The story
La Vie en Rose was founded in 1984 by a Toronto businessman Harry Kaner in collaboration with his wife Rosmary Kaner. The first store opened in the summer of 1985 at Toronto's Sherway Gardens shopping mall, with intention of becoming the first of a chain which would include upwards of eight stores. Aimed at the increasing working women market, the company sought to offer a "personal service robe in each changing room and a well trained staff." However, the first three years of operation did not happen as intended and the company filed for bankruptcy protection before Kaner sold it to the Algo Group in 1987.
In 1996, after more years of losses, Algo sold the company for $2.4 million to entrepreneur François Roberge, who had previous experience working in the industry. Roberge financed the sale primarily from loans and personal savings, and secured 23 of the company's 26 stores—which were at the time losing a million dollars a year. When it was acquired, the company's head office, located in Toronto, employed only 12 people and Roberge made the choice to relocate the head office from Toronto to downtown Montreal. The first year under new ownership proved profitable and shortly after La Vie en Rose started opening stores annually.
There are currently 150 stores throughout Canada, which employ around 2,000 people nationwide, including three concept stores: La Vie en Rose, La Vie en Rose Aqua, and La Vie en Rose Outlet. As of September 2011, the chain now counts 150 boutiques nationwide. The company brings in $130 million in domestic sales from its Canadian stores, as well as $10 million from 56 international locations.
At the beginning of December 2011, the company acquired 11 stores from Ainsi Soit-Elle, a Quebec lingerie retailer. The stores were reopened by the end of January 2012.
In 2015, the company acquired the Bikini Village chain of swimsuit stores, saving it from bankruptcy.
From Wikipedia’s article on Boutique La Vie en Rose, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.5