Growth through merging: Tips from two businesswomen

Thinking of expanding? Merging could be an option. Discover the history of Origine and its co-founders' tips on how to successfully navigate this process.

The birth of Origine

Origine is an innovative platform that showcases agriculture and food businesses. It allows people with an interest in homegrown Quebec products to sign up for farm activities, buy local products and discover Quebec's agri-food sector through inspiring articles, videos and podcasts.

The company is led by Safia Barrou and Alyssa Martone Martel. Safia owns the farm Au Gîte des Oies [in French only] and also runs an agri-food media outlet. Alyssa organizes agritourism outings. At first, the idea of merging never crossed their minds.

From collaborating to merging

Safia approached Alyssa with the idea to be not just associates but partners. “Alyssa was doing what we wanted to do, and I've always thought that if you have more people, you can bake a bigger pie, and then everyone can have a bigger piece of that pie,” says Safia.

The connections seemed obvious. The women found they had similar values, the same customers and complementary offerings.

They collaborated first by exchanging ideas, forming various partnerships and later by sharing workspace. Three years later, they decided to merge. “When it came time to launch the web store, it no longer made sense to stay separate,” explains Alyssa. “We were constantly exchanging invoices and explaining who owned what. Merging would also allow us to save on legal and accounting fees,” she says. They merged all their activities except for Safia's farm and consulting services.

Together, we not only go further, we go faster!The results have been extremely positive. The beaming smiles on both women's faces speak volumes. “This merger has allowed us to move beyond mere survival,” says Safia. “We achieved our goals much faster than expected. Together, we not only go further, we go faster! It's definitely more exciting,” she says.

But their success doesn't stop there. This project marks the start of an expansion that, according to the two business owners, will include the opening of several other brick-and-mortar shops.

Five tips for a successful merger

1. Know yourself

Combining your resources and skills can create a unique dynamic, expanding your range of services and opening new markets. “You need to know your strengths and weaknesses to know what will work well together,” says Alyssa.

2. Identify your synergies

How will the strengths of the two partners drive the business forward? At Origine, Alyssa brings her expertise in organizing activities to the partnership, while Safia brings her marketing know-how. “Safia is always full of ideas,” says Alyssa. Safia adds: “Alyssa is the one who sits down and takes the time to analyze and consider the ideas.”

3. Take your time

Building trust takes patience. “We took the time to listen to the little voice in our heads until we eventually felt comfortable with our decision,” says Alyssa.

4. Be flexible

Merging businesses requires flexibility, especially “not trying to figure everything out in advance. There will undoubtedly be unforeseen issues, and you need to be able to enjoy the process, talk about it and adapt,” says Safia.

5. Open communication

Open dialogue is critical, with both internal and external partners. Clear communication helps manage expectations and ease the transition. “It's important to say what we're comfortable with and what we're not,” says Safia.

Reaching new heights

Merging can be an excellent growth strategy if done carefully and openly. Safia Barrou and Alyssa Martone Martel's experience shows that a merger can take a business to new heights. By combining their strengths and staying true to their values, they have created an innovative platform that better serves their customers and opens up new prospects for development.

Article by: Sophie Lachapelle and Mélanie Lagacé