From its humble beginnings in the small Quebec town of Saint-Antoine des Laurentides in 1956, Jardin de Ville has grown to become one of the world’s most respected names in high-end outdoor furnishings and accessories. The company’s commitment to excellence, innovative spirit and keen sense of refinement have set it apart since its earliest days and it has been honored with numerous prestigious awards for quality and design.
The beginning
1956 - Carmen Bourque opened Patio Rama Bourque, showing remarkable foresight and enterprising spirit at a time when the market for outdoor furniture and accessories was still relatively small.
From the outset, Mrs. Bourque insisted upon selling only the highest-quality products of impeccable design. With a keen eye for new, trendsetting merchandise, Jardin de Ville’s founder took an approach to business that greatly contributes to the company’s success to this day.
Progress
1975 – Patio Rama Bourque took its first step towards major expansion when, with enthusiasm and passion for excellence similar to their mother’s, Johanne and Marcelle Bourque joined the company, transforming it into a shining example of a family-run business.
1988 – The Bourque family diversified their business interests, establishing Cuscini Design, a manufacturer of high-end cushions and garden umbrellas, now an integral part of Jardin de Ville. In 1991, Cuscini Design began producing awnings as well.
Renewal
1995 – The Bourque family business changed its name to Jardin de Ville and opened its first retail center in Montreal. The company’s products were of such good quality and sophisticated design, the lines separating outdoor from indoor furniture began to blur. Family members and employees began traveling the world in search of new, trendsetting styles and types of furniture and accessories.
1996 – Cuscini Design developed a new product, the Garden Pavilion.
1998 – Jardin de Ville opened its second retail store in Blainville, while Cuscini Design’s tremendously popular Garden Pavilion was showcased at a major trade fair in Chicago with a view to exporting it throughout North America.
2000 – Jardin de Ville introduced its synthetic rattan Cane Line collection. The company’s Cane Line US.CA division (no longer an independent entity) began distributing the collection throughout North America. The fact that the elegant Cane Line collection is appropriate for use either indoors or outdoors has made it extremely popular, and that popularity has helped secure Jardin de Ville’s international reputation for excellence in the high-end furniture and accessories market.
International recognition
Also in 2000, Jardin de Ville was named a finalist for the Summer and Casual Manufacturer’s Association’s Apollo Award, in the category of Excellence in Merchandising Casual Furniture, at the Chicago International Casual Furniture and Accessories Market. In both 2002 and 2003, Jardin de Ville stood to receive an Apollo Award in the category of Excellence in Casual Furniture Retailing, up against stiff competition from several American companies.
2004 – A banner year for Jardin de Ville which, in addition to building its new 54,600 square-foot head offices and showroom in Mirabel and expanding the surface area of its Montreal showroom by 1,500 square feet, won two awards at the Chicago International Casual Furniture and Accessories Market, one for Best Overall Merchandising and the other for Most Fashionable Retailer in the multi-store category.
That same year, encouraged by its many successes, Jardin de Ville launched its innovative retractable shelter, designed primarily for use with outdoor hot tubs and home spas.
Already at the industry forefront, Jardin de Ville went on to win yet another award at a major Chicago trade fair where its wares were on display, this time for Accessories shown by exhibitors with showcases measuring 1,000 square feet or more.
Fifty years old and stronger than ever
Jardin de Ville celebrated its 50th birthday, marking the occasion with a grand, ten-day-long photo-shoot of its Cane Line and garden shelter collections in Corsica, then publishing the best photos in a beautiful promotional brochure.
Though their company was fifty years old, the Bourque family’s passion for excellence and innovation, not to mention their desire to see their business expand even more, was stronger than ever. They opened their first permanent American showroom, Jardin de Ville USA in Fort Myers, Florida, at the prestigious International Design Centre.
2007 – The success of Jardin de Ville’s first US showroom and the immense international popularity of its garden shelters inspired the company to open its first European showroom in Switzerland, encouraged by European partners who had been impressed by Jardin de Ville’s unique style, business approach and vision.