Ninety years, one job

In 1936, a Canadian retailer who needed a part for a broken typewriter called Randmar. In 2026, a retailer who needs a printer, a network switch or a case of labels still does. The products have changed completely. The job has not: get the right product to the right Canadian retailer, on time, at a fair price.

This year marks Randmar's 90th anniversary. To kick off our Behind the Scenes series, we want to share where we came from, and why nine decades of experience matter to the retailers we serve today, whether you run one independent store, a regional chain or a national banner.

Three generations, three reinventions

  1. Period-inspired illustration of a 1930s mechanical typewriter and repair parts
    1936

    Typewriter parts. Rosario Armand founded Randmar to supply typewriter machine parts. It was a business built on knowing exactly which part fit which machine, and getting it to the customer fast so their office kept running. From typewriters to printers. As offices moved on, so did Randmar. The company shifted its focus to printers and printing supplies, the products that replaced the typewriter on every Canadian desk.

  2. Period-inspired illustration of early 1980s printing equipment and a supply desk
    1981

    Growth through relationships. Georges Armand took the helm and widened the product line. Just as important, he built long-term relationships with resellers and manufacturers on both sides of the business. Many of the brand partnerships retailers rely on today grew out of that era.

  3. Editorial illustration of modern inventory technology and warehouse operations
    2021

    A distribution platform. Gislain Armand became president, making Randmar a third-generation family company. Under his leadership, Randmar has invested heavily in software: platforms that let manufacturers and resellers work together to sell almost anything, from printing supplies to consumer electronics, clothing and other consumer goods. Each generation faced the same choice: hold on to what worked, or follow where the market was going. Each time, Randmar followed the market, and brought its customers along.

Period-inspired editorial illustrations, created for this story.

What 90 years of experience means for your business

Longevity on its own isn't a reason to choose a distributor. What it builds is. Ninety years in Canadian distribution have given Randmar four things retailers of every size can use.

1. Manufacturer relationships you don't have to build yourself. Randmar works with brands such as Sharp, Canon, Epson, HP, Lexmark, Xerox, TP-Link and Avery, along with a growing list of specialty manufacturers. One Randmar account opens doors that would take a single retailer years to open on their own.

2. Canadian stock, close to your customers. Our two distribution hubs, in Laval and Edmonton, keep inventory in Canada and ship through partnerships with the country's largest couriers. That means fewer cross-border surprises and faster delivery from coast to coast.

3. A level playing field. Randmar applies a Minimum Advertised Price (MAP) policy across its resellers. It protects your margins and keeps competition fair, whether you sell from one storefront or a hundred.

4. Technology built from experience. Our platforms automate the work that used to take phone calls and spreadsheets: product data, stock updates, order imports and reporting.

For independent retailers

You compete with big-box stores without their buying power or warehouse space. Randmar narrows that gap. You can order by the unit instead of the pallet, add products to your shelves or website without carrying inventory, and offer customers a much wider catalogue than your store can hold.

If you sell on Shopify, Randmar Connect imports products, syncs stock and prices, and brings in orders automatically.

For regional chains

Growing from a few locations to many means more SKUs, more stores to stock and less time to manage it all. Randmar gives you one source for multiple brands, with replenishment scaled to your stores, from cases to pallets. Our team knows the products and can help you plan assortments by region and season.

For national chains

National retailers need a partner that can meet strict requirements at scale. Randmar's manufacturer relationships, Canadian inventory and logistics experience support programs such as direct-to-store delivery, drop ship for your online channel, and consolidated supply across many brands. You get one accountable partner instead of dozens of separate vendor relationships.

The Randmar network now includes more than 2,000 resellers across government, online stores, physical retail and buying groups, and it keeps growing.

The next 90 years start now

What hasn't changed since 1936 is how Randmar treats its customers. We are still a family company. When you call, you reach people who know the products and know your business. Technology lets us do more, faster, but the relationship comes first.

Over the coming weeks, this series will take you behind the scenes: inside our Laval and Edmonton hubs, through the life of a drop ship order, into direct-to-store delivery for national chains, and through the tools that connect manufacturers and retailers.

Ready to see what Randmar can do for your stores? Visit randmar.io, call us at 1-800-565-1221, or email service@randmar.io to talk with our team.