Rideau (company)

Rideau Recognition, Inc

Type	Private
Industry	Human resources outsourcing
Founded	1912
Headquarters	Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Services	Corporate recognition programs
Website	www.Rideau.com

Rideau (/ˈriːdoʊ/ REE-doh; French pronunciation: ​[ʁido]) is a private, Canada-based company that provides corporate and governmental recognition programs and products. Founded in 1912 as the Stephenson Company, the company has undergone several buyouts and ventures in different geographical markets. Rideau was the first Canadian company to produce the Order of Canada, the country's highest civilian decoration, as well as the first Canadian company to be granted its own Coat of Arms by The Heraldic Authority.

History

Rideau Hall, the company's namesake

Growth and transition

In 1912 the Stephenson Company, situated on Saint-Maurice Street in old Montreal, began as a producer of emblematic jewelry for associations such as the Masons, the Knights of Columbus, and other organizations. During World Wars I and II, the company produced military insignia for the armed forces.^[1] However, in the mid 50’s the company's shares were sold to a U.S.-based company that moved Stephenson Company's headquarters to Montreal North. The company was later sold back to two Montrealers who had numerous business interests but nevertheless, Stephenson went into a steady state of decline.

By 1968, the company was almost bankrupt and only had a staff of five. In that same year, it was purchased by Ed and Phyllis Hart.^[1] Its largest customer was Avon Cosmetics, which used the company's awards to incentivize its sales force. In the 70's Avon began selling Stephenson's jewelry door-to-door with its traditional cosmetics, which proved successful and helped the business to flourish.^[2] In 1974, the Harts partnered with Maurice Bradden of D’Orlan Jeweler’s, helping to launch its manufacturing capabilities on the European continent in the Republic of Ireland. The facility produced Nina Ricci fashion jewelry in the European Common Market. Despite a major change in company leadership in 1978—the Harts selling the operation to their four children and family friend—^[1] the company continued to expand in Europe, opening a subsidiary in the United Kingdom called The Jeweller’s Guild in 1979. This branch of the company sold fashion jewelry by mail order. In 1980 other subsidiaries were set up in France, Holland and Germany. They too sold fashion jewelry by mail order. Stephenson and its subsidiary companies did well until 1982, when the company's own over-expansion and the recession of 1982 forced the company to change.^[2]

Rideau was the first Canadian company to produce the Order of Canada, the country's highest civilian decoration.

In 1983, the newly restructured company started producing the Order of Canada, the country's highest civilian decoration,^[1] which up until that time had been produced in England by crown jeweler Garrards of London.^[3] At the suggestion of Bruce Beatty, the chief designer of the Canadian Honours System, the owners renamed the company Rideau to reflect their service the Governor General of Canada, who resides in Rideau Hall in Ottawa.^[4]

Business under the Rideau name

Towards the end of the 80’s promotional products and fashion jewelry were increasingly being off-shored to the Far East, so the company began focusing on corporate recognition programs. It began providing fully outsourced recognition programs to RBC, Scotiabank, BMO, Molson, Alcan, Canadian Pacific, and the Government of Canada.^[5] In 1991, Rideau became the first Canadian company to be granted its own Coat of Arms by The Heraldic Authority, bearing the Latin motto Opus excellentiae ("Impressions of excellence").^[1]

In the last decade, Rideau has engaged in different joint-venture opportunities. In 1998 Rideau launched Yellowbox, a dot com subsidiary designed to help charities through online gift sales; however, Yellowbox dissolved a few years later.^[1] In 2005, Rideau formed an agreement with Ceridian, a U.S.-based human resources outsourcing firm, to deliver reward and retention programs to its clients.^[6] Rideau is also a sponsor of Recognition Professionals International.^[7]

Acquisitions and Alliances

In April 2006, Rideau announced their acquisition of Recognition Management Institute (RMI), a London, Ontario based consulting organization specializing in training managers how to recognize and retain top employers. ^[8]

In August 2015, Rideau executed a definitive asset purchase agreement with Birks Group, Inc. whereby Birks Group sold its corporate sales division, also known as "Birks Business" to Rideau for CAD $5.625 million (approximately USD $4.3 million.^[9]

Rebranding

In March 2017, Rideau underwent a rebranding which included a new logo, website, corporate signature and colors and a new Vistance platform and proprietary score called Recognition Quotient (RQ). ^[10]

Vistance

Vistance is a division of Rideau Recognition Solutions. Vistance Learning is a prescriptive online assessment and learning management system to help leaders improve their organization's Key Performance Indicators (KPI) through critical development, employee recognition and engagement skills.

The initial concept for Vistance was created in 2007 from a think tank of organizational psychologists and recognition experts hired by Rideau Recognition Solutions to determine whether employee recognition has a measurable impact on business outcomes..^[11]

Environmental Awareness

Rideau is the first recognition firm to be certified as Carbon Neutral. The firm has been a participant and stakeholder to the United Nations Global Compact (UNCG) since 2005. Rideau has helped plant over 100,000 native trees and was the recipient of the Eterne Award in 2015. ^[12]This award is given to companies who support Tree Canada and exemplify the best in environmental stewardship. ^[13]

References

External links

• Official site