Page 16 - D12771 - LBMAO - Jan-Feb-2018 - REPORTER - web

BMR

50 years of service excellence

aving recently celebrated the 100th the occasion with Expo ‘67 in Montreal. In 1968 the group established its
Hanniversary of the Association, we Another event that happened during first office at 2111 Henri-Bourassa Blvd
would also like to take the opportunity to this year was the joining together of six E in Montreal and expanded within 3
recognize the 50th anniversary (in 2017) Quebec hardware retailers, pooling their years. As the demand increased for more
of a valued partner and strong supporter purchasing power under the umbrella of employees to service their increasing
of the independent building supply/ “Union Six”, soon to become BMR. dealer base, the founding six recognized
hardware retailer - Groupe BMR Inc. The original six owners travelled a need and were fulfilling that demand
We extend to the employees and tirelessly throughout the province, for service and product. With the
retailers of this iconic group our hearty meeting with likeminded independent ever-increasing volume, BMR was fast
congratulations. They exemplify the true hardware and building supply retailers to becoming a major player in the Quebec
values of the entrepreneurial independent encourage them to pool their purchasing marketplace.
business owner. The history of this power, enabling them to compete with The 1970s proved to be the decade of
company is capsulized in an excellent the larger groups and banners forming growth and expansion for Groupe BMR
commemorative document available upon across Canada. Growing to 15 members Inc. who recognized early that the DIY
request through their website. and recognizing the diversity of their market was rapidly growing; and they
In 1967 the country was celebrating members as hardware and building supply needed to position their members with
its 100th anniversary and Quebecers retailers, they changed the name to products and marketing strategies to
enthusiastically joined and celebrated “BoisMateriaux Renovation – BMR”. profit from the consumer demands for

16 LBMAO Reporter - January-February 2018 www.lbmao.on.ca