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VIVERE LTD.

www.vivereltd.com

RETAIL

VIVERE LTD. Inspiring A Love of Outdoor Living

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instantly taken with the relaxed, outdoor feel-

ings the beautiful hammock inspired and had

the idea to import the hammocks from Mexico

to sell in Canada. He returned home to finish

his MBA, but a few years later Stoter returned

to Mexico looking for suppliers. While there, he

met an Australian businessman who convinced

him to import hammocks from Brazil instead.

In 2004, Stoter founded as Hammock

Village (later rebranded as Vivere). His first large

customer was Home Hardware and other retail-

ers that sold gardening equipment, gifts, and

outdoor patio furniture.

As years passed, the company’s sales dou-

bled and Stoter wrestled with the best next step

for the business. He considered diversifying

by adding more outdoor living categories or

expanding the hammock line and finding new

markets outside Canada. Ultimately, he chose

the latter and it turned out to be a good choice.

The company expanded into the United

States in 2012 and experienced exponential

levels of growth, paving the way for greater

international expansion. In 2015, the company

launched in Europe with similar levels of suc-

cess. With a significant amount of online sales,

the company is currently setting up partnerships

in Japan, mainland China and South Korea. In

addition, from its European base, the com-

pany is reaching out to interested parties in the

Middle East and parts of Africa.

“The business has kind of gone from this

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People Count.

Based in Guelph, Ontario, Vivere Ltd. is an outdoor living company that sells a variety of hammocks, stands and accessories. Since 2004, the company has grown from a small Canadian operation that started in a house with rooms full of hammocks to a global company known for unique designs. The company’s primary product offering is great quality hammocks and accessories in fresh contemporary designs, and vibrant exclusive colours.

CREATING A NEEDED and necessary reprieve

from hectic modern living, Vivere strives to

promote leisure and a calm, balanced lifestyle.

From coast to coast, whether backyard, balcony

or backpacking, Vivere encourages a passion for

the outdoors, rest and relaxation. This month

Founder and CEO Jason Stoter spoke with The

Canadian Business Journal about the hammock

supplier’s interesting history, growth and commit-

ment to customer service and niche products that

give it a competitive edge over the competition.

Born on a Beach in MexicoIn 2002, while vacationing on a beach in

Mexico, Stoter was approached by a man sell-

ing hammocks and bought one for $20. He was

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little Canadian company that started in a house

with three bedrooms full of hammocks to

something very global with many employees

around the world,” Stoter says. “Lots of change,

lots of growth, lots of excitement. It’s been a

roller coaster ride, but the roller coaster doesn’t

go down very often. It continues to climb.”

Over the years, Vivere has experienced a

lot of popularity online. In 2013, the company

became the best-selling hammock combo

supplier on Amazon.com and has consistently

received positive reviews via the online ser-

vice. In the social media age, Stoter stresses the

importance of quality products and excellent

service, because the customer has the power

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to call out bad business practices online. As a

result, for its large international customer, Stoter

is the wholesaler but the company continues

to handle quality control issues, testing and

regulatory issues that are specific to particular

markets.

The Wow FactorVivere sells a variety of traditional hammocks,

stands, and outdoor accessories but their

unique designs, such as the Original Dream

Chair and hammock combos, make up almost

80% of their sales. In fact, offering products that

are unique to the market is what continues to

make Vivere the successful company it is today.

Vivere ranked 27th on the 2014 PROFIT 500 list

of fastest-growing companies in Canada.

“We are quite aggressive in pursing new prod-

ucts that are not in the market, so niche items and

products that the consumer can say: ‘Oh wow!’”

Stoter explains. “We try to wow the consumer each

year. It’s difficult and hard work to find new prod-

ucts each year, but we work really, really hard.”

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Exceptional customer service is a core

principle. “Our goal is to get the product in the

hands of the consumer at the most afford-

able price and give them 110% support at the

customer-service level,” he adds. “I think taking

good care of your customer is really important

today, because the consumer will hold you

accountable. There’s the web and there’s social

media. If you are not taking care of the con-

sumer, they will call you out on it.”

While Stoter says the company’s success

has a lot to do with hiring hardworking team

members who care about the business, there

are a couple other business secrets he doesn’t

mind sharing. The first is to only do a couple of

things, but “essentially be the best in the world

at those things.” He also suggests offering con-

sumers a product or service that is different and

has more value than the competition. “If it is

not different, it is going to be very difficult to be

successful,” he remarks. CBJ

www.vivereltd.com

AS SEEN IN THE MARCH 2016 ISSUE OF THE CANADIAN BUSINESS JOURNAL

WWW.CBJ.CA

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