Business World heads to Brittany, France, to see how one baker is creating dough once again soon after he was pressured to shut his boulangerie in Paris.
For these organizations going by the COVID mill suitable now, Ollivier Christien’s tale is proof that it is often feasible to bounce again in organization. The baker operates a prosperous boulangerie with his spouse in the village of Saint Coulomb just outside the historic French town of Saint Malo.
But it was not constantly like this. In 2016, Ollivier was forced to shut his bakery in Paris right after a dispute with a organization spouse. To near the corporation and start out again he contacted Next Souffle (2nd Wind), a nationwide affiliation that helps entrepreneurs in trouble bounce financial institution.
Conveying why he turned to the affiliation, Ollivier says: “It was down to a blend of conditions, I had a corporation that was in difficulty in Paris and the nearby council encouraged me to call Second Souffle, to re-create more healthy interaction, in particular with banks, tax authorities, and the condition, in get to make items significantly less annoying when your organization is not undertaking pretty very well.”
When Ollivier”s problems are driving him, his practical experience looks in particular timely suitable now offered that so quite a few excellent businesses, by no fault of their very own, are having difficulties to endure because of the pandemic. Ollivier suggests the assistance he acquired from Second Souffle to rebuild was crucial.
“It was really essential. I was at a level exactly where I totally had to close my corporation just before accomplishing anything else. I experienced missing get in touch with with my initial accountant, so Next Souffle suggested me about other accountancy companies to assistance resolve this issue, so that I could bounce back again and set up an additional firm.”
Next Souffle is element of Portail du Rebond, a network of 6 associations in France. Philippe Le Meur, from Second Souffle, assisted Ollivier when items had been unravelling with his bakery in Paris. The Portail du Rebond network provides a array of companies, together with information on how to stay clear of personal bankruptcy suicide avoidance and what to do after liquidation or a enterprise is forced to near.
“In addition to accounting suggestions, the association accompanies its entrepreneurs to get a picture of the point out of the enterprise and the entrepreneur,” Philippe describes.
The notion being, to permit the entrepreneur to bounce back with a new entrepreneurial undertaking or position.”
He adds, “Each association has its personal specialism. The community creates a full worth chain. In reaction to COVID, the six associations are now holding regular monthly conferences to inform the ministry of finance of the predicament on the floor.”
It’s for that reason the Portail du Rebond was awarded the Grand Jury Prize of the European Business Advertising Awards 2020. Considering that 2006, the prize has aided develop 1000’s of new businesses and positions.
Philippe Le Meur is the Standard Secretary of 2nd Souffle. Small business Planet spoke to him to come across out how the affiliation within just the Portail du Rebond will help battling business owners.
What is “Next souffle” just and how does it help business owners in trouble?
“2nd Souffle is an association whose mission is to aid all business people making an attempt to bounce back or that are in trouble, whether they have a business or not. There is no conditions or time limit to this. Every entrepreneur in trouble has a mentor to information them in the course of this method to bounce back, adhering to our 1-2-3 technique: welcome, guidance and bounce back.”
How does Second Souffle complement and coordinate aid with the “Portail du Rebond” community?
“Each association within the “Portail du Rebond” has its very own specialisms: relying on the specifications of the entrepreneur going through trouble, they will be redirected to the association that most effective responds to their preliminary request: notably, psychological guidance, assistance with some of the problems encountered by the entrepreneur and the prospect to bounce again in enterprise or come across work.”
A great deal of corporations in France proper now are battling. How is Second Souffle adapting its assist to enable businesses influenced by the pandemic?
“The present wellbeing disaster and the successive lockdowns will only make the scenario even worse. A resurgence of liquidations is anticipated from the initially quarter of 2021. So, to get ready for this upsurge in entrepreneurs in difficulty, 2nd Souffle has organised education for volunteers on a month to month foundation until finally the close of June 2021.”
Beneficial facts
- The European Business Promotion Awards (EEPA) reward organisations or projects in Europe that market entrepreneurship and modest organization at the countrywide, regional and community amount.
- Considering the fact that 2006, more than 4440 tasks have entered the awards and alongside one another they have supported the generation of 1000’s of new firms.
- Due to the fact 2013, the Portail du Rebond has helped 15,000 business owners in problems.
- Jointly, the six associations of Portail Du Rebond are current in far more than 70 cities in France.