Estrie Aide

What Estrie Aide does

Estrie Aide is a non-profit social economy organization (OBNL) founded in 1997 and headquartered in Sherbrooke, Quebec, that operates a vertically integrated second-hand goods redistribution network across three physical sites: the Ressourcerie retail store at 345 rue Wellington Sud, the Centre de dons donation center at 356 rue Wellington Sud (which operates Quebec's only dedicated clothing sorting line), and the La Collection Collective curated boutique at 5087 boul. Bourque. The organization valorizes approximately 700,000 donated articles per year — including 225 tonnes of clothing and 82 tonnes of recycled metal — sourced through community drop-off, regional donation boxes, and a home collection service (Collecte à domicile), and resells them at modest prices to a base of more than 285,000 annual customers, with daily foot traffic of 500 to 1,000 visitors at the Ressourcerie.

The business is funded through a hybrid model combining retail sales revenue, monetary donations processed via the Zeffy platform, and grants/subsidies from a network of more than 20 financial partners including Ville de Sherbrooke, Desjardins, Fonds de solidarité FTQ, Investissement Québec, Gouvernement du Québec, and Fiducie du Chantier de l'économie sociale. The organization reinvests proceeds into community programs — Dépannage (emergency assistance), RPA (social integration referral), ImmoRecycle (construction material recycling), and Boomerang 50 (senior assistance) — and seasonal events (Foire aux vélos, J'te donne ma chemise, Défilé du Père Noël), operationalized by 62 employees, 114 volunteers, 14 interns, and 21 PAAS Action and Équijustice workers.

The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer physical retail complemented by organic social channels (Facebook 10,213 followers, Instagram, LinkedIn), with a daily 15% discount for seniors and students. The organization is governed by an independent board led by President Mario Lalonde, with operational leadership under General Director Sandra Morin, HR Director Isabelle Clément, and Administrative and Financial Manager Caroline De Francesco. No technology platform, proprietary software, AI/ML capability, or external investor ownership is disclosed; operations depend on donated inventory, volunteer labor, and institutional partnerships rather than technology differentiation.

Name

Estrie Aide

Legal name

Estrie Aide Inc.

Website

https://estrieaide.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Estrie Aide is a Sherbrook-based non-profit social economy organization founded in 1997 that collects, sorts, and resells donated clothing, furniture, and household goods through three retail sites and reinvests proceeds into community assistance and environmental programs for low-income residents of the Estrie region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Economy Thrift Retail

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Financial Assistance & Benefits Navigation Services (BPAGAEAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Senior/Accessibility Concierge & Companion Errands (HSACAIAO)

Keywords

• Thrift retail
• Second-hand goods
• Social economy
• Community programs
• Donation center

Headquarters

HQ city

Sherbrooke

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Retail sales of second-hand goods: Revenue generated from selling donated clothing, furniture, household items, and various articles at affordable prices in the ressourcerie. The organization reinvests profits directly into the community through social, economic, and environmental programs.
2. Monetary donations: Accepts monetary donations through Zeffy online platform to support the organization's mission and programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Estrie Aide is a non-profit social economy organization that collects donated second-hand goods, sorts and processes them at its dedicated donation facility and unique Quebec clothing sorting line, and resells them through its Ressourcerie thrift store and La Collection Collective boutique at affordable prices. Alongside retail, it operates community social integration programs including Dépannage emergency assistance, RPA social and professional referral, Boomerang 50 senior support, and ImmoRecycle construction material recycling, as well as ancillary services such as La Vélotrie bicycle repair and home donation collection.

Product overview

Estrie Aide operates as a non-profit social economy organization (OBNL) offering a network of second-hand retail and community services. The core offerings include the Ressourcerie (main second-hand store with diverse categories like clothing, furniture, electronics, and books), the Centre de dons (donation center with a unique clothing sorting line), and La Collection Collective (a curated boutique). Supporting services include La Vélotrie (bicycle repair shop), home collection, and donation boxes. The organization runs social programs including Dépannage (emergency assistance), RPA (social integration referral), ImmoRecycle (construction material recycling), and Boomerang 50 (senior assistance). Seasonal events include the Foire aux vélos, clothing drives like J'te donne ma chemise and Bas orphelins, and community celebrations such as the Défilé du Père Noël and Match des toutous. All operations serve the three-part mission of helping humans, strengthening community, and protecting the environment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• La Collection Collective: A distinct retail location at 5087 boul. Bourque, Sherbrooke, offering curated second-hand items at affordable prices.

Products and services

• Ressourcerie

Quantifiable outcome

• 285,000+ customers served annually reducing environmental impact
• +4 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Centraide EstriecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Way organization in Estrie supporting community initiatives and social programs.
• Université de SherbrookecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor regional university partnership for student involvement and academic collaboration.
• Kruger RecyclagemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecycling company partnership for environmental programs and waste diversion.
• Moisson EstriemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood bank partnership for community support programs.
• Carrefour de l'EstriemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor retail partner.
• Comptoir Familial de SherbrookemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for family services.
• Partage St-FrançoismajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity food sharing organization.
• Caro et GuayminorOthersLocal business partner.
• Laiterie de CoaticookminorOthersLocal dairy company partner.
• VélomaniaminorOthersBike shop partnership for La Vélotrie program.
• MomosportsminorOthersSports retailer partnership.
• SoltiminorOthersLocal business partner.
• LaveryminorOthersLaw firm partnership.
• BMR AnctilminorOthersBuilding materials retailer partnership (multiple locations).
• Défi PolyteckminorOthersPolytechnic challenge organization partnership.
• Royaume LuminaireminorOthersLighting retailer partnership.
• AtmosphereminorOthersOutdoor gear retailer partnership.
• U de SherbrookecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Sherbrooke academic partnership with multiple programs.
• Université Bishop'smajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBishop's University academic partnership.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• La Maison du Père: Montreal-based nonprofit providing shelter, social integration, and material assistance to vulnerable populations; comparable in social-economy mission but with a different geographic footprint.

Direct peers

• EMMAUS International: International solidarity-based movement that funds anti-poverty programs through reuse, resale, and recycling activities, structurally comparable to Estrie Aide's three-pillar social economy approach.
• Société Saint-Vincent-de-Paul (Québec): Catholic charitable organization operating thrift stores across Quebec that fund direct social assistance to families in need, a closely aligned nonprofit resale model.
• Goodwill Industries of Canada: National social enterprise operating thrift stores whose proceeds fund job training and community programs, closely mirroring Estrie Aide's resale-funded social mission model.
• Renaissance: Quebec-based social economy nonprofit operating a chain of ressourceries and community programs with the same second-hand retail, social integration, and circular-economy mission as Estrie Aide.
• Salvation Army Thrift Stores (Canada): Charitable thrift retail chain in Canada that funds social services through donated-goods resale, directly comparable in business model and beneficiary mission to Estrie Aide.
• Habitat for Humanity ReStores (Canada): Reuse retail operation selling donated furniture, appliances, and building materials to fund affordable housing; directly analogous to Estrie Aide's ImmoRecycle and ressourcerie model.

Broad incumbents

• Value Village: Largest North American for-profit thrift chain operating in the same second-hand retail category; serves as a broader market incumbent that competes for both donations and customers.

Others

• Moisson Estrie: Regional food bank in the same Estrie geography and an existing operational partner of Estrie Aide; adjacent in the social safety-net ecosystem rather than a direct resale competitor.
• Centraide Estrie: Regional United Way fundraising body and Estrie Aide financial partner; comparable in nonprofit community-fundraising function but not in retail or reuse operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/estrieaideofficiel
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/estrie-aide-officiel
• Instagraminstagram.com/estrie.aide

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Estrie Aide