Mondial Tissus offers the Belgian Haberdles leader

By wetretrjyu
19/07/2022
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Mondial fabrics, whose activity was boosted by the COVID crisis, sets out to conquer Belgian seamstresses.The leader in the sale of fabric per meter and haberdashery in France (140 million euros of sale) has just bought his counterpart in Belgium, Mondial Textiles.

Smaller, the Belgian brand and its 10 million euros in turnover brings together eight stores in Wallonia.In a few years, it has become number one on its market.Its current president is none other than the former managing director of Mondial Tissus, who has developed the brand across the quiévrain.

Hand -sewn curtains

This operation marks a second step internationally for the tricolor group, which, to date, has a single Test store in Stuttgart since 2019."This is a new growth relay," emphasizes Bernard Cherqui, Managing Director of Mondial Tissus.We are going to capitalize on their know-how in the tailor-made for the decoration.»»

One of Belgian's strengths is the making of curtains on demand, depending on the choice of fabrics and finishes wanted by the customer.Mondial Textiles has also developed a strong B to B activity on this niche, by manufacturing cushions or table runners for restaurants, hotels or local authorities.

This expansion strategy, including in France, was reinforced by the pandemic.In 2020, Mondial Tissus saw its activity increase by 25 %, with an operational income at 12 %.On the Internet, activity jumped 60 % compared to 2019 (10 % of sales)."It was the year of all records. Mais nos résultats étaient déjà en croissance avant la crise, qui a renforcé les tendances de fond»», poursuit le dirigeant.

After-masque

Mondial Tissus s'offre le leader belge de la mercerie

As soon as its stores are reopened, after the first confinement at the end of April, the customers rushed to buy fabric and elastics to sew masks.Sales of sewing machines had also exploded, as everywhere in the world. Aujourd'hui, cette « folie des masques»» passée, l'enseigne continue d'être portée par le « faire soi-même»», que ce soit ses vêtements ou sa décoration (ameublement).

« C'est un marché qui a le vent en poupe, et permet de s'adresser, en plus de nos couturières expertes, à une nouvelle clientèle plus jeune, en quête d'une conso écoresponsable»», souligne Bernard Cherqui.Witness of this enthusiasm, his new concept of workshops has trained more than 15.000 people last year.On the web, the consultation of tutorials is surfing on this wave.

Cap on the franchise

Suddenly, the company of the Levy family, the former owners of Franprix and the leader Price, has not lifted the foot on investments.It opened 15 stores (half of which are frankly) in France in 2020, a network of 102 points of sale. Mondial Tissus s'est ainsi installé au coeur de Paris (15^e), une première pour une enseigne plus habituée à la périphérie, mais aussi à Béthune et Lannion.

For three years, franchisees have been a means for the group to be present in small towns of 30.000 inhabitants, where he would not have gone, and where there is however a request.For this year, the pace of inaugurations will be maintained, with, at the start of the school year, a store in Toulouse, because, since the beginning of 2021, growth remains sustained. « L'objectif est d'atteindre 150 points de vente en 2025»», précise Bernard Cherqui.

In July, the 53 employees of Mondial Textiles will join the teams of the Tricolore group.Opening projects are in pipes in the Flemish region.