History

1889

The roots of Trudeau can be traced to The General Bazaar Company, an importer of housewares & giftware, founded in Montreal by two French Merchants: the Baron Louis de la Polinière and the Count Jean de Plan de Sieyès. They hire as Manager Mr. Joseph-Raoul Genin and as Accountant Mr. Joseph-Arthur Trudeau.

1904

Joseph-Raoul Genin's and Joseph-Arthur Trudeau become proprietors and carry on the business under the name Genin, Trudeau & Cie Limitée. Upon Mr. Genin's death in 1919, Mr. Trudeau became President.

1919

J.-Arthur Trudeau invests his heart and soul in his business. The focus is initially on the distribution of imported articles such as smoker's accessories as well as religious articles. Soon after Genin,Trudeau diversifies its activity by manufacturing its own pipes out of briar imported from Saint-Claude, France, and by stamping religious medals in his own small basement workshop. Genin, Trudeau occupies then a lovely building near the Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal.

1929

Two of J.-Arthur's sons, Charles-Auguste Trudeau and Paul C. Trudeau, join their father in the family business. Charles-Auguste will serve more than 30 years at Genin,Trudeau working as a Sales Representative in Ontario.

1945

Paul C., a Lieutenant-colonel with the Fusilliers Mont-Royal Regiment, assumes the Presidency of the Company when he receives his discharge from the Canadian Army. He will remain in this position until his death in 1961.

This second generation of Trudeaus put a great deal of effort in developing an extensive distribution network, emphasizing brand name small electrical accessories. They also imported a range of decorative giftware made of crystal from France and from Czechkoslovakia.

1967

Robert L. Trudeau, one of Paul C.'s sons, joins the Company as representative of the Third Generation of Trudeaus. He adapts the business practices developed by his Father and by his Grand-Father to meet the challenges of an evolving marketplace and he turns Genin, Trudeau into a modern dynamic company.

While Genin, Trudeau remains mostly dedicated to selling high quality products, Robert L. Trudeau pushes the company's innovative side, which has always been its hallmark.

The result of his efforts take shape into a successful range called Céramiques de Beauce, a range of kitchen tableware.

1971

Robert Trudeau, always aware of new trends, turns to Europe and to Asia to find new and exciting products. Genin, Trudeau adds new exclusive ranges in particular in housewares and in practical giftware as well as porcelain figurine collectibles.

These new initiatives, combined with the constant growth of the business, soon begin to crowd the building in Old Montreal.

1976

Genin, Trudeau decides to prepare for the future by building a modern Distribution Centre in Longueuil (Boucherville), a few miles outside Montreal on the Trans-Canada Highway. These premises still house today the Company's Head Office. They include a Warehouse, Showrooms, a Graphic Design Studio as well as Offices.

1984

Genin, Trudeau starts to export its products across the world and experiences significant growth in many countries thanks especially to its ranges of Children's Tableware.

1992

Genin, Trudeau opens its own Distribution Center in the U.S.A with a dedicated local Sales Force.

1996

In order to reinforce its leadership position and to demonstrate its 100 year-young vitality, Genin, Trudeau simplifies its brand portfolio and launches at the same time the "Trudeau" and "Home Presence" Brands. The Company creates two organizations: Home Presence and Trudeau Corporation 1889 Inc.

2001

Trudeau doubles the size of its Canadian Distribution Center located in Longueuil near Montreal.

2003

Trudeau doubles the size of its American Distribution Center located in Woodridge (near Chicago) and create a new Enterprise Resource Planning - ERP.

2006

The growth of the company goes on with a second U.S. warehouse expansion in three years. Trudeau increases the capacity of its Woodridge, Illinois warehouse by over 60 percent. The expansion will add 45,000 square feet of space to the existing building, increasing square footage from 71,000 square feet to 116,000 square feet.

Trudeau expands its office and its showroom in Boucherville.