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History of Jacques Despars: From Yesterday to Today

History of Jacques Despars

Many women have long believed Jacques Despars to be European, but he was in fact born in Montreal from a long line of hairdressers.

AN ARTIST’S NAME

After graduating at the top of his class, young Despars began working at Bernard’s salon on Sainte-Catherine Street frequented by many prominent women such as Michelle Tisseyre, Clairette, Estelle Caron and Margot Lefebvre. However, only a handful knows that he changed his name from Pierre to Jacques because another hairdresser at the salon was already named Pierre.

THE BIRTH OF THE JACQUES DESPARS BRAND

After acquiring a salon in Montreal, it was finally in Trois-Rivières that Jacques Despars opened the first salon of the chain that bears his name in 1971. Although it was closed later on, this first salon helped establish the Jacques Despars brand name. Shortly afterwards, Jacques Despars opened salons in Ottawa, Shawinigan, Quebec and Montreal. In 2006, Jacques Despars gradually retired, leaving the family business to his son Patrice who had been working at his side since 1990. Patrice became president of the company when his father died in 2008.

A SUCCESSOR WHO KNOWS HOW TO INNOVATE

As an experienced and creative businessman as well as a people person, Patrice Despars was no stranger to the tremendous potential of the Jacques Despars brand. A veteran strategist, he updated the concept of the Jacques Despars development centers created by his father and launched Jacques Despars boutiques in shopping centers in Greater Montreal, Quebec City and Chicoutimi. “Inspired by the changing habits of women who once went to the hairdresser every week, Jacques Despars instead brought to their homes a range of quality products for the care and beauty of hair, a perfect solution for women who now prefer to visit the salon every four to six weeks,” explains Patrice Despars.


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