Montréal-based Ceragres, importer and distributor of wall and floor coverings, as well as specialized products, has announced the acquisition of Montréal-Les-Bains, a fine plumbing and bathroom accessories specialist. With this acquisition, the company now offers a selection of high-end products such as faucets, bathtubs, showers and fixtures, as well as bathroom and kitchen accessories.
This acquisition came about when Guy Gervais, CEO of Ceragres, decided one morning to keep driving past the office and towards Mont-Royal Avenue and walked in – quite unexpectedly – to the Montréal-Les-Bains store and loved what he saw. Gervais asked to meet the owner, introduced himself and asked plainly: “Is your store for sale?”
Pierre Carrière, operations manager and co-owner of Montréal-Les-Bains for 15 years was astounded and curious. “I would have never imagined this happening this morning when I woke up; I had never really thought about it but I liked his audacity and invited him to go for coffee”, says Carrière. The two Quebec entrepreneurs became accomplices and realized that there was a great business opportunity present. The acquisition was made official just a few weeks later.
Montréal-Les-Bains keeps its name, its showroom and brand identity, and Pierre Carrière is now Sales and Development Manager for the fine plumbing division. The Montréal-Les-Bains products will now be displayed at the Ceragres boutiques and vice versa. There are today six Ceragres Boutique Workspaces and 60 Ceragres Tile Shop partners in Quebec, Ontario and the Maritimes.
