The carnage continues for mid-range French brands. After Camaïeu, Cop.Copine, San Marina, Go Sport and Gap France have inexorably closed their shops, it’s up to Pimkie to tremble.
Pimkie adopts a “savings plan”: the closure of 64 stores and the elimination of 257 jobs
At the beginning of 2023, the Mulliez group (also owner of Decathlon, Boulanger, Auchan and Flunch) sold the already struggling brand to a group that brings together Lee Cooper France, Amoniss (Kindy) and Ibisler Tekstil (the consortium then called Pimkinvest). He was therefore certain that Pimkie would be restructured. This restructuring was clarified on March 29, 2023 since the brand started an information-consultation process with the Economic and Social Committee (CSE) to present the staff representatives with their “ transformation plan to gradually adjust your organization and gain agility “, Relationships 20 minutes.
” This savings plan would lead to the closure of 64 stores and the elimination of 257 associated locations in France, gradually between 2023 and 2027. “, he explains in a press release the management that doesn’t talk above all about the social plan. The adoption of this dropper strategy should allow time to study the possibility of saving some closures, officially. Employees affected by the job cuts will be offered internal redeployment measures and “ personalized support for the development of external professional projects “.
In France, the entire mid-range fashion sector is in crisis
Asked by BFM-TVCFDT Pimkie member Marie-Annick Merceur commented on this savings plan on March 30, 2023:
” For us it was a relief. We expected a lot more job cuts, closed stores, according to the plan that was previously planned by our former shareholders. We feared up to 100 closed stores and 500 lost jobs. So it’s true that seeing 64 stores closed is like a relief. And no one in place. Then the number of positions [susceptibles d’être supprimés] it is very limited. »
This employment protection plan should therefore be used to act now, in the midst of a significant industry crisis, to preserve the Pimkie brand for the long term. Pimkie currently employs 1,500 people and has 232 of its own stores and 81 affiliates. But for how much longer?
Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
