About Dufresne | Timeline
Dufresne Furniture & Appliances' success can be attributed to staff, presentation of home furnishings, valued partnerships with suppliers, operational expertise, and a love for the business, with all these efforts focused on servicing the valued customers with quality furniture, appliances, and electronics.
Mark Dufresne CEO
1986
- Dufresne Furniture & Appliances, the largest furniture retailer in Western Canada begins when Doug and Eva Dufresne open a 5,000 square foot store in Kenora, Ontario.
1993
- Dufresne Furniture & Appliances begins its expansion with the opening of its second location on Nairn Avenue in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
1995
- Dufresne Furniture & Appliances opens a Distribution Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
1996
- Dufresne Furniture & Appliances opens their third location in Brandon, Manitoba, and later, their fourth & largest location on Ellice Avenue in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
1998
- Dufresne moves into rural Manitoba with the opening of its fifth location in Selkirk, Manitoba.
1999
- Dufresne is recognized as one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Private Companies
- Dufresne returns to the Ontario market with the opening of its sixth location in Dryden, Ontario.
2000
- Dufresne opens their seventh location in Swan River, Manitoba.
- Mark Dufresne, CEO of Dufresne is one of 4 finalists for national Entrepreneur of the Year in 2000.
- Dufresne is again recognized as one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Private Companies
2001
- Dufresne opens their eighth location in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba
- Dufresne and The North West Company join forces to provide wider selection of furniture and appliances to residents in remote northern communities.
- Dufresne is again recognized as one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Private Companies
2002
- Dufresne opens their ninth location in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
- Dufresne re-qualifies and is honoured as one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies for 2002.
2003
- Dufresne unveils new retail concept with Grand Opening of a brand new format in Kenora, Ontario where it all began.
- Dufresne is again recognized as one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies for a 5th consecutive year.
2004
- Dufresne is again recognized as one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies for a 6th consecutive year.
2005
- Dufresne wins the 2005 Canadian Home Furnishings Retailer of the Year Award!
- Dufresne is recognized as a Platinum member of the Best Managed Companies program. Platinum status is in recognition of those outstanding companies who have sustained a standard of excellence and leadership in all areas of their business practices, and have qualified in the award program for at least six consecutive years--during some of the toughest and most competitive market conditions.
- Dufresne unveils new retail concept with Grand Re-Opening of the Ellice Avenue store in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
- Dufresne is nominated as a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of the Year® award
2006
- Dufresne is again recognized as a Platinum member of the Best Managed Companies program.
- Dufresne Retail Solutions Group (DRSG) is launched to support independent retailers with education, product and advertising
2007
- Dufresne is again recognized as a Platinum member of the Best Managed Companies program.
- DRSG grows to 39 members coast to coast across Canada.
2008
- Dufresne is again recognized as a Platinum member of the Best Managed Companies program. This marks our 9th consecutive year!
- DRSG grows to 47 members coast to coast across Canada.
2009
- Dufresne is again recognized as a Platinum member of the Best Managed Companies program. This marks our 10th consecutive year!
- Dufresne Retail Solutions Group grows to 53 members coast to coast across Canada.
- Dufresne moves into Eastern Ontario with the opening of 2 locations in Ottawa.
2010
- Dufresne is again recognized as a Platinum member of the Best Managed Companies program. This marks our 11th consecutive year!
- Dufresne Retail Solutions Group grows to 67 members coast to coast across Canada.
- Dufresne re-opens Selkirk location after fire forces store to be closed for seven weeks.
2011
- 2011 marks our 12th consecutive year of being recognized as a Platinum member of the Best Managed Companies program.
- Dufresne celebrates our 25th Anniversary!
- $1 Million Charity Challenged is launched.
