, which at the time belonged to her aunts and uncles. Having always been close to her father's family business, she knew what it meant to be an entrepreneur. Next came Natacha Rochefort, a friend of the former owners, who joined the team in 2013. Formerly a teacher, she was looking for a new challenge and was inspired by her parents, both long-time business owners. She seized the opportunity to become a co-owner by taking over from two shareholders who wished to retire. Meanwhile, Antoine and Jérémy Vallée, nephews of the then-owners, each held part-time jobs at Accent Meubles starting in 2013 while studying business and management. With their background, their strong interest in the family business came naturally. With this passionate team, everything was in place to build a succession plan and ensure continuity.
In 2015, one shareholder retired, and Roseline—who had already been offered shares in the past—decided to take the leap and become a co-owner. Around the same time, Antoine joined the company full-time after completing his studies in business management and was approached by the former administration to be part of the ownership transfer. It was agreed that he would work for a year within the business to ensure it was a good fit. In the months that followed, Jérémy, then finishing a degree in finance, accepted a similar agreement. In 2017, both brothers officially became shareholders.
The transition process spanned from 2015 to 2017, during which the outgoing and incoming owners worked closely together to ensure a smooth handover. Before the buyout, the former management team ensured that the new owners were trained and included in decision-making meetings, allowing for a gradual retirement. This was followed by the financial steps, starting with drafting and presenting a purchase offer. With help from SADC and BDC, the new owners sought financing and ultimately decided to take out a mortgage on the building housing the store to fund the purchase. As for the Accent Meubles banner, the only requirement to formalize the ownership transfer was updating the names of the partners in the partnership agreement.
Once the financial aspects were settled, the rest unfolded organically and progressively. “Each of us was already responsible for our department, and we started planning ahead, so everything went smoothly. We also kept the same structure and company values,” explains Antoine. Indeed, the four new owners each took over the responsibilities of one of their predecessors. Roseline and Natacha manage the administrative side; Antoine handles purchasing and human resources; and Jérémy oversees customer service and warehouse management. All four also act as sales advisors to varying degrees, depending on the store’s needs.
Over time, the four successors have had to adapt to evolving market realities. But thanks to a strong team and the support of the banner, they’ve been able to meet challenges head-on and continue growing. With a major renovation project completed in 2023 and steadily increasing sales, Accent Meubles Victoriaville is clearly riding high!
