It was back in 1983 that Michel Gendreau seized the opportunity of starting up
his own manufacturing company.
Michel would follow his business instincts and his uncommon determination that have brought
him to where he is today.
Before joining Garaga, I was a stockbroker.
I had graduated from Laval University in 1978 and I had worked two years in a bakery as
a general manager, then I went stockbroker for two years and I had a customer, SODEC
Beauce-Appalaches, that was a venture capital who had invested in Garaga Door Limited who
went under in December 82, so I had the opportunity to buy the asset and start again the company
at that time.
My biggest motivation in life was to have a business that I can manufacture something,
I always wanted to make a product, to be able to innovate in the product and make something
that could be useful, so that was my biggest challenge and that's why I bought the manufacturing
company that was Garaga at that time.
I remember when I started the company, we had market research done by Price Waterhouse
and we had the research done by Research Center about the equipment and everything and the
conclusion was to liquidate the company and find a job, then I remember Elen was there
and she was pregnant of the twins at the same time and so we had to make a decision to keep
on going or quit and I said there's no way we're going to give up, tell them that the
glass of water is half full instead of half empty, and now I'll do the investment and
develop the company to be successful.
1985, Garaga launches a new division: Garaga Insulation, specialized in the fabrication
of polyurethane insulated sandwich panels.
In 1986, at the Mercuriades awards, Garaga receives a coveted prize that will have a
huge impact on its future development.
In 1986, we had been awarded the Mercuriades, that's Quebec Chamber of Commerce award for
new businesses.
We were very proud to be selected as the new business and I think it helped a lot of the
people inside the company and customers to recognize that there was something good we
were doing at Garaga and I am sure that had very positive element in the development of Garaga.
When I first started, you know, in 1983, we didn't need email to communicate to each other
because we were all on the same desk, so it was easy to know what's happening, but you
know I did hire very good people that helped me to grow the company and I remember the
first key technical guy I hired was Louis Dallaire and from there you know we hired
many people I had Jean-François join for marketing, Daniel Gauvin made a few internships
at Garaga and he joined the company permanently and Pierre Morin, Ghislain Dallaire and we
hired a lot of people since then to grow the company where we are.
The same year, Garaga produces its first raised panel garage door, which will be improved
with a refined and deeper wood grain finish in 1989.
More space becomes a necessity in 1987; the company relocates on the east side of St-Georges.
When I first started the company in 1983, we were in a rented building of 7,500 square
feet and we did the move in 1986 in a building we bought in eastern side of the town, which
were 7,000 feet and we expanded 8,000 feet to make it 15,000 feet and from there we grew
the company until 1990 where we had Ferland Chartand who joined us to do the manufacturing
of the hardware.
In 1990, Garaga acquires another building to manufacture their own hardware.
Eight years later, Garaga's hardware plant doubles in size to 7,000 square feet.
The Manic V hydroelectric dam project begins in 1991 and Garaga lands a $2.5 million contract
to produce over a mile of door sections per day for the next six months.
In 1990, we felt that the economy was going down and we needed extra sales and we had
the opportunity to sell to Hydro-Québec a wall panel built from a garage door panel
and we did it successfully, with it, we had great challenge to convince them but it was
a great realization for all of our people and we had about 42 kilometers long put all
together the quantity of the panel we did build and we were very happy with the success
of that project.
1992 brings on another highly needed expansion of the St-Georges's plant.
With the launch of the Standard+ steel door in 1993, Garaga can now compete and fulfill
market demand for Western Canada as well as the northeastern United States.
In 1995, Garaga establishes a base in Ontario and opens a new manufacturing facility in Barrie.
The biggest challenge we have faced in the last 25 years was probably when we did implement
the new factory in Barrie.
At that time, we did invest $5 million and after the first year of operation we have
almost a million dollar less in sales with 2 plants, that put a lot of pressure to find
solution to find more sales and that's where Jean-François came out with the Garaga Experts
program that we launched the next spring to help to build the business.
1996, the St-Georges's plant expands again: 20,000 square feet are added to bring the
hardware and door production under one roof.
Garaga also launches the Garaga Experts program: a network of professional garage door dealers.
So if we have a happy customer, then we can have work can and grow the company.
1997 brings on an expansion of the Barrie plant in Ontario, allowing for the manufacturing
of a new product: the Standard 138.
In 1998, yet another 9,200 square feet are added to the St-Georges's plant.
3 years later the decision is finally made to break ground for a brand new 128,000 square
feet state-of-the-art facility in St-Georges's industrial park.
The biggest challenge we have faced in 2000 when we took the decision to relocate to the
new facility was to still be owner of the old building and build a new building and
I thought that we would be able to sell the old building pretty quick, but it didn't turn
out that way, so we still own the old building, but we do rent on many people and until we
sell it somebody.
In 2001, Garaga innovates again by launching 2 new door designs: the Standard+ MIX and
the Standard+ XL.
In 2005, the Barrie facility must make room for a new production line: 30,000 square feet
are added for the launch of the Alterna and G-8000 doors.
Garaga asserts its market leadership position by launching its first steel carriage house
door: the North Hatley, followed two years later by the Eastman Estate.
So we had to move from functionality to design in the market.
Michel Gendreau has worked relentlessly for 25 years with the support of his family and
a highly qualified team of dedicated people, he has continuously provided his customers
with high-quality products and services through all these years.
I realize today that it was very challenging for the family, being out you know a lot of
time, especially the first five years, you know I was playing all the roles: the salesman,
the Purchasing Manager, the R&D guy, everything, so it was very intense but I think my biggest
reward today is to find out that my two sons joined the company and that Isabelle is going
to join us in a couple of years and that's my best reward to make sure the company will
keep on going with very involved family people.
I think the next step at Garaga is to keep up with innovation and try to have our people
very much empowered on every aspect of the business and we have to lead if we want to
keep to be ahead of the competition so that's the main goal and change we have to go over
day after day.
I think the biggest challenge is to keep up with the quality, with good people and try
to be the best in the industry and I want to make sure my family is taking over the
business for the long run and will be there forever.
Garaga has become an important garage door manufacturer in North America with a name
that is recognized and respected throughout the industry.
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