We’ve had an incredible journey growing TDG from a single store in Kenora, Ontario into a sophisticated multi-brand, international retail operation. I’m so grateful to all our team members, partners, and mentors – past and present. Yet what I’m most proud of is not what we’ve accomplished at TDG, but who we are and why we exist. We’re here to Make Life Better for our teams, guests, and community. And we’re only getting started!
– Mark Dufresne CEO
After 15 years of operating automotive repair shops and an auto dealership, Doug and Eva Dufresne recieve an unsolicited offer and sell the family business with intentions to retire.
Eva’s love of animals leads the family to develop their country acreage in to a farm, complete with a barn, livestock, and an indoor riding area for their horses. Over the years the Dufresne’s would travel across the country showing horses, becoming two-time AQHA Champions.
Despite being retired, Doug is approached to turn around an electrical contracting company, Lake of the Woods Electric. Eva joins him, and they spend two years doing exactly that.
Mark starts his post-secondary education at Univesity of Manitoba, followed shortly after by Mike and Shaun.
With Canadian retail giant Eaton’s pulling out of tertiary markets, the Dufresne family decides to enter the furniture business. Currently enrolled in business school, Mark puts together a business plan for Doug and family- putting him at the bottom of a list of local furniture retailers.
Previously occupied by 10 tenants, The Dufresne’s renovate their newly aquired buildings as a family. Before renovation, Doug had previously been selling bedding out of one of the units under the name ‘The Bed Shed’.
Mike Dufresne starts working at the Kenora location as a delivery truck driver (amongst many other roles not included in the job description).
Mark leaves his job at KPMG (and Stephanie, her job at E&Y) to begin managing Dufresne full time. The store would jump from 1.5 to 3 million dollars in sales.
Largely discredited by the competition for being “Country Bumpkins”, Dufresne enters the urban market with a new logo and design, and opens its second store located in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Shaun Dufresne begins working full-time at Dufresne Furniture & Appliances as a buyer, delivery driver, and everything in between.
Dufresne replaces its logo again to what employees would refer to as the “Racetrack” logo.
Dufresne makes a series of acquisitions, the largest being the purchase of DeFehr, replacing their keystone Winnipeg location with a store of their own on Ellice Avenue, and another in Brandon.
Dufresne invests in three talented new team members; Bruce Birchard, Bill King, and Mike Linton and makes them partners in the business.
Dufresne begins its first United Way Charity Campaign, in support of local Winnipeg communities.
Dufresne is recognized for the first time as a member of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies.
Dufresne purchases La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries store on Ellice Ave, Winnipeg.
Mark Dufresne receives the Entrepreneur of the Year award from Ernst & Young.
Dufresne completes a Strategic Alliance with the North West Company to supply furniture and appliances to 140 stores in Canada’s most remote Northern Communities.
Dufresne opens two Palliser Rooms locations in Winnipeg and Calgary.
Doug stars in a series of commercials as the brand spokesperson, providing our guests with a better experience.
Dufresne commits to Ashley Furniture Industries to open 12 Ashley Furniture HomeStore locations in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, opening the first store on St. James Street in Winnipeg.
Dufresne undergoes a rebrand and the iconic Dufresne House logo is created.
Dufresne gains platinum status as one of Canada’s longest consecutive 50 Best Managed Companies.
Dufresne is named Canadian Home Furnishing Retailer of the Year by Furniture World Magazine.
Dufresne sells La-Z-Boy and
Sleep Source.
Dufresne Retail Solutions Group formed, beginning with TDG and 12 additional independent retailers.
The Dufresne Group is
formed.
TDG launches Tutoris, to provide comprehensive product protection plans.
Dufresne, Ashley HomeStore, and dRSG continue to grow while other furniture retailers suffer losses during the global financial crisis.
Mark organizes a quarterly meeting with American industry leaders to discuss industry best practices: The Lean Group is formed.
TDG receives the Lieutenant-Governor’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Community by a Business.
Dufresne celebrates it’s 25th anniversary by raising over 1.6 M dollars for 51 charities across Manitoba and Ontario.
TDG partners with The Dufresne Spencer Group (DSG). The start to a wonderful partnership.
dRSG receives the Retailer of the Year Award from The Canadian National Home Furnishings Association.
Under the new partnership, DSG adds 19 stores, three distribution centres and over 700 employees, becoming the second largest Ashley HomeStore licensee in the world.
TDG works with Ashley Furniture Industries to develop a new strategy for furniture retail.
TDG embarks on a new retail strategy called the ‘Store of the Future’, leading the relaunch of the Dufresne brand and the opening of its new Ottawa location.
Mark Dufresne moves to a new role as CEO of Ashley Global Retail, headquartered in Tampa, Florida.
Dufresne and Ashley bring sales to the web with the launch of their ecommerce websites.
Ashley Furniture HomeStore brand is updated, changing its logo and shortening its name to Ashley HomeStore.
An additional 15 Ashley Homestore locations are opened in the next 4 years.
Dufresne Furniture & Appliances expands into the Saskatchewan marketplace.
The Greenhouse Retail Solutions Group was created to infuse innovation into both TDG and DSG.
DSG becomes the largest Ashley Homestore licensee.
DSG acquires the second largest Ashley HomeStore licensee, Hill Country Holdings adding 33 additional Ashley HomeStore locations.
dRSG reaches 100 members and 136 stores nationwide.
TDG celebrates 20 years as one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies.
DSG’s growth and consolidation sets it up to exceed $1 Billion in retail sales.
The TDG brand renews, with a new Purpose statement, home office, and visual identity.
Coronavirus pandemic—operating restrictions, supply chain disruptions, safety focused while navigating the unknown.
Make Life Better for the community through enhanced giving.
Positioned for growth. Charted our path to exponentially grow Ashley, Dufresne, and DRSG.
