Hobbie Universel

Supplying hobbyists with the materials of their chosen pastime is in Leon Kunin’s DNA. “I was essentially born into this field; my father founded Udisco in 1944, and the business is now Canada’s largest wholesaler and distributor of hobby products,” proclaims an enthusiastic Leon.

“I’ve been formally part of the company since graduating from university, but I was helping my father manage his business way before then. Eventually, I took the helm of the family outfit, which was a real honour for me on two counts: it’s a field that I’m passionate about, and the company has been around since the mid-40s, which is quite something.”

And while Udisco’s domination of its segment of the Canadian market quickly became indisputable, Leon harboured a desire to open its doors to the public, cutting out the middle man and offering hobby enthusiasts everything their hearts desired. “So I opened Hobbie Universel, which became Udisco’s retail arm, and Montreal’s source for over 60,000 items at wholesale prices.”