Les Serres Dame Nature hold no secrets for Rébéca, daughter of the company's founders. Her parents used to cultivate pots of tulips in the basement of the family home and sell them on church steps on Easter Sunday. Nearly 50 years later, Rébéca has gone from the little girl who ate her chocolate hen on the church steps to the co-owner of the company, which now has a hectare of greenhouses!
A Secured Succession
The company Serres Dame Nature was founded by Raymond Rouleau and Ann Grantham in 1974. They dedicated 30 years of their lives to building a stable and sustainable business for the next generation. One might think that Rébéca always wanted to take over the family business, but no! She was initially destined for a career as a nurse with a bachelor's degree in international cooperation. She even participated in an internship in Nicaragua and was bitten by the profession.
However, upon her return to the beautiful province, she completed her training by doing an internship in the Quebec healthcare system. It was at this moment that she had a major introspection. She wanted to start a family above all and loved providing care in the context of international cooperation, but much less in Quebec. She then took a break, and at the same time, a key position opened up in the family business. Rébéca took it on for 6 months and immediately knew she wanted to be an entrepreneur. She then returned to study economics and agri-food management at Laval University to be well-equipped.
At the end of her training, the succession process began! They hired a headhunting firm to identify a business partner complementary to her profile. But beware, it didn't happen overnight... it took a whole year before the profile of Martin Harvey appeared! Holding a bachelor's degree in business administration, he was the perfect match for the company's management. Seventeen years later, Martin and Rébéca are still partners, and together they have founded 3 other companies: Les Herbes du Lac, Fleuriste Racine Karé, and a real estate company.
Photo: Joëlle Poirier
A Complementary Duo
Martin loves to put his analytical mind to good use! With him, nothing is left to chance... he optimizes, calculates, and analyzes. His concern for improving procedures is ever-present. He is a man with a big heart, putting people at the center of his priorities, loving to interact with team members, and being considerate of everyone.
For Rébéca, it is business development that excites her. Her ideas are constantly flowing, her mind is always active, and she is always in proactive mode. She loves human relationships, but above all, she wants people to be happy in their work.
The challenges of one are the strengths of the other! A good professional match that has lasted for almost 20 years. One could say that this business partnership is a beautiful stroke of luck!
Photo: Joëlle Poirier
A Passion Jardins Merchant Since 2007
For Rébéca and Martin, the Passion Jardins brand is synonymous with dynamism, but above all, with being at the forefront. It was in 2007 that they decided to join this group of 27 merchants passionate about the horticultural sector, present all over Quebec. What attracted them above all is that Passions Jardins promotes the same values: a desire to share the pleasure and well-being that gardening provides, but also a sharing of knowledge. Not to mention continuous innovation and the environment.
The mission of Passion Jardins? To democratize gardening and share our passion for "everything that grows." Whether for beginner gardeners, die-hards, untamable, resilient, "come what may," and "off-piste" gardeners, Passion Jardins merchants are there to advise and inspire you.
Les Serres Dame Nature from Integrity to Excellence
This well-established company notably promotes 3 fundamental corporate values. The success of Les Serres Dame Nature undoubtedly rests on its well-anchored values:
- Integrity: for them, trust is an essential condition for the proper functioning of the company. They consider it essential to be open, honest, and respectful of everyone at all times.
- Excellence: They constantly seek to improve by implementing the best management practices, quality control, production, and customer service. They wish to remain a reference point in the industry.
- Togetherness: success comes from the ability to work together and pool each person's expertise, talents, and experiences. They foster a work environment where collaboration and sharing are omnipresent.
Martin's core value is respect. He has impeccable integrity. Rébéca's core value, on the other hand, is authenticity. Being true and faithful to others and herself.
A Destination to Beautify Your Life
Les Serres Dame Nature is above all a garden center, but it is also a destination for maintenance and landscaping, a florist, fine herbs, and decoration and furniture products.
The company now has 45 employees. It is thanks to all these wonderful people that they are able to offer quality service and meet the growing demand.
What's next?
Rébéca and Martin plan to integrate and train a promising new generation for the sustainability of the company, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2024. Of course, some projects will be added, but hush, it's a secret! The status quo is never an option for this dynamic duo.
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