Identification Sport

In 2017, Saguenéenne Identification Sports will celebrate its 40th anniversary. Despite humble beginnings, the company, specialized in identification and manufacturing of sports clothing, has experienced sustained growth since its establishment. Today, it is positioned as the industry leader in the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean region. In the late 1970s, the owner and founder of the establishment, Mr. Michel Boivin, worked in a sports equipment store. He regularly sold identified clothing that he had to order from outside the region. Mr. Boivin quickly realized that this in-demand service could be offered locally. In 1976, with the help of a friend, he founded Identification Sports. At the time, the two partners screen-printed and handcrafted t-shirts and jerseys that they sourced from suppliers in the city. The organization gradually expanded, with clothing sewing becoming increasingly important. By 1979, Michel Boivin was the sole head of the company. Despite a few difficult years, a solid contract with the Jonquière Canoe-Kayak World Championships allowed the company to gain momentum. Identification Sports, associated with major sporting events of the past 30 years, has gained an excellent reputation beyond the region. The company's workshop manufactures and identifies sports clothing for various large-scale events. For example, Rendez-vous 87 by Marcel Aubut, the Labatt Brier, and even the Canada Games chose jackets and jerseys from the supplier in Ville de La Baie. As a reward for these successes, Identification Sports won the 1988 Manufacturing Company of the Year Award from Ville de La Baie. In 1989, Michel Boivin made a masterstroke by acquiring Sacs Lavoie. He propelled the reputation of the sturdy school bag, making it the "hottest in town." The product experienced significant sales growth in the following years, reaching a total of over 245,500 units sold to date. The 1995 Quebec Games marked a turning point for the company. In the fall of 1994, Michel Boivin secured a significant contract to manufacture 5,000 identified vests for the winter and summer games of 1995. Naturally, several reconfigurations and expansions were necessary to accommodate the company's growth. The most recent expansion in 1997 increased the facility's area to over 15,200 square feet. At the turn of the year 2000, Identification Sports established a significant department for promotional items that can be engraved with texts and logos. Over 100,000 personalized gifts are made available to promote businesses locally and elsewhere. In 2007, the acquisition of computerized cutting tables, high-precision screen printing presses, and sublimation printing equipment allowed the establishment to remain a leader in the field of printing on sports clothing in the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean region.