Révillon Frères

Révillon Frères, also known as Revillon Brothers, is a French luxury-goods and fur-trading house whose history is conventionally traced to 1723 in Paris. The business was originally known as la Maison Givelet and was acquired by Louis-Victor Revillon in 1839. Under the Revillon family name it developed into one of France's leading fur companies and expanded from Paris into an international network of retail branches, buying offices, manufacturing relationships and trading posts. The company's late-nineteenth-century expansion established a presence in several major commercial centers. It opened a London branch in 1869 and a New York branch in 1878, and by the end of the century maintained stores in Paris, London, New York City and Montreal. Its procurement system was also international. A fur-buying bureau in Leipzig, established in 1876, and an agency in Moscow, established in 1905, connected the company to the principal European fur markets and to the annual fairs at Nizhny Novgorod and Irbit. Between 1908 and 1909, Revillon opened additional trading posts in Siberia, Mongolia and Turkestan. By 1912, the company reportedly operated 125 fur-trading posts in America and Siberia. Canada became one of the most important arenas for the company's trading operations. In 1899, Révillon Frères opened a wholesale warehouse in Edmonton, followed by a broad network of stores and northern trading posts. Its Canadian operation competed directly with the Hudson's Bay Company and was divided into western and eastern divisions. The western division covered areas of northern Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, while the eastern division served James Bay and Ungava Bay in northern Quebec, supported by the company's own vessels. Several settlements in Nunavik are located on or near former Revillon trading-post sites. The Canadian company was incorporated in 1912 as Revillon Frères Trading Company Ltd. Its ownership later shifted toward the Hudson's Bay Company, which acquired a 54 percent interest in 1926 and full ownership by 1936. In 1938, the Canadian business was renamed Rupert's Land Trading Company. This period also connected the company with documentary and expeditionary filmmaking. Revillon financed Robert Flaherty's 1922 film Nanook of the North, filmed near one of its posts at Inukjuak on Hudson Bay. In the United States, Revillon strengthened its manufacturing position during the 1960s by acquiring Grauer Furs, a prominent New York fur manufacturer. In 1970, following negotiations involving Herman Grauer, Revillon became the fur supplier to Saks Fifth Avenue. That supply relationship continued until 1995 and linked the house to one of America's best-known luxury department stores. A major corporate transition occurred in 1982, when hypermarket operator Cora acquired Revillon. The brand became part of Cora's luxury division under the Cora-Revillon name. It subsequently became a separate privately owned company, with Revillon remaining its principal brand. In addition to fur products, the business has been associated with perfume and broader luxury goods. Publicly available reference material does not establish a complete current corporate structure, executive roster, financial profile or official website, so those details remain unconfirmed.

Révillon Frères is a French fur and luxury-goods house with origins in Paris. Its history is generally dated to 1723, when the business operated under the name la Maison Givelet. Louis-Victor Revillon purchased the firm in 1839, after which it developed under the Revillon Frères name and became France's largest fur company. The company expanded internationally during the nineteenth century. A branch in London opened in 1869, followed by a New York branch in 1878. By the end of the century, Revillon maintained stores in Paris, London, New York and Montreal. Its commercial system included both retail and procurement. The company operated a fur-buying bureau in Leipzig from 1876 and an agency in Moscow from 1905, sourcing from major European markets and from fairs at Nizhny Novgorod and Irbit. It also established trading posts in Siberia, Mongolia and Turkestan between 1908 and 1909. By 1912, its network reportedly comprised 125 fur-trading posts in America and Siberia. Revillon's Canadian operation became especially extensive. The company opened a wholesale warehouse in Edmonton in 1899 and developed stores and trading posts across northern Canada. Its western division covered northern Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Its eastern division operated around James Bay and Ungava Bay in northern Quebec and used a fleet of ships to serve remote communities. In 1909, the eastern division reportedly had 48 stores, placing it in close competition with the Hudson's Bay Company's 52 stores in the same region. Many Inuit communities in Nunavik are associated with sites that formerly hosted Revillon trading posts. The Canadian business was incorporated in 1912 as Revillon Frères Trading Company Ltd. The Hudson's Bay Company acquired 54 percent in 1926 and obtained full ownership in 1936. The name changed to Rupert's Land Trading Company in 1938. Revillon's Canadian presence also supported cultural and exploratory activity. The company financed Robert Flaherty's Nanook of the North, filmed near its Inukjuak post in Quebec and released in 1922. Revillon facilities and personnel were also involved in other northern expeditions and film projects, including the 1928–1929 effort to film migrating caribou for The Silent Enemy. In the United States, the company acquired Grauer Furs during the 1960s. The New York manufacturer had been founded by Austrian immigrant William Grauer and later run by his sons Abraham and Herman. In 1970, Revillon became the fur supplier to Saks Fifth Avenue through an arrangement negotiated by Herman Grauer. The supply relationship continued through 1995. In 1982, Cora acquired Revillon and made it part of the Cora-Revillon luxury division. Cora-Revillon later became a separate privately owned company, with Revillon as its leading brand. The brand's product scope has included fur and perfume. The available reference material does not provide verified current management details, a confirmed website, recent financial data or a fully documented present-day distribution network.

• 1995

  Saks Fifth Avenue supply relationship ends

  [1]Révillon Frèresen.wikipedia.org

  The fur-supply arrangement between Revillon and Saks Fifth Avenue, begun in 1970, ended after approximately twenty-five years.

• 1938

  Canadian company renamed Rupert's Land Trading Company

  [1]Révillon Frèresen.wikipedia.org

  After Hudson's Bay Company ownership became complete, the Canadian operation adopted the Rupert's Land Trading Company name.

• 1922

  Financing of Nanook of the North

  [1]Révillon Frèresen.wikipedia.org

  Revillon financed Robert Flaherty's documentary Nanook of the North, filmed near the company's Inukjuak trading post.

• 1908

  Expansion into Asian and Siberian trading territories

  [1]Révillon Frèresen.wikipedia.org

  Revillon opened fur-trading posts in Siberia, Mongolia and Turkestan during 1908–1909.

• 1899

  Canadian wholesale operation begins in Edmonton

  [1]Révillon Frèresen.wikipedia.org

  The company opened a wholesale warehouse in Edmonton and began building a substantial Canadian retail and trading network.

• 1876

  Leipzig fur-buying bureau opens

  [1]Révillon Frèresen.wikipedia.org

  Revillon established a buying bureau in Leipzig to access continental European fur markets.

• 1839

  Louis-Victor Revillon acquires the business

  [1]Révillon Frèresen.wikipedia.org

  Louis-Victor Revillon purchased la Maison Givelet and developed it under the Revillon name.

• 1723

  Business origins in Paris

  [1]Révillon Frèresen.wikipedia.org

  The enterprise later associated with Révillon Frères is traced to the Parisian business known as la Maison Givelet.

A heritage French luxury house historically positioned around premium furs, international fur sourcing, specialized manufacturing and selective luxury retail distribution.

• Luxury apparel

  Fur garments

  Fur garments formed the historical core of Révillon Frères' business. The company combined international sourcing, specialized manufacturing and luxury retail, supplying its own stores and outside distribution partners. Its historic trading network gave it access to North American, European and northern Asian fur markets.

• Luxury accessories

  Fur accessories

  The Revillon name has also been associated with fur accessories and related luxury merchandise sold through its retail and department-store channels. Specific current product assortments are not established by the available reference material.

• Fragrance

  Perfume

  In addition to fur, Revillon has produced perfume, extending the brand into a broader luxury-goods category. The available material does not document a complete list of fragrance names, launch dates or current availability.

• 1922Nanook of the North financing

  Canada · United States

  Revillon financed Robert Flaherty's documentary Nanook of the North, which was filmed near the company's trading post at Inukjuak on northeastern Hudson Bay.

  Outcome. The film became an important early documentary and connected the Revillon name with northern Canadian exploration, commerce and filmmaking.

  Source

• 1982

  Acquisition by CoraM&A

  Background

  The historic fur house was acquired by a large French hypermarket operator seeking to maintain a luxury division.

  Action taken

  Cora acquired Revillon and placed it in the Cora-Revillon luxury division.

  Aftermath

  Cora-Revillon later became a separate privately owned company, with Revillon as its principal brand.

  Source

• 1970

  Supply agreement with Saks Fifth AvenueStrategy

  Background

  Revillon sought to strengthen its position in American luxury distribution after its acquisition of Grauer Furs.

  Action taken

  Revillon became the fur supplier to Saks Fifth Avenue in an arrangement negotiated by Herman Grauer.

  Aftermath

  The supply relationship remained in place until 1995.

  Source

• 1926

  Hudson's Bay Company takes a majority stake in the Canadian operationM&A

  Background

  Revillon's Canadian trading network operated in direct competition with the Hudson's Bay Company across northern Canada.

  Action taken

  Hudson's Bay Company acquired 54 percent of Revillon Frères Trading Company Ltd.

  Aftermath

  Hudson's Bay Company acquired full ownership in 1936, and the Canadian operation was renamed Rupert's Land Trading Company in 1938.

  Source

1. 1Révillon Frèresen.wikipedia.org