Pajar Canada has signed a multi-year distribution agreement with the Dutch-based Bos Group, covering most of the Western European countries, starting with the autumn/winter 2016/17 season. At the same time, Pajar Canada has agreed to distribute the Bos Group's Maruti line of men's and women's shoes through its own sales network in North America.
The contract signed with Ruben Bos, the chief executive of the Dutch group, also covers the growing lines of licensed Pajar Canada outerwear, bags and accessories that have been developed for the past three years under the management of the Canadian company's CEO, Jacques “Jacky” Golbert.
The iconic Canadian brand, known for its fashion performance boots for the colder climates, introduced a few years ago a line of rain boots to boost its spring/summer offerings. It is now launching an all-year-round collection of sneakers, made in Portugal.
Based in Montreal, Pajar Canada still employs about 60 workers at its local factory to manufacture about 300 pairs a day of top-end waterproof winter boots, which represents its luxury heritage shearling collection. The more affordable styles from its sports division are produced at ten factories in Eastern Europe and the Far East.
Pajar Canada has been growing substantially during the last years, and its products are now sold in 40 countries around the world, including of home market and the U.S. Since 2012, the company's sales have grown from the equivalent of US$17 million to $65 million, with those generated from apparel rising from $2 million to $15 million. About 30 percent of the turnover is in Canada and 50 percent in the U.S., but the brand has been expanding rapidly in other parts of the world, notably in Asia.
The brand has a strong presence in in South Korea through the large LG Fashion group, which has opened 35 Pajar shop-in-shops in the country. In Russia, the brand is working through a distribution network of Red Fox, a former distributor of Canada Goose.
Pajar was founded in 1963 by Paul Golbert, whose family had been involved in shoemaking in France since the 1920s. He left Paris in the late ‘fifties and emigrated to Canada. He subsequently created the Pajar brand, using the first names of the members of his family who were involved with him in the business: PA for Paul, JA for Jacques and R for Rachel.
Jacky Golbert, who became the CEO 23 years ago at the age of 40, is the son of Paul and Rachel Golbert. He has three children who are all graduated from the Arsutoria shoe design school in Milan: Michel, 35; Elise, 33; and David, 30. They are all involved with the company, taking care of design, sales and marketing, allowing their father to be more involved in international expansion and new licensing opportunities.
