He is there, on his scooter. Placed on one of the windows of the Carros agency, Stéphane Plaza – once dubbed as the French's favorite presenter (1) – reveals his most beautiful smile. An image that has taken on a new color since the trial of the star real estate agent for violence against two ex-partners.
Advertising that some franchisees could do without: around ten of them are currently in the process of leaving the network in France.
Loans refused
Some told AFP about problems obtaining loans, a refusal to put up the sign with the defendant's surname or even judicial media coverage which harms business. What about on the Côte d'Azur? Is it more difficult to work under the Plaza brand? Are they thinking of changing their name?
Impossible to take stock of the situation.
“We won’t answer you”: the message is clear on Boulevard de la République in Carros, it is better to move around, there is nothing to see… “People sort things out, he’s not there with us in the agency, of course that’s his name but that’s where it ends”says an agent from Nice who thinks that it is more the journalists who talk about the subject than the clients.
“Remarks from competitors”
For one of his colleagues from Saint-Isidore, in Nice, the impact on business would even be non-existent: “Yes, there is his logo on my business card. But I am independent, that does not stop me from working. I do not notice any repercussions on my daily life.” Crossing his arms, another Nice real estate agent concedes: “Perhaps at the start of the affair we had comments, yes… But they came from competing professionals who asked how we were going to manage this on our scale.”
Anecdotal incidences then? In any case, this is the speech given by those who remain.
Today, eleven real estate agencies are established in the Alpes-Maritimes.
1. In 2020, 2021 and 2022.
