Conseil québécois du commerce de détail

What Conseil québécois du commerce de détail does

Conseil québécois du commerce de détail (CQCD), founded in 1978 and headquartered in Montreal, is the primary trade association representing Quebec's retail sector. The organization serves as the recognized voice for the great majority of Quebec's 32,000+ retail and distribution enterprises, ranging from small independents (80% of establishments have fewer than 20 employees) to large national and international chains. Its core membership is composed of Quebec-based retailers, with a horizontal segmentation approach spanning SME retailers (primary), large retail enterprises, and the sector as a whole.

CQCD's product surface spans three operational pillars. First, digital platforms including Envoi Québec, a 2020-launched parcel-shipping platform built with technology partner Machool that aggregates 20+ carriers and offers members up to 35% discounted rates, and Plateforme Rebond, a B2B marketplace for reselling unsold inventory aligned with circular economy objectives. Second, business intelligence products including the Baromètre CQCD, a recurring consumer survey of 1,000+ Quebecers developed with ORAMA Marketing, and the annual Bilan et perspectives dans le commerce de détail co-produced with Altus Group. Third, advisory and event programs including the flagship HOP! Le Sommet du commerce de détail (32nd edition in 2026), PME en mouvement coaching for Montreal-area retailers, Accompagnement RH, La Grande tournée du détail, and publication products such as the HR Best Practices Guide ($34.99), Francization Guide (free, 2023 edition), and themed Barometer editions ($134.99).

CQCD's revenue model combines recurring membership dues, event ticket sales and sponsorships, one-time publication sales, and program delivery (some government-supported). The organization is a private non-profit membership-based association with no parent company, no funding rounds disclosed, and a small team of approximately 10 staff. Government advocacy, sector research, and digital member tools form the core value proposition, with no disclosed AI/ML proprietary capability and no international expansion beyond Quebec.

Name

Conseil québécois du commerce de détail

Legal name

Conseil québécois du commerce de détail

Website

https://cqcd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Conseil québécois du commerce de détail is the Montreal-based trade association representing Quebec's 32,000+ retail enterprises through advocacy, the Envoi Québec shipping platform, Plateforme Rebond resale marketplace, the Barometer consumer survey, and the annual HOP! retail summit.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Montréal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: CQCD operates as a membership-based association. Members gain access to advocacy, events, programs, publications, and member-only resources including the full Barometer study.
2. Publication sales: CQCD sells research publications through its online shop: the Francization Guide (free), HR Best Practices Guide ($34.99), CQCD Barometer editions ($134.99), and the annual Retail Review and Outlook study ($299).
3. Event tickets and sponsorships: Revenue generated from ticket sales for flagship events (HOP! Le Sommet du commerce de détail, logistics tours, webinars, training workshops) and partnership/sponsorship packages sold to exhibitors and supporters.
4. Program delivery: CQCD delivers government-supported or funded programs such as PME en mouvement (coaching for Montreal retailers) and Accompagnement RH, which may involve public funding or participant fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Conseil québécois du commerce de détail (CQCD) is a Quebec retail trade association that represents retail businesses through advocacy, research, training, events, and member tools. It operates digital platforms (Envoi Québec for shipping optimization, Rebond for B2B resale of unsold inventory), publishes consumer intelligence (Baromètre CQCD) and sector studies, and runs programs like PME en mouvement coaching and the HOP! annual retail summit.

Product overview

The Conseil québécois du commerce de détail (CQCD) is a retail industry association representing Quebec retailers. Its product portfolio centers on three core service pillars: (1) digital platforms including Envoi Québec for shipping optimization across 20+ carriers and Plateforme Rebond for B2B resale of unsold inventory; (2) business intelligence through the CQCD Barometer with ORAMA Marketing and annual sector reports with Altus Group; and (3) professional development including publications such as HR best practices guides and francization guides, plus programs like PME en mouvement coaching and the HOP! annual retail summit now in its 32nd edition. The organization also operates member events, webinars, and a podcast space for retailers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Envoi Québec: An online platform launched in 2020 to help retailers manage and optimize parcel delivery, offering discounted shipping rates through 20+ carriers.
• Plateforme Rebond
• HOP! Le Sommet du commerce de détail
• Baromètre CQCD

Products and services

• Envoi Québec An online shipping platform that helps Quebec retailers manage and optimize parcel delivery by aggregating over 20 carrier services on a single platform with discounted rates up to 35% cheaper, including a sustainable delivery option and loyalty program.
• Plateforme Rebond A B2B online platform dedicated to giving unsold inventory a second life, connecting Quebec merchants with businesses looking to purchase inventory at advantageous prices while contributing to waste reduction and circular economy.
• Baromètre CQCD Business intelligence tool developed in collaboration with ORAMA Marketing, providing regular surveys monitoring evolving consumer trends among over 1,000 Quebecers, with fixed indicators and thematic reports for in-depth analysis. Sold at $134.99 per edition.
• HOP! Le Sommet du commerce de détail Quebec's premier retail summit event, now in its 32nd edition (2026), bringing together retail industry professionals for networking, learning, and insights on retail trends and best practices.
• Bilan et perspectives dans le commerce de détail Annual comprehensive study published in collaboration with Altus Group, providing macroeconomic overview, retail sector analysis, consumer price index evolution, consumer profile, and outlook for the coming year. Sold at $299 per study.
• Guide des meilleures pratiques en ressources humaines pour les commerces 29-page HR guide developed by human resources experts covering recruitment, employee onboarding, policies, occupational health and safety, and employee management for retailers. Sold at $34.99 per guide.
• Guide de francisation dans le commerce de détail Francization guide supporting businesses in promoting and using quality French, containing contextual and practical information including checklists on employer and business owner obligations. Revised 2023 edition.
• Accompagnement RH HR support program providing advisory services to help retailers optimize their human resources management.
• PME en mouvement Coaching program offering up to 15 hours of remote support from experienced professionals to help retail businesses in the Ville de Montréal agglomeration address challenges in commercial leases, sustainable development, HR, press relations, digital support, and logistics.
• La Grande tournée du détail Initiative where CQCD and partners traveled across Quebec provinces in a chartered bus to promote retail, meet retailers and producers, and encourage local purchasing.

Quantifiable outcome

• Envoi Québec delivers shipping rates up to 35% cheaper than standard market rates through 20+ carrier integration.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Anik Pelletier (francization specialist)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Anik Pelletier, a francization specialist offering support services to companies, co-authored the CQCD Francization Guide for retail businesses (revised 2023 edition). She contributed practical content and checklists on employer obligations under Quebec's French language regulations.
• Lara Daniel / LDALÉGAL Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Me Lara Daniel, a lawyer specializing in francization and intellectual property at LDALÉGAL Inc., co-authored the CQCD Francization Guide, contributing legal expertise on compliance obligations for retail business owners and employers in Quebec.
• MachoolcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2020Machool is CQCD's technology partner for the Envoi Québec logistics platform, launched in 2020. Machool developed and operates the platform that enables Quebec retailers to access discounted shipping rates from 20+ carriers, with features including a centralized dashboard, carrier account imports, and loyalty programs. The partnership is fundamental to CQCD's service offering for SME members.
• ORAMA MarketingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerORAMA Marketing collaborates with CQCD to produce the CQCD Barometer, a semi-annual business intelligence survey of over 1,000 Quebec consumers. ORAMA provides survey design, data collection, and strategic analysis expertise, while CQCD provides sector context and distributes findings to members. The Barometer is a flagship CQCD publication produced 6 times per year.
• Altus GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Altus Group collaborates with CQCD on the annual 'Review and Outlook of the Retail Sector' study, providing macroeconomic data and analytical expertise. The publication covers macroeconomic overview, retail sector performance, Quebec CPI evolution, consumer profile, and annual outlook for Quebec and Canada.
• Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe OQLF provided financial contribution to the production of the CQCD Francization Guide and also offers the 'Mémo, mon assistant pour la francisation' service for companies with fewer than 50 employees, complementing CQCD's francization support resources.
• Google MontrealminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGoogle Montreal is an event partner for CQCD's 'L'IA générative : Redéfinir l'expérience client et la performance en détail' event scheduled for September 23, 2026 — an exclusive warehouse visit event featuring generative AI content for retail professionals.
• Groupe MorneauminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGroupe Morneau is the host partner for CQCD's Logistics Tour scheduled for October 22, 2026. CQCD members tour the Groupe Morneau warehouse as part of the educational logistics tour program.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Chambre de commerce du Montréal métropolitain (CCMM): Montreal metropolitan chamber of commerce. Comparable to CQCD in delivering Quebec/Montreal-based business advocacy, events, and member programs, though not retail-specific.
• British Retail Consortium (BRC): The UK retail trade association. Comparable to CQCD as a country/region-specific retail body providing advocacy, research, and member services, but serving the UK market instead of Quebec.
• Retail NZ: New Zealand's retail industry association. Comparable to CQCD as a geographically focused retail advocacy and member-services body, with similar SME-centric membership dynamics in a different market.
• Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec (FCCQ): Provincial federation of Quebec chambers of commerce. Comparable to CQCD as a Quebec-based business advocacy and member-services organization, but with broader cross-sector scope rather than retail specialization.
• Conseil du patronat du Québec (CPQ): Quebec employers' council representing a broad base of Quebec businesses. Comparable to CQCD in policy advocacy and member representation within Quebec, but focused on employer/labor issues across industries rather than retail specifically.

Direct peers

• American Booksellers Association (ABA): US-based trade association for independent bookstores. Comparable to CQCD in operating as a sector-specific association providing advocacy, education, publications, and events to a base of predominantly small independent retailers.
• Retail Council of Canada: National trade association representing retailers across Canada. Directly comparable to CQCD as a retail-sector advocacy, research, and member-services body, though operating at the pan-Canadian level rather than Quebec-only.
• Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB): Canada's largest association of small and medium-sized businesses, including a large retail membership. Comparable to CQCD in SME-focused advocacy, research publications, and member service delivery, with overlapping Quebec presence.

Broad incumbents

• National Retail Federation (NRF): The largest retail trade association in the world, based in the US. Comparable to CQCD in core mandate — advocacy, research, events (e.g., NRF Big Show) — but operates at global scale and across the full retail spectrum.

Others

• Machool: Quebec-based shipping technology provider and CQCD's core technology partner behind Envoi Québec. Relevant as the infrastructure provider enabling CQCD's logistics platform offering to members.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CQCD_Express
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCgtK649GUEH9F7Qu0Z2c93g
• Facebookfacebook.com/cqcd.org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cqcd-detaillants
• Instagraminstagram.com/cqcd_detaillants

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Conseil québécois du commerce de détail