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Antoine Grotteria
Published on
Nov 26 2024 at 7:46 am
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The “40 decision-makers who are making the Grand Roissy of tomorrow”
The Choiseul Institute is an independent and non-partisan think and do tank dedicated to deciphering major economic issues and bringing together the young economic generation.
Through the creation of Choiseul Grand Roissy, the Institute aims to structure a community of dynamic leaders who contribute to territorial development and encourage the implementation of high-impact projects between the different stakeholders.
Since 2023, the Choiseul Institute has highlighted the driving forces of Grand Roissy, notably with the publication of “40 decision-makers who are making the Grand Roissy of tomorrow”.
Only profiles meeting certain conditions were selected: be 40 years old or younger on January 1, 2024; operate in the territory of Grand Roissy; have an active contribution to its economy.
In the bloated landscape of Le Bourget (Seine-Saint-Denis), pearl gray is easily observed. A litany of factories and warehouses line up near the A1 motorway, a few hundred meters from the airport runways. It is in this universe that the ambitious designs of Hello Mehdi will materialize again.
Entered the Choiseul 2024 ranking of “40 decision-makers who make the Grand Roissy of tomorrow”, including Paris news is a partner, the founder of SOS Baggage, a company specializing in the repair and sale of luggagewill soon become the first manufacturer In France.
Craftsmanship at the forefront
At 40, the native of Bobigny (Seine-Saint-Denis) decided to give new relief to his thriving business. After rushing into this vacant market in the early 2010s, then expanding internationally, he convinced himself to relocate production in France. “I believe in family and medium industrylike in Italy. We must no longer depend on other countries to produce luggage,” assures Mehdi Barka.
There is still a long way to go to compete Chinaworld leader in this specialty. But the boss of SOS Baggage does not hide his ambitions. “It’s Steve Jobs’ garage!” We start with small, then we gradually gain weight», conjectures this affable man with unalterable energy in the future workshop.
In this small modern factory, the five machines used to make the luggage covering, such as the wheels or the closures, have already been installed. At the entrance to the room, a sewing machine is already waiting for its worker. Several aluminum molds, of varying size, are positioned near the heart of the production line, a machine with modular arms. Total cost of investment: 500 000 euros .
The parts will cost on average around a hundred euros. To do this, a fifteen peoplewill be recruited. And the profiles will be “atypical”. “We are looking for workers qualified in professional sewing over 50 years old . The experience and skills are essential for this very specific type of task,” explains the founder of SOS Baggage.
Helping young people in Seine-Saint-Denis
For this former employee of the luxury giant, Vuitton, this project is part of a desire to create a supporting ecosystem for the inhabitants of Seine-Saint-Denis. A noticeable axis at Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle airport, where the man has had his offices since the launch of his small business in 2012.
For more than a decade, Mehdi Barka has collaborated with Local missions
of several Sequano-Dyonisian cities. Many young people from these structures work at SOS Baggage.
“At the beginning, I recruited a lot of fixed-term and permanent contracts in Bobigny in the neighborhood where I came from. Many young people thought I was crazy for going to Roissy. They put up mental barriers. I intervene in schools and colleges to boost them”
Department the youngest of mainland France, Seine-Saint-Denis has a vigorous energy. However, the unemployment rate remains very highamong 18-24 year olds. And the pitfalls prove stubborn on the professional road.
For his part, Mehdi Barkane has never set limits for himself. Born into a family consisting of eight brothers and sisterswith only one working parent, Mehdi Barka grew up in a social environment “where obstacles were numerous”. Which did not prevent him from seizing “a golden opportunity”, the luggage repair market.
Fortes convictions
“A lot of people abandon their suitcases. It's a waste. We do it for 25 euros. It is economical and ecological », he summarizes. If demand has only grown during the 2010s, with “around fifty contracts with airlines and thousands of individuals” and six stores opened, including one in UNITED STATESthe ascent was abruptly interruptedin 2020 with the Covid-19 pandemic. “The apocalypse” resulted in the dismissal of “half of the workforce”.
Today, the state of finances is “almost back to balance”. Insufficient to relieve Mehdi Barka. From this troubled period, he gained the conviction to reduce imports and refocus the production tool. Its future factory should be put into operation “early December ».
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