Clients

Promoting Architecture in Québec

From 2005 to 2008 we advised and helped the Ordre des architectes du Québec in the development a plan which objective was to enhance the architect profession’s status in Quebec. We started by conducting a vast study among work providers and architects to establish what were their perceptions and attitudes towards the profession. Then we developed a communications plan aimed at regrouping architects and making them realize the important role clients play in the way a profession is perceived. Regional issue tables were held to allow architects to express their views, and to communicate the details of the architect profession enhancement plan. We also consulted with architects and work providers in order to revise architects’ offers of services.

Ordre des architectes – Professional Development Department

Training Activities

In the course of our various mandates for the Ordre des architectes, we have established a strong relationship with the Professional Development Department that led us to elaborate its communications strategic plan. At the department’s request, we have also developed a series of professional training workshops especially designed to suit the needs architects have expressed in a survey and during interviews. We have been collaborating with the department since 2005 for five different activities, and we trained over 500 architects in the process!

Association of architects in private practice

Economic survey of the architectural profession

Our mandate was to conduct an impact study on the economic contribution of architects in Québec and the role of each player of the construction sector. This study allowed us to establish more accurately than ever before what was the economic contribution of architects to the Quebec economy. In addition the study provided a quantifiable evaluation of goods and services that have been directly and indirectly recommended and generated by architects during the year 2004. Our findings showed that architects play a key role in Quebec’s economy, thus removing the diminishing ‘’artistic’’ label too often associated to their profession.

The study allowed the AAPPQ to better position itself against political challenges and to strengthen its relationships with the main players of the construction sector. In the course of this study, the AAPPQ asked us to act as their ambassador and to accompany its representatives when they presented the results to various audiences.

Since then, we have developed a number of conferences for the Association as well as providing strategic guidance on various projects.

Ordre des ingénieurs

Canada’s Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (Rx&D)

Rx&D is the national association representing the research-based pharmaceutical companies in Canada. In January 2006 Rx&D gave us the mandate to manage its request for proposal process aimed at recruiting an advertising agency that would be responsible for all its communications in Canada.

Strategic Coaching and Supervision

Rx&D’s Communications Department asked us to counsel its personnel and help them improve their efficiency level with regards to their daily dealings with agencies.

Montréal InVivo

Montréal InVivo is the brand name for the life sciences and health technologies cluster of the Montréal Metropolitan Area. In the winter of 2011 we were hired to act as facilitator during a meeting of the Board of Directors. The objective of the meeting was to lay the foundations of a branding initiative of the cluster. Our role was to build a framework for discussion, act as moderator during the meeting and help Montreal InVivo better understand what actions should be taken.

 Construction Specifications Canada

Construction Specifications Canada is a national multidisciplinary non-profit association committed to ongoing development and delivery of quality education programs for the betterment of the construction community. As part of its National Conference held in Montreal in May 2011, we were mandated to ensure the development and facilitation of a seminar that had for theme “How to keep a customer.”

Strategic Planning Process

In the fall 2009 eSpace Construction used our consultation services and asked us to support them in their business development efforts. We conducted our mandate in a step-by-step approach. Our first step was to listen to officers and employees through individual meetings and strategic workshops. Subsequently we took the time to interview most of their clients to identify what was the company’s distinctive advantage. The result gave life to eSpace Construction, a new strategic approach to ensure the sustainability of the company.

Canada Green Building Council  

Workshop facilitation with provincial chapter’s members and the National Council as part of an event entitled “Chapter Day”.

AutoValue

Customized Training Week-end

AutoValue is a network of 58 Quebec auto repair shops. During the training session week-end the network held in Montreal in October 2006, our mandate was to develop training sessions based on the organisation’s needs and to give the training courses to shop managers based on the organisation’s needs:

1. “Get in marketing gear”: a half-day workshop designed to bring managers to understand marketing basics and put them into practice in their shop.
2. “Team Management”: a half-day workshop designed to help managers develop team spirit within their shop’s staff, to engage them, and build a sense of belonging and ensure cohesion within the team.

Although the results of these training sessions will be measurable on the long term, the reactions from the participants were highly positive. Participants not only appreciated their experience but were eager to change their approach based on the knowledge acquired during the two workshops.

We repeated the experience in Bromont in September 2009 when we offered a new workshop entitled “Give value to your commercial role.”

Body Wash Care – Edo Traveler Suites

When Body Wash Care launches the Edo Traveler Suites concept of prefabricated cabins at airports, the company asked us to provide strategic guidance. Our mandate included the management of a consumer research project as well as providing strategic advice on how to optimize the commercial potential of the project.

Montreal Eye Clinic

Langevin & Forest (Foire du Bois)

Strategic planning exercise for “Foire du Bois”, the Langevin & Forest annual trade show. One of the main recommendations was to change the name to “Passion Bois” in 2010.

Sears (Cantrex)

In 2007 we were awarded the mandate of supporting the banner United Floors by developing training content for the annual meeting. We conducted five strategic workshops with merchants in the province of Québec before applying the recommendations.

Axessimo International

Strategic planning exercise for Axessimo, a distributor of gloves and fashion accessories.

Restaurants St-Hubert

Strategic counsel on demand to support the communications team with local marketing initiatives.

Café Napoléon

In 2005 Café Napoléon gave us the mandate to conduct a complete review of its brand. The company wanted to become more competitive in its industry. We initiated a series of meetings with the company principals, its sales representatives and distributors. The key insights gathered in the process served as linchpins to identify what truly distinguished Café Napoléon from its competitors. We were then able to establish a strong and unique selling proposition for each of its four brands of coffee.

In collaboration with a design studio we conducted a branding exercise that led to the creation of a new logo, a series of new packaging and communications material (posters, danglers).

Café Napoléon innovated with the “Napoléon Index”, a guide to help consumers choose coffee based on a coarseness scale of 15 to 85. This index appears on each packaging. Consumers’ interest and a greater flexibility in canvassing new clients are signs of a bright future for Café Napoléon.

Piscines Trévi (Trevi Pool)

Positioning and Marketing Diagnosis

In the spring of 2007 Piscines Trévi awarded us a consultation mandate. The company wanted to better manage its marketing initiatives. We put our expertise to work and helped them implement new procedures. We also adviced them through the repositioning of the Trévi brand, an exercise designed to help the company increase its competitive edge.

We host a series of meetings with the company’s managers and its sales force. This exercise allowed us to establish a marketing diagnosis and identify possible strategic approaches. We have also consulted their clients to get their points of view and validate the proposed strategic approaches.

We are still working with Trevi on tactical mandates.

Essilor Canada

Our mandate was to conduct a competitive analysis on advertising spending in the category of lenses. In addition we conducted a data analysis of the consumers’ profiles.

Duropac

Marketing Plan

Duropac distributes food packaging under vacuum or controlled atmosphere. Our mandate was to develop a marketing plan with recommendations on the choice of marketing initiatives to grow the business across Canada. After interviewing several clients, we rather recommended to review the organization and structure of the sales department.

Hypotheca ACDP

Strategic Planning and Guidance
Hypotheca ACDP is a leading mortgage broker in Montréal. In 2009 we initiated a strategic planning exercise that led to change the way the company would communicate and recruit clients. Since then we’ve supported the company in its negotiations with partners in view of developing marketing opportunities.

Industrial Alliance, Insurance and Financial Services

Advertising Agency Search

We helped the Industrial Alliance manage the process of selecting an advertising agency in 2009. Our mandate was to develop a selection grid selection, participate in the actual process and evaluate the offers of service received.

ReMax

Strategic guidance given to real estate agents in order to improve their communications efficiency.

Info Excavation

(Project carried out in partnership with factorie l’agence)

In the fall 2010 Info Excavation had plans to improve the understanding of its message on safer underground digging. In the course of this mandate we interviewed stakeholders – excavators, engineers, service users and managers of municipalities. Based on these interviews we were able to identify real-life solutions which slightly modified Info Excavation approach to communication. In fact with our help and advice, the company went from a coercive approach to an approach that rewards good excavating behaviours.

Health and Social Services Center Users’ – Committee of Sud Lanaudière

(Project carried out in partnership with factorie l’agence)

Our mandate was to develop a communication plan. At first we had to establish how the committee would benefit from the plan from a public standpoint. We recommended a one-day strategic workshop with members of the Committee, users, healthcare managers and community leaders in Sud Lanaudière. The meeting enabled all stakeholders to express their challenges, point of views, and to propose potential solutions. The outcome of the workshop was the establishment of simple and effective solutions to make the Committee known in Sud Lanaudière.

In one single day, all partners were able to identify most of the actions to be put in place, and each of them agreed to take part in the process. At the outcome of this meeting the plan to be developed was clear in the mind of the Committee’s members. We then proceeded to develop an action plan that would meet the population needs while taking into consideration the resources of the Users’ Committee.

 Gaz Métro

In 2009 Gaz Métro’s management gave us the mandate of providing advice and managing a communications program that involved many stakeholders and suppliers. In other words our role was to be “the agency before the agency.” Since then we have worked on ad hoc projects with Gaz Métro, including conducting an analysis of various industry sectors.

HortiCompétences – Repositioning

In 2005 the “Comité sectoriel de main-d’œuvre en horticulture ornementale – commercialisation et services of the Institut québécois des ressources humaines en horticulture” launched a request for proposals to find a partner capable of developing an effective communications strategic plan aimed at introducing its new sectional committee. Our firm was awarded the mandate and our first task was to develop a comprehensive strategic plan. Consequently we reassessed the organisation’s positioning, changed its name to HortiCompétences and developed a new visual identity, including a new logo, stationery, a newsletter and a graphic standards guide.

In addition we organised initiatives such as the “Suivez votre vraie nature” (Follow your true nautre) to promote employment in the horticultural and ornamental industry.

As a result the name changed to HortiCompétences and the communications efforts resulted in a more dynamic environment which led to higher members’ satisfaction and a greater overall acceptance of HortiCompétences within the industry.

Gestion Qualiterra

Brand Repositioning

Known for fifteen years under the name Gestion – Qualité: Fruits et Légumes inc., this subsidiary of l’Union des producteurs agricoles gave us the mandate to review its overall strategic positioning – from its mission to its company name and the definition of services provided.

This exercise gave birth to a new company name: Gestion Qualiterra. A brand new positioning was also established. Gestion Qualiterra would now position itself as the main reference with regard to helping agrifood producers differentiate their products in terms of improved quality. In collaboration with two graphic studios we developed a new logo, stationery, a newsletter and a Web site (http://www.qualiterra.ca).

Agrijob (AGRIcarrières)                        

In 2003 AGRIcarrières asked us to develop a recruitment campaign for its Agrijob service. We first developed a communications plan that focused on building relationships with community organizations that provide most of the workers for the program. Subsequently we selected and supervised the work of an advertising agency to carry out all the tactics stated in the plan over a 2-year period.

The Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers

Strategic planning and advertising agency search process.

Montreal History Centre (City of Montreal)

Strategic Planning

In 2008 we initiated the process of reconfirming Montreal History Centre (Natural History Museum) positioning. Our mandate included strategic planning in marketing and communications, the development of an action plan as well as strategic workshops and interviews with staff and officials.

Tourisme Laval

Strategic Plan 2007-2012

Participation in the planning exercise with Tourisme Laval, and presentation to the members in the winter of 2007.

Workshop facilitation for Tourisme Laval members on “Business Travel and Sustainable Development”.

Montreal International Auto Show

Our mandate was to help our clients manage partnerships and relationships with sponsors.

Royal Architecture Institute of Canada

Planning for the event “Architecture Festival 2009″ held in Montreal, including research and selection of key suppliers.

Gallimard Canada

Strategic planning, development of a major promotion entitled “mini books” with Lichen, a Montreal agency.

Musée d’art Contemporain de Montréal

Strategic planning

La Magnétothèque

Communications and marketing strategic advice (pro bono) from 2003 to 2006.

-        Gallimard

-        Musée d’art contemporain

-        La Magnétothèque