Why Renaud Bouchard Built Kastor.club: A Different Way to Shop Canadian

Illustration: Renaud Bouchard and Kastor in an imagined department store, a visual expression of the idea behind Kastor.club.

What if finding Canadian businesses didn't feel like a scavenger hunt? That question helped spark Kastor.club, founded in Montreal in June 2026 by Renaud Bouchard. The goal was never just to open another online shop. It was to bring Canadian suppliers together in one place, so more people could discover what they offer.

In a market dominated by American giants, that sounds ambitious. Good. Kastor has always been more of a builder than a bystander.

It started with Emuracle

Before Kastor.club, Renaud founded Emuracle, whose emu oil is refined and bottled in Montreal. Building one brand led him to a bigger question: what could happen if Canadian suppliers joined forces instead of each trying to be discovered on their own?

Kastor.club grew from that idea. It's a Canadian marketplace for products offered by Canadian suppliers. That does not mean every item is made in Canada: some come from Canadian manufacturers, while others are offered by Canadian distributors. The difference matters, and we believe in saying it plainly.

A Canadian department store for a new era

Renaud drew inspiration from the idea of a great Canadian place to shop, in the spirit of the Hudson's Bay Company. The image of Renaud and Kastor together in a grand store is an illustration of that vision, not a photograph of a physical store. Today, that vision is being built online at Kastor.club.

Fashion, wellness, home goods, food and the things people love doing in their spare time can all have a place in the story. The point isn't to blur the identities of the businesses behind the products. It's to make them easier to find.

Why build it now?

In uncertain times, where we choose to shop can reflect what we want to see thrive. Kastor.club doesn't claim that one purchase will transform the economy. But giving Canadian suppliers more visibility and making it easier to shop with businesses here is a start worth building on.

The American giants have their warehouses. We have Canadian suppliers, a growing idea and a beaver who's ready to get to work. 🦫

This story is still being written

Kastor.club began with Renaud, Emuracle and a decision to build alongside other Canadian suppliers. Where it goes next depends on the businesses that join and the people who discover them.

Want the story behind the marketplace? Visit our About Kastor.club page or explore the store. A different way to shop Canadian doesn't build itself.