"
I came to support them and say goodbye
": Djamila Bal, a loyal customer, defies the crowd in the Camaïeu store in Roubaix, headquarters of the sign in liquidation, to hug the saleswomen, who sell off the last clothes before permanently close shop on Saturday evening.
“
Shopping Camaïeu 100% for employees,
” announces the Facebook page of the Roubais shopping center.
According to the unions, the proceeds from the sales of the last three days must be used to improve training and retraining possibilities within the framework of the social plan.
It's the crowd on sales days, in Roubaix as in many stores in France: prices are displayed at 50% or even 70% off, and the last stocks are disappearing visibly.
"
There is nothing left, it's over, over
" explains to a customer Émilie Vidart, saleswoman for eleven years at Camaïeu, feverishly rearranging "
Zen attitude
" and "
no worries
" T-shirts on clothes racks.
"
It's a 100% emotional day
," she says.
She wonders “
if we are going to find that, a family atmosphere
”, while a customer who has come to buy a coat “ out
of solidarity
” crushes a tear.
"
Dive into the unknown
"
For the northern ready-to-wear brand, employing some 2,600 employees in half a thousand shops, the ax fell on Thursday, after 40 years of existence.
The shareholder, Hermione People and Brands (HPB), a subsidiary of La Financière immobilière bordelaise (FIB) of businessman Michel Ohayon, failed to convince the commercial court of the reliability of its recovery plan, two months after the sign was placed in receivership.
Read alsoCamaïeu, an endless descent into hell
The government, for its part, called into question a non-credible business plan, and a request for an advance of public funds that was "
unbalanced
" in relation to the contributions of shareholders.
"
I also experienced a dismissal three years ago, I know what it's like to dive into the unknown
", underlines in the Roubais store Djamila Bal, a client in her forties.
“
Can I give you a hug?
“, she says to a saleswoman.
"
Even on Tik Tok, I saw videos on us, it touches us
," says Marie Lemouchi, a 29-year-old saleswoman.
She is worried about leaving a "
family-like
" brand, but hopes to succeed in bouncing back.
In some stores, customers have even brought chocolates and soft drinks, reports Nordine Misraoui, CFDT delegate.
"
Tonight is like the end of life, we are going to unplug the machine
," he told AFP, deploring the "
avoidable social damage
", while the company's activities must stop. at 11 p.m.
"
Business
" and "
Support
"
In Bordeaux, where the line at the checkouts is also long, Ludivine Cochin, who came to "
do business and support the employees
", was made aware of the company's setbacks by "
a cousin who works in Camaïeu in Burgundy
".
“
I really liked this brand, I'm going to regret it
”.
In Paris, in the Gare de Saint-Lazare shopping mall, Nini, a 66-year-old customer, finds this "
disappointing
": "
I thought until the last minute that they were going to have a buyer as some stores usually do
" .
Read alsoGeoxia, builder of Maisons Phénix, placed in compulsory liquidation
"
We suspected it a little bit, in recent years it's been a little difficult, we were in recovery two years ago, we were bought out.
We will say that the company was a little wobbly
”, philosopher Nadia, 42, assistant manager at Camaïeu for five years.
“
We have never had as many people as for three days, even during the sales period
,” she notes.
In the store, an easel welcomes customers with a message from the team: “
Sorry if we are struggling to welcome you as you deserve and as we would like.
We are devastated and so tired.
We are in mourning
”.
Around flowered post-its of support: “
sad news good luck to you all!
», «
I wish all the Camaïeu staff to resume another professional path.
You deserve it
”.
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