Local company honoured on prestigious list celebrating Canadian business excellence

Ottawa, Ont., March 31, 2014 – Deslaurier Custom Cabinets, a leading Ottawa cabinetry manufacturer and retailer, has been designated one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies for 2013. The local company, which employs a staff of 150 in its Renfrew manufacturing plant and Ottawa showroom, surpassed hundreds of applicants to earn a spot on the illustrious list of 50 companies.

“We’re honoured to receive this distinction,” says Deslaurier President Denis Staples. “It reinforces what we believe in and have worked toward—delivering exceptional products that never compromise on quality. Deslaurier has survived economic slowdowns and two devastating fires, but we were able to rebuild thanks to the support of our employees, our clients and our suppliers. This designation serves to recognize the excellence of our entire team.”

Since it was established in 1993, Canada's Best Managed Companies has been the country’s leading business awards program, recognizing excellence in Canadian-owned and -managed companies with revenues over $10 million. Every year, hundreds of entrepreneurial companies compete for this designation in a rigorous and independent process that evaluates their management skills and practices.

The Canada's Best Managed Companies designation symbolizes Canadian corporate success: companies focused on their core vision, creating stakeholder value and excelling in the global economy. Deslaurier is particularly proud of earning such prestigious recognition after having overcome so many challenges. As Staples notes, succeeding in an uncertain economy hasn’t always been easy; competition has been fierce in recent years, and the strong Canadian dollar has hampered exports and forced local producers to make do with the domestic market. As a result, Deslaurier has had to find creative ways to stay ahead.

“We’re always under pressure to offer more, at lower prices,” says Staples. “But we never cut corners by using sub-par materials. We’re continuously updating the company’s catalogue, which now has 48,000 designs that workers can program into their saws to enhance the precision of cuts made. We want our customers to have options so we can work within their budgets while maintaining Deslaurier’s quality standards.”

Fortunately, business has improved in recent years due to continued strong housing starts, sparked by exceptionally low interest rates. The improvements have been particularly evident in the nation’s capital, Deslaurier’s core market. “Activity here has been fairly constant lately,” says Staples. And with the strengthening U.S. economy, Deslaurier is once again looking south for business opportunities. “We completed a wonderful project in Boston last year. It now looks like there may be more work where that came from.”

With business thriving, Deslaurier plans to continue expanding their dealer network and developing their new modern line and closet offerings. The company expects to see moderate growth in revenue over the next year, which will no doubt be bolstered by their recent designation.

Staples and his team will celebrate their achievement next week when they attend the Canada’s Best Managed Companies gala in Toronto on Tuesday, April 1, 2014. The annual event will honour all 2013 winners, including new recipients of the Canada’s Best Managed Companies designation, as well as Requalified members, Gold Standard members and Platinum Club members. In addition to the gala, Deslaurier plans to celebrate one other way: “We’re having a kitchen party,” says Staples.

About Canada’s Best Managed Companies program

For more than two decades, Canada's Best Managed Companies has consistently served as the mark of excellence for Canadian-owned and -managed companies with revenues over $10 million. The awards are granted on four levels:

1. Best Managed winner (one of the new winners selected each year);
2. Re-qualified member (repeat winners retain the Best Managed designation for two additional years, subject to annual operational and financial review);
3. Gold Standard winner (after three consecutive years of maintaining their Best Managed status, these winners have demonstrated their commitment to the program and successfully reapplied for the designation; companies may re-qualify for two additional years, subject to annual operational and financial review); and
4. Platinum Club member (winners that maintain Best Managed status for a minimum of six consecutive years).

Program sponsors are Deloitte, CIBC, National Post, Queen's School of Business and MacKay CEO Forums. To learn more, visit www.bestmanagedcompanies.ca.

About Deslaurier Custom Cabinets

In business for more than 35 years, Deslaurier is a leader in designing, manufacturing, installing and servicing custom cabinetry in Ottawa and Renfrew, and throughout Ontario. Deslaurier manufactures all of its cabinetry locally at their state-of-the-art facility in Renfrew, ensuring that each piece is crafted to the highest quality standards and completed when promised. Committed to protecting the environment, the company maintains a green manufacturing facility and uses top-grade local woods to deliver sustainable products. All of Deslaurier’s work is backed by a 20-year warranty. To learn more, visit www.deslaurier.ca.

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Media contact:

Denis Staples, President
Deslaurier Custom Cabinets
(613) 596-5155
denis@deslaurier.ca