At Oleka, our mission is to evolve wall decoration with exclusive creations, imagined by local designers and inspired by current trends.
We work every day to make Oleka the essential reference in wall art in Canadian homes.
2019: An idea
Newly acquired a home, Mathieu was looking for a company that offered locally made, trendy printed canvases. After several months of searching, nothing seemed suitable. That's when the idea of making his own canvas came to him, and he saw a business opportunity.
January 2020: A common challenge
Upon returning from Christmas break, Mathieu presented his idea to his colleague and friend Jérémie, who was experiencing the same challenge with decorating his condo. That's when this idea, a bit far-fetched at first, became a reality. Jérémie was finishing his bachelor's degree in marketing and decided to do his internship with the goal of building this business with Mathieu.
2020: The beginnings
In February, the duo decided to purchase a 7-foot printer and set it up in Mathieu's basement. After a relatively quiet launch, Mathieu and Jérémie were still working their respective jobs at their fitness center. However, the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic would change everything. Now unemployed, they dedicated themselves full-time to Oleka. The rise of e-commerce and support for local purchasing propelled the company to explosive growth. When the fitness centers reopened, the two partners decided never to return.
2021: 1st Move
In 2021, after signing a few commercial agreements with retail partners, the sales volume became too large for Mathieu's basement. Oleka therefore headed to Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines, where they opened their first 1,250-square-foot office and production room. At this stage, Oleka was a printer and shipper. Their canvases were assembled by a partner on the North Shore of Montreal.
2022: The Dragons
With Oleka's growth from 2020 to 2022, Mathieu and Jérémie decided to accelerate their growth and increase their visibility by trying their luck to participate in the show Dans l'œil du dragon . This initiative paid off as they convinced two Dragons to invest. More than a million people viewed the episode, which led to an increase in awareness and sales.
2023: From a project to an SME
L’idée initiale était désormais une réalité. L’impact de l’émission Dans l’œil du dragon permet à l’entreprise d’augmenter sa présence dans les médias traditionnels et ainsi son nombre de ventes en ligne. Oleka est désormais en vente dans plus de 80 points de vente, notamment chez Maison Simons, Must Société, Tanguay et plusieurs autres.
2024: Manufacturing 2.0
With four years of experience under their belt, the Oleka team is ready to continue growing and developing new products. Armed with this new vision, the company decided to change its business model and begin manufacturing its own products instead of outsourcing assembly. In just one month, the team found premises twice the size of their previous one, acquired machinery, and began manufacturing its products.
2025: Today
Oleka is now a team of nearly eight people and is always looking for new development opportunities. The team is launching a new vintage frame that allows the company to stand out. Oleka is now present in more than 100 points of sale and has reached the milestone of 15,000 online orders and nearly 100,000 canvases manufactured.
2026: The Future
Full of ambition, Jérémie and Mathieu aim to accelerate their growth and are planning another move in 2026 to meet the company's growing needs. Their priority is to develop new products and constantly improve the customer experience. Their ultimate goal: to become THE reference in wall decoration. One day, Quebecers will no longer say they have a canvas, but rather that they have an Oleka at home.