Metal, Ideas and a Vision Rooted in Saint-Denis-de-Brompton

This article is an English translation of a feature originally published in Le Saint-Denisien, the local newspaper of the Saint-Denis-de-Brompton community.

By Geneviève Laforest – Freelance Journalist
March 4, 2026

In Saint-Denis-de-Brompton, some entrepreneurs move forward quietly — but with remarkable solidity. Behind The Rack Co. are Andy and Myriam, a duo as complementary as they are visionary, who managed to turn a personal need into a thriving business that now reaches far beyond their local community.

An engineer by training, Andy has always had design in his DNA. Long before online commerce became what it is today, he was already selling products on the internet — notably on eBay — well ahead of the big wave of online shopping. His career took him through the automotive industry and naturally led him toward product creation, technical drawing and solving practical problems. Metal quickly became his playground — a professional deformation he proudly embraces.

Myriam, for her part, built her career in communications and tourism, notably with Destination Sherbrooke. Sociable, expressive and gifted with a strong sense of human connection, she brought an essential dimension to the company: relationships, branding and communication. Her official arrival in the business in 2023 — initially during a maternity leave period — quickly evolved into a full-fledged life project and gave the company new momentum.

The idea behind The Rack Co. came about quite simply. While building their home, Andy and Myriam were searching for metal elements, including a wine cellar display. Nothing on the market truly met their expectations. As is often the case with entrepreneurs, the solution came naturally. Andy decided he could design it himself. The company’s very first product — a firewood rack (which they also needed) — was created in 2016. From there, the business grew piece by piece, project by project.

In the beginning, the company operated almost entirely online, particularly through Amazon. The timing was perfect. They joined the platform early, when space was still accessible for entrepreneurs. Their products quickly stood out, climbed the rankings and eventually became best-sellers in Canada and the United States. For quite some time, they were nearly alone in certain niches, particularly wine racks.

Over time, demand evolved. Customers began asking for custom work. Andy designs everything himself, and the company started responding to increasingly diverse projects: impressive residential wine cellars, installations for restaurants in Ontario, projects for casinos in the United States, collaborations with architectural firms, even a project for a heli-ski resort in British Columbia. No two projects are alike — and that’s exactly what they love.

What they enjoy most about their work is precisely that variety. Every request is different, every client brings a new challenge. Seeing their creations installed in people’s homes — or showcased on social media — has become a tremendous source of motivation.

For them, success is built above all on resilience. The past year demonstrated that clearly. With new U.S. tariffs, they lost nearly half of their American revenue. A major blow, but also a turning point.

Instead of standing still, they adapted. The shift toward local custom projects accelerated. Their Shopify online store was launched, the Canadian market began to take a larger role, and the company started building strong relationships with local partners — both B2C and B2B. While some products are manufactured abroad, the custom projects are designed and developed here in the Eastern Townships.

Wine Cellar integration in a dining room from a custom-built house in Carlisle, ON (by Refined Design and Build)

Today, The Rack Co. is firmly rooted in its community. While they were practically unknown locally in their early days, people from Sherbrooke, Magog and nearby towns now regularly reach out. Sometimes the phone rings and the person on the other end says they’re calling from Magog — surprised to learn the company is based right in Saint-Denis-de-Brompton.

Andy and Myriam chose Saint-Denis for its unique quality of life. A perfect balance between nature and proximity — countryside living with quick access to the city. A community where people know one another, help each other and celebrate local success. For Myriam, who grew up between Montreal and the Bas-Saint-Laurent region, Saint-Denis represents that ideal middle ground — the perfect place to raise a family.

Their vision for the future is clear. One day, they hope to build their own warehouse right here in Saint-Denis, with the space and height needed for their projects, and proudly say their entire operation is rooted in their municipality. Currently based in the industrial park of the Brompton borough (Sherbrooke) for storage, they hope to eventually bring everything back in Saint-Denis.

Standing still is not in their nature. Always on the lookout for new ideas, they recently expanded their capabilities by adding new manufacturing and service options — always with the goal of better responding to their clients’ needs. Not to become massive, but to remain agile, accessible and human. A company at a human scale, where answering the phone on a Saturday morning can make all the difference — and where that proximity often leads to opportunities that larger organizations might overlook.

Behind the metal, the drawings and the projects, there are above all two people deeply committed to genuine relationships.

Their message to the community is simple and sincere: support local businesses, believe in collective strength, and never give up — even when the obstacles seem enormous. Saint-Denis has shown them that a village can be unifying, supportive and powerful.

And with a wink, they add humorously: support your local Intermarché grocery with a good bottle of wine — and if you need a place to store those bottles, you now know where to find some solid ideas.