Association québécoise de la quincaillerie et des matériaux de construction

What Association québécoise de la quincaillerie et des matériaux de construction does

AQMAT (Association québécoise de la quincaillerie et des matériaux de construction) is a non-profit trade association founded on June 15, 1940 in Montreal, Quebec, that serves as the representative body for Quebec's hardware and residential building materials industry. The association aggregates more than 1,000 member companies spanning two categories — Retailers (quincailleries, centres de rénovation, specialty stores) and Suppliers (manufacturers, distributors, buying groups, service firms) — collectively representing 55,000+ employees, 20M+ square feet of retail space, and $25B CAD in combined revenue. AQMAT is governed democratically through member-elected boards and uses sector committees to shape positions filed with Quebec regulatory authorities.

The association operates a multi-product platform rather than a single service. Its core offerings include the quarterly printed Magazine AQMAT, the weekly AQMAT Hebdo newsletter, the AQMAT en direct weekly live broadcast, and the Collège AQMAT online certification platform delivering industry-specific training in consultative selling, paint and stain, pesticides, materials, and customer experience. Member-only intelligence tools include P\text{e}riscope (predictive market dashboard) and Portrait de famille (market-share mapping between purchasing groups). AQMAT also operates Bien fait ici, a Canadian-made product certification program founded in 2018, and runs signature events including the Congrès des Décideurs, Gala Reconnaissance, Concours Innovation, golf tournaments, and the Batimat trade mission to Paris.

AQMAT generates revenue primarily through recurring membership dues across its two member categories, supplemented by advertising and sponsorships from major suppliers (including ABB, CertainTeed, IKO, Goodfellow, Gentek, and others) across Magazine AQMAT, AQMAT Hebdo, AQMAT en direct, and social channels, plus event fees and Collège AQMAT training revenue. Members also access negotiated economic benefits on card payments, insurance, and workplace safety services. The organization employs approximately 28 staff at its Montreal headquarters under President Richard Darveau and Deputy Executive Director Isabelle Picard, and operates exclusively within the Quebec market.

Name

Association québécoise de la quincaillerie et des matériaux de construction

Legal name

Association québécoise de la quincaillerie et des matériaux de construction

Website

https://aqmat.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1940

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AQMAT is a Quebec-based non-profit trade association founded in 1940 that represents over 1,000 hardware and residential building materials retailers and suppliers through publications, professional training, market intelligence tools, certification programs, and industry events.

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

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership dues: Annual membership fees from over 1,000 member companies across two categories: Retailers (quincailleries, centres de rénovation, specialty stores) and Suppliers (manufacturers, distributors, buying groups, service firms). Members receive quarterly Magazine AQMAT, weekly AQMAT Hebdo newsletter, access to Collège AQMAT training, market intelligence tools (Périscope, Portrait de famille), economic benefits through partner firms, and participation in industry events.
2. Advertising and sponsorship: Revenue from advertisers and sponsors displayed on the AQMAT website, Magazine AQMAT (printed quarterly), AQMAT Hebdo newsletter, AQMAT en direct show, and social media platforms. Major advertisers include ABB, ADS, Avenord, Bailey, CertainTeed, Evolution, Evox, Gentek, Goodfellow, IKO, and Dealer Choice.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AQMAT is a non-profit trade association that defends, informs, trains, animates, and accompanies member companies in Quebec's hardware and residential building materials sector. Its core offerings include the AQMAT Magazine (quarterly print publication), AQMAT Hebdo (weekly electronic newsletter), AQMAT en direct (weekly live broadcast), Collège AQMAT (professional certification training platform), and proprietary market intelligence tools Le Périscope and Portrait de famille. The association also organizes industry events, runs the Bien fait ici product certification program, and negotiates economic benefits for members through partner firms.

Product overview

AQMAT is a trade association serving Quebec's hardware and building materials sector since 1940, offering a unified membership-based platform that combines publications, training, market intelligence, and industry events. The core offering includes AQMAT Magazine (quarterly print), AQMAT Hebdo (weekly newsletter), and AQMAT en direct (live weekly show). The Collège AQMAT provides professional certifications for retail employees, while Le Périscope and Portrait de famille deliver market analytics. The association organizes signature events including the Congrès des Décideurs, Gala Reconnaissance, Innovation Competition, golf tournaments, and Batimat trade missions. Supporting resources include member directory, grant directory, legal monitoring, and the Bien fait ici certification program for Canadian-made products. Members access economic benefits through negotiated rates on card payments, insurance, and commercial real estate services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AQMAT Magazine Quarterly printed magazine delivered to members, covering industry news, trends, and insights for hardware and building materials retailers and manufacturers in Quebec.
• AQMAT Hebdo Weekly electronic newsletter summarizing industry news, delivered to members' email boxes every Saturday.
• AQMAT en direct Weekly live broadcast of 15-30 minutes hosted by Richard Darveau every Wednesday morning at 8:15 AM, featuring expert guests, member executives, and industry opinions; broadcast on LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.
• Collège AQMAT Online professional certification platform offering specialized training programs for hardware store and home improvement centre employees, covering sales consulting, paint and stain, pesticides, materials, customer experience, with upcoming programs in plumbing, electrical, and hardware management.
• Le Périscope Predictive dashboard providing short-term forecasts on market fluctuations for wholesale and retail hardware and building materials markets in Quebec.
• Portrait de famille Detailed market-share mapping tool tracking movement between purchasing groups and banners in the Quebec hardware and building materials industry.
• Bien fait ici Certification program founded by AQMAT in 2018 that certifies hardware items, tools, and building materials made in Canada and compliant with building codes.
• Pause-café Series of four management webinars per year hosted by Isabelle Picard, focused on management issues for AQMAT member companies.
• Congrès des Décideurs Annual decision-makers congress for AQMAT members, alternating with the Recognition Gala each year.
• Gala Reconnaissance AQMAT Annual recognition gala honoring achievements in the Quebec hardware and building materials industry, with the 13th edition scheduled for April 23, 2027.
• Concours Innovation Annual innovation competition encouraging research and development among members in the hardware and building materials sector.
• Mission Batimat Annual or bi-annual trade mission to Paris for the Batimat trade show, allowing members to explore international market opportunities.
• Bottin des membres Up-to-date directory of member companies with detailed contact information and key representatives, shared with dues-paying members.
• Code des meilleures pratiques Code of best practices governing transactions between retailers, distributors, manufacturers, and purchasing groups, developed collaboratively with members.
• Répertoire des subventions Directory of active grant programs for which AQMAT members are eligible.
• Veille juridique et réglementaire Legal and regulatory monitoring service covering government actions and projects affecting the hardware and building materials industry.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000 member companies representing 55,000+ full-time employees across Quebec
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bien fait ici Program PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018The Bien fait ici program, founded by AQMAT in 2018, certifies hardware items, tools, and building materials made in Canada and compliant with building codes. Suppliers may have their products certified through this program, creating a collaborative ecosystem of Canadian-made products for the Quebec hardware and building materials sector.
• Economic Benefits Partner Firms (unnamed)minorOthersApproximately ten partner firms provide negotiated rates to AQMAT members in areas including: credit card processing fees, group insurance, credit insurance, workplace accident prevention (OHS mutual group plan), cybersecurity, and commercial real estate brokerage services.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Atlantic Building Supply Dealers Association (ABSDA): ABSDA represents independent building supply dealers across Atlantic Canada, offering member services analogous to AQMAT's (advocacy, training, networking). It is comparable as a regional counterpart to AQMAT, focused on a different Canadian region but serving the same independent dealer channel with a similar value proposition.

Direct peers

• Canadian Home Builders' Association (CHBA): CHBA is the national trade association for the residential construction industry in Canada, providing advocacy, professional development, and member services to builders and renovators. It is comparable to AQMAT in its association structure, training/certification programs (e.g., R-2000, Net Zero), and government advocacy role, although its members are builders rather than retailers.
• North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA): NRHA is the leading US-based trade association for independent hardware retailers and home improvement channels, publishing Hardware Retailing magazine and running the NRHA Retail Management Study. It is directly comparable to AQMAT in mandate (industry representation, training, market intelligence) and member base (independent hardware retailers), differing primarily by geographic focus (US vs Quebec).
• Corporation des concessionnaires automobiles du Québec (CCAQ): CCAQ is a Quebec trade association representing new-vehicle dealers, providing member services including training, group insurance, advocacy, and economic benefits. It is comparable to AQMAT in its Quebec provincial scope, association revenue model (dues + group benefits + events), and dealer/marchand member base structure.
• Canadian Hardware and Housewares Manufacturers Association (CHHMA): CHHMA is the national trade association representing Canadian manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of hardware and housewares products. It is comparable to AQMAT's supplier-segment mandate and association model (advocacy, trade events, training), though national rather than Quebec-only in scope.
• Conseil québécois du commerce de détail (CQCD): CQCD is the Quebec retail trade association representing merchants across all retail formats. It shares AQMAT's provincial Quebec mandate and trade-association business model (membership dues, advocacy, training, events) but operates across the full retail sector rather than exclusively hardware and building materials.
• Fenestration Canada: Fenestration Canada is the national trade association for the window, door, and skylight industry, representing manufacturers, distributors, and dealers. It is comparable to AQMAT in representing a building products supply chain, providing advocacy and training, though focused on a narrower fenestration subsegment rather than the full hardware and building materials channel.

Others

• Patronage CQCD (formerly ACEF): Patronage CQCD provides group purchasing and economic-benefit services to Quebec retail merchants, including insurance and payment processing rates. It is comparable to AQMAT's economic benefits partner ecosystem and competing association-style benefits structure, though operating on a group-purchasing model rather than full trade association.
• BMR Group (Groupement BMR): BMR is one of Quebec's largest hardware and building materials buying groups/banners, with many independent member retailers. While not a trade association itself, BMR is directly comparable to AQMAT's retailer ecosystem and is featured in Portrait de famille's market-share mapping. It represents the alternative organizing model (banner/buying group) versus AQMAT's association model.
• Lumber Building Materials (LBM) Journal / LBM Expo: LBM Journal is a leading North American trade media brand and event organizer serving the lumber, building materials, and home improvement retail channel. It is comparable to AQMAT's Magazine AQMAT, AQMAT Hebdo, and event portfolio as a content/events franchise serving the same hardware and building materials retail channel, though operating commercially rather than as a non-profit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCFiWzEbzoJ8kUBB4pgtT-uw
• Facebookfacebook.com/100075643737737
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aqmat
• Instagraminstagram.com/aqmat2026

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Association québécoise de la quincaillerie et des matériaux de construction