JYSK - Winnipeg Garden City

The first JYSK store in Canada was opened in 1996 in Coquitlam, British Columbia. Today JYSK operates over 60 stores in Canada, including locations in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. With a passion for Scandinavian design, our products range from furniture to accessories, including mattresses, bedding, and outdoor products, that will enhance any living space with a sense of sophistication at extraordinarily affordable prices.

JYSK is an international retail chain that sells 'everything for the home'. JYSK is owned by the family behind Lars Larsen Group.  Founder, Lars Larsen, is known throughout Denmark as the country's leading merchant who always has 'a great offer'.

In 1979, when he opened his first store in Denmark in Denmark's second largest city of Aarhus - where, incidentally, it is still located - Larsen had great ambitions, though he never imagined how quickly his business would grow. Larsen went on to open several successful JYSK Sengetøjslager (the original store name until 2001) locations throughout Denmark, and in 1984 he opened his first store beyond the country's borders, in neighbouring Germany.

Today the JYSK Group comprises more than 3,000 stores in the following over 50 countries worldwide.

The word 'JYSK' has always been intentionally included in the company name. In Danish 'JYSK' designates anything or - like Lars Larsen - anybody from the Jutland Peninsula, and it is often associated with modesty, thoroughness and honesty - three values that Larsen himself has always identified with. JYSK stands for trustworthiness, and a deal is always a deal.

The JYSK story begins with a young man from the area of Thy in the northwestern part of Denmark – a young man with an exceptional talent for business – Lars Larsen.

After completing his apprenticeship in a manufacturing company and later in a residential property, Lars Larsen decided he would open a chain of bedding stores. The basic idea was to provide all customers with a great offer. With a great amount of energy and drive, Lars Larsen succeeded in finding a financial institute and suppliers who dared to bet on his idea.

The kick off in 1979

The first JYSK store opened on 2 April 1979 in Aarhus, Denmark – where the store still is today. The opening day exceeded all expectations, and the success was thus jump-started. Store number two opened just 14 days later– and store number three opened two weeks after that. From the very beginning, Lars Larsen was determined to open an entire chain of retail stores.

The tradesman

The tradesmanship and a great offer have always been the cornerstones of Lars Larsen’s achievements. That is also why his official title was The Tradesman.