Monsieur Renaud’s blunder | The Press

Whether you’re an athlete, an artist or an entrepreneur, you publicly brag about your successes more than your bad ones. And what about our blunders?

Isabelle Masse
The Press

Last April, while working under the sun of the Dominican Republic, Bruno Renaud spent a funny Easter Monday. Sweat runs down his temples, but not because the temperature is tropical. He just sent an email. A formality in other times, other skies. But the co-founder of Jameo, a personalized clothing SME, chose the wrong list of recipients…

“I had to send my communication to investors with our business results,” says Bruno Renaud. I sent it to 4,600 people, rather than 23, including customers. A few seconds later, he receives messages that he shouldn’t normally receive. “My first instinct was to reread what I had just sent,” he continues. It was at least a good month, but I was talking about increasing our prices. »

A miracle on this day after the resurrection of Christ! The blunder has never been categorized as unforgivable. On the contrary, it motivated the company to be more transparent with its employees and customers. “People have congratulated us on our growth,” says Bruno Renaud. Three people even sent us their CVs, writing to us: “If you ever have a job to fill.” ! »

A new section on the site of the Sherbrooke company, called Sustainable Development, was rather born of the gaffe. In this time of labor crisis, where organizations are opening their arms wide to attract employees, this section looks like a list of arguments to convince people to apply!

We read there in particular that employees have all the leisure to work remotely, as far as South America if they want to. That the dozen Jameo employees are involved in the company’s business plan. That they have the possibility of becoming shareholders. That the company is carbon neutral certified by LCL Environnement. And, above all, that Jameo’s clothes are created in Quebec, but designed in Pakistan.

Thus we can read: “We have developed a relationship of trust and friendship with our supplier. Here is proof [photo à l’appui] : we were invited to the wedding of the owner of our production plant and our CEO, Bruno, was the best man. Since our beginnings, we have worked closely with our supplier and visit him regularly. »

“During the pandemic, at the time of the Blue Basket, many companies said they were Quebecers, but they buy in China, for example, notes Bruno Renaud. Not everything can be done in Quebec. But are the conditions adequate? »

The site also shows how much of a customer’s bill is spent on research and development, profits and salaries. “We are not afraid to share the good and the bad with our investors, for example,” says Bruno Renaud.

A new platform

Jameo recently received $1.1 million in funding from angel investors as well as BDC and Investissement Québec for the creation and launch of a technology platform that will allow customers to design their own personalized items. This should be operational in a few months. It will help reach a wider customer base and solidify Jameo’s vertical supply chain. “Going through a distributor for us is more or less possible, because we are not into premade products”, explains Bruno Renaud.

With this platform, customers will be able to design their own clothes and choose sizes, in particular, while avoiding the stages of paper submission and in-person appointments. “From now on, orders will be made more quickly,” says Bruno Renaud. We will be more in support. »

Jameo (formerly Unique Wool) counts among its customers universities, SMEs, start-ups and large organizations such as Cascades and Decathlon. “Companies have a shortage of employees, so they seek to increase the feeling of belonging, says Bruno Renaud. And that often involves personalized, unique clothing (hoodie, fleece, etc.). »

The company says it has had sales growth of 108% in the past year and expects another jump between 75% and 100% for the current year.