Specializing in children’s shoes, the 21 Panda stores, a family business for 75 years, pass into the hands of Club Nero Bianco, owner of the stores of the same name and Club Chaussures.
With this transaction, 11 new Panda stores should open within five years throughout the regions of Quebec, where the brand is a little less present. Over the next year, Panda will set up operations in Saguenay and Bas-Saint-Laurent, where the city has yet to be determined. With its three brands, Club Nero Bianco now has a total of 55 locations.
“It’s a natural fit,” says Jean-François Transon, president of Groupe Nero Bianco, whose head office is located in Sainte-Catherine-de-la-Jacques-Cartier. “It’s a shoe company buying another shoe company. It is very rare in Quebec for a retailer to buy another retailer. »
“Just in the greater Quebec City area, there is room for two or three more Panda stores,” he adds.
But by opening 11 new stores throughout the province under the Panda brand, which currently has 21 – a large proportion of which are currently in the greater Montreal area – the new owner does not risk competing himself? This is because in its 30 Club Chaussures boutiques, which sells shoes for the whole family, we also fit little ones’ feet.
“We sell children’s shoes, but we’re not as specialized as Panda. But it is certain that in the new branches that we are going to open, we will have to be very careful not to cannibalize ourselves,” recognizes Mr. Transon.
One thing is certain, getting its hands on the children’s shoe specialist allowed it to reopen discussions with suppliers for brands that were no longer offered on the displays of the two brands since the pandemic. “The potential and the turnover have just changed. »
For example, in terms of volume, Nike products will be more present in both brands. Under Armor will make its debut at Club Chaussures, while Dr. Martens will reappear at Panda.
Negotiations between Club Nero Bianco and Panda, which was led by Linda Goulet, lasted about five months. It was the latter – wishing to retire – who would have contacted Mr. Transon for the sale of his business. “There are not 100 buyers in Quebec who can make this banner prosper,” maintains the boss of Groupe Nero Bianco.
With this acquisition, all of Panda’s activities – which employed 13 people at its Montreal offices – will be repatriated to Club Nero Bianco’s head office in Sainte-Catherine-de-la-Jacques-Cartier, near Quebec City. Mr. Transon confirms that 5 of the 13 employees will retain their positions. In store, no changes are planned.
Founded: 1984
President: Jean-François Transon
Number of stores: 55 (30 Club Chaussures, 4 Nero Bianco, 21 Panda)
Number of employees: 335
Head office: Sainte-Catherine-de-la-Jacques-Cartier
