This is one more victim of the economic crisis which is currently shaking France: after the placement in receivership or liquidation historic companies like Michelin, Auchan, or even Cafés Légal, it is now the turn of this French furniture company to be affected.
It is, more precisely, the furniture manufacturer Gautier who finds himself in large financial difficulty. The company was in fact placed in receivership at his request last July. A situation which is reminiscent of those of large brands like Habitat or even Ela Home.
Are rising costs largely responsible for placement in receivership?
At the origin of the company’s numerous financial difficulties, and its legal recovery? THE
economic slowdown generally speaking, the rise in bills, but also inflation, which played a major role in the fall in the furniture manufacturer’s turnover. Because if it has, historically, always been appreciated by the Vendéens and the French in general, it has suffered from the decline in purchasing power of the latter.
“The real estate crisis, as well as the difficulties experienced by households, have been felt for a year and a half”had also declared David Soulard, president of the company, to
The New Factory last November. And as the media reports, “rising costs of raw materials and energy generated by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine”
did not help, and even strongly impacted its turnover. It is especially the one carried out internationally which seems to have posed a problem for the company, because it represented
“20% of its activity in 2023” either “an amount of 110 million euros”.
A furniture store
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Gautier: many positions in danger since the furniture manufacturer went into receivership
Since the announcement of the furniture manufacturer’s receivership last summer, numerous measures have been taken. A
“transformation plan” was notably adopted, so as to “s’adapter to the global economic slowdown, and thus guarantee the sustainability of the company” as indicated in the press release. A plan which, unfortunately, involves “the reduction of a certain number of product references, as well as an industrial and functional reorganization” et “a elimination of around 50 positions”. “This global restructuring approach aims to strengthen the stability of the company and enable it to face current economic challenges with declining volumes throughout French industry”still affirms the company.
Still a painful decision, because most of them have worked for a long time for the three factories located in Vendée. “The Gautier group makes every effort to support each employee affected by this process and welcomes a constructive dialogue carried out with all of our representative trade union organizations”reassures the furniture manufacturer. Today, the support plan is even “solid and offers many possible reclassifications”indicates the press service.
A situation reminiscent of a past experience
If the economic difficulties of the Gauthier group and its legal recovery are worrying in a context where business closures follow one another and are similar, the company is not giving up. In the past, the company had already had to face a judicial liquidation, in 1985but escaped when it was bought by the Séribo group.
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Today, as it further explains in its press release, the management of the Gautier group is committed “more than ever to preserve the historical know-how of the company”. She wishes “perpetuate its commitment to production in France, while remaining faithful to its values of commitment to its employees and customers.”
