SME Universe | The year of expansion for Signé Sarah

Going from 40 to 350 points of sale in just a few months is the challenge that Sarah Herscheid is preparing to take on. Her tear-resistant tights will be on the shelves of Simons stores starting in September, and several other partnerships are on the way.

“Our goal is for it to become the norm to buy tights that last. Often, we are used to buying poor quality tights, which only last a few uses,” says the founder of Signé Sarah.

She launched her business in 2021, after years of working in the hospitality, events and catering industries, during which time she describes herself as a “frustrated consumer” of tights that quickly fall apart.

After successfully finding fabrics that “passed the test” and designing her tights, Sarah Herscheid initially began selling them online only. In early 2024, they began to be distributed in independent boutiques in Montreal, the South Shore and Sherbrooke.

The arrival of the products in 10 Simons stores will mark a milestone in the company’s growth. And this is just the beginning, as several other major partnerships are about to be finalized, she assures.

The tights are currently manufactured in Europe, a process that the founder would like to bring back to Quebec eventually. They are packaged in Richelieu, on the South Shore, in the warehouse where the company has just moved, which currently has only two employees and a network of external collaborators.

The team is expected to expand in the coming months, to begin the task of conquering the Canadian market. The goal is to begin expansion to the United States by the end of 2025.

Compete with the competition

To compete with the fierce competition in this market, the brand first relied on word of mouth and the development of a clientele concerned with making sustainable purchases.

Another point that allows her to stand out is that Signé Sarah tights sell for $35 a pair, a lower price than other popular brands of durable tights. “Our main competitor can sell a pair of tights for up to $135. That’s not a price I would pay. Making quality products accessible and affordable is part of my values ​​and it’s important to me,” emphasizes the entrepreneur.

Signé Sarah tights are also meant to be inclusive, and come in a range of sizes from “small” to “4XL.” New shades are being developed so the style nude or “naked” may suit more skin types.

WorkJam Receives Funding to Grow Internationally

Montreal-based WorkJam has received a $20 million investment from Export Development Canada to expand its international operations. WorkJam offers a digital workplace application that combines communication, task management, scheduling tools and learning on a single platform. “With the changing dynamics of work around the world, particularly in the UK and European markets, many companies in these regions are looking to equip their hourly employees with digital tools that ensure compliance while boosting productivity, retention and overall workplace satisfaction,” said Steven Kramer, CEO of WorkJam, on the sidelines of the funding announcement.

MAS goes to meet the Montreal public

Montreal clothing company MAS will be operating throughout the month of August, occupying a temporary location on Wellington Street in Verdun. Several retail SMEs are taking over the VerdunLuv space, set up by the local business development company. The goal is to allow these retailers, who often have a strong online presence, to meet the public by renting a turnkey location for around thirty days, which limits financial risks. MAS’s clothing, generally monochrome, is distinguished by its clean and often loose cut.

The Brûlerie de l’Atlantique acquires an automated roaster

Brûlerie de l’Atlantique, a micro-roaster based in Matane, will soon be equipped with an automated roaster that can produce digital orders thanks to a $66,000 loan from Canada Economic Development. “In addition to helping double our production capacity, this new equipment will be more energy efficient and will allow us to reduce our environmental footprint throughout our manufacturing process,” said company president Mario Fournier. Brûlerie de l’Atlantique, which specializes in certified organic and fair trade coffee, has bakeries, grocery stores and specialty boutiques as its main customers. Its products are distributed to several points of sale in eastern Quebec, as well as in Montreal.

50 tons

That’s the amount of fruit and vegetables diverted from landfills each week by LOOP Mission. The Montreal company made a bet eight years ago to put food that would have been rejected due to aesthetic defects or insufficient shelf life to make it through the distribution cycle to good use. Its cold-pressed juices, sodas, lemonades and other drinks have found their audience, and LOOP continues to grow.