PORTRAIT. They say that behind every great man there is a great woman. Marielle Tremblay, from Bijouterie Lampron, is one of those who has been able to be the rock, the spark plug, a mother and then a true ally in business, as in love.
As elegant as the stones she wears, Marielle Tremblay will highlight her 80e anniversary next summer and inevitably embodies the women of her generation who gave themselves body and soul, both for their family and for the people placed in their path.
She was already the mother of three children, including twins, when her partner Pierre Tremblay began to dream of having his own business and working manually.
“When I met him, he wanted to be a sculptor. He has always been good with his hands,” his wife said in an interview with L’Express Magazine.
For over 40 years, Ms. Tremblay has been the smile of this certainly legendary Drummondville business. Her entrepreneurial adventure began in the early 1970s.
“Pierre wanted to have his own business, but at that time, we had young children. It was a risk; he didn’t want to put the family in danger. At that time, I had a secure job. I worked for the Quebec government, in social services. I encouraged Pierre to take the leap. I told him that I would take care of the family’s needs. Then the small Brunelle jewelry store was put up for sale on Saint-Jean Street. He bought it. It was within our means,” says the woman.
Far from being in the shadows, Marielle Tremblay managed to organize her time to go and work for a few days at the family business.
“It allowed my husband to save a salary. I did the small accounting,” she says. A few years later, in 1979, a “for sale” sign appeared in front of the Bijouterie Lampron. The opportunity was irresistible. The couple bought it, with the idea of “eliminating a competitor” in Drummondville.
“At that time, I can’t say that I really liked the jewelry industry. Through a combination of circumstances, I was forced to hold a big inventory liquidation sale to try to raise some cash. Afterwards, I started to see it differently. I was uncomfortable working with poor people during the week and with the better-off on weekends. I felt like I was in an inner conflict. I had to make a choice,” she says.
The decision, although obvious, did not come alone. As long as she was choosing and evolving in the world of precious stones, gold and pearls, Ms. Tremblay decided to go back to school to study gemology. She wanted to go all in.
“It wasn’t easy, because the courses were only given in English and… in Los Angeles. With the children, there was no way I was going to go there for three years. So we created the Association québécoise de gemmologie. We organized to have the courses translated into French and have them given in Drummondville. In total, it took us eight years to get everything on track and for me to get my diploma. I even got it before Pierre!” she says proudly.
Now a grandmother of seven children and great-grandmother of one infant, Marielle Tremblay still works at the jewelry store, but is gradually beginning to daydream about retirement.
“Now that I’m almost 80, I have to start thinking about it! At least now we only work 35 hours a week. It feels like we’re on vacation.”
It must be said that she works in a captivating environment. Over the years, she has had the pleasure of working with remarkable stones and stunning jewelry. She is also at the forefront of new trends.
“I’m privileged to work with so many beautiful things—I wish jewelry was considered art—but at some point, you get tired of it. I find that I love working with people and meeting their needs even more. Sometimes, clients will confide in us and share their reasons for buying a new piece of jewelry. Sometimes, it’s to remember a mother or a loved one. Other times, it’s to remember the day they decided to start a new life. It’s important to be a good listener,” she says.
Throughout her career, Marielle Tremblay has also placed great importance on volunteering. She has been involved in the Rotary Club since 1989 (she has already assumed the role of president) and then in the Drummond Economic Mentoring Unit.
“I have always believed that when you have received a lot from life, you have to give back. Working and supporting new entrepreneurs keeps me young. I try to help them and, above all, to avoid the pitfalls we had,” she maintains.
A few years ago, Marielle Tremblay received a Diamond certification for her fifteen years of investment with young entrepreneurs in the region. An award that, in her eyes, shines almost as brightly as the jewelry on her displays.
