To grow the funds of our
Ivanhoe Cambridge, the Caisse and La Maison Simons share several common goals, including a commitment to quality economic development and a strong retail industry in Québec.
La Maison Simons is well known throughout Québec for its chain of seven fashion department stores. But most Québecers aren’t aware that the retail icon has been around for over 170 years, having been founded in 1840 in what is now known as Old Québec City.
Recently, La Maison Simons virtually doubled the size of its location in Place Ste-Foy, a shopping centre owned and operated by Ivanhoe Cambridge, one of the Caisse’s real estate subsidiaries. On the heels of this major undertaking, we sat down with president Peter Simons, who along with his brother, Richard, heads up La Maison Simons.
About la Maison Simons
Founded in 1840 by John Simons, the son of a Scot who immigrated to Québec in 1812, La Maison Simons set up shop in 1870 in what is now Old Québec City. In 1961, the company expanded and opened a location in Place Ste-Foy, a brand-new shopping centre in the suburbs of Québec City. Over the years, Simons has continued to grow, opening additional stores in Québec City, as well as in Montréal, Laval, Saint-Bruno and Sherbrooke. La Maison Simons offers a wide range of exclusive brands, distinctive fashions and quality housewares. The unique retail concept embraced by this fashion-forward retailer meets the needs of today’s savvy consumers.
La Maison Simons was founded by your great-great-grandfather and has been in the simons family ever since. Was it a given that you’d eventually take over the reins from your father?
Absolutely not. There was never any pressure from my parents in this respect. When I finished my university education at 22, I decided to accept my father’s invitation to join the company. I worked at a number of different positions so I could learn the ins and outs of the business. My brother and I have paid our dues and proven our mettle. My father always put the company’s long-term prosperity before any family interests. He would’ve found an alternative if we hadn’t had what it took to succeed him. That’s a vision we share.
Do you feel any additional pressure, knowing that the company you lead has been around for over 170 years?
I think so. I’m extremely aware of the considerable efforts that have gone into building La Maison Simons’ success over the years and I respect the careful balancing act it takes to keep it that way . We work closely with many individuals in the community and employ over 2,000 people. I feel we have a responsibility toward them, as well as all those who have helped make the company what it is today. Moreover, one of our biggest challenges is to ensure that the values that have defined our organization continue to guide us as we grow.
Competition in the retail industry is fierce. How do you manage to maintain your edge? What are the keys to your success?
At La Maison Simons, our success is inextricably linked to the people on our team. When we recruit, we look for three things: humility, because you have to be able to keep your feet on the ground and be ready to change anything and everything if the situation calls for it; intelligence, which makes it possible to manage change and constantly reinvent what needs to be reinvented; and a sense of values, in order to ensure adherence to our long-term plans, which focus on quality and community. We have always sought to create stores with a strong regional draw and enhance the personality and retail mix of the shopping centres they call home. That is why our growth is gradual and deliberate.
Speaking of which, you’re in the middle of a growth phase right now. What are some of the highlights?
We recently wrapped up the renovation and expansion of our Place Ste-Foy location, which now serves as our flagship store. We also acquired a fourth building on Québec City’s Côte de la Fabrique, which will undergo renovations shortly. In addition, in 2010, www.simons.ca became a fully transactional website, enabling us to reach out to consumers across Canada. And we just signed an agreement to open our first store outside Québec – in the West Edmonton Mall, in Alberta, in the fall of 2012. We also plan to expand into the east end of Montréal in 2013.
What type of relationship do you strive to build with the owners and managers of the shopping centres where you operate?
In my opinion, true, two-way partnerships are vital. We prefer to work with owners and managers that value long-term relationships and that have a vision for the future. In this regard, Ivanhoe Cambridge, the Caisse and La Maison Simons share common goals, including a commitment to quality economic development and a strong retail industry in Québec. Not only do our stores and distribution centres generate jobs in the province, but our head office in the heart of Québec City also provides some 200 people with stimulating, forward-looking careers. I think this is one of the things that really sets us apart.
What do you like most about being an entrepreneur?
I love the people – employees, suppliers, customers, everyone. These kinds of connections are extremely rewarding. At the end of last year, I went around to all of our stores to extend my personal holiday wishes to our staff. A day like that is physically exhausting. I had to get up very early and drive from Québec City to Montréal to Sherbooke and back again. And I got in late that night. But it made for some very special moments. When I meet the people who work for us and see how driven and dynamic they are, it rekindles my own passion for what I do!
Your Québec City roots run deep. And you recently donated a beautiful water fountain to the city in celebration of its 400th anniversary. How important is it to you to give back to the community?
My brother and I are well aware that the success of La Maison Simons would not have been possible without the enthusiasm and loyalty of our Québec City customers. We have a special relationship with these people, and we want to protect and nurture it. La Maison Simons is not a multinational corporation, but it is important to us to support cultural endeavours as much as we can. It's our humble way of helping to improve the quality of life of the people who have always been loyal to us!
