How this transport company near Caen is recovering from the death of its boss

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The small business still bears his name in the ZAC at Authienorth of Caen (Calvados). But since the start of 2024, the ten employees of Pierrot Voyages must do without its historical boss.

Associate colleagues to buy back the shares

The death of Pierre François, after a battle of several months with cancer, could have signaled, if not bankruptcy, at least the resale of this “family” small business, previously established in Hérouville Saint-Clair and Saint-Contest. “Other coach companies larger than us approached me to buy us,” recalls Grégory Hays, the long-time partner, the manager who cautiously developed the activity when Pierrot had to take the wheel.

Alone in charge during these few months, he preferred to turn to his colleagues.

I suggested that they join forces to buy Pierrot’s shares. We managed to gain the trust of a bank.

The reprise has been made official in Octoberwithout transforming the company into a cooperative. It’s “a big challenge” according to Grégory Hays. THE three oldest employees – Sonia, executive secretary, and Timothée and Jacques, drivers – “borrowed over 15 years” to become shareholders.

“Employees are more involved”

The disappearance of the founder causes “a huge change” for the small transport box, barely 20 years old. “With Pierre, we started with just a Bic pen and a bus” at the beginning of 2005, says Grégory Hays. “We hung out with each other more than our families. » With well-distributed tasks.

When he found himself “the sole majority shareholder”, he was “no longer sure at all” of being able to “boost” the company. This has caught up with its turnover before 2020 and Covid-19. “It’s even a little better this year. »

The reason? Perhaps the time and energy saved by Grégory Hays by sharing responsibilities. “By offering them to invest, employees become more involved in the companythey have more ideas. They would like to do more school buses, for example. It’s no longer the same thing. » He can look for other markets. “We work more with foreign tourism agencies. »

“We don’t want to become a big group”

Development remains reasonable.

We don’t want to become a big group, where the drivers are just numbers or go through reservation platforms. We know the customers.

From now on, Pierrot Voyages covers more than 200,000 km per year and provides connections, circuits to the D-Day beaches, the castles of the Loire, Bordeaux or the airports of Paris for school trips, associations, friendly 3ᵉ age, works councils, etc.

Better paid and loyal drivers

Despite the explosion in parking prices (notably at Mont Saint-Michel) and fuel, this makes it possible to operate a fleet of around ten vehicles (from an 8-seater van to a comfortable 65-seater coach) “without inflating quotes”.

All while correctly paying the drivers, who display “5 to 8 years of seniority on average” on the clock at Pierrot Voyages, according to Grégory Hays. “We are talking about a shortage of drivers. But we should stop hiring them part-time, for €700 per month. »

Practical. Contact: 02 31 93 78 91; [email protected]

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