Most successful businesses begin with an idea. John Charrier‘s began with curiosity.
Long before he founded Charrier Global Imports, he spent weekends exploring Montreal’s public markets. Growing up in the Rosemont neighborhood, he was surrounded by different cultures, languages, foods, and traditions. Those experiences sparked an interest that would eventually shape his entire career.
Today, Charrier is known for building relationships with producers and artisans across Europe, Africa, and South America. His work has helped connect consumers with specialty foods, handcrafted goods, textiles, and wellness products from around the world. Yet the foundation of his career has never been the products themselves. It has been the people behind them.
“I remember watching vendors explain where everything came from,” Charrier says. “Even when I was young, I was more interested in the story than the sale.”
How Travel Helped Shape John Charrier’s Career
After studying international business in Montreal, Charrier wanted to see how global trade worked beyond textbooks and classrooms. He spent two years traveling through France, Italy, Peru, Brazil, and Morocco.
Those trips changed his perspective.
In France, he volunteered on vineyards and learned how weather could affect an entire year’s production. In Peru, he spent time with textile artisans who relied on techniques passed down through generations. In Morocco, he visited a women’s spice cooperative that tracked harvests and production schedules in handwritten notebooks.
“I thought I was visiting for an hour,” he says. “Instead, I spent most of the day listening to how one delayed shipment could affect dozens of families connected to the cooperative.”
The experience stayed with him.
As he traveled, he noticed something many producers had in common. They created exceptional products but struggled to reach larger markets.
“They didn’t have a quality problem,” he says. “They had an access problem.”
That observation became the basis for a business idea.
Why John Charrier Founded Charrier Global Imports
In 2012, Charrier returned to Montreal and rented a small warehouse in the Mile End neighborhood. He launched Charrier Global Imports with a carefully selected collection of products he had discovered during his travels.
The early catalog included olive oils from Provence, handmade Peruvian textiles, Moroccan spices, specialty teas, and artisan chocolates.
Growth was steady.
There was no rush to expand aggressively.
“I wanted to build relationships first,” he says. “If I couldn’t maintain a direct connection with a supplier, I wouldn’t be interested in adding another one.”
That philosophy became a defining part of the company.
Rather than constantly searching for new suppliers, Charrier focused on strengthening existing partnerships.
The Business Lesson That Changed Everything
Like many entrepreneurs, Charrier learned important lessons through mistakes.
At one point, he expanded too quickly. More products were added. More suppliers came onboard. Inventory increased.
The result was not what he expected.
“I found myself spending more time fixing problems than building the business,” he says.
One shipment arrived with quality inconsistencies. Communication became more difficult. Forecasting became less predictable.
Instead of continuing down that path, Charrier made a decision that surprised many people.
He reduced his product catalog.
“It felt uncomfortable at first,” he says. “Most people think growth means adding more. In my case, progress came from focusing on less.”
The decision strengthened supplier relationships and improved operational consistency.
It also changed how he viewed growth.
Why Trust Matters in Global Trade
Today, Charrier remains heavily involved in sourcing and supplier relationships.
He continues to travel regularly to visit producers in person.
Those visits often reveal information that cannot be found in reports or emails.
During one trip to Brazil, heavy rainfall created transportation problems for a supplier.
“I stopped looking at it as a delayed shipment once I saw the roads myself,” he says. “The problem became much more real when I understood what people were dealing with.”
That experience reinforced one of his core beliefs.
Trust grows through understanding.
“You can solve problems much faster when both sides understand the situation clearly,” he says.
This approach has helped him build long-term partnerships that have lasted for years.
What Drives John Charrier Today
Charrier’s daily routine remains simple.
He starts most mornings with coffee and a notebook. Before checking email, he writes down three priorities for the day.
“If I can focus on three important things, the day usually goes well,” he says.
Outside of work, he enjoys cooking, cycling along the Lachine Canal, and exploring Montreal’s restaurant scene.
Those activities reflect the same curiosity that has guided his career from the beginning.
His story is not about chasing the fastest growth or the biggest opportunity. It is about recognizing value where others may not see it. It is about building relationships before transactions.
Most importantly, it is about turning observations into action.
“I never wanted to build something loud,” Charrier says. “I wanted to build something reliable.”
That mindset has shaped his career, his business, and the partnerships that continue to define his work today.
→ This is just the start — read more on PriceofBusiness.com.
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