Oberson, an industry leader in the sale of skis, snowboards and bicycles, stands out for the quality of its succession plan!
The DNA of the Oberson family retail business is nestled in the heart of the mountains. When Maurice Oberson, a native of the Swiss Alps, established the company in 1963 in Cowansville, Eastern Townships, his ambition was to share his passion and expertise for mountain sports, whether skiing or snowboarding in winter, or cycling in summer. Today, the company relies on its 200 employees, with two boutiques in Laval and Brossard, as well as an online store covering all of Canada. Supported by his wife Joanne Dion and children Alexandra and Marc-André, Maurice Oberson has succeeded over the years in making his company a benchmark in its industry. The company’s growth is also the fruit of a decisive technological shift begun in 2008 and driven, among other things, by the expertise in management and consumer psychology of Alexandra Oberson (HEC, 2000), the founder’s daughter. Online sales now account for 24% of the company’s turnover. Recently, Oberson was named Gold Medalist in the family transfer category at the Business Transfer Awards’ 16th edition. In June 2023, this competition recognized the exceptional quality of the transfer plan initiated in 2015, as well as Oberson’s ability to project itself into the future to ensure its long-term sustainability. Oberson is now run by the second generation, with Alexandra Oberson as President and her partner Daniel L’Écuyer, the founder’s former “right-hand man”, as Vice-President. As for his brother Marc-André Oberson, in addition to his career as a lawyer, he heads the subsidiary Ateliers Oberson, which offers repair and maintenance services for ski and snowboard equipment. Oberson can be proud of its successful succession process, blending the family talents of the 2nd generation with those of a long-standing key employee.
Read the news: ‘Congratulations to the Winners of the 2023 Business Transfer Awards!’
