Posted: 7:04 am – Modified: 7:33 am Dolorès Charles
Bréhat – Etienne glassware
Credit : Yann Launay
In Bréhat, in the Côtes-d’Armor, the public can again see the glass artists at work, in the citadel. The company returns from afar: placed in receivership last January, it has just been saved in extremis. Report by Yann Launay.
The buyer of the Bréhat glassworks is not a pension fund or a wealthy businessman, but a collective of eight Bréhatins, who saved their savings. At the head of the collective: Nicolas Bocher, native of Bréhat, and with an experience of international market manager. Nicolas learned only a few days before the hearing at the Commercial Court that the only potential buyer has withdrew.
We were able to save 9 jobs out of 11
The timing is particularly tight, but it could not remain passive. “The glassworks have been there for more than 25 years and that is part of the heritage. We are attached to this workshop and there was a project of 11 layoffs. So we could not save the 11 jobs but we could not save 9, we are very happy! We quickly saw that there could be a viable economic model and that it was not a completely insane adventure.
Second thing, island solidarity is not an empty word. When you ask for and call everyone a little to give a hand, everyone responds and that’s why we could do things very quickly because people answered positively. “
Credit : Yann Launay
The two executives of the company have not been kept, but for the nine employees, the adventure continues. For Raphaël, Laurie, Etienne, Cindy, Loup or Fabien, this rescue was unexpected. “A few weeks ago, it was a huge stress. We are very happy, especially since in Bréhat, finding a job all year round is complicated.
“We feel supported, by the local people who believe in us”
Until the end, we no longer believed in it. It felt like the game was over and that we were going to have to reform and find another job. We are back on good bases … What is super pleasant is that we have an open -minded buyer, he takes note of our opinions, our advice … We feel supported, by the local people who believe in us, it’s super pleasant! We will have to make decisions and perhaps change a little direction on certain things, but I am rather confident. “
Among the inhabitants mobilized to save glassworks, there is a farmer from Bréhat: Anne-Sophie, who raises dairy cows. Her husband Raphaël is a glassmaker at the citadel. So she didn’t hesitate for a long time. “”In Bréhat, the glassworks are part of the heritage and it was important to us that it continues …
“There is a huge potential that was not exploited so far …”
In three days we decided to put our savings, and we cross our fingers so that it works. It is a risk, because we know that the savings we will not find them if we must put the key under the door, but I have all confidence in Nicolas and then in the very united and very motivated glass team. The site is magnificent in addition, and there is a huge potential that was not exploited so far and that we will develop. “
Citadel
Credit : Yann Launay
Production will evolve, to generate better profitability. The quality of the achievements will be preserved, but the offer will be more diverse and more accessible. The team is not lacking in ideas, and already begins to put them into practice.
We are moving towards a viable activity, more towards the general public
“We recycled stairwells that have been on sale for a long time and that did not leave much, explains Nicolas Bocher, In small vases, by polishing the base and opening the balls, it makes very pretty vases which are successful. We are moving towards a viable activity, more towards the general public, less risky affairs with too restrictive specifications, where to make an article it was necessary to blow 10 and put 9 in the trash. When we go to court with a recovery file, we must show that things are viable.”
The workshop does not give up prestigious orders, such as stairwells or lights for large hotels, but the team will focus on more accessible productions, offered for sale on site, at the store.
The partnership with Bréhat’s scenes is not called into question, and on the contrary reinforced. The festival will be held from July 4 to 8 in the citadel, and will be an opportunity for the public to discover the work of the glass, before applauding Stéphane Eicher or Cut Killer.
