Default Category
-
Bio-Vert: Green to What Limit
Raymond L. Paquin; Catherine Bedard; Genevieve GraingerCase IVEY-9B12A035-EMarketing, StrategyBio-Vert is a leading Canadian brand of eco-cleaning products manufactured by Quebec-based Savons Prolav. Run by a brother and sister team, Savons Prolav bases its products on their vision, which includes eco-friendliness, affordability and effectiveness. Demand for Bio-Vert’s phosphate-free detergents has increased dramatically since the 2007 blue-green algae bloom outbreaks in Quebec’s waterways and subsequent legislation restricting phosphate ...Starting at €8.20
-
Princessa Beauty Products
Christopher A. RossCase IVEY-9B10A018-EMarketingCanada is becoming increasingly multi-ethnic and many members of these groups start small retail businesses. This case is an example of one such situation. Princessa sold beauty products to the English speaking black community in Montreal. In 2005 and 2006, sales were flat and, in 2007, sales fell by about 16 per cent. The owner was concerned and wondered what action, if any, he should take. While the issues were clearly marketing oriented, recom...Starting at €8.20
-
Lassonde Industries versus Olivia's Oasis Inc.
Christopher A. RossCase IVEY-9B13A029-EMarketingLa Presse, a French language newspaper in Montreal and the largest French language newspaper in North America, published an article summarizing the judgment of a trademark infringement case involving Lassonde Industries, a large Quebec conglomerate with sales of almost Cdn$760 million, and Olivia’s Oasis, a small Quebec manufacturer of health and beauty products with sales of Cdn$250,000. Initially, Olivia’s Oasis had successfully defended itself...Starting at €8.20
-
Entomo Farms: Are Canadians Ready to Eat Insects?
Raymond L. Paquin; Iryna Sushko; Shannon LloydCase IVEY-W26996-EMarketing, StrategyIn January 2021, Entomo Farms (Entomo), a family-owned Ontario-based Canadian cricket producer, received additional funding to support its growth and prepare for the entry into Canada of what would be its biggest competitor. As Canada’s largest and only organic cricket supplier, Entomo generated most of its revenue as a supplier of crickets as raw material to food manufacturers; however, due to anticipated industry changes, Entomo was increasing ...Starting at €8.20
-
McGill St Laurent: Growing a Commodities Trading Firm
Jesse Prent; Gwyneth Edwards; Raymond L. PaquinCase IVEY-9B20M116-EEntrepreneurship, StrategyIn May 2018, Philippe Boisclair, business owner and president of McGill St Laurent (MSL), sought to grow the firm and increase annual profitability by CA$35 million by 2020. MSL was a medium-sized commodities trading firm with interests in wood, grain, and energy. Founded in 2009 by two business school graduates and veterans of the lumber industry, MSL had enjoyed significant growth. The company had not only expanded into grain and energy trading...Starting at €8.20
-
L'Itineraire Community Group Inc.: Future Direction
Christopher A. RossCase IVEY-9B17A003-EMarketingL’Itinéraire Community Group was a not-for-profit organization located in Montréal, Quebec. It published a French-language magazine that was sold by homeless and socially marginalized people in the city. The group’s management committee was examining ways of raising additional funds because of the reduction in contributions from traditional sources such as government subsidies. Options included targeting the magazine to the Anglophone and immigra...Starting at €8.20
-
Alvéole: Growing the New Urban Beekeeping Market
Cheryl Gladu; Raymond L. PaquinCase IVEY-9B19M132-EEntrepreneurship, StrategyAlvéole was an urban beekeeping start-up in Montreal, Quebec. Founded in 2012, Alvéole offered beekeeping services and products in support of its social mission of educational outreach surrounding issues related to the natural environment, food security,Starting at €8.20
-
Effet Boomerang: A Brand-Repositioning Dilemma
Raymond L. Paquin; Rania Bou Jaoude; Michel GreicheCase IVEY-W30025-EMarketing, StrategyOver two decades old, Effet Boomerang is an advertising agency based in Quebec, Canada. In recent years, it has found it harder to win client contracts, which has been partially due to changes in the industry. This has left its co-founder and president examining her options for repositioning the agency. This case provides an interesting opportunity to introduce students to internal and external analyses by having them examine how a small firm may...Starting at €8.20
-
Kombi Sports Inc.: Staying Ahead of the Curve
Heather Calvert; Raymond L. Paquin; Rajshree PrakashCase IVEY-9B21M063-EMarketing, StrategyIn January 2020, Kombi Sports Inc. was at a strategic crossroads in a changing industry. The Montreal-based firm had evolved from a niche provider of alpine performance gloves to a premium Canadian winter apparel brand. Its success could be attributed, at least in part, to its strong collaborative stance and interesting partnerships. However, increasing competition in the industry, particularly among brick-and-mortar retailers, raised questions f...Starting at €8.20
-
Blacbiblio: Hold Steady or Change Course
Raymond L. Paquin; Bharathram Sivasubramanian; Rajshree PrakashCase IVEY-9B20M050-EEntrepreneurship, StrategyBlacbiblio.com, Inc., an educational materials start-up in Montreal, Canada, launched its first and only product, the ABCs of Canadian Black History Kit, in 2016. The product received strong positive reviews at the time of its launch, but its initial price of CA$2,500 per kit left it out of reach for most of its intended customers. The company founder, a historian and educational content creator, shifted to a flexible pricing strategy, offering t...Starting at €8.20