Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/South Shore Furniture


 * The following discussion is an archived debate of the proposed deletion of the article below. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review).  No further edits should be made to this page.

The result was Keep. Consensus is that coverage establishes notability. Michig (talk) 08:55, 24 December 2017 (UTC)

South Shore Furniture

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Poorly sourced article about a furniture company, with no evidence of enough reliable source coverage to clear WP:NCORP. By far the majority of the references here are its own self-published web presence and limited distribution industry trade magazines -- and of the three sources that actually count as reliable source coverage in general interest media, all three of them are in the local newspaper covering the location of the company's own headquarters. But companies have to clear WP:CORPDEPTH on more than just local coverage to qualify for Wikipedia articles, and this isn't showing any. Bearcat (talk) 03:59, 17 December 2017 (UTC)
 * Note: This debate has been included in the list of Companies-related deletion discussions. • Gene93k (talk) 02:04, 20 December 2017 (UTC)
 * Note: This debate has been included in the list of Quebec-related deletion discussions. • Gene93k (talk) 02:04, 20 December 2017 (UTC)


 * Speedy delete as unambiguous advertising; mostly unsourced corporate spam / origins story on nn company with no attempt to dress up the article with references. I requested a deletion under G11; let's see if it takes. K.e.coffman (talk) 02:16, 22 December 2017 (UTC)

Keep per the significant coverage in multiple independent reliable sources.  The book notes: "Les Industries de la Rive Sud Ltée: Competing in the Global Furniture Market The History of Rive Sud In the early 1940s, the Laflamme family entered the business of making wood furniture, a Quebec business incorporated as Les Industries de la Rive Sud Ltée. In 1963, Guy Laflamme, at the age of 26, took over the management of the family business. In the course of the 1960s and the 1970s, Rive Sud expanded through the acquisition of other furniture companies. By the 1970s, about 85% of Rive Sud's production was sold outside Quebec. Over the years, Rive Sud continued to invest its profits in the acquisition of better equipment and the expansion of facilities. It was able to do so entirely on the basis of cash flow that it generated internally. Consequently, Rive Sud was not exposed to the financial challenges posed by the decline of the stock market, or to the particular difficulties faced by companies, such as Bomem, that took advantage of the Quebec Stock Savings Plan. Nevertheless, substantial investments were necessary to remain competitive. In an industry profile of the Canadian household furniture sector the need for modernization was emphasized: [quote]. Production Choices Rive Sud has always emphasized productivity. A 1976 article in Revue Commerce indicated that productivity greatly exceeded Canadian averages and American averages. In 1973, Rive Sud's annual production per employee was $33,800, while the Canadian average was $23,805 and the American average was $26,942. This article also emphasized Rive Sud's decision 'whether to make a Rolls-Royce or a Volkswagen.' Guy Laflamme chose to make a Volkswagen, 'that is to say, to respond to the needs of the average person... ...   Rive Sud has encountered 'Buy American' sentinment in the U.S. that has somewhat restrained its export potential. However, it has been able to open new markets in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The ready-to-assemble concept means Rive Sud's furniture can be packaged within much smaller containers than other furniture. This means far greater efficiency and lower transportation costs in handling the product over long distances. This entry into specific geographical markets represents a creative approach to the development of a new market niche."  From Google Translate: "In his wildest dreams, the grandson of Eugène Laflamme, who founded the company in 1940, thought he would make 20% of his turnover on the Internet. The company had no choice but to move, according to its owner and sole shareholder, otherwise it was condemned to manage the decline. Already, Mr. Laflamme had, with death in his soul, close his plant in Laurierville, in the Bois-Francs, in 2007. ... While the number of employees had dropped to 650 at the bottom of the crisis, the manufacturer now employs 850 people in two factories in Quebec, a factory in Juárez, Mexico, and the distribution center in El Paso, Texas. Nearly 4,000 pieces of furniture are shipped each day with peaks of 10,000. More than one million properties were sold in 2015, says the private company. ... STRENGTHS  Successful digital turn  Niche well identified  WEAKNESSES  Expensive investments  Difficulty recruiting, especially in computer science and new media"  The article notes: "In the furniture industry, the parity between the value of the loonie and that of the US dollar and the Chinese competition have made a legion of victims in recent years. A slaughter that is far from over, insists the one who took over from his grandfather Eugène and his father Guy in the management of the company founded in 1940. These two phenomena have forced South Shore Furniture, a few years ago, to stop selling its products in stores in the United States. Transportation costs, among others, had become too high. The Quebec manufacturer was no longer competitive with Asian competition. Internet has therefore enabled the company in the Lotbinière region to maintain and even increase its presence with our neighbors to the south. Today, the US market is the main selling point (70%) of South Shore Furniture products. In Canada, they are sold both in-store and online. ... Specifically, at South Shore Furniture, an order is received at night at one of three factories (Sainte-Croix, Coaticook and Juarez). It is treated at sunrise. And in the afternoon, the goods will be placed in a truck that will then take over a Fedex distribution center, which in turn will ship it to all parts of North America. The challenge is great for South Store Furniture. Indeed, the company does not manufacture one or two products, but not less than 850 articles! It is therefore necessary that production be planned quarter-turn to ensure a constant supply."  From Google Translate: "The manufacturer of furniture assembled and ready to assemble however saw snow. Its foundation dates back to 1940. Jean Laflamme is now the head of the company that his grandfather, Eugène, gave birth to and his father Guy then directed for thirty years. With a brigade of 700 employees working out of its plants in St. Croix, Coaticook and Juarez, Mexico, South Shore Furniture manufactures furniture made of chipboard for the bedroom, living room, kitchen and living room. entertainment corner and home office. No less than 850 different products are coming out of its factories. In 2008, the company has resolutely turned the corner on the Internet. In Canada, she continues to sell her furniture and storage items through retailers such as Tanguay and Brault & Martineau. In the United States, however, South Shore Furniture stopped selling in stores and instead opted for online sales. Its products are featured on the Target, Amazon and Walmart sites of this world. Today, 50% of South Shore Furniture's sales come from Canadian and American consumers who are surfing the web. And 70% of the production of the manufacturer of the Lotbinière region takes the road to the United States."  From Google Translate: "The perfect storm. Furniture South Shore - the furniture manufacturer of St. Croix, formerly known as South Shore Industries - saw it on the horizon. Ever since it swept through North American manufacturing companies, South Shore Furniture has braved this damn perfect storm by deploying a strategy that not only keeps the head out of the water, but also thrives possible. Nevertheless, the company lost pieces during the storm. One of its three plants, that of Laurierville, had to close in 2007, causing the layoff of 120 workers. 'One of the toughest decisions of my career,' says Jean Laflamme, President and CEO of South Shore Furniture. The latter represents the third generation of the Laflamme family at the head of the company, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. His grandfather Eugene founded the company; his father Guy took the guides in 1970 and he, Jean, led the boat since 1999. In its St. Croix and Coaticook plants, South Shore Furniture - with 650 employees - manufactures assembled and ready-to-assemble furniture made from chipboard panels. It offers consumers bedroom furniture for adults and youth and audio-video furniture that is sold in Canada, the United States and a few places in Mexico by retailers such as Tanguay, Meubles Léon or Brault & Martineau. or through the websites walmart.com, amazon.com or target.com." <li> The article notes: "Guy Laflamme, chairman of case goods producer South Shore Furniture, who built his company into one of Canada's largest furniture manufacturers, died Aug. 21, surrounded by his family. He was 74. Laflamme succeeded his father, the late Eugene Laflamme, who had founded South Shore in 1940, as the company's managing director in 1970. He immediately expanded the production capacity of the Ste-Croix factory with the acquisition of Morrissette & frères, based in nearby Laurierville. In 1978, South Shore expanded again with the acquisition of another Quebec furniture maker, J.W. Kilgour Ltd. of Coaticook. Over the years, all three factories have been expanded to make South Shore Furniture one of this country's largest furniture producers. The still family-owned and managed company specializes in ready-to-assemble and assembled adult, youth and baby bedroom, home office and home entertainment furniture."</li> <li> The article notes: "Case goods specialist South Shore Furniture launched its 70th anniversary year with the introduction of a new corporate identity package at the Canadian Home Furnishings Market in Toronto. One key part of the package is the focus on the name South Shore, which will be the company's only name. In Quebec, its proper name has been Les Industries de la Rive Sud and it has been known as Meubles Rive Sud. Over the past decade or so, the family owned and operated concern has become a player in both the ready-to-assemble and fully assembled case goods market in North America, including Mexico, which it recently entered. Rather than having its name in three languages, management decided to go with South Shore."</li> </ol>There is sufficient coverage in reliable sources to allow South Shore Furniture to pass Notability, which requires "significant coverage in reliable sources that are independent of the subject". Cunard (talk) 05:34, 22 December 2017 (UTC) </li></ul>
 * South Shore Furniture (French name: Les Industries de la Rive Sud Ltée) was founded in 1940. It was the subject of an 8-page case study titled "Les Industries de la Rive Sud Ltée: Competing in the Global Furniture Market" published in David W. Conklin's 1994 Prentice Hall book Reengineering to Compete: Canadian Business in the Global Economy. The company also has received significant coverage in La Presse, Le Soleil, and Furniture Today. It clearly passes Notability and Notability (organizations and companies). I reviewed the article and found it largely factual. I do not consider it promotional. Cunard (talk) 05:34, 22 December 2017 (UTC)
 * Cunard, wiki markup is very versatile - please stick to it instead of lapsing into HTML. More importantly, why have you cluttered up this discussion with refs. Why not put them in the article? &mdash; RHaworth (talk · contribs) 17:15, 23 December 2017 (UTC)
 * Thank you for undeleting the article at my request. Please don't collapse my sources and then say "No attempt to demonstrate notability." I prefer to use HTML for posts like this. There is no policy against using HTML instead of wiki markup. I have put the sources in the article in my rewrite. I prefer to have the sources in both the article and the AfD. I include the sources and quotes in the AfD so that AfD participants can more easily see why I think the sources establish notability.  Cunard (talk) 22:17, 23 December 2017 (UTC)

Delete. The article should be deleted per WP:NOTADVERTISING - I believe that the G11 criterion was applied correctly. Whether the subject is notable is irrelevant since the article will have to be rewritten from scratch anyway. Rentier (talk) 20:04, 23 December 2017 (UTC)
 * Delete. No attempt to demonstrate notability. &mdash; RHaworth (talk · contribs) 17:15, 23 December 2017 (UTC)
 * I have rewritten the article from scratch. Cunard (talk) 22:17, 23 December 2017 (UTC)
 * I have struck my vote. Rentier (talk) 23:08, 23 December 2017 (UTC)


 * Delete: The three sources listed are either company profiles or advertisement. Fails WP:GNG. Otr500 (talk) 20:57, 23 December 2017 (UTC) Change !vote: See below.
 * Here were the three sources listed in the article at the time you made this comment:<ol><li>South Shore Furniture Manufacturer | Quality Canadian Furniture</li><li>South Shore Furniture</li><li>icriq.com - Profil de l'entreprise</li></ol>I agree the three sources in the old version of the article were unacceptable sources. I have removed them in my rewrite of the article. Cunard (talk) 22:17, 23 December 2017 (UTC)


 * Comment: I have rewritten the article. This company is clearly notable because it was the subject of the 8-page case study titled "Les Industries De La Rive Sud Ltée: Competing In The Global Furniture Market" published in David W. Conklin's 1994 Prentice Hall book "Reengineering to Compete: Canadian Business in the Global Economy". Cunard (talk) 22:17, 23 December 2017 (UTC)
 * Keep. Reliable sources and notability are clear in the current article.  I am not reviewing past status. --Doncram (talk) 23:46, 23 December 2017 (UTC)
 * Keep Really very few furniture companies can be notable in the sense of Wikipedia but this one really has shown it is one of that. The sources are enough to show meeting WP:CORP especially considering the weight of sources in print academic books. –Ammarpad (talk) 03:10, 24 December 2017 (UTC)
 * Keep: Per improvements, assuming good faith on edits and sources, without review. Otr500 (talk) 03:18, 24 December 2017 (UTC)


 * The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.