Go Coconut was born in 2020 with the simple mission of empowering children through independent play. The idea started when founder Diana Horqque first became a mother. She wanted to create an environment for her child that would foster independent learning but struggled to source foam furniture. Instead, she decided to make her own ready-to-play kids’ furniture and Canadian play couches. Go Coconut’s modular and durable foam sofas offer kids creative places to lounge, jump and have fun. We spoke with Co-founder and Director of Operations, Louis Provencher, to learn more.
What is your business called and what does it do?
Go Coconut / Lab de Jeu.
Go Coconut locally manufactures play couches for kids and families across Canada and the United States. Play Couches are modular furniture meant to transform from a basic couch into anything the imagination can create, such as houses, rocket ships, or parcours. They encourage not only imagination, but also help build motor skills and strength for children, while allowing families to disconnect from screens and spend quality time together. We proudly source almost all components, from zippers to foam, from other local businesses located within 10 kilometres of our Laval factory. This allows us to control all steps of production, from cutting the fabric and assembling each cover with our local seamstresses, to packing the foam and shipping all products directly to our customers. We also partner with local major retailers such as Simons, Tanguay and Clément.
Lab de jeu is a recently opened playroom located within our facilities, allowing families to come and play together, while also testing our products firsthand. It also allows us to test out new product ideas and see how kids interact with them before launching them publicly. We offer open play in two-hour blocks from Tuesday to Sunday by reservation on our website, offer workstations for parents to work while their kids play under supervision, and allow private bookings for children’s birthday parties and other events. Though only opened a few months ago, its success is driving us to eventually franchise the idea, allowing other individuals across Canada to become entrepreneurs through a proven business model.
What made you want to do this work?
The idea of play couches is fairly recent. In the midst of the pandemic, the main player in the market could not supply existing demand and had a six-month waiting list to obtain one of their products. This is when the 4 co-founders of Go Coconut thought, “Why don’t we do it ourselves!”. As a designer by trade, Diana (our main founder) redesigned an improved product. With the help of Frank, who has more than 25 years of experience in the couch manufacturing business, we found all the right contacts to make things happen, and we launched a few months later. Working for Go Coconut and the Lab de Jeu is a powerful experience that allows families to spend more time together through play. Each day is rewarding, and we are on a mission to unite families.
What problem did you want to solve with the business?
The memories of our own childhood—playing outdoors, connecting with other children and spending close-knit family time—seem very disconnected from family life today, where screens consume much of our time and physical play has become relegated to a secondary role. Moreover, the toys we buy our children often seem to last only a short time before being discarded for something new. We sought to bring back physical play so families could connect in a different manner, while helping children develop their creativity and motor skills like in the old days, all while diminishing the amount of waste families accumulate from toys that are quickly discarded. One toy to replace them all was one of the driving objectives behind the business from the start.
Who are your clientele/demographics?
Parents, grandparents and families across Canada and the United States.
How does your business make money? How does it work?
Through online product sales and by offering in-person services at the Lab de Jeu. Our products are also available for rental for events.
Where in the city can we find your profession?
Our facilities are located in Laval, Québec, Canada. We are one of the only companies making such products in Canada.
What is the best question a prospective customer could ask a member of your profession when comparing services? Give the answer as well.
What added value does your product offer compared to other businesses selling similar items? Customer service is the first element. Manufacturing locally allows us to offer a Limited Lifetime warranty on our manufacturing, so we can make play last forever. Throughout the lifetime of any product bought from us, we will offer free repairs on all manufacturing defects, entirely free of charge. We are also actively engaged in reducing landfill waste. On the one end, we save all excess fabric to produce zero-waste products with it, while we also have a buy-back program where old covers can be returned to us in exchange for a discount on new covers. We refurbish returned covers as new and re-sell them second-hand to new families to prolong the lifetime of each of our products. We are also very proud to manufacture everything locally, here in Québec, which encourages local workers and businesses to succeed long term.
What is the best part about what you do? What is the worst part?
Seeing the joy of kids and parents alike when they play together with our products. Entrepreneurship is a journey, but it is hugely rewarding. The worst part is probably managing competitors who position themselves as Canadian while importing products made in China at a much cheaper cost. Using local workers and paying them a fair wage means our products are often pricier than others. Distinguishing and articulating our values in a restricted market is sometimes difficult to manage, especially online where most of our customer acquisition occurs.
What is your favourite joke about your own profession?
The eternal colour debate. Choosing the right product always seems simpler than selecting the colour, which seems like it can often take longer than renovating the whole house! We offer up to 22 different colours, so maybe we are partially at fault for this endless debate!
Where can we follow you?
Instagram: Lab De Jeu et Go Coconut
Website: Go Coconut
PAY IT FORWARD: What is another local business that you love?
